National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration August 3, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS has received a request from Eglin Air Force Base (Eglin AFB) for an authorization to take marine mammals incidental to conducting Precision Strike Weapons (PSW) testing and training in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). By this document, NMFS is proposing regulations to govern that take. In order to issue a Letter of Authorization (LOA) and final regulations governing the take, NMFS must determine, among other things, that the taking will have a negligible impact on the affected species and stocks of marine mammals. NMFS regulations must set forth the permissible methods of take and other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on the affected species or stock of marine mammals and their habitat. NMFS invites comment on the application and the regulations.

NMFS is prohibiting retention of ``other rockfish'' in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). NMFS is requiring that catch of ``other rockfish'' in this area be treated in the same manner as prohibited species and discarded at sea with a minimum of injury. This action is necessary because the 2006 total allowable catch (TAC) of ``other rockfish'' in this area has been reached.