National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration November 7, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Based on several new shark stock assessments, NMFS has determined that a number of shark fisheries are overfished. As a result, NMFS announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to assess the potential effects on the human environment and to initiate an amendment to the Consolidated Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The EIS and amendment will examine management alternatives available to rebuild sandbar, dusky, and porbeagle sharks, consistent with the shark stock assessments, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), and other relevant Federal laws. NMFS is requesting comments on a range of commercial and recreational management measures including, but not limited to, quota levels, regional and seasonal quotas, retention limits, minimum sizes, and time/area closures.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration publishes this notice to announce the availability of the draft Prospectus for one of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) Synthesis and Assessment Products for public comment. This draft Prospectus addresses the following CCSP Topic: Product 1.2 Past Climate Variability and Change in the Arctic and at High Latitudes. After consideration of comments received on the draft Prospectus, the final Prospectus along with the comments received will be published on the CCSP web site.

The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Northeast Region, NMFS (Assistant Regional Administrator) has made a preliminary determination that the subject exempted fishing permit (EFP) application contains all the required information and warrants further consideration. The Assistant Regional Administrator has also made a preliminary determination that the activities authorized under the EFP would be consistent with the goals and objectives of the Northeast (NE) Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP). However, further review and consultation may be necessary before a final determination is made to issue the EFP. Therefore, NMFS announces that the Assistant Regional Administrator proposes to recommend that an EFP be issued that would allow one commercial fishing vessel to conduct fishing operations that are otherwise restricted by the regulations governing the fisheries of the Northeastern United States. The EFP, which would enable researchers to investigate the efficacy of two experimental flounder trawl designs to reduce bycatch of cod and sublegal-sized flounders, would allow for exemptions from the FMP as follows: U.S./Canada Management Area gear requirements for flounder trawl nets, and the NE multispecies possession restrictions. Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act require publication of this notification to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for proposed EFPs.