National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration April 11, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS announces that the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 14 to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) (Amendment 14), incorporating the draft Environmental Assessment (EA), preliminary Regulatory Impact Review (RIR), and the Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA), for review by the Secretary of Commerce and is requesting comments from the public. The proposed measures include a plan to rebuild the scup stock from an overfished condition to the level associated with maximum sustainable yield, as required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). The proposed action also includes an administrative change that would allow changes to the scup Gear Restricted Areas (GRAs) through a framework adjustment to the FMP. The intended effect of this change is to improve the timing of developing and implementing modifications to the GRAs.

This notice extends the comment period for 14 days on an March 13, 2007, Federal Register notice regarding a request for an exempted fishing permit (EFP) to collect fisheries data in the East Florida Coast and Charleston Bump closed areas. Due to extensive comments received from the public, the Agency is extending the comment period to allow for additional comments to be received prior to making a determination on the application.

In response to renewed fishing industry support for marketing and promotion-related activities, NMFS enacts regulations to implement the Fish and Seafood Promotion Act (FSPA) of 1986 for the establishment, organization, and operation of Seafood Marketing Councils (Councils). Council marketing and promotion plans will be designed to increase the general demand for fish and fish products by encouraging, expanding, and improving the marketing and utilization of fish and fish products both in domestic or foreign markets, through consumer education, research, and other marketing and promotion activities. The intent of this rule is to increase benefits from domestic fisheries while maintaining consistency with NMFS' stewardship goals and mission statement.

NMFS closes the commercial hook-and-line fishery for king mackerel in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the southern Florida west coast subzone. This closure is necessary to protect the Gulf king mackerel resource.