National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration April 18, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS proposes to amend regulations governing salmon bycatch in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to enhance the effectiveness of salmon bycatch measures by (1) exempting pollock vessels from Chinook and chum salmon savings area closures if they participate in an inter-cooperative agreement (ICA) to reduce salmon bycatch, and (2) exempting vessels participating in non-pollock trawl fisheries from chum salmon savings area closures because these fisheries intercept minimal amounts of salmon. The proposed rule is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP).

Notice is hereby given that Michael M. Hastings, University of Maine, 5717 Corbett Hall, Orono, Maine 04469, has been issued a permit to take shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) for purposes of scientific research.

This final rule takes two actions: It establishes the 2007 harvest specifications for Pacific whiting (whiting) in the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and state waters off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California; and, it announces inseason changes to management measures in the commercial and recreational Pacific Coast groundfish fisheries. These actions are authorized by the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The 2007 whiting harvest specifications include the level of the acceptable biological catch (ABC), optimum yield (OY), tribal allocation, and allocations for the non-tribal commercial whiting sectors, and are intended to establish allowable harvest levels of whiting based on the best available scientific information. The inseason changes to fishery management measures are intended to allow fisheries to access more abundant groundfish stocks while protecting overfished and depleted species, and to reduce possible confusion to the public over differing state and Federal regulations.