National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration April 4, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS proposes to modify permitting and reporting requirements for the Highly Migratory Species (HMS) International Trade Permit (ITP) to improve program efficacy and enforceability, and implement the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) bluefin tuna catch documentation (BCD) program. The modified regulations would also require that shark fin importers, exporters, and re-exporters obtain the HMS ITP to assist NMFS in monitoring trade of shark fins, and would implement the new definition of ``import'' contained in the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).

NMFS proposes regulations to implement measures in Amendment 9 to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish (MSB) Fishery Management Plan (FMP). Amendment 9 was developed by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) to remedy deficiencies in the FMP and to address other issues that have arisen since Amendment 8 to the FMP became effective in 1999. Amendment 9 would establish multi-year specifications for all four species managed under the FMP (mackerel, butterfish, Illex squid (Illex), and Loligo squid (Loligo)) for up to 3 years; extend the moratorium on entry into the Illex fishery, without a sunset provision; adopt biological reference points recommended by the Stock Assessment Review Committee (SARC) for Loligo; designate essential fish habitat (EFH) for Loligo eggs based on best available scientific information; and prohibit bottom trawling by MSB-permitted vessels in Lydonia and Oceanographer Canyons.

Notice is hereby given that the North Carolina Zoological Park, 4401 Zoo Parkway, Asheboro, NC 27205, has been issued a permit to import two juvenile harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) for the purposes of public display.

The SEDAR assessments of the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico stocks of king mackerel will consist of a series of three workshops: a Data Workshop, an Assessment Workshop, and a Review Workshop. This is the sixteenth SEDAR. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

The SEDAR assessments of the South Atlantic stocks of Spanish mackerel and vermilion snapper will consist of a series of three workshops: a Data Workshop, an Assessment Workshop, and a Review Workshop. This is the seventeenth SEDAR. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

This final rule implements management measures for the vessel- based bottomfish fishery in the Main Hawaiian Islands, including requirements for non-commercial (recreational and subsistence) permits and data reporting, a closed season, annual total allowable catch limits, and non-commercial bag limits. This action is intended to end the overfishing of bottomfish in the Hawaiian Archipelago.