National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration August 7, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific sardine. This action is necessary because the directed harvest allocation total for the second seasonal period (July 1 - September 14) is projected to be reached. From date of closure until September 15, 2008, Pacific sardine may only be harvested incidental to other fisheries, with incidental harvest constrained by a 20-percent by weight incidental catch rate.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will host a public workshop on proposed gear modifications to trawl sweeps used in the BSAI flatfish fisheries, at Dantrawl, in Seattle.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces its intent to prepare a supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) on Amendment 2 to the Fishery Management Plan for U.S. West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species (HMS FMP). An environmental impact statement (EIS) was prepared for the HMS FMP and finalized in August 2003; however, the HMS FMP was only partially approved and the West Coast-based shallow-set longline (SSLL) fishery was not implemented. Amendment 2 would establish a management framework for a West Coast-based SSLL fishery outside of the West Coast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The amendment is needed in order to provide high seas SSLL fishing opportunity for historic and/or current West Coast- based fishermen who have participated in fisheries targeting swordfish and landed swordfish in West Coast ports. NMFS provides this notice to describe the proposed action and possible alternatives; advise other Federal and State agencies, affected Tribes, and the public of our intent to prepare an EIS; announce the initiation of a public scoping period; and obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues to be included in the EIS.

In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) regulations, notification is hereby given that NMFS has issued an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to PGS Onshore, Inc. (PGS) to take, by harassment, small numbers of six species of marine mammals incidental to an exploratory three-dimensional (3D) marine seismic survey in the Beaufort Sea, Alaska, utilizing an ocean bottom cable/ transition zone (OBC/TZ) technique in summer and early fall 2008.

NMFS announces that the 2008 summer flounder commercial quota allocated to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has been harvested. Vessels issued a commercial Federal fisheries permit for the summer flounder fishery may not land summer flounder in Massachusetts for the remainder of calendar year 2008, unless additional quota becomes available through a transfer from another state. Regulations governing the summer flounder fishery require publication of this notification to advise Massachusetts that the quota has been harvested and to advise vessel permit holders and dealer permit holders that no commercial quota is available for landing summer flounder in Massachusetts.