National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration October 6, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS issues this final rule to repeal the Atlantic Coast Red Drum Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and to transfer the management authority of Atlantic red drum in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) from the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (South Atlantic Council), in cooperation with the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Mid-Atlantic Council), under the Magnuson-Stevens Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (Commission) under the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act (Atlantic Coastal Act), as requested by the Councils and the Commission. The intent of this final rule is to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of managing Atlantic red drum.

NMFS proposes new Federal American lobster (Homarus americanus) regulations that would implement a mandatory Federal lobster dealer electronic reporting requirement, changes to the maximum carapace length regulations for several lobster conservation management areas (LCMAs/Areas), and a modification of the v-notch definition in certain LCMAs. This action responds to the recommendations for Federal action in the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's (Commission) Interstate Fishery Management Plan for American Lobster (ISFMP). Implementation of a mandatory Federal lobster dealer reporting requirement would be consistent with the recommendations for Federal action by the Commission in Addendum X to Amendment 3 of the ISFMP and would assist in providing a more comprehensive and consistent coastwide accounting of lobster harvest data to facilitate stock assessment and fishery management. Additionally, this action intends to implement new and revise existing Federal lobster regulations to support the Commission's ISFMP by adopting v-notching and maximum carapace length measures (together referred to as broodstock protection measures) in several management areas that are, for the most part, identical to those already enforced by the states. The incorporation of these proposed broodstock protection measures would support the Commission's ISFMP by reducing confusion and facilitating enforcement within and across management areas. Finally, the proposed action would expand the Commission's recommended broodstock protection measures to include the Outer Cape Management Area to provide further opportunities to protect lobster broodstock in this management area.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold public hearings on draft Amendment 20 (Trawl Rationalization) to its groundfish fishery management plan (FMP). These hearings are preparatory to the final Council decision on Amendment 20, scheduled for the November 2-7, 2008 Council meeting, in San Diego, CA.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene a public meeting of the Ad Hoc Recreational Red Snapper Advisory Panel (AP).

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) is announcing the establishment of new indirect cost rates on the recovery of indirect costs for its component organizations involved in natural resource damage assessment and restoration activities for fiscal year (FY) 2006. The indirect cost rates for this fiscal year and dates of implementation are provided in this notice. More information on these rates and the NMSP policy can be obtained from the address provided below.