National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration February 18, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Notice is hereby given that CGGVeritas Land, Inc. (Veritas) has withdrawn its application for an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA). The following action is related to a proposed IHA to Veritas for the take of small numbers of marine mammals, by Level B harassment only, incidental to conducting an on-ice marine geophysical research and seismic survey in the U.S. Beaufort Sea off Alaska from February to May, 2009.

NMFS proposes 2009 fishing year specifications for the Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) fishery to set BFT quotas for each of the established domestic fishing categories and to set effort controls (daily retention limits) for the General and Angling categories. This action is necessary to implement recommendations of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), as required by the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA), and to achieve domestic management objectives under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). NMFS solicits written comments and will hold public hearings to receive oral comments on these proposed actions.

The ONMS is seeking applications for the following vacant seat on the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council: Tourism alternate. Applicants are chosen based upon their particular expertise and experience in relation to the seat for which they are applying; community and professional affiliations; philosophy regarding the protection and management of marine resources; and possibly the length of residence in the area affected by the sanctuary. Applicants who are chosen as members should expect to serve until February 2011, pursuant to the council's Charter.