National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration April 8, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Caribbean Fishery Management Council will hold public meetings to obtain input from fishers, the general public, and the local agencies representatives on the Regulatory Amendment to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Fishery of Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands Concerning Bajo de Sico Seasonal Closure including a Regulatory Impact Review and an Environmental Assessment.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 29 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP) for review, approval, and implementation by NMFS. Amendment 29 proposes actions to establish an individual fishing quota (IFQ) program for grouper and tilefish species, establish design elements of the program, allow permit stacking, and establish dual classifications to the shallow water and deepwater management units for speckled hind and warsaw grouper. The measures contained in the subject amendment are intended to reduce effort in the Gulf of Mexico grouper and tilefish fisheries.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has determined that the impacts of the November 11, 2005, discharge of slurry oil from the Tank Barge (T/B) DBL 152, over which NOAA has jurisdiction as a natural resource trustee, warrant performing a natural resource damage assessment. NOAA is hereby providing notice of its intent to conduct restoration planning to evaluate potential injuries to natural resources and services resulting from this incident and to use that information to determine the need for and the scale of