National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration August 31, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS issues this final rule to implement Amendment 29 to the Fishery Management Plan for Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP), as prepared and submitted by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council). This final rule implements a multi- species individual fishing quota (IFQ) program for the grouper and tilefish component of the commercial sector of the reef fish fishery in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) exclusive economic zone. In addition, the final rule allows permit consolidation and dual classifications to the shallow-water grouper (SWG) and deep-water grouper (DWG) management units for speckled hind, warsaw grouper, and scamp, and modifies some provisions of the Gulf red snapper IFQ program for consistency with this final rule. NMFS also informs the public of the approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) of the collection-of-information requirements contained in this final rule and publishes the OMB control numbers for those collections. This rule is intended to reduce effort in the grouper and tilefish component of the commercial Gulf reef fish fishery.

Notice is hereby given that NMFS issued a new Record of Decision (ROD) on August 10, 2009, for the Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for Steller Sea Lion and Northern Fur Seal Research. Subsequently, 12 permits were issued to conduct research on Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) and northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) throughout their ranges in the United States.

NMFS announces that the Commonwealth of Virginia is transferring commercial bluefish quota to the State of New York from its 2009 quota. By this action, NMFS adjusts the quotas and announces the revised commercial quota for New York and Virginia.