National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration November 4, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS proposes to adjust the Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) fishery regulations to increase the General category maximum daily retention limit, allow the General category season to remain open until the January subquota is reached, and increase the Harpoon category daily incidental retention limit. The intent of this proposed rule is to enable more thorough utilization of the available U.S. BFT quota, while ending BFT overfishing, rebuilding the BFT stock by 2019, and minimizing bycatch and bycatch mortality to the extent practicable. NMFS solicits written comments and will hold public hearings to receive oral comments on these proposed actions.

NMFS proposes specifications for the 2010 summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass fisheries and provides notice of three projects that may be requesting Exempted Fishing Permits (EFPs) as part of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's (Council) Research Set-Aside (RSA) program. The implementing regulations for the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) require NMFS to publish specifications for the upcoming fishing year for each of these species and to provide an opportunity for public comment. Furthermore, regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) require a notice to be published to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for EFPs. The intent of this action is as follows: To establish 2010 harvest levels that assure that the target fishing mortality rates (F) specified for these species in the most recent stock assessment updates are not exceeded; to allow for summer flounder stock rebuilding; and to provide notice of EFP requests, all in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Act.