National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration February 24, 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS proposes to issue a permit for a period of three years to authorize the incidental, but not intentional, taking of individuals from the Central North Pacific (CNP) stock of endangered humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) by the Hawaii-based longline fisheries (deep-set and shallow-set). In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS has made a preliminary determination that incidental taking from commercial fishing will have a negligible impact on CNP humpback whales; a recovery plan was completed in 1991; and vessels have been registered, a monitoring plan is in place, and a NMFS has insufficient funds to develop a Take Reduction Plan (TRP) at this

Due to an unanticipated temporary closure of the Princess Bayside Hotel in Ocean City, MD, NMFS is changing the location of its March 24, 2010, Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshop that was announced in the Federal Register on December 8, 2009. The locations of the remaining workshops in February and March 2010 remain unchanged. The Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshops are mandatory for vessel owners and operators who use bottom longline, pelagic longline, or gillnet gear, and have also been issued shark or swordfish limited access permits. Additional free workshops will be held in 2010 and announced in the Federal Register.