National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration May 14, 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS issues final specifications for the 2010 Atlantic bluefish fishery, including state-by-state commercial quotas, a recreational harvest limit, and recreational possession limits for Atlantic bluefish off the east coast of the U.S. The intent of these specifications is to establish the allowable 2010 harvest levels and possession limits to attain the target fishing mortality rate (F), consistent with the Atlantic Bluefish Fishery Management Plan (FMP).

NMFS issues this emergency rule to close portions of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf), South Atlantic, and Caribbean exclusive economic zones (Southeast EEZ) to all fishing as necessary when new information becomes available, to respond to the evolving nature of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The closed portions of the Southeast EEZ will be updated on a regular basis and announced to the public via NOAA Weather Radio, fishery bulletin, and NOAA Web site updates. The updated closed area may also be obtained by calling the NMFS Southeast Regional Office, Sustainable Fisheries Division at 727-824-5305. This rule replaces the existing closure rule, which became effective May 7, 2010, and will remain in effect until terminated by subsequent rulemaking, which will occur once the existing emergency conditions from the oil spill no longer exist. Fish and shellfish in oil affected waters may be contaminated with levels of hydrocarbons above baseline levels. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers such seafood to be adulterated. The intent of this emergency rule is to prohibit the harvest of adulterated seafood and for public safety.

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

NMFS announces that the catch retention requirements for U.S. purse seine fishing vessels operating in the area of application of the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (Convention Area) will be applicable from 00:00 on June 14, 2010, Universal Coordinated Time (UTC). In accordance with regulations, the requirements will be applicable until 24:00 on December 31, 2011, UTC, or until nullified by a notification in the Federal Register. This action is being taken to implement, for U.S. fishing vessels, the catch retention measures adopted by the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPFC) at its regular annual session in December 2008. The action will have the effect of requiring that U.S. purse seine vessels do not discard any bigeye tuna, yellowfin tuna, or skipjack tuna at sea within the Convention Area, except in certain specified circumstances.