National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration July 15, 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are extending the comment period for our joint request for comments on the Stanford University Habitat Conservation Plan (Plan), the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for Authorization of Incidental Take and Implementation of the Plan, and the Implementing Agreement (IA). As of July 2, 2010, we have received comments from four organizations and individuals requesting that the comment period be extended by 45 days. In response to these requests, we are extending the comment period for an additional 45 days.

NMFS issues a proposed rule that would implement Amendment 94 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP). Amendment 94, if approved, would require participants using nonpelagic trawl gear in the directed fishery for flatfish in the Bering Sea subarea to modify the trawl gear to raise portions of the gear off the ocean bottom. Amendment 94 also would change the boundaries of the Northern Bering Sea Research Area to establish the Modified Gear Trawl Zone (MGTZ) and to expand the Saint Matthew Island Habitat Conservation Area. Nonpelagic trawl gear also would be required to be modified to raise portions of the gear off the ocean bottom if used in any directed fishery for groundfish in the proposed MGTZ. This action is necessary to reduce potential adverse effects of nonpelagic trawl gear on bottom habitat, to protect additional blue king crab habitat near St. Matthew Island, and to allow for efficient flatfish harvest as the distribution of flatfish in the Bering Sea changes. This action is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the FMP, and other applicable laws.