National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration January 14, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS proposes specifications for the 2011 Atlantic bluefish fishery, including total allowable landings (TAL), a commercial quota and recreational harvest limit (RHL), and a recreational possession limit. The intent of this action is to establish the allowable 2011 harvest levels and other management measures to achieve the target fishing mortality rate (F), consistent with the Atlantic Bluefish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). NMFS also proposes to amend the bluefish regulations that specify the process for setting the annual TAL and target F to more clearly reflect the intent of the FMP.

On June 3, 2009, NMFS published a 30-day public comment period notice in the Federal Register for the receipt of applications for scientific research permits 13791 (applicant: Fishery Foundation of California) and 14092 (applicant: California Department of Fish and Game). In that notice, the permit application numbers were misidentified. This document corrects the June 3, 2009, document by providing the correct permit numbers.

This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of a forthcoming meeting of the NOAA Science Advisory Board. The members will discuss and provide advice on issues outlined in the agenda below.

The Caribbean Fishery Management Council will hold scoping meetings to obtain input from fishers, the general public, and the local agencies representatives on the Options Paper for the Comprehensive Annual Catch Limit (ACL) Amendment for the U.S. Caribbean including Amendment 6 to the Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands; Amendment 2 to the Fishery Management Plan for Corals and Reef Associated Plants and Invertebrates of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands; Amendment 5 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Spiny Lobster Fishery of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands; Amendment 3 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Queen Conch Fishery of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

Pursuant to section 304(e) of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA; 16 U.S.C. 1434(e)), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has been conducting a review of the management plan and regulations for Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary (OCNMS or sanctuary), located off the outer coast of the Olympic Peninsula in the State of Washington. As a result of the review, NOAA determined that it is necessary to revise the sanctuary's management plan and implementing regulations. NOAA proposes to revise the OCNMS regulations to: Prohibit wastewater discharges from cruise ships; update the language referring to tribal welfare considerations when issuing permits; correct the size of the sanctuary based on new area estimates without revising the sanctuary's actual boundaries; update the list of definitions; and update outdated information such as office location. NOAA also proposes additional changes to the grammar and wording of several sections of the regulations to ensure clarity and consistency with the NMSA and other sanctuaries in the National Marine Sanctuary System.