National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration February 9, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Accurate information is vital to NMFS' efforts to manage highly migratory species (HMS). In an effort to improve the accuracy of recreational billfish and swordfish landings data, NMFS will pilot test a new catch card program in Puerto Rico in 2011. Recreational HMS Angling category, HMS Charter Headboat category, and General category (participating in a tournament) permit holders will be asked to affix a landings tag to all billfish and swordfish prior to removal from the vessel. Tags will be readily available at most fishing locations where billfish and swordfish are landed. In exchange for the tag, HMS recreational permit holders will be asked to fill out a catch card documenting their landing. If the pilot catch card program is successful, NMFS may consider long-term implementation in place of the current reporting system.

In accordance with provisions of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as amended, notification is hereby given that an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) has been issued to the California Department of Transportation (CALTRANS) to take small numbers of California sea lions, Pacific harbor seals, harbor porpoises, and gray whales, by harassment, incidental to construction of a replacement bridge for the East Span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge (SF- OBB) in California.