National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration May 17, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This final rule implements approved measures in Framework Adjustment 1 to the Northeast Skate Complex Fishery Management Plan (Skate FMP). Framework Adjustment 1 was developed by the New England Fishery Management Council (Council) to adjust the possession limits for the skate wing fishery in order to slow the rate of skate wing landings, so that the available Total Allowable Landings limit (TAL) is taken by the fishery over a longer duration in the fishing year (FY) than occurred in FY 2010, thus ensuring a steady market supply. The action would also allow vessels that process skate wings at sea to land skate carcasses for sale into the bait market, without counting the carcass landings against the TAL (skate wings are already converted to live weight for monitoring). Although recommended by the Council as part of Framework 1, this final rule announces that NMFS has disapproved a proposal to increase the incidental possession limit for skate wings that would apply after the skate wing possession limit trigger is reached. This final rule does not adjust the skate fishery specifications for FY 2011.

Notice is hereby given that Rebecca Dickhut, Ph.D., Virginia Institute of Marine Science, P.O. Box 1346, Route 1208 Greate Road, Gloucester Point, VA 23062, has applied in due form for a permit to import marine mammal parts for scientific research.

This action serves as a notice that NMFS, on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), has determined that Pacific bluefin tuna, (Thunnus orientalis) which is jointly managed by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) and the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Western Pacific Council), is subject to overfishing. NMFS notifies the appropriate fishery management council (Council) whenever it determines that; overfishing is occurring, a stock is in an overfished condition, or a stock is approaching an overfished condition.

We (FWS and NMFS; also collectively referred to as the Services) propose to revise regulations related to publishing textual descriptions of proposed and final critical habitat boundaries in the Federal Register for codification in the Code of Federal Regulations. In the interest of making the process of designating critical habitat more user-friendly for affected parties, the public as a whole, and the Services, as well as more efficient and cost effective, we are proposing to maintain the publication of maps of proposed and final critical habitat designations, but make optional the inclusion of any textual description of the boundaries of the designation in the Federal Register for codification in the Code of Federal Regulations. The boundaries of critical habitat as mapped or otherwise described in the Regulation Promulgation section of a rulemaking that is published in the Federal Register will be the official delineation of the designation, and we will continue to provide the public with additional tools, such as interactive maps and additional descriptions, on the Services' Internet sites, Regulations.gov, and at local field offices that will represent the Service's interpretation of which areas are covered by the designation. We are undertaking this effort as part of the agencies' response to Executive Order 13563 (Jan. 18, 2011) directing agencies to review their existing regulations and, inter alia, to modify or streamline them in accordance with what has been learned.