National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration April 11, 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold an evening public hearing on Wednesday, April 25, 2012 to obtain public input on measures proposed for inclusion in Amendment 5 to the Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan.

Notice is hereby given that twelve applications have been issued permits to take Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) for purposes of scientific research. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for additional information regarding permittees.

In accordance with the framework procedures for adjusting management measures of the Fishery Management Plan for the Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf FMP) and the Fishery Management Plan for the Shrimp Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (South Atlantic FMP), this rule certifies two new bycatch reduction devices (BRDs) for use in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) and South Atlantic shrimp fisheries, and revises a harvesting restriction for shrimp vessels fishing in Federal waters of the Gulf. Both BRDs represent modifications to the Composite Panel BRD, which is provisionally certified through May 24, 2012. This rule incorporates these BRDs into the list of allowable BRDs, and provides technical specifications for the construction and subsequent legal enforcement of these BRDs. Additionally, this rule reduces the shrimp effort threshold for the Gulf shrimp fishery. The intended effect of this final rule is to improve bycatch reduction efforts in the Gulf and South Atlantic shrimp fisheries, provide greater flexibility to the industry, reduce the potential adverse social and economic impacts to fishing communities of previous restrictions, and meet the requirements of National Standard 9 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) which requires, to the extent practicable, the minimization of bycatch and bycatch mortality.

Notice is hereby given that the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GA DNR) has applied in due form for a permit pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). The permit application is for the incidental take of ESA-listed shortnose (Acipenser brevirostrum) and Atlantic sturgeon (A. oxyrinchus) associated with the otherwise lawful commercial shad fishery in Georgia. The duration of the proposed permit is 10 years. NMFS is furnishing this notice in order to allow other agencies and the public an opportunity to review and comment on the application materials. All comments received will become part of the public record and will be available for review.

Notice is hereby given that the S.O. Conte Anadromous Fish Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey; Box 796, 1 Migratory Way, Turners Falls, MA 01376, has applied in due form for a permit to take shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum); and also that Entergy Nuclear Operations Inc., 450 Broadway, Suite 3, Buchanan, NY 10511, has applied in due form for a permit to take shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) and Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) for purposes of scientific research.