National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration July 18, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action contains corrections and clarifications to the final rule implemented through Joint Framework Adjustment 24 to the Scallop Fishery Management Plan and Framework Adjustment 49 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (Joint Framework 24/49), which published in the Federal Register on May 9, 2013. Following publication, NMFS identified certain provisions of the implementing regulations for Joint Framework 24/49 that needed correcting or clarification. Specifically, this correcting amendment makes corrections pertaining to the scallop fishery's default 2014 fishing year days-at-sea allocation for full-time vessels so that the allocation in the regulations is as intended by Joint Framework 24/49 (i.e., currently this allocation is greater than specified through the preambles to the proposed and final rules). In addition, this amendment makes corrections to the observer call-in requirements for scallop limited access general category individual fishing quota vessels when fishing in open areas so that vessel owners and operators are clear on when they are required to call into the industry-funded observer program.

We, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), propose critical habitat for the Northwest Atlantic Ocean loggerhead sea turtle Distinct Population Segment (DPS) (Caretta caretta) within the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Specific areas proposed for designation include 36 occupied marine areas within the range of the Northwest Atlantic Ocean DPS. These areas contain one or a combination of nearshore reproductive habitat, winter area, breeding areas, and migratory corridors. We are also asking for comment on whether to include as critical habitat in the final rule some areas that contain foraging habitat and two large areas that contain Sargassum habitat. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service addressed terrestrial areas (nesting beaches) in a separate document. No marine areas meeting the definition of critical habitat were identified within the jurisdiction of the United States for the North Pacific Ocean DPS, and therefore we are not proposing to designate critical habitat for that DPS. We are soliciting comments from the public on all aspects of the proposal, including information on the economic, national security, and other relevant impacts. We will consider additional information received prior to making a final designation.