National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration August 21, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS is prohibiting retention of thornyhead rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the 2013 total allowable catch of thornyhead rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA has been reached.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Whiting Advisory Panel on September 9, 2013 to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from this group will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate.

This notice sets forth the schedule of a forthcoming meeting of the DoC NOAA National Climate Assessment and Development Advisory Committee (NCADAC). Time and Date: The meeting will be held Monday, September 9, 2013 from 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Eastern time. Place: This meeting will be a conference call. Public access and materials will be available at the office of the U.S. Global Change Research Program, Conference Room A, Suite 250, 1717 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20006. The public will not be able to dial into the call. Please check the National Climate Assessment Web site for additional information at https://www.globalchange.gov/what-we-do/ assessment. Status: The meeting will be open to public participation with a 10- minute public comment period from 4:45-4:55 p.m. The NCADAC expects that public statements presented at its meetings will not be repetitive of previously submitted verbal or written statements. In general, each individual or group making a verbal presentation will be limited to a total time of two minutes. Written comments should be received in the NCADAC DFO's office by Tuesday, September 3, 2013 to provide sufficient time for NCADAC review. Written comments received by the NCADAC DFO after Tuesday, September 3, 2013 will be distributed to the NCADAC, but may not be reviewed prior to the meeting date. Special Accommodations: These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for special accommodations may be directed no later than 12 p.m. on Tuesday, September 3, 2013 to Dr. Cynthia Decker, SAB Executive Director, SSMC3, Room 11230, 1315 East- West Hwy., Silver Spring, MD 20910. Matters To Be Considered: Please refer to the Web page https:// www.nesdis.noaa.gov/NCADAC/Meetings.html for the most up-to-date meeting agenda, when available.

NMFS announces the availability of the ``Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) on the Effects of Issuing an Incidental Take Permit (No. 18102) to the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries for the Incidental Take of Atlantic Sturgeon Distinct Population Segments in the North Carolina Inshore Gillnet Fishery.'' Publication of this notice begins the official public comment period for this draft EA. Per the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the purpose of the draft EA is to evaluate the potential direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts caused by the issuance of Permit No. 18102 to the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (NCDMF) for the incidental take of Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) Gulf of Maine, New York Bight, Chesapeake, Carolina, and South Atlantic Distinct Population Segments (DPSs) associated with the otherwise lawful commercial and recreational fisheries operating in estuarine waters and deploying anchored gill nets (i.e., passive gill net sets deployed with an anchor or stake at one or both ends of the nets). All comments received will become part of the public record and will be available for review. An electronic copy of the revised application and proposed conservation plan may be obtained by contacting NMFS Office of Protected Resources (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) or visiting the Internet at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/esa_review.htm.

NMFS proposes regulations to implement management measures in Amendment 7 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan (2006 Consolidated HMS FMP) to ensure sustainable management of bluefin tuna consistent with the 2006 HMS FMP addressing ongoing management challenges in the Atlantic bluefin tuna fisheries. Amendment 7 also proposes minor regulatory changes related to the management of Atlantic HMS. Amendment 7 was developed by NMFS under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) and the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA). The proposed measures would reallocate the U.S. bluefin tuna quota among domestic fishing categories. The rule would also implement several actions applicable to the pelagic longline fishery, including: Individual Bluefin Quotas (IBQs); two new Gear Restricted Areas, access to current closed areas based on performance criteria; closure of the pelagic longline fishery when annual bluefin tuna quota is reached; elimination of target catch requirements associated with retention of incidental bluefin tuna in the pelagic longline fishery; mandatory retention of legal-sized bluefin tuna caught as bycatch; expanded monitoring requirements, including electronic monitoring via cameras and bluefin tuna catch reporting via Vessel Monitoring System (VMS); and transiting provisions for pelagic and bottom longline vessels. The proposed rule would also require VMS use and reporting by the Purse Seine category; change the start date of the Purse Seine category to June 1; expand Automated Catch Reporting System use to the General and Harpoon categories; provide additional flexibilities for inseason adjustment of the General category quota and Harpoon category retention limits; and allocate a portion of the Angling category Trophy South subquota to the Gulf of Mexico. Finally, it would adopt several measures not directly related to bluefin tuna management, including implementing a U.S. North Atlantic albacore tuna quota; modifying rules regarding permit category changes; and implementing minor changes in the Highly Migratory Species regulations for administrative or clarification purposes.