National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration September 22, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS withdraws a proposed rule proposing a 100 lb (45 kg) per day or trip commercial possession limit for weakfish (Cynoscion regalis) caught in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and setting the recreational possession limit at 1 fish per person per day or trip. The intent of the proposed rule was to modify regulations for the Atlantic coastal stock of weakfish to be more compatible with Addendum IV to Amendment 4 of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's (Commission) Interstate Fishery Management Plan (ISFMP). The Commission has now concluded that existing Federal regulations are conservationally equivalent to state regulations; therefore, changes to current EEZ regulations are no longer needed. Such action is authorized under the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act (Atlantic Coastal Act).

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) will convene a meeting of its Coastal Pelagic Species Management Team (CPSMT). The meeting will be a work session to further develop the draft environmental assessment for Pacific sardine harvest faction.

NMFS proposes regulations to implement Amendment 18 to the Pacific Coast Salmon Fishery Management Plan for Commercial and Recreational Salmon Fisheries off the Coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California (FMP). Amendment 18, which was transmitted by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) on June 10, 2014, revises the description and identification of essential fish habitat (EFH) for Pacific salmon managed under the FMP, designates habitat areas of particular concern (HAPCs), updates the current information on fishing activities, and updates the list of non-fishing related activities that may adversely affect EFH and potential conservation and enhancement measures to minimize those effects.