National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration October 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council's Gulf of Alaska (GOA) and Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands (BSAI) Groundfish Plan Teams will meet in Seattle, WA.

NMFS proposes regulations to implement Amendment 20B to the Fishery Management Plan for the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources (CMP) in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region (FMP) (Amendment 20B), as prepared and submitted by the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils (Councils). If implemented, Amendment 20B and this proposed rule would modify Gulf migratory group king mackerel trip limits and fishing years, allow transit through areas closed to king mackerel fishing, create zones and quotas for Atlantic migratory group king and Spanish mackerel, modify the framework procedures for the FMP, increase annual catch limits (ACLs) for cobia, and create an east coast zone and quotas for Gulf migratory group cobia. In addition, this rule proposes to reorganize the description of CMP zones in the regulations and clarify that spearguns and powerheads are allowable gear for cobia in Federal waters of the South Atlantic and Mid-Atlantic regions. The purpose of this rule is to help achieve optimum yield (OY) for the CMP fishery while ensuring allocations are fair and equitable and fishery resources are utilized efficiently.

The National Ocean Service (NOS) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) publishes this notice to announce the availability of the Draft Science Plan for the NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program for public comment.

NMFS issues final specifications for the commercial tilefish fishery for the 2015, 2016, and 2017 fishing years. This action establishes the acceptable biological catch, annual catch limit, total allowable landings, and harvest allocations for the individual fishing quota and incidental fishery components of the commercial tilefish fishery. The intent of this action is to establish allowable harvest levels and other management measures to prevent overfishing while allowing optimum yield, consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the Tilefish Fishery Management Plan.

NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific cod from catcher vessels using trawl gear to catcher vessels using hook-and-line gear, vessels using pot gear, and vessels using jig gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska management area (GOA). This action is necessary to allow the 2014 total allowable catch of Pacific cod in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA to be harvested.

NOAA Fisheries announces 14 inseason actions in the ocean salmon fisheries. These inseason actions modified the commercial salmon fisheries in the area from the U.S./Canada border to U.S./Mexico border and the treaty Indian fishery north of Cape Falcon, Oregon.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Scallop Advisory Panel 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.

NMFS implements an accountability measure (AM) for commercial king mackerel in the Florida west coast northern subzone of the eastern zone of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) in the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) through this temporary final rule. NMFS has determined that the quota for king mackerel in the Florida west coast northern subzone of the Gulf EEZ will have been reached by October 27, 2014. Therefore, NMFS closes the Florida west coast northern subzone to commercial king mackerel fishing in the EEZ on October 27, 2014, to protect the Gulf king mackerel resource.

Notice is hereby given that Randy Sacco, Ph.D., Ruminant Diseases and Immunology Research Unit, National Animal Disease Center, 1920 Dayton Road, P.O. Box 70, Ames, IA 50010, has applied in due form for a permit to receive cell line specimens of marine mammals for scientific research purposes.

NMFS is reallocating projected unused amounts of the 2014 halibut prohibited species catch (PSC) allowance from the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands trawl (BSAI) limited access sector to the Amendment 80 cooperatives in the BSAI management area. This action is necessary to allow the Amendment 80 cooperatives to fully harvest their 2014 groundfish allocations.

Based on the final Northeast multispecies sector rosters, we are adjusting the fishing year 2014 specification of annual catch limits for commercial groundfish vessels, as well as sector annual catch entitlements for groundfish stocks by adding carried over catch from fishing year 2013 and reducing quotas for some stocks by the amount of overages exceeding their limits in fishing year 2013, among other adjustments. This revision to fishing year 2014 catch levels is necessary to account for changes in the number of participants electing to fish in sectors.

The Science Advisory Board (SAB) was established by a Decision Memorandum dated September 25, 1997, and is the only Federal Advisory Committee with responsibility to advise the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere on strategies for research, education, and application of science to operations and information services. SAB activities and advice provide necessary input to ensure that National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) science programs are of the highest quality and provide optimal support to resource management. Time and Date: The meeting will be held Monday, November 17, 2014 from 8:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EST and on Tuesday, November 18, 2014 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. EST. These times and the agenda topics described below are subject to change. Please refer to the Web page https:// www.sab.noaa.gov/Meetings/meetings.html for the most up-to-date meeting times and agenda. Place: The meeting will be held at the Sheraton Silver Spring in the Magnolia Ballroom, 8777 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910. Please check the SAB Web site https://www.sab.noaa.gov/Meetings/ meetings.html for directions to the meeting location. Status: The meeting will be open to public participation with a 15- minute public comment period on November 17 from 5:15-5:30 p.m. EST (check Web site to confirm time). The SAB 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 (2) minutes. Individuals or groups planning to make a verbal presentation should contact the SAB Executive Director by November 12, 2014, to schedule their presentation. Written comments should be received in the SAB Executive Director's Office by November 12, 2014, to provide sufficient time for SAB review. Written comments received by the SAB Executive Director after November 12, 2014, will be distributed to the SAB, but may not be reviewed prior to the meeting date. Seating at the meeting will be available on a first-come, first- served basis. Special Accommodations: These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for special accommodations may be directed no later than 12:00 p.m. on November 12, 2014, to Dr. Cynthia Decker, SAB Executive Director, SSMC3, Room 11230, 1315 East-West Hwy., Silver Spring, MD 20910; Email: Cynthia.Decker@noaa.gov. Matters To Be Considered: The meeting will include the following topics: (1) NOAA Response to the comments from the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Science Program Advisory Working Group (RSPAWG) on the NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program Draft Science Plan; (2) Proposed New NOAA Criteria for the Review of Cooperative Institutes; (3) Sea Grant Advisory Board Biennial Report to Congress; (4) NOAA Storm Surge and Ecological Forecasting Road Maps: A Synergy for Advancing Resilient Communities; (5) Update on the NOAA Social Science Tiger Team Report; (6) SAB Strategy Session; (7) NOAA Update; and (8) Working Group Updates.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) will convene a webinar meeting of its Coastal Pelagic Species Management Team (CPSMT). Information on how to participate will be posted to the Pacific Council's Web site (www.pcouncil.org) in advance of the webinar.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2014 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) apportioned to trawl catcher vessels in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces a status review of the Guadalupe fur seal (Arctocephalus townsendi) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA). A status review is a periodic undertaking conducted to ensure that the listing classification of a species is accurate. A status review is based on the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review; therefore, we are requesting submission of any such information on the Guadalupe fur seal population in the eastern Pacific waters that has become available since the last Guadalupe fur seal status review in 1984.

NMFS informs surfclam and ocean quahog individual transferable quota (ITQ) allocation holders that they will be required to purchase their fishing year 2015 (January 1, 2015December 31, 2015) cage tags from the National Band and Tag Company. The intent of this notice is to comply with regulations for the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries and to promote efficient distribution of cage tags.

NMFS implements accountability measures (AMs) for commercial wrasses in the exclusive economic zone of the U.S. Caribbean (EEZ) off Puerto Rico for the 2014 fishing year through this temporary rule. NMFS has determined that the commercial annual catch limit (ACL) for wrasses off Puerto Rico, as estimated by the Science and Research Director (SRD), was exceeded based on average landings during the 2011-2012 fishing years. This temporary rule reduces the length of the 2014 commercial fishing season for wrasses off Puerto Rico by the amount necessary to ensure that landings do not exceed the commercial ACL in 2014. NMFS implements AMs and closes the commercial sector for wrasses off Puerto Rico at 12:01 a.m., local time, on October 20, 2014, through the end of the fishing year, December 31, 2014. These AMs are necessary to protect the Caribbean wrasses resource.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a public hearing via webinar to solicit public comment on proposed changes to the management of wreckfish and gag, two species in the snapper grouper complex. The webinar is open to the public.

NMFS implements an accountability measure (AM) for commercial king mackerel in the western zone of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) exclusive economic zone (EEZ) through this temporary final rule. NMFS has determined that the commercial quota for king mackerel in the western zone of the Gulf EEZ will have been reached by October 17, 2014. Therefore, NMFS closes the western zone of the Gulf to commercial king mackerel fishing in the EEZ. This closure is necessary to protect the Gulf king mackerel resource.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Herring Advisory Panel 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.

The Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils (Councils) have submitted Amendment 20B to the Fishery Management Plan for the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources (CMP) in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region (FMP) (Amendment 20B) for review, approval, and implementation by NMFS. Amendment 20B includes actions to modify Gulf migratory group king mackerel trip limits and fishing years, allow transit through areas closed to king mackerel fishing, create zones and quotas for Atlantic migratory group king and Spanish mackerel, modify the framework procedures for the FMP, increase annual catch limits (ACLs) for cobia, and create an east coast zone and quotas for Gulf migratory group cobia.

NMFS is opening directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, and dusky rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to fully use the total allowable catch of Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, and dusky rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.

NMFS is opening directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. This action is necessary to fully use the 2014 total allowable catch of Pacific ocean perch specified for the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) Charter Implementation Committee will convene October 29, 2014, from 9-5 p.m. via teleconference. Listening site, North Pacific Fishery Management Council conference room 205 or dial 907-271-2896.

NMFS reduces the trip limit for the commercial sector of king mackerel in the eastern zone of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) in the Florida west coast northern subzone to 500 lb (227 kg) of king mackerel per day in or from the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). This trip limit reduction is necessary to protect the Gulf king mackerel resource.