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

Availability of Seats for National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Councils
Document Number: 2014-26603
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-11-14
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
ONMS is seeking applications for vacant seats for 7 of its 13 national marine sanctuary advisory councils (advisory councils). Vacant seats, including positions (i.e., primary member and alternate), for each of the advisory councils are listed in this notice under Supplementary Information. Applicants are chosen based upon their particular expertise and experience in relation to the seat for which they are applying; community and professional affiliations; views regarding the protection and management of marine or Great Lake resources; and possibly the length of residence in the area affected by the sanctuary. Applicants who are chosen as members or alternates should expect to serve two- or three-year terms, pursuant to the charter of the specific national marine sanctuary advisory council.
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Vessels Using Pot Gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
Document Number: 2014-26865
Type: Rule
Date: 2014-11-13
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels using pot 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 vessels using pot gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Groundfish Fishery; Fishing Year 2014; Emergency Gulf of Maine Cod Management Measures
Document Number: 2014-26844
Type: Rule
Date: 2014-11-13
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
This temporary rule implements commercial and recreational fishery management measure changes for Gulf of Maine cod protection in response to a recent updated assessment of the status of this severely depleted stock. The measures of this interim rule are necessary to reduce fishing mortality on GOM cod and to provide additional stock and spawning protection. The intended effect of these interim measures are to decrease fishing year 2014 catch so that overfishing is reduced and protect the stock until more permanent measures can be developed by the New England Fishery Management Council (Council).
International Fisheries; Western and Central Pacific Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species; Fishing Effort Limits in Purse Seine Fisheries for 2014
Document Number: 2014-26830
Type: Rule
Date: 2014-11-13
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS issues regulations under authority of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention Implementation Act (WCPFC Implementation Act) to revise the 2014 limit on fishing effort by U.S. purse seine vessels in the U.S. exclusive economic zone (U.S. EEZ) and on the high seas between the latitudes of 20[deg] N. and 20[deg] S. in the area of application of the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (Convention). The total limit for 2014 is revised from 2,588 fishing days to 1,828 fishing days. This action is necessary for the United States to implement provisions of a conservation and management measure (CMM) adopted by the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (Commission) and to satisfy the obligations of the United States under the Convention, to which it is a Contracting Party.
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf, and South Atlantic; Aquaculture
Document Number: 2014-26801
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2014-11-13
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS reopens the comment period on the proposed rule to implement the Fishery Management Plan for Regulating Offshore Aquaculture in the Gulf of Mexico (FMP) that published on August 28, 2014. The original comment period closed on October 27, 2014. NMFS is reopening the comment period for an additional 15 days to provide the public additional time to comment on this proposed rule. If implemented, the proposed rule would establish a comprehensive regulatory program for managing the development of an environmentally sound and economically sustainable aquaculture industry in Federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf). The purpose of the proposed rule is to increase the yield of Federal fisheries in the Gulf by supplementing the harvest of wild caught species with cultured product.
Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; National Saltwater Angler Registry
Document Number: 2014-26786
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-11-13
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
Endangered and Threatened Species; Designation of Critical Habitat for the Puget Sound/Georgia Basin Distinct Population Segments of Yelloweye Rockfish, Canary Rockfish and Bocaccio
Document Number: 2014-26558
Type: Rule
Date: 2014-11-13
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
We, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), issue a final rule to designate critical habitat for three species of rockfish listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA): the threatened yelloweye rockfish (Sebastes ruberrimus) Distinct Population Segment (DPS), the threatened canary rockfish (S. pinniger) DPS, and the endangered bocaccio (S. paucispinus) DPS (listed rockfish) pursuant to section 4 of the ESA. The specific areas in the final designation include 590.4 square miles (1529 square km) of nearshore habitat for canary rockfish and bocaccio, and 414.1 square miles (1072.5 square km) of deepwater habitat for yelloweye rockfish, canary rockfish and bocaccio. This final designation represents a reduction of approximately 15.2 percent (180.3 sq mi, 467 sq km) for canary rockfish and bocaccio, and a reduction of approximately 28 percent (160 sq mi, 416.2 sq km) for yelloweye rockfish, compared to our proposed critical habitat rule on August 6, 2013 (78 FR 47635). We exclude some particular areas from designation because the benefits of exclusion outweigh the benefits of inclusion and exclusion of those areas will not result in the extinction of the species. No areas were excluded based on economic impacts. This final rule responds to and incorporates public comments received on the proposed rule and supporting documents, as well as peer reviewer comments received on our draft biological report.
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Groundfish Fishery; Gulf of Maine Haddock Annual Catch Limit Revision
Document Number: 2014-26748
Type: Rule
Date: 2014-11-12
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
This action implements new stock status determination criteria for Gulf of Maine (GOM) haddock and increases the associated GOM haddock catch limits for the remainder of fishing year 2014 based on the most recent and best available scientific information. This action is intended to provide additional commercial fishing opportunities for GOM haddock and other healthy groundfish stocks.
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries Off West Coast States; Biennial Specifications and Management Measures; Inseason Adjustments
Document Number: 2014-26744
Type: Rule
Date: 2014-11-12
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
This final rule announces inseason changes to management measures in the Pacific Coast groundfish fisheries. This action, which is authorized by the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (PCGFMP), is intended to allow fisheries to access more abundant groundfish stocks while protecting overfished and depleted stocks.
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
Document Number: 2014-26743
Type: Rule
Date: 2014-11-12
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the Eastern Aleutian district (EAI) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) by vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery. This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2014 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific ocean perch in the EAI allocated to vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery.
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper-Grouper Fishery Off the Southern Atlantic States; Regulatory Amendment 14
Document Number: 2014-26501
Type: Rule
Date: 2014-11-07
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS issues regulations to implement Regulatory Amendment 14 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (FMP) (Regulatory Amendment 14), as prepared and submitted by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council). This rule changes the fishing years for greater amberjack and black sea bass, revises the commercial trip limits for gag grouper (gag) and black sea bass, and revises the recreational accountability measures (AMs) for black sea bass and vermilion snapper. The purpose of Regulatory Amendment 14 and this rule is to help achieve optimum yield (OY) and enhance socio-economic opportunities within the snapper- grouper fishery in accordance with the requirements of the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).
New England Fishery Management Council; Public Hearings
Document Number: 2014-26489
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-11-07
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold twelve public hearings to solicit Public comments on Draft Omnibus Habitat Amendment 2 to the Habitat Fishery Management Plan (FMP).
Availability of Report: California Eelgrass Mitigation Policy and Implementing Guidelines
Document Number: 2014-26467
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-11-07
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS is issuing this notice to provide the final California Eelgrass Mitigation Policy (CEMP) and Implementing Guidelines by NMFS West Coast Region (WCR) to agencies and the public to ensure there is a clear and transparent process for developing eelgrass mitigation recommendations. The intent of the CEMP is to help ensure consistent, effective, and appropriate mitigation of unavoidable impacts to eelgrass habitat throughout California. It is anticipated that the adoption and implementation of this policy will provide for enhanced success of eelgrass mitigation in California. The CEMP and Implementing Guidelines, responses to comments received on the draft CEMP, and other supporting documents are available at https://wcr.nmfs.noaa.gov/habitat/ or by calling the contact person listed below or by sending a request to Korie.Schaeffer@noaa.gov. Please include appropriate contact information when requesting the documents.
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Amendment 96 to the Gulf of Alaska Fishery Management Plan; Management of Community Quota Entities
Document Number: 2014-26466
Type: Rule
Date: 2014-11-07
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS publishes regulations to implement Amendment 96 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP) and an amendment to the Pacific halibut commercial fishery regulations for waters in and off Alaska. Amendment 96 to the FMP and the regulatory amendment modify the Individual Fishing Quota Program for the Fixed- Gear Commercial Fisheries for Pacific Halibut and Sablefish in Waters in and off Alaska (IFQ Program). This action will remove a regulation that prohibits a Gulf of Alaska (GOA) Community Quota Entity (CQE) from transferring and holding small blocks of halibut and sablefish quota share (QS). This action will allow CQEs to acquire additional QS and facilitate CQE community resident participation in the IFQ Program. This action promotes the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982, the FMP, and other applicable law.
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery; Notification of Butterfish Quota Transfer
Document Number: 2014-26413
Type: Rule
Date: 2014-11-07
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS transfers quota to the 2014 butterfish domestic annual harvest allocation from the butterfish mortality cap on the longfin squid fishery in order to prevent an overage of the directed butterfish fishery. This action complies with the 2014 specifications and management measures for the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan.
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Bluefish Fishery; Quota Transfer
Document Number: 2014-26412
Type: Rule
Date: 2014-11-07
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS announces that the State of Florida is transferring a portion of its 2014 commercial bluefish quota to the State of New York. By this action, NMFS adjusts the quotas and announces the revised commercial quota for each state involved.
Fraser River Sockeye Salmon Fisheries; Inseason Orders
Document Number: 2014-26113
Type: Rule
Date: 2014-11-07
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS publishes Fraser River salmon inseason orders to regulate treaty and non-treaty (all citizen) commercial salmon fisheries in U.S. waters. The orders were issued by the Fraser River Panel (Panel) of the Pacific Salmon Commission (Commission) and subsequently approved and issued by NMFS during the 2014 salmon fisheries within the U.S. Fraser River Panel Area. These orders established fishing dates, times, and areas for the gear types of U.S. treaty Indian and all citizen commercial fisheries during the period the Panel exercised jurisdiction over these fisheries.
Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Commercial Fishing Operations; Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan Regulations; Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act Provisions; American Lobster Fishery
Document Number: 2014-26323
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2014-11-06
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS proposes to amend the regulations implementing the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan to modify the start date of the Massachusetts Restricted Area to begin on February 1, 2015, and to expand the Massachusetts Restricted Area by 912 square miles. In addition, this action also proposes to revise the Federal lobster regulations to be consistent with the revised start date of the Massachusetts Restricted Area. Recent Federal lobster regulations closed the Outer Cape Lobster Management Area to lobster trap fishing from January 15 through March 15, which is consistent with the lobster trap haul-out period in the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's Interstate Fishery Management Plan for American Lobster. This proposed rule would adjust the Outer Cape Lobster Management Area closure dates to February 1 through March 31.
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants: Notice of 12-Month Finding on a Petition To List the Queen Conch as Threatened or Endangered Under the Endangered Species Act (ESA)
Document Number: 2014-26324
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-11-05
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
We, NMFS, announce a 12-month finding and listing determination on a petition to list the queen conch (Strombus gigas) as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We have completed a comprehensive status report for the queen conch in response to the petition submitted by WildEarth Guardians. Based on the best scientific and commercial information available, including the status report (NMFS, 2014a), we have determined that the species does not warrant listing at this time. We conclude that the queen conch is not currently in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range nor is it not likely to become so within the foreseeable future.
Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish
Document Number: 2014-26243
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-11-05
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received 11 scientific research permit application requests relating to Pacific salmon, sturgeon, rockfish, and eulachon. The proposed research is intended to increase knowledge of species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and to help guide management and conservation efforts. The applications may be viewed online at: https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/ preview/preview_open_for_comment.cfm.
Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Abalone
Document Number: 2014-26242
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-11-05
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received one permit application request to modify an existing research and enhancement permit. The proposed research is intended to increase knowledge of species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and to help guide management, conservation, and recovery efforts. The application may be viewed online at: https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/preview/ preview_open_for_comment.cfm.
Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to a Pier Replacement Project
Document Number: 2014-26195
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-11-04
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as amended, notification is hereby given that we have issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to the U.S. Navy (Navy) to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment only, six species of marine mammals during construction activities associated with a pier replacement project at Naval Base Point Loma, San Diego, California.
Marine Mammals; Subsistence Taking of Northern Fur Seals; St. George Island, Alaska
Document Number: 2014-26177
Type: Rule
Date: 2014-11-04
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
This final rule modifies the subsistence harvest regulations for the Eastern Pacific stock of northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) based on a petition from the Pribilof Island Aleut Community of St. George Island, Traditional Council (Council). The final rule authorizes Pribilovians of St. George Island to harvest up to 150 male young of the year fur seals annually during a new autumn harvest season from all breeding and hauling grounds, consistent with traditional practices, to meet the community's nutritional and cultural needs. Harvests of sub-adult male fur seals will continue to be authorized during the summer season as under existing regulations, and will be allowed at additional locations. The total number of fur seals harvested annually will remain within the range of 300-500 male animals that has been in place since 1997. Harvests will be coordinated between NMFS and the Council under an existing co-management agreement.
Notice of Intent To Grant Exclusive License
Document Number: 2014-26085
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-11-04
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), intends to grant to Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) of San Diego, California, an exclusive license to U.S. Patent No. 7,289,907, ``SYSTEM FOR REPORTING HIGH RESOLUTION OCEAN PRESSURES IN NEAR REALTIME FOR THE PURPOSE OF TSUNAMI REPORTING'' issued on October 30, 2007.
North Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings
Document Number: 2014-26069
Type: Notice
Date: 2014-11-03
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) Fixed Gear Electronic Monitoring (EM) Workgroup will meet in Seattle, WA.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.