National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration March 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS closes the southern area Angling category fishery for large medium and giant (``trophy'' (i.e., measuring 73 inches curved fork length or greater)) Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT). This action is being taken to prevent overharvest of the Angling category southern area trophy BFT subquota.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels using jig gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2019 Pacific cod total allowable catch apportioned to vessels using jig gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.

NMFS has received a request from the U.S. Navy (Navy) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to training and testing activities conducted in the Mariana Islands Training and Testing (MITT) Study Area for a period of seven years, from August, 2020 through August, 2027. Pursuant to regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is announcing receipt of the Navy's request for the development and implementation of regulations governing the incidental taking of marine mammals. NMFS invites the public to provide information, suggestions, and comments on the Navy's application and request.

This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of a forthcoming meeting of the Ocean Exploration Advisory Board (OEAB). OEAB members will discuss and provide advice on Federal ocean exploration programs, with a particular emphasis on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (OER) activities. The OEAB will discuss its response to the Education Subcommittee review recommendations, the Blue Economy, National Ocean Exploration Forums, developments in technology related to ocean exploration, and other matters as described in the agenda found on the OEAB website at https://oeab.noaa.gov. Time and Dates: The announced meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 26, 2019 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PDT and Wednesday, March 27, 2019 from 9:00 to 5:00 p.m. PDT.

NMFS proposes to approve changes to the Pacific Halibut Catch Sharing Plan for the International Pacific Halibut Commission's regulatory Area 2A off Washington, Oregon, and California. In addition, NMFS proposes to implement the portions of the Plan and management measures that are not implemented through the International Pacific Halibut Commission. These measures include the recreational fishery seasons and allocations and management measures for Area 2A. These actions are intended to conserve Pacific halibut and provide angler opportunity where available.

NMFS announces final 2019 and 2020 harvest specifications, apportionments, and Pacific halibut prohibited species catch limits for the groundfish fishery of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to establish harvest limits for groundfish during the remainder of the 2019 and the start of the 2020 fishing years and to accomplish the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska. The 2019 harvest specifications supersede those previously set in the 2018 and 2019 harvest specifications, and the 2020 harvest specifications will be superseded in early 2020 when the final 2020 and 2021 harvest specifications are published. The intended effect of this action is to conserve and manage the groundfish resources in the GOA in accordance with the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

NMFS and the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene a Western Pacific Stock Assessment Review (WPSAR) of three 2019 benchmark stock assessments for bottomfish in American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), and Guam.

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.

Notice is hereby given that Sean Todd, Ph.D., College of the Atlantic, 105 Eden Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, has applied in due form for a permit to receive, import, and export marine mammals parts for scientific research.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 610 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the B season allowance of the 2019 total allowable catch of pollock for Statistical Area 610 in the GOA.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Groundfish 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 New England Fishery Management Council is convening its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) via webinar 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 Caribbean Fishery Management Council will hold public hearings to provide an overview of the island-based fishery management plan that pertains to the island at which we present. For Puerto Rico the audience will be presented with the ``Comprehensive Fishery Management Plan for the Puerto Rico Exclusive Economic Zone''; for St. Thomas/St. John the audience will be presented with the ``Comprehensive Fishery Management Plan for the St. Thomas/St. John Exclusive Economic Zone''; for St. Croix the audience will be presented with the ``Comprehensive Fishery Management Plan for the St. Croix Exclusive Economic Zone.'' The audience will be provided with an overview of each plan, they will then be given the time and opportunity to comment on their island's plan.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold a meeting of its System Management Plan (SMP) Workgroup via webinar.

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

In 2018 the Southeast Revitalization Association (SRA) conducted a bid selection process accepting 36 bids to remove Southeast Alaska Purse Seine salmon permits under a proposed second fishing capacity reduction loan program. In accordance with regulations, the SRA submitted a reduction plan to NMFS to implement the proposed second loan reduction program. From February 4, 2019 through March 6, 2019, NMFS conducted a referendum in which a majority of the fisheries 315 permit holders voted to approve a $10,127,988 loan to remove 36 permits, which post reduction harvesters will repay in fees over a 40 year period. Accordingly, NMFS is preparing to tender reduction payments to the accepted bidders and implement a fee-collection system to repay the second loan.

NMFS announces final 2019 and 2020 harvest specifications, apportionments, and prohibited species catch allowances for the groundfish fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to establish harvest limits for groundfish during the remainder of the 2019 and the start of the 2020 fishing years, and to accomplish the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP). The 2019 harvest specifications supersede those previously set in the final 2018 and 2019 harvest specifications, and the 2020 harvest specifications will be superseded in early 2020 when the final 2020 and 2021 harvest specifications are published. The intended effect of this action is to conserve and manage the groundfish resources in the BSAI in accordance with the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).

The SEDAR 60 assessment of the South Atlantic stock of Red Porgy will consist of a series of webinars. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

NMFS announces the 2019 recreational fishing seasons for the private angling and Federal charter vessel/headboat (for-hire) components for red snapper in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) through this temporary rule. The season for the recreational sector for red snapper in the Gulf EEZ opens on June 1, each year. For recreational harvest by the private angling component, the season closes at 12:01 a.m., local time, June 1, 2019. NMFS has issued exempted fishing permits (EFPs) that allow each Gulf state (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida) to set the private recreational season for red snapper that are landed from state and Federal waters in that state during 2018 and 2019. For recreational harvest by the Federal for-hire component, the season closes at 12:01 a.m., local time, on August 2, 2019. These closures are necessary to prevent the private angling and Federal for-hire components from exceeding their respective quotas, equivalent to annual catch limits (ACLs), for the 2019 fishing year and to prevent overfishing of the Gulf red snapper resource.

The Acting Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit application contains all of the required information and warrants further consideration. This Exempted Fishing Permit would exempt seven commercial fishing vessels from limited access sea scallop regulations in support of a study on the feasibility of transplanting and monitoring scallops transplanted from one offshore area to another. Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act require publication of this notification to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for proposed Exempted Fishing Permits.

NMFS is hereby making a technical amendment to our regulations without altering the substance of the regulations. This change will correct a paragraph mis-numbering.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 610 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2019 total allowable catch of pollock for Statistical Area 610 in the GOA.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is issuing this advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) to seek the public and regulated community's input on what changes could be made to NOAA's Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) federal consistency regulations to make the federal consistency process more efficient across all stages of OCS oil and gas projects from leasing to development, as well as renewable energy projects. NOAA is also seeking comments on whether NOAA could process appeals in less time and increase the predictability in the outcome of an appeal. NOAA further invites comment on the potential costs that could be incurred by small entities during CZMA consistency appeals if NOAA revises the federal consistency regulations to provide greater efficiency and predictability as discussed in this Notice.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) will convene a pre-assessment workshop to review proposed data and modeling approaches for groundfish stock assessments scheduled for assessment this year. The pre-assessment workshop will be followed by a skates historical catch reconstruction workshop to prepare for assessments of big and longnose skates scheduled for later this year. Both workshops are open to the public. The workshops will also be streamed online via webinar to facilitate remote participation.

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.