National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration November 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Alaska Region Permit Family of Forms
Document Number: 2020-26371
Type: Notice
Date: 2020-11-30
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.
New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
Document Number: 2020-26348
Type: Notice
Date: 2020-11-30
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Herring Committee 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.
Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Port of Kalama Expansion Project on the Lower Columbia River
Document Number: 2020-26344
Type: Notice
Date: 2020-11-30
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 NMFS has issued a Renewal incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to the Port of Kalama (POK) to incidentally harass marine mammals incidental to construction activities associated with an expansion project at the POK on the Lower Columbia River, Washington.
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Shark Management Measures; 2021 Research Fishery
Document Number: 2020-26325
Type: Notice
Date: 2020-11-30
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS announces its request for applications for the 2021 shark research fishery from commercial shark fishermen with directed or incidental shark limited access permits. The shark research fishery allows for the collection of fishery-dependent and biological data for future stock assessments and to meet the research objectives of the Agency. The only commercial vessels authorized to land sandbar sharks are those participating in the shark research fishery. Shark research fishery permittees may also land other large coastal sharks (LCS), small coastal sharks (SCS), smoothhound, and pelagic sharks. Commercial shark fishermen who are interested in participating in the shark research fishery need to submit a completed Shark Research Fishery Permit Application to be considered.
North Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
Document Number: 2020-26318
Type: Notice
Date: 2020-11-30
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) Bering Sea Fishery Ecosystem Plan Climate Change Taskforce will meet December 14, 2020 and December 16, 2020, via webconference.
Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; Pacific Island Fisheries; Public Meeting
Document Number: 2020-26317
Type: Notice
Date: 2020-11-30
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS and the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene a Western Pacific Stock Assessment Review (WPSAR) of a 2020 stock assessment update for seven deep-water bottomfish species (``Deep 7'' bottomfish complex) in the Main Hawaiian Islands.
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Herring Fishery; 2020 Directed Fishery Closure for Atlantic Herring Management Area 1B
Document Number: 2020-26303
Type: Rule
Date: 2020-11-30
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS is closing the directed fishery for Herring Management Area 1B. This closure is required because NMFS projects that 92 percent of the catch allotted to Management Area 1B has been caught. This action is intended to prevent overharvest of Atlantic herring in Management Area 1B, which would result in additional quota reductions next year.
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council); Public Meetings
Document Number: 2020-26242
Type: Notice
Date: 2020-11-27
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The GMFMC and SAFMC will host informational webinars on behalf of NOAA Fisheries regarding the implementation of the Southeast For- Hire Electronic Reporting Program.
Fisheries of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic; Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR); Public Meeting
Document Number: 2020-26241
Type: Notice
Date: 2020-11-27
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The SEDAR 68 assessment process of Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic scamp will consist of a series of data and assessment webinars, and a Review Workshop. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
Fisheries of the South Atlantic; Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR); Public Meeting
Document Number: 2020-26240
Type: Notice
Date: 2020-11-27
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The SEDAR 73 assessment of the South Atlantic stock of red snapper will consist of a data scoping webinar, a workshop, and a series of assessment webinars. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
Document Number: 2020-26238
Type: Notice
Date: 2020-11-27
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) is conducting four online workshops as part of its Fishery Ecosystem Plan Climate and Communities Initiative. Each workshop will have a regional focus (see Supplementary Information).
Fisheries of the Gulf of Mexico; Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR); Public Meeting
Document Number: 2020-26237
Type: Notice
Date: 2020-11-27
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The SEDAR 72 assessment of Gulf of Mexico gag grouper will consist of a series of data and assessment webinars. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 2020 Commercial Closure for South Atlantic Gray Triggerfish
Document Number: 2020-26233
Type: Rule
Date: 2020-11-27
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS implements an accountability measure for the commercial sector of gray triggerfish in the South Atlantic exclusive economic zone (EEZ). NMFS projects commercial landings of gray triggerfish will reach the commercial annual catch limit (ACL) for the July through December season by November 29, 2020. Therefore, NMFS is closing the commercial sector for gray triggerfish in the South Atlantic EEZ on November 29, 2020. This closure is necessary to protect the gray triggerfish resource.
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries
Document Number: 2020-26218
Type: Rule
Date: 2020-11-27
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS is transferring 19.5 metric tons (mt) of Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) quota from the Reserve category to the General category. This action is intended to provide additional opportunities for General category fishermen to participate in the December General category fishery, which is scheduled to reopen on December 1, 2020, and is based on consideration of the regulatory determination criteria regarding inseason adjustments. This action would affect Atlantic tunas General category (commercial) permitted vessels and Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Charter/Headboat category permitted vessels with a commercial sale endorsement when fishing commercially for BFT.
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
Document Number: 2020-26217
Type: Rule
Date: 2020-11-27
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 sector fishery. This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2020 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific ocean perch in the EAI allocated to vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access sector fishery.
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Atka Mackerel in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
Document Number: 2020-26213
Type: Rule
Date: 2020-11-27
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the Bering Sea subarea and Eastern Aleutian District (BS/EAI) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) by vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access sector fishery. This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2020 total allowable catch (TAC) of Atka mackerel in the BS/EAI allocated to vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access sector fishery.
Endangered and Threatened Species; Initiation of a 5-Year Review for the Arctic, Okhotsk, Baltic, and Ladoga Subspecies of the Ringed Seal
Document Number: 2020-26212
Type: Notice
Date: 2020-11-27
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS announces its intent to conduct a 5-year review of the threatened Arctic (Pusa hispida hispida), Okhotsk (Pusa hispida ochotensis), Baltic (Pusa hispida botnica), and endangered Ladoga (Pusa hispida ladogensis) subspecies of the ringed seal. NMFS is required by the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to conduct 5-year reviews to ensure that listing classifications of species are accurate. The 5-year review must be based on the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review. We request submission of any such information on these ringed seal subspecies, particularly information on their status, threats, and recovery, that has become available since their listing on December 28, 2012 (77 FR 76706).
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife; 90-Day Finding on a Petition to Delist the Arctic Subspecies of Ringed Seal Under the Endangered Species Act
Document Number: 2020-26211
Type: Notice
Date: 2020-11-27
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
We (NMFS) announce a negative 90-day finding on a petition to delist the Arctic subspecies of ringed seal (Pusa hispida hispida) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We find that the petition and information readily available in our files does not present new information or analyses that had not been previously considered and therefore does not present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted. Nevertheless, we note that we are separately initiating a five-year review of the status of the Arctic ringed seal pursuant to section 4(c)(2) of the ESA, including whether the best scientific and commercial data available indicate delisting is warranted.
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Exempted Fishing, Scientific Research, Display, and Shark Research Fishery Permits; Letters of Acknowledgment
Document Number: 2020-26193
Type: Notice
Date: 2020-11-27
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS announces its intent to issue exempted fishing permits (EFPs), scientific research permits (SRPs), display permits, letters of acknowledgment (LOAs), and shark research fishery permits for Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) in 2021. EFPs and related permits would authorize collection of a limited number of Atlantic HMS, including tunas, swordfish, billfishes, and sharks, from Federal waters in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico for the purposes of scientific research, data collection, the investigation of bycatch, and public display, among other things. LOAs acknowledge that scientific research activity aboard a scientific research vessel is being conducted. Generally, EFPs and related permits would be valid from the date of issuance through December 31, 2021, unless otherwise specified in the permit, subject to the terms and conditions of individual permits.
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC); Public Meetings
Document Number: 2020-26142
Type: Notice
Date: 2020-11-27
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold public meetings of the Council.
Fisheries Off West Coast States; West Coast Salmon Fisheries; Rebuilding Chinook Salmon Stocks
Document Number: 2020-26042
Type: Rule
Date: 2020-11-27
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS issues a final rule under the authority of the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) to approve and implement rebuilding plans recommended by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) for two overfished salmon stocks: Klamath River fall-run Chinook salmon (KRFC) and Sacramento River fall-run Chinook salmon (SRFC). NMFS determined in 2018 that these stocks were overfished under the MSA, due to spawning escapement falling below the required level for the three-year period 2015-2017. The MSA requires overfished stocks to be rebuilt, generally within 10 years.
Federal Consistency Appeal by Jordan Cove Energy Project, L.P. and Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline, LP
Document Number: 2020-25721
Type: Notice
Date: 2020-11-27
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
This announcement provides notice that the decision record has closed for an administrative appeal filed by Jordan Cove Energy Project, L.P. and Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline, LP (collectively, ``Appellants'') under the Coastal Zone Management Act. Appellants have requested that the NOAA Administrator, pursuant to authority delegated by the Secretary of Commerce to decide Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (CZMA) federal consistency appeals, override an objection by the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development to a consistency certification for a proposed project to construct and operate a liquefied natural gas export terminal and a 229-mile natural gas pipeline and compressor station off the Pacific Coast.
Endangered and Threatened Species; Critical Habitat for the Threatened Caribbean Corals
Document Number: 2020-21229
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2020-11-27
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
We, NMFS, propose to designate critical habitat for the threatened Caribbean corals: Orbicella annularis, O. faveolata, O. franksi, Dendrogyra cylindrus, and Mycetophyllia ferox pursuant to section 4 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Twenty-eight mostly overlapping specific occupied areas containing physical features essential to the conservation of all these coral species are being proposed for designation as critical habitat; these areas contain approximately 15,000 square kilometers (km\2\; 5,900 square miles (mi\2\)) of marine habitat. We have considered positive and negative economic, national security, and other relevant impacts of the proposed designations, and we propose to exclude one area from the critical habitat designations due to anticipated impacts on national security. We are soliciting comments from the public on all aspects of the proposal, including our identification of the geographical area and depths occupied by the species, the physical and biological feature essential to the coral species' conservation and identification, areas not included and excluded, and consideration of impacts of the proposed action.
Endangered and Threatened Species; Critical Habitat for the Threatened Indo-Pacific Corals
Document Number: 2020-21226
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2020-11-27
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
We, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), propose to designate critical habitat for the seven threatened corals in U.S. waters in the Indo-Pacific (Acropora globiceps, Acropora jacquelineae, Acropora retusa, Acropora speciosa, Euphyllia paradivisa, Isopora crateriformis, and Seriatopora aculeata) pursuant to section 4 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Seventeen specific occupied areas containing physical features essential to the conservation of these coral species are being proposed for designation as critical habitat; these areas contain approximately 600 square kilometers (km\2\; 230 square miles) of marine habitat. We have considered positive and negative economic, national security, and other relevant impacts of the proposed designations, and we propose to exclude two areas from the critical habitat designations due to anticipated impacts on national security. We are soliciting comments from the public on all aspects of the proposal, including our identification of the geographical area and depths occupied by the species, the physical and biological feature essential to the coral species' conservation and identification, areas not included and excluded, and consideration of impacts of the proposed action.
Meeting of the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee
Document Number: 2020-26124
Type: Notice
Date: 2020-11-25
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
This notice sets forth the proposed schedule and agenda of a forthcoming meeting of the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC). The members will discuss and consider priorities and recommendations for the next four years and other organizational matters.
Fisheries of the South Atlantic; Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR); Public Meetings
Document Number: 2020-26117
Type: Notice
Date: 2020-11-25
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The SEDAR 66 stock assessment of the South Atlantic stock of Tilefish will consist of a data scoping webinar, a workshop, and a series of assessment webinars. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Arrowtooth Flounder in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
Document Number: 2020-26105
Type: Rule
Date: 2020-11-25
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for arrowtooth flounder in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2020 arrowtooth flounder initial total allowable catch (ITAC) in the BSAI.
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Several Groundfish Species in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
Document Number: 2020-26102
Type: Rule
Date: 2020-11-25
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS apportions amounts of the non-specified reserve to the initial total allowable catch (ITAC) of Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) arrowtooth flounder, BSAI ``other flatfish,'' Bering Sea subarea and Eastern Aleutian District (BS/EAI) blackspotted/rougheye rockfish, Western Aleutian District and Central Aleutian District (WAI/CAI) blackspotted/rougheye rockfish, BSAI skates; and to the total allowable catch (TAC) of BSAI Alaska plaice. This action is necessary to allow the fisheries to continue operating. It is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the fishery management plan for the BSAI management area.
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery; Extend an Emergency Action To Extend Portions of the Fishing Year 2019 Scallop Carryover Provisions
Document Number: 2020-25995
Type: Rule
Date: 2020-11-24
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
This temporary rule extends emergency measures that extend portions of the fishing year 2019 carryover provisions in the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan into the 2020 fishing year published on June 1, 2020 (85 FR 33027), which is scheduled to expire on November 29, 2020. This action is necessary to prevent the Limited Access General Category Individual Fishery Quota vessels from losing any carryover granted by this emergency action and to prevent the Nantucket Lightship-West Access Area from opening on November 29, 2020. This action is intended to provide additional time for Limited Access General Category Individual Fishery Quota vessels to land the 2019 carryover allocation granted by the original emergency action and to provide the New England Fishery Management Council additional time to develop a plan for the management of the Nantucket Lightship-West Access Area while it remains closed.
Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to the Service Pier Extension Project on Naval Base Kitsap Bangor, Washington
Document Number: 2020-25953
Type: Notice
Date: 2020-11-24
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS received a request from the United States Navy (Navy) on October 14, 2020, for a modification to the incidental harassment authorization (IHA) that was issued on July 3, 2019 due to an elevated harbor seal take rate that was unanticipated. A small group of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) repeatedly entered into and remained within the Level A harassment zone, resulting in a take rate that was projected to exceed the authorized limit for this species. The Navy felt that without an increase in authorized take of harbor seal they would be forced to repeatedly shut down whenever animals entered into specified Level A harassment zones, which would impede their ability to get the work done in the time needed. Therefore, NMFS is proposing to modify the IHA to increase authorized take by Level A harassment of harbor seal. NMFS is also proposing to revise the shutdown mitigation provisions for harbor seals in the modified IHA. The monitoring and reporting measures remain the same as prescribed in the initial IHA and no additional take was requested for other species. NMFS will consider public comments on the requested modification prior to making any final decision and agency responses will be summarized in the final notice of our decision.
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Blueline Tilefish Fishery; 2020 Blueline Tilefish Commercial Quota Harvested
Document Number: 2020-25925
Type: Rule
Date: 2020-11-24
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal commercial tilefish permit holders are prohibited from fishing for, catching, possessing, transferring or landing tilefish in the Tilefish Management Unit for the remainder of the 2020 fishing year. This action is required when NMFS projects that 100 percent of the 2020 total allowable landings will have been caught by the effective date. This action is intended to prevent over-harvest of blueline tilefish for the fishing year.
Reopening of Public Comment Period for the Regulatory Impact Review on the Proposed Expansion of Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary
Document Number: 2020-25838
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2020-11-23
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of National Marine Sanctuaries is providing the public with an opportunity to comment on NOAA's Regulatory Impact Review (RIR), a supporting document to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for the expansion of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS). While NOAA summarized the RIR in the proposed rule for this action, due to an oversight, the RIR was not included as a supporting document when the NPRM was published. The comment period for the NPRM that was published on May 1, 2020 closed on July 3, 2020. With this notice, NOAA will only accept comments on the RIR, and any other comments on the proposed expansion will not be considered.
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea Subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
Document Number: 2020-25834
Type: Rule
Date: 2020-11-23
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod, except for the Community Development Quota program (CDQ), in the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the non-CDQ allocation of the 2020 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI.
Pacific Island Fisheries; 2020 U.S. Territorial Longline Bigeye Tuna Catch Limits for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Document Number: 2020-25806
Type: Rule
Date: 2020-11-23
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS announces a valid specified fishing agreement that allocates up to 1,000 metric tons (t) of the 2020 bigeye tuna limit for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) to U.S. longline fishing vessels. The agreement supports the long-term sustainability of fishery resources of the U.S. Pacific Islands, and fisheries development in the CNMI.
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; North Pacific Observer Safety Survey
Document Number: 2020-25765
Type: Notice
Date: 2020-11-23
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.
New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
Document Number: 2020-25735
Type: Notice
Date: 2020-11-23
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Scallop Committee 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.
New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
Document Number: 2020-25734
Type: Notice
Date: 2020-11-23
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Scallop Advisory Panel 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.
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Summer Flounder Fishery; Quota Transfer from NC to CT
Document Number: 2020-25717
Type: Rule
Date: 2020-11-23
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS announces that the State of North Carolina is transferring a portion of its 2020 commercial summer flounder quota to the State of Connecticut. This quota adjustment is necessary to comply with the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan quota transfer provisions. This announcement informs the public of the revised commercial quotas for North Carolina and Connecticut.
Fisheries Off West Coast States; Delay Implementation of West Coast Groundfish Electronic Monitoring Program
Document Number: 2020-25432
Type: Rule
Date: 2020-11-23
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
This final rule delays implementation of the Electronic Monitoring (EM) Program for the West Coast Groundfish Trawl Rationalization Program to January 1, 2022. NMFS is making this change to provide additional time for industry and prospective service providers to prepare for implementation, to strengthen Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and industry support for the EM program, and to increase participation when it is implemented in 2022.
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Bluefish Fishery; Quota Transfer From MD to NC
Document Number: 2020-25705
Type: Rule
Date: 2020-11-20
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS announces that the State of Maryland is transferring a portion of its 2020 commercial bluefish quota to the State of North Carolina. This quota adjustment is necessary to comply with the Atlantic Bluefish Fishery Management Plan quota transfer provisions. This announcement informs the public of the revised commercial bluefish quotas for Maryland and North Carolina.
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife; 90-Day Finding on a Petition To List the Giant Devil Ray as Threatened or Endangered Under the Endangered Species Act
Document Number: 2020-25625
Type: Notice
Date: 2020-11-20
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
We, NMFS, announce a 90-day finding on a petition to list the giant devil ray (Mobula mobular) as an endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The petition requests that we list the giant devil ray (M. mobular) as a distinct species with a limited range throughout the Mediterranean Sea. Information in our files indicates a recent taxonomic revision that found M. mobular and M. japanica (spinetail devilray) to be synonymous species (i.e., same taxon described and named more than once independently) with circumglobal distribution in tropical and warm temperate seas. The petition relies on obsolete information to identify the species, and therefore we find that the petition does not present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted.
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of Alaska; Revised Final 2020 and 2021 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish
Document Number: 2020-25004
Type: Rule
Date: 2020-11-20
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS publishes revisions to the final 2020 and 2021 harvest specifications for the 2021 groundfish fisheries of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) that are required by the final rule implementing Amendment 109 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP). This action is necessary to revise the 2021 seasons associated with the pollock fishery and revise the trawl catcher vessel sector's Pacific cod seasonal apportionments of the total allowable catch in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA. The intended effect of this action is to conserve and manage the groundfish resources in the GOA in accordance with the FMP and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.
New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
Document Number: 2020-25588
Type: Notice
Date: 2020-11-19
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Herring Advisory Panel 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.
Caribbean Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
Document Number: 2020-25587
Type: Notice
Date: 2020-11-19
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The Caribbean Fishery Management Council (CFMC) will hold the 172nd public meeting (virtual) to address the items contained in the tentative agenda included in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings
Document Number: 2020-25586
Type: Notice
Date: 2020-11-19
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold meetings of the following: Snapper Grouper Committee; Dolphin Wahoo Committee; Habitat and Ecosystem-Based Management Committee, Mackerel Cobia Committee; Executive Committee (partially Closed Session); and Citizen Science Committee. The meeting week will also include a formal public comment session and a meeting of the Full Council (with a partially Closed Session). Due to public health concerns associated with COVID-19 and current travel restrictions, the meeting originally planned for Wrightsville Beach, NC will be held via webinar.
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region; Regulatory Amendment 27; Correction
Document Number: 2020-25498
Type: Rule
Date: 2020-11-19
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS corrects the final rule that implemented management measures described in Regulatory Amendment 27 (Regulatory Amendment 27) to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (Snapper-Grouper FMP), which published in the Federal Register on January 27, 2020. That final rule modified management measures for commercially-caught red porgy in the South Atlantic exclusive economic zone (EEZ). In that final rule, NMFS inadvertently neglected to remove a regulation prohibiting the sale and purchase of red porgy during the months of January through April. The purpose of this correcting amendment is to fix that error.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.