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

NMFS is holding a meeting to discuss the future management of the U.S. West Coast Pacific bluefin tuna (PBF) fishery, including management objectives and a management framework. Given recent developments related to Coronavirus/COVID-19, we have decided to reschedule this meeting originally planned for April 23, 2020. We are taking this step out of an abundance of caution to consider the safety of our visitors. The new date for this meeting is May 19, 2020.

The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit application submitted by the Northeast Fisheries Science Center in support of the 2020 Study Fleet Program contains all of the required information and warrants further consideration. This Exempted Fishing Permit would exempt participating vessels from minimum fish sizes and possession limits for species of interest, for sampling purposes only. Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act require publication of this notice to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on Exempted Fishing Permit applications.

The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold meetings of its Archipelagic Plan Team (APT) and the Data Collection Subpanel (DCSP) of the Fishery Data Collection and Research CommitteeTechnical Committee (FDCRC-TC) by web conference to discuss fishery management issues and develop recommendations for future management of fisheries in the Western Pacific Region.

In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as amended, notification is hereby given that we have issued two successive incidental harassment authorizations (IHA) to the Port of Alaska (POA), authorizing the take of small numbers of marine mammals incidental to construction of the Petroleum and Cement Terminal (PCT), Anchorage, Alaska.

NMFS proposes management measures for the 2020 summer flounder recreational fishery. The implementing regulations for this fishery require NMFS to publish recreational measures for the fishing year and to provide an opportunity for public comment. The intent of this action is to constrain recreational catch to the summer flounder recreational harvest limit and thereby, prevent overfishing on the summer flounder stock.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council's (Council) will hold a meeting of its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) via webinar. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council) Southern Resident Killer Whale Workgroup (Workgroup) will host a webinar, which is open to the public.

This final action will undertake a review process to collect and review data to evaluate the continued need for the Northeastern United States Closed Area and the Spring Gulf of Mexico Gear Restricted Area; remove the Cape Hatteras Gear Restricted Area; and adjust the Gulf of Mexico gear requirements to shorten the duration of required weak hook use from year-round to seasonal (January-June). NMFS has adopted a suite of measures to manage bluefin tuna bycatch in the pelagic longline fishery for Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS), including mandatory weak hook use, time/area closures, gear restricted areas, and electronic monitoring and the Individual Bluefin Quota (IBQ) Program adopted in 2015 through Amendment 7 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP. However, quotas for target species have continued to be significantly underharvested and available IBQ allocation remains unused at the end of each year, indicating that all of the measures in tandem may not be necessary to appropriately limit incidental catch of bluefin tuna in the pelagic longline fishery and may not best achieve other management objectives, such as allowing fishermen a reasonable opportunity to harvest available quotas. These actions will ensure that conservation obligations are met and that bluefin bycatch continues to be minimized, but in a way that is not unnecessarily restrictive of pelagic longline fishery effort.

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 comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, and implementing regulations, notification is hereby given that a Letter of Authorization (LOA) has been issued to the U.S. Navy (Navy) for the take of marine mammals incidental to construction activities at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, California.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council, NEFMC) will hold a two-day webinar meeting to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Due to federal and state travel restrictions and updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding the new coronavirus, COVID-19, this meeting will be conducted entirely by webinar. The notice for this meeting was published on March 26, 2020 and is available at https:// www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/03/26/2020-06263/new-e ngland- fishery-management-council-public- meeting?utm_campaign=subscription+mailing+list&utm_source=fed eralregiste r.gov&utm_medium=email. Since that time, the Council has added one important overarching agenda item and expanded the scope of two others. This notice alerts the public of the revised agenda.

NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amounts of the Aleut Corporation's pollock directed fishing allowances from the Aleutian Islands subarea to the Bering Sea subarea directed fisheries. These actions are necessary to provide opportunity for harvest of the 2020 total allowable catch of pollock, consistent with the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area.

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

NMFS has received a request from Gastineau Channel Historical Society (GCHS) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to Sentinel Island Moorage Float project near Juneau, Alaska. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to incidentally take marine mammals during the specified activities. NMFS is also requesting comments on a possible one-year renewal that could be issued under certain circumstances and if all requirements are met, as described in Request for Public Comments at the end of this notice. NMFS will consider public comments prior to making any final decision on the issuance of the requested MMPA authorizations and agency responses will be summarized in the final notice of our decision.

NMFS announces that the date for the Atlantic Shark Identification workshop originally scheduled for April 2, 2020, in Wilmington, NC has been changed to July 2, 2020. Also, NMFS is postponing the Safe Handling, Release, and Identification workshops originally scheduled for Houston, TX on March 17, 2020; Kitty Hawk, NC on April 1, 2020; and Revere, MA on April 3, 2020. The dates for these workshops have been changed to June 26, 2020, June 29, 2020, and June 16, 2020, respectively. The dates are being changed due to concerns about the spread of the COVID-19 virus associated with traveling to, and attending, the originally scheduled workshops. The workshop times and locations remains unchanged: 12 p.m.-4 p.m. for the Atlantic Shark Identification workshop; and, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the Safe Handling, Release, and Identification workshops. The remaining workshops in May and June 2020 remain unchanged, unless further noticed. Atlantic Shark Identification workshops are mandatory for federally-permitted Atlantic shark dealers. Safe Handling, Release, and Identification workshops are mandatory for shark and swordfish limited-access permit holders who fish with longline or gillnet gear. Additional free workshops will be conducted during 2020.

NMFS approves and implements Framework Adjustment 32 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan. This action is necessary to set scallop specifications and other measures for fishing years 2020 and 2021, and implement measures to protect small scallops and reduce bycatch of flatfish. This action is intended to prevent overfishing and improve both yield-per-recruit and the overall management of the Atlantic sea scallop resource.

This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda for the meeting of the Science Advisory Board (SAB). The members will discuss issues outlined in the section on Matters to be considered.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) has cancelled a public meeting of its Groundfish Advisory Panel that was scheduled for Thursday, April 2, 2020.

Notice is hereby given that the NMFS Alaska Fisheries Science Center's Marine Mammal Laboratory (MML), 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115-6349 (Responsible Party: John Bengtson, Ph.D.), has applied in due form for a permit to import, export, and receive marine mammal parts for scientific research.

This announcement provides notice that the Department of Commerce (Department) has stayed, for a period of 14 days, closure of the decision record in an administrative appeal filed by WesternGeco (Appellant) under the Coastal Zone Management Act, requesting that the Secretary override an objection by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control to a consistency certification for a proposed project to conduct a marine Geological and Geophysical seismic survey in the Atlantic Ocean.

The New England Fishery Management Council's is convening a Public Hearing of Draft Amendment 23 to Northeast Multispecies Fishery 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 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.