National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration July 28, 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action approves and implements Framework Adjustment 61 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan. This rule revises the status determination criteria for Georges Bank and Southern New England-Mid Atlantic winter flounder, implements a revised rebuilding plan for white hake, sets or adjusts catch limits for 17 of the 20 multispecies (groundfish) stocks, and implements a universal exemption for sectors to target Acadian redfish. This action is necessary to respond to updated scientific information and to achieve the goals and objectives of the fishery management plan. The final measures are intended to help prevent overfishing, rebuild overfished stocks, achieve optimum yield, and ensure that management measures are based on the best scientific information available.

NMFS has received a request from the United States Navy for the re-issuance of a previously issued incidental harassment authorization (IHA) with the only change being effective dates. The initial IHA authorized take of one species of marine mammals, by Level B harassment, incidental to construction associated with the Floating Dry Dock Project at Naval Base San Diego in San Diego, California. The project has been delayed and none of the work covered in the initial IHA has been conducted. The initial IHA was effective from September 15, 2020, through September 14, 2021. The Navy has requested re- issuance with new effective dates of September 15, 2021, through September 14, 2022. The scope of the activities and anticipated effects remain the same, authorized take numbers are not changed, and the required mitigation, monitoring, and reporting remains the same as included in the initial IHA. NMFS is, therefore, issuing a second identical IHA to cover the incidental take analyzed and authorized in the initial IHA.