National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration February 28, 2022 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In January 2022, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) requested written comments to facilitate the five-year review of the nomination for Hudson Canyon National Marine Sanctuary (NMS). NOAA requested relevant and new information pertaining to its 11 sanctuary nomination evaluation criteria. In particular, NOAA sought any additional details about the area's natural or cultural resources, emerging threats to these resources, and evolving management efforts or human uses in the proposed area (e.g., wind energy proposals). After reviewing the information gathered through the public process and completing an internal analysis of readily-available and relevant information on the proposed area, NOAA has determined the Hudson Canyon NMS nomination will remain on the inventory until at least February 23, 2027.

The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold its 143rd Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), Pelagic and International Standing Committee, Executive and Budget Standing Committee, and 190th Council meetings to take actions on fishery management issues in the Western Pacific Region.

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

NMFS proposes to approve, and implement through regulations, measures included in Amendment 23 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan, which the New England Fishery Management Council adopted and submitted to NMFS for approval. This action would adjust the existing industry-funded at-sea monitoring program for groundfish sectors to improve the accuracy of collected catch data (landings and discards) and catch accounting. The measures selected by the New England Fishery Management Council in Amendment 23 are intended to ensure there is a precise and accurate representation of catch to set catch limit levels that prevent overfishing and determine when catch limits are exceeded.