National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration October 21, 2022 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific cod from trawl catcher vessels to Amendment 80 trawl catcher/processors in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to allow the 2022 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod to be harvested.

The New England Fishery Management Council's 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 Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a half-day meeting of its Coral Advisory Panel (AP) via webinar.

NMFS issues regulations to implement management measures described in Amendment 32 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Coastal Migratory Pelagic (CMP) Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region (CMP FMP), as prepared and submitted by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Councils). This final rule and Amendment 32 revise the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) migratory group of cobia (Gulf group cobia) catch limits, possession limit and minimum size limits, establish a Gulf group cobia commercial trip limit and recreational vessel limit, and revise the CMP FMP framework procedures. This final rule also clarifies the Gulf group cobia sale and purchase restrictions. The purpose of this final rule and Amendment 32 is to end overfishing of Gulf group cobia, update catch limits to be consistent with the best scientific information available, and revise management measures to help constrain landings to the catch limits.