National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration September 19, 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS is transferring 21.7 metric tons (mt) of Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) quota from the Reserve category to the General category September time period resulting in an adjusted September time period subquota of 210 mt and a Reserve category quota of 5.7 mt. NMFS is also simultaneously closing the General category fishery for large medium and giant (i.e., measuring 73 inches (185 centimeters)) curved fork length or greater) BFT for the September time period. This action also waives the previously scheduled restricted-fishing days (RFDs) for the remainder of the September time period. With the RFDs waived during the closure, fishermen aboard General category permitted vessels and Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Charter/Headboat permitted vessels may tag and release BFT of all sizes, subject to the requirements of the catch-and- release and tag-and-release programs. On October 1, 2023, the fishery will reopen automatically and previously scheduled RFDs for October will resume.

The SEDAR 88 assessment of Gulf of Mexico red grouper will consist of a series of webinars. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

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.