National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration April 25, 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents
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International Fisheries; Pacific Tuna Fisheries; Safe Handling and Release Practices for Sharks on Longline Vessels and Revision to Vessel Monitoring System Requirements in the Eastern Pacific Ocean
NMFS is proposing regulations under the Tuna Conventions Act of 1950, as amended, to implement Resolutions C-23-07 (Conservation Measures for the Protection and Sustainable Management of Sharks) and C-23-11 (On the Establishment of a Vessel Monitoring System) adopted by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) at its meeting in August 2023 in Victoria, Canada. This proposed rule would implement provisions of these Resolutions and would require U.S. longline vessels fishing for tuna or tuna-like species in the eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) that have incidental shark catch to release sharks by leaving them in the water and cutting the branchline so that less than 1 meter remains on each animal. The proposed rule would also require large vessels fishing for tuna or tuna-like species in the EPO to make manual reports every six hours in the event of a malfunctioning vessel monitoring system (VMS) unit. This action is necessary for the United States to satisfy its obligations as a member of the IATTC.
Inspection and Certification of Establishments, Fishery Products, and Other Marine Ingredients
The NMFS Office of International Affairs, Trade, and Commerce proposes to revise its current implementing regulations to improve the uniformity and reliability of seafood inspection services by adopting recognized best practices for inspection. NMFS has not significantly revised or updated the existing regulations since first issuing them in 1971, though it has modified many operating procedures since implementation of the current regulations. NMFS anticipates that these revisions will benefit the seafood industry by streamlining seafood inspection services and providing improved, more accurate inspection results, as described below.
International Affairs; U.S. Fishing Opportunities in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization Regulatory Area
We are announcing 2024 fishing opportunities in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization Regulatory Area. This action is necessary to make fishing privileges in the Regulatory Area available on an equitable basis to the extent possible. The intended effect of this notice is to alert U.S. fishing vessels of fishing opportunities for yellowtail flounder, redfish, and Illex squid along with Atlantic halibut, to relay the available quotas available to U.S. participants, and to outline the process and requirements for vessels to apply to participate in the 2024 fishery in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization Regulatory Area.
Availability of Final Evaluation Findings of State Coastal Management Programs and National Estuarine Research Reserves
Notice is hereby given of the availability of final evaluation findings for seven State and territory coastal management programs (i.e., Alabama, Connecticut, Guam, Michigan, Ohio, Texas, and Virginia), and four national estuarine research reserves (i.e., He[revaps]eia, Grand Bay, Narragansett Bay, and Waquoit Bay), which were prepared pursuant to sections 312 and 315 of the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA).
Science Advisory Board
This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda for a meeting of the Science Advisory Board (SAB). The members will discuss issues outlined in the section on Matters to be Considered.
Ocean Research Advisory Panel (ORAP)
This notice sets forth a new schedule and proposed agenda of a meeting of the Ocean Research Advisory Panel (ORAP) that could not proceed on February 26, 2024 due to technical difficulties. At this new scheduled meeting, the members will discuss issues outlined in the section on Matters to be considered.
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