National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration May 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS closes the Angling category Gulf of Mexico area fishery for large medium and giant ("trophy" (i.e., measuring 73 inches (185 centimeters) curved fork length or greater)) Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT). This action applies to Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling and HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessels when fishing recreationally.

In this final rule, NMFS is modifying the process of scheduling restricted-fishing days (RFDs) by codifying a schedule of RFDs for the 2024 fishing year and subsequent fishing years, setting an additional non-codified RFD for the 2024 fishing year, establishing a General category default retention limit for large medium or giant bluefin tuna (BFT) on open days (i.e., non-RFDs), and clarifying the BFT dealer regulations and the definition of a bluefin statistical document (BSD) tag. This final action is necessary to increase the likelihood of pacing General category landings to extend fishing opportunities through a greater portion of the General category time period subquotas. Lastly, this final action clarifies existing regulations to ensure better understanding and compliance by General category quota participants.

NMFS announces a public meeting of the 32nd General Advisory Committee (GAC) to the U.S. Section to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) and the 17th Scientific Advisory Subcommittee (SAS) to the GAC. This meeting will be held on July 22 and 23, 2024, via webinar. The meeting topics are described under the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice.

The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary determination that an exempted fishing permit application contains all of the required information and warrants further consideration. The exempted fishing permit would allow federally permitted fishing vessels to fish outside fishery regulations in support of exempted fishing activities proposed by the Coonamessett Farm Foundation. Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act require publication of this notification to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for proposed exempted fishing permits.

Following the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's (Commission) withdrawal of Lobster Conservation Management Area 2 and 3 ownership caps and Area 3 maximum trap cap reductions from its Interstate Fishery Management Plan for American Lobster (Lobster Plan), this action removes those requirements from Federal regulations and clarifies that all other measures included in the October 2, 2023, interim final rule (IFR) remain in effect. This action is intended to support the Commission's management of the lobster fishery and eliminate the potential for inconsistent State and Federal regulations that risk undermining management of the fishery and is necessary to ensure that fishery regulations for the lobster fishery in Federal waters remain compatible with the Lobster Plan and consistent with the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act (Atlantic Coastal Act).

NMFS corrects the final rule published on May 10, 2024, to implement Amendment 56 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (Amendment 56). The final rule excluded a reference to the recreational annual catch target in the recreational accountability measures for gag. This correction fixes that omission.

In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, its implementing regulations, and NMFS' MMPA Regulations for Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Geophysical Surveys Related to Oil and Gas Activities in the Gulf of Mexico, notification is hereby given that a Letter of Authorization (LOA) has been issued to Echo Offshore LLC (Echo) for the take of marine mammals incidental to geophysical survey activity in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM).

On April 30, 2024, NMFS published a final rule to implement amendment 16 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Salmon Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska. The final rule included an incorrect length for drift gillnet gear and an unclear heading title. These corrections fix these errors.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a webinar meeting of its Scallop Advisory Panel 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 New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public hybrid meeting of Herring Advisory Panel 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 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office for Coastal Management, will hold an in-person public meeting to solicit input on the performance evaluation of the Old Woman Creek National Estuarine Research Reserve. NOAA also invites the public to submit written comments.

NMFS has received a request from Orsted Wind Power North America, LLC (Orsted), for an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) that is identical to an IHA previously issued to Orsted authorizing the take of marine mammals, by Level B harassment only, incidental to marine site characterization surveys conducted off the coast of Delaware in the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lease Area OCS-A 0482 and 0519 (Lease Areas), and the associated export cable route (ECR) area. The only changes from the previously issued IHAs involve the updated marine mammal population estimates, marine mammal density data, and take estimates, as well as the new effective dates for the IHA. Accordingly, pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an IHA to incidentally take marine mammals during specified activities. NMFS is also requesting comments on a possible 1- year renewal IHA that could be issued under certain circumstances and if all requirements are met, as described in Request for Public Comments at the end of this notice. NMFS will consider public comments prior to making any final decision on the issuance of the requested MMPA authorization and agency responses will be summarized in the final notice of our decision. The IHA would be valid for one year from the effective date.

The Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) within NOAA NWS seeks information from interested parties regarding a possible revision to the Space Weather Scales (SWS), which are issued to communicate to the public current and future space weather conditions and possible effects on people and systems.

Notice is hereby given that ONMS will solicit applications to fill non-governmental seats on its 17 established national marine sanctuary advisory councils and the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve Advisory Council (advisory councils), under the National Marine Sanctuaries Act and the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve Executive Order, respectively. Note, the list of 18 established advisory councils in the Contact Information for Each Site section includes the advisory council established for the Proposed Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary and the Proposed Hudson Canyon National Marine Sanctuary. Vacant seats, including positions (i.e., primary and alternate), for each of the advisory councils will be advertised differently at each site in accordance with the information provided in this notice. This notice contains web page links and contact information for each site, as well as additional resources on advisory council vacancies and the application process.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office for Coastal Management, will hold a virtual public meeting to solicit input on the performance evaluation of the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program. NOAA also invites the public to submit written comments.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public hybrid meeting of its Joint Groundfish Advisory and Recreational Panels 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.

Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received one permit application submitted by California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to enhance the propagation and survival of species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, for a 5-year period. This document serves to notify the public of the availability of the permit application for review and comment, prior to a decision by NMFS whether to issue the permit. The permit application may be viewed online at: https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/preview/preview_open_for_comment.c fm.

The SEDAR 84 assessment process of U.S. Caribbean yellowtail snapper and stoplight parrotfish will consist of a Data Workshop, and a series of assessment webinars, and a Review Workshop. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is holding a hybrid meeting of its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) 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 Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold its 152nd Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), Fishing Industry Advisory Committee (FIAC), Fishery Data Collection and Research Committee (FDCRC), Executive and Budget Standing Committee (SC), and its 199th Council meetings to take actions on fishery management issues in the Western Pacific Region.

NMFS proposes to implement an annual catch limit (ACL) and annual catch target (ACT) for bottomfish in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) for fishing years 2024 and 2025. This proposed action would not revise, add, or remove the most recent current accountability measure (AM) in our regulations. Under that AM, NMFS would reduce the ACL and ACT in the following fishing year by the amount of the overage if the average catch from the most recent 3 years exceeds the ACL. This proposed rule would support the long-term sustainability of the CNMI bottomfish fishery.

This notice advises the public that a direct take permit has been issued pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) for research and enhancement purposes in the San Joaquin River Basin, Central Valley, California. Permit 20571-2R has been issued to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for implementation of one Hatchery and Genetic Management Plan associated with the San Joaquin River Restoration Program's (SJRRP) Salmon Conservation and Research Facility, operating to reintroduce Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon to the San Joaquin River and collection of broodstock to facilitate said reintroduction. The Final Environmental Assessment (EA) incorporates, where appropriate, agency and public comments received on the Draft EA, which was available for public review from November 24, 2023, to December 24, 2023. During the public comment period of the Draft EA, NOAA received no comments; as a result no changes were made. This document has been prepared in compliance with the Council on Environmental Quality's (CEQ) National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations currently in effect.

This emergency rule implements 2024 specifications for the Atlantic spiny dogfish fishery. This action is necessary to establish allowable harvest levels for the spiny dogfish fishery to prevent overfishing while minimizing adverse economic impacts on fishing communities, using the best scientific information available.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory bodies will meet June 7-13, 2024 in San Diego, CA and via webinar. The Council meeting will be live streamed with the opportunity to provide public comment remotely. The following groups will meet in person in San Diego: Habitat Committee, Scientific and Statistical Committee, Groundfish Management Team, Groundfish Advisory Subpanel, Budget Committee, Legislative Committee, Equity and Environmental Justice Committee, Highly Migratory Species Advisory Subpanel, Highly Migratory Species Management Team, and Enforcement Consultants. The Salmon Advisory Subpanel will meet remotely. Additionally, the Council will be hosting the Highly Migratory Species Workshop on June 6-7, 2024.

Through this final rule, NMFS establishes fishery management measures for the ocean salmon fisheries off Washington, Oregon, and California for the season beginning May 16, 2024, and ending May 15, 2025 (the 2024 ocean salmon fishing season), under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA). The fishery management measures establish fishing areas, seasons, quotas, legal gear, recreational fishing days and catch limits, harvest guidelines, possession and landing restrictions, and minimum lengths for salmon taken in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off Washington, Oregon, and California. The management measures are intended to prevent overfishing while achieving, on a continuing basis, the optimum yield from the fishery, and to apportion the ocean harvest equitably among treaty Indian, and non-Indian commercial and recreational fisheries. The measures are also intended to allow a portion of the salmon runs to escape the ocean fisheries in order to provide for spawning escapement, comply with applicable law, and to provide fishing opportunity for fisheries occurring in State waters.