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

NMFS issues regulations to implement amendments 54 and 55 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) King and Tanner Crabs (Crab FMP). This final rule revises two provisions of the Crab Rationalization Program (CR Program) to do the following: change active crab fishery participation requirements for crab quota share (QS) established for catcher vessel crew (CVC) and catcher/processor crew (CPC), also called C Shares; expand individual processing quota (IPQ) exemptions for custom processing from processor use caps; and remove the processor facility use cap. These actions are intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), the Crab FMP, and other applicable laws.

The SEDAR 91 assessment process of U.S. Caribbean spiny lobster will consist of a Data Workshop, and a series of assessment webinars, and a Review Workshop. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council) Ad- hoc Sacramento River Fall Chinook (SRFC) Workgroup will hold a 2-day meeting in June 2024.

NMFS has received a request from Petrogas Pacific, LLC (Petrogas) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to Ferndale Pier Maintenance Activities in Ferndale, Washington. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to incidentally take marine mammals during the specified activities. NMFS is also requesting comments on a possible one-time, 1-year renewal 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.

NMFS announces the extension of the public comment period on our May 3, 2024, proposed rule to modify the regulations for Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) section 104 permits, including scientific research, enhancement, photography, and public display permits and Letters of Confirmation (LOCs). We published our proposed rule with a 30-day public comment period. Today we extend the public comment period by 15 days.

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.