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

The SEDAR 77 assessment of the Atlantic stock of hammerhead sharks will consist of a stock identification (ID) process, data webinars/workshop, a series of assessment webinars, and a review workshop. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

NMFS has received a request for Incidental Take Regulation (ITR) and associated Letter of Authorization (LOA) from Ocean Wind, LLC (Ocean Wind), a subsidiary of Orsted Wind Power North America, LLC's (Orsted) and a joint venture partner of the Public Service Enterprise Group Renewable Generation, LLC (PSEG), for the incidental take of small numbers of marine mammals during the construction of an offshore wind energy facility (Ocean Wind 1) in a designated lease area on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS-A-0498) offshore of New Jersey. The requested ITR would govern the authorization of take, by both Level A and Level B harassment, of small numbers of marine mammals over a 5- year period incidental to construction-related pile driving activities (impact and vibratory), potential unexploded ordnances or munitions and explosives of concern (UXOs/MECs) detonation, and high-resolution geophysical (HRG) site characterization surveys conducted by Ocean Wind in Federal and State waters off of New Jersey for the Ocean Wind 1 offshore wind energy facility. A final ITR would allow for the issuance of a LOA to Ocean Wind for a 5-year period. As required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS requests comments on its proposed rule. NMFS will consider public comments prior to making any final decision on the promulgation of the requested ITR and issuance of the LOA; agency responses to public comments will be summarized in the final notice of our decision.

Notice is hereby given of a virtual meeting of the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS[supreg]) Advisory Committee (Committee). The meeting is open to the public and an opportunity for oral and written comments will be provided.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Protected Resources Committee will hold a public meeting via webinar.

NMFS increases the 2022 Atlantic herring annual catch limit and Area 1A sub-annual catch limit by 1,000 metric tons (mt) for the remainder of 2022. This action is required by the herring regulations when, based on data through October 1, NMFS determines that the New Brunswick weir fishery landed less than 3,012 mt of herring. This notification informs the public of these catch limit changes.

We, NMFS's West Coast Region (WCR), announce receipt of an application for an enhancement of survival permit (Number 25838) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, and proposed entry into an associated Programmatic Safe Harbor Agreement (PSHA) between the NOAA Restoration Center (Applicant) and NMFS-WCR. The proposed enhancement of survival permit, which is issued by NMFS-WCR, and PSHA is intended to improve habitat conditions and promote the conservation and recovery of seven species of ESA-listed salmonids in Coastal California.

NMFS announces its intent to issue exempted fishing permits (EFPs), scientific research permits (SRPs), display permits, letters of acknowledgment (LOAs), and shark research fishery permits for Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) in 2023. EFPs and related permits would authorize collection of a limited number of HMS, including tunas, swordfish, billfishes, and sharks, from Federal waters in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico for the purposes of scientific research, data collection, the investigation of bycatch, and public display, among other things. LOAs acknowledge that scientific research activity aboard a scientific research vessel is being conducted. Generally, EFPs and related permits would be valid from the date of issuance through December 31, 2023, unless otherwise specified in the permit, subject to the terms and conditions of individual permits.

NMFS announces that the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council submitted Amendment 23 to the Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan to the Secretary of Commerce for review and approval. We are requesting comments from the public on this amendment in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. This amendment would implement a revised Atlantic mackerel rebuilding plan and the 2023 Atlantic mackerel specifications, including a 20-fish per person recreational possession limit. The purpose of this action is to rebuild the mackerel stock with appropriate measures so that optimum yield can be achieved on an ongoing basis.

NMFS solicits nominations for the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) Workshops Advisory Panel, also known as the ``SEDAR Pool.'' The SEDAR Pool is comprised of a group of individuals who may be selected to consider data and advise NMFS regarding the scientific information including, but not limited to, data and models used in stock assessments for oceanic sharks in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea. Nominations are being sought for 5-year appointments (2023-2028). Individuals with definable interests in the recreational and commercial fishing and related industries, environmental community, academia, and non-governmental organizations will be considered for membership on the SEDAR Pool.

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.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold three public hearings (one as a webinar) and accept written comments regarding an action intended to revise the species separation requirements in the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries.

The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) application contains all of the required information and warrants further consideration. The EFP would allow commercial fishing vessels to fish outside fishery regulations in support of research conducted by the applicant. 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 EFPs.

Notice is hereby given that two public meetings will be held for the purpose of providing information and receiving comments on the preliminary recommendation by the State of Louisiana that portions of the Atchafalaya River area be proposed to NOAA for designation as a National Estuarine Research Reserve.

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.

NOAA is soliciting nominations for Indigenous, Tribal, Native American, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian stakeholders from the Alaska or Pacific Ocean basin regions to join the Ocean Exploration Advisory Board (OEAB). The purpose of the OEAB is to advise the NOAA Administrator on matters pertaining to ocean exploration including (1) priority areas for survey and discovery; (2) development of a five-year strategic plan for the fields of ocean, marine, and Great Lake science, (3) exploration and discovery; and, (4) the annual review of the NOAA Ocean Exploration Competitive Grants Program process.

NMFS is prohibiting retention of the incidental catch allowance for Pacific ocean perch in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the 2022 total allowable catch of Pacific ocean perch apportioned to the incidental catch allowance in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA has been reached.

NMFS has received a request from Mayflower Wind, LLC (Mayflower Wind) for authorization to take small numbers of marine mammals incidental to the Mayflower Wind Project in a designated lease area on the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's (BOEM) Lease Area Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)-A-0521 offshore of Massachusetts, over the course of 5 years beginning on April 1, 2025. Pursuant to regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is announcing receipt of Mayflower Wind's request for the development and implementation of regulations governing the incidental taking of marine mammals and issuance of a 5-year Letter of Authorization (LOA). NMFS invites the public to provide information, suggestions, and comments on Mayflower Wind's application and request.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) and its advisory entities will hold online and in-person public meetings.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a meeting of its Habitat Protection and Ecosystem-Based Management Advisory Panel (Habitat AP).

This proposed rule would establish the 2023-24 harvest specifications for groundfish caught in the U.S. exclusive economic zone seaward of Washington, Oregon, and California, consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan. This proposed rule would also revise management measures intended to keep the total annual catch of each groundfish stock or stock complex within the annual catch limits. These proposed measures are intended to help prevent overfishing, rebuild overfished stocks, achieve optimum yield, and ensure management measures are based on the best scientific information available. This proposed rule would also make minor corrections to the regulations. Additionally, this proposed rule announces the receipt of exempted fishing permit applications. NMFS has made a preliminary determination that these applications warrant further consideration. NMFS requests public comment on these applications. This action also would implement portions of Amendment 30 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan, which would specify a shortbelly rockfish catch threshold to initiate Council review; extend the length of the limited entry fixed gear sablefish primary season; change the use of Rockfish Conservation Area boundaries; expand the use of Block Area Closures to control catch of groundfish; and correct the definition of Block Area Closures. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, NMFS also announces the availability of a draft environmental assessment that analyzes the potential effects of the associated proposed rule.

In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as amended, notification is hereby given that NMFS has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to Orsted Wind Power North America LLC (Orsted) to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment only, marine mammals during marine site characterization surveys offshore from Rhode Island to Massachusetts, including the areas of Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf Lease Areas OCS-A 0486, 0487, 0500, and along potential export cable routes (ECR)s to landfall locations between Raritan Bay and Falmouth, MA.