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

In accordance with the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is initiating a process to consider designating a portion of waters along and offshore of the central coast of California as a national marine sanctuary. NOAA is initiating this process based on the area's qualities and boundaries as described in the community-based nomination \1\ submitted on July 17, 2015, excluding any geographical overlap of the boundaries proposed for the Morro Bay 399 Area as described in the July 29, 2021 Federal Register notice.\2\ The designation process will be conducted concurrently with a public process under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to prepare an environmental impact statement. NOAA is initiating this public scoping process to invite comments on the scope and significance of issues to be addressed in the environmental impact statement that are related to designating this area as a national marine sanctuary. The results of this scoping process will assist NOAA in moving forward with the designation process, including preparation and release of draft designation documents, and in formulating alternatives for the draft environmental impact statement, including developing national marine sanctuary boundaries, regulations, and a management plan. This scoping process will also inform the initiation of any consultations with federal, state, or local agencies, tribes, and other interested parties, as appropriate.

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.

Notice is hereby given that permits and permit amendments have been issued to the following entities under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA), as applicable.

NMFS proposes regulations to clarify terms used in the Direct Enhancement of Snapper Conservation and the Economy through Novel Devices Act of 2020 (Descend Act). Section 3 of the Descend Act requires commercial and recreational fishermen to have a descending device or a venting tool on the vessel and ready for use when fishing for federally managed reef fish species in Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) Federal waters. The purpose of this proposed rule is to clarify the statutory definitions of descending device and venting tool.

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.

NMFS announces that the quotas for the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries for 2022 will remain status quo. NMFS also suspends the minimum size limit for Atlantic surfclams for the 2022 fishing year. Regulations for these fisheries require NMFS to notify the public of the allowable harvest levels for Atlantic surfclams and ocean quahogs from the Exclusive Economic Zone even if the previous year's quota specifications remain unchanged.

NMFS issues regulations related to Amendment 1, and Addendum 1 to Amendment 1, to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Migratory Group Cobia (Interstate FMP), as prepared and submitted by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). As described in Amendment 1 and Addendum 1, this final rule revises the commercial quota and the process for a commercial quota closure for Atlantic migratory group cobia (Atlantic cobia) in Federal waters. The purpose of this final rule is to increase the commercial quota as a result of the most recent stock assessment and to allow the ASMFC to monitor commercial landings for any needed commercial in-season closure while ensuring the long-term sustainability of the Atlantic cobia stock.

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 (2022-2027). 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 has received a request from the Maine Department of Transportation (MEDOT) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to the Falls Bridge Replacement Project in Blue Hill, Maine. 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-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 document. NMFS will consider public comments prior to making any final decision on the issuance of the requested MMPA authorizations and agency responses will be summarized in the final notice of our decision.

Notice is hereby given that the Office for Coastal Management, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce approves the revised management plans for the Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve in Wisconsin and the Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve in Texas. In accordance with applicable Federal regulations, the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension revised the Lake Superior Reserve's management plan, which replaces the plan previously approved in 2010, and the University of Texas at Austin revised the Mission-Aransas Reserve's management plan, which replaces the plan previously approved in 2015.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces the adoption of a Final Endangered Species Act (ESA) Recovery Plan for the endangered main Hawaiian Islands insular false killer whale (MHI IFKW) distinct population segment (DPS). The Final Recovery Plan (Plan) and associated Recovery Implementation Strategy for this species are now available.

NMFS issues this final rule to implement Amendment 14 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Salmon Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Off Alaska (Salmon FMP). Amendment 14 will incorporate the Cook Inlet EEZ Subarea into the Salmon FMP's West Area, thereby bringing the Cook Inlet EEZ Subarea and the commercial salmon fisheries that occur within it under Federal management by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and NMFS. This action will apply the prohibition on commercial salmon fishing that is currently established in the West Area to the newly added Cook Inlet EEZ Subarea. This final rule is necessary to comply with a U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruling and to ensure the Salmon FMP is consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). This final rule is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the Salmon FMP, and other applicable laws.

On behalf of the Alaska Mapping Executive Committee (AMEC), a Federal-state partnership to coordinate the modernization of critical Alaska map layers, NOAA requests review of the draft Alaska Coastal Mapping Strategy (ACMS) Implementation Plan from all interested parties. Through this request for information (RFI), AMEC's Coastal Subcommittee seeks input from the public on the Implementation Plan and its milestones targeted at improving the coordination and collection of coastal mapping in Alaska. AMEC seeks to ensure that program implementation is informed by and responsive to all sectors through sustained engagement and effective partnerships.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Ecosystem and Ocean Planning Advisory Panel will hold a public meeting.

NMFS announces that the State of North Carolina is transferring a portion of its 2021 commercial summer flounder quota to the State of Connecticut. This adjustment to the 2021 fishing year quota is necessary to comply with the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan quota transfer provisions. This announcement informs the public of the revised 2021 commercial quotas for North Carolina and Connecticut.

The SEDAR 78 assessment of the South Atlantic stock of Spanish mackerel will consist of a series of assessment webinars. A SEDAR 78 Data/Assessment Webinar 1 is scheduled for November 17, 2021. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Advisory Panel will hold a public webinar meeting, jointly with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Advisory Panel.

The SEDAR 80 stock assessment of U.S. Caribbean queen triggerfish will consist of a series of data webinars. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a one-day in-person and virtual (hybrid) meeting of its Standing, Reef Fish, Ecosystem and Socioeconomic Scientific and Statistical Committees (SSC).

This document corrects an inadvertent drafting error in final regulations published in the Federal Register on August 5, 2021, and effective on September 7, 2021. NMFS is reinstating a reporting requirement for the main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) non-commercial bottomfish fishery that was removed inadvertently in the final rule. The intent of this rule is to ensure continued timely monitoring and reporting of catch and other information.

This emergency rule temporarily extends the 2021 sablefish primary fishery for vessels using bottom longline gear from October 31, 2021, to December 31, 2021. This action is necessary to provide operational flexibility so that vessels in the sablefish primary fishery are able to fully harvest their tier limits despite high economic uncertainty in 2021. This action would also extend the incidental halibut retention allowance provision for the primary fishery north of Point Chehalis, Washington from October 31, 2021, to December 7, 2021.

Notice is hereby given that the NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science Center, 75 Virginia Beach, Miami, FL, 33149 (Responsible Party: Lisa Desfosse, Ph.D.) has applied in due form for a permit to take green (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), loggerhead (Caretta caretta), and unidentified sea turtles for purposes of scientific research.

NMFS increases the 2021 Atlantic herring annual catch limit and Area 1A sub-annual catch limit by 1,000 metric tons (mt). This action is required by the herring regulations when, based on data through October 1, the New Brunswick weir fishery lands less than 3,012 mt of herring. This notice informs the public of these catch limit changes.

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.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Scallop Survey Working Group 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.