Economic Research Service August 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This emergency rule establishes a 1,600 Chinook salmon prohibited species catch (PSC) limit for the Western and Central Gulf of Alaska (GOA) Non-Rockfish Program trawl catcher vessel sector (Non- Rockfish Program CV Sector) that is immediately available for use by the sector until the limit is reached or December 31, 2015. On January 1, 2015, an annual Chinook salmon PSC limit of 2,700 Chinook salmon became available for use by the Non-Rockfish Program CV Sector implementing Amendment 97 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the GOA (FMP). On May 3, 2015, and considerably earlier than had been expected, NMFS prohibited directed fishing for groundfish by the Non-Rockfish Program CV Sector after determining that the sector had exceeded its annual PSC limit of 2,700 Chinook salmon. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council and NMFS recently discovered that the use of Chinook salmon PSC by the Non-Rockfish Program CV Sector in the first few months of 2015 was exorbitantly greater than the historical use, which was relied on in developing the Chinook salmon PSC limit for this sector, and that this discrepancy in use was not foreseen when the PSC limit of 2,700 Chinook salmon for the Non- Rockfish Program CV Sector was implemented under Amendment 97. Due to the directed fishing closure, significant amounts of non-pollock groundfish remain unharvested by the Non-Rockfish Program CV Sector, and fishermen, shoreside processors, and communities that participate in the Non-Rockfish Program CV Sector have limited alternatives to mitigate the resulting significant, negative economic effects. This emergency rule is necessary to relieve a restriction that is preventing non-pollock groundfish harvest by the Non-Rockfish Program CV Sector while continuing to limit the amount of Chinook salmon PSC used by this sector. This rule is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the FMP, and other applicable law.

Notice is hereby given that to Michael Adkesson, D.V.M., Chicago Zoological Society, 3300 Golf Rd., Brookfield, IL 60527 has been issued a minor amendment to Scientific Research Permit No. 15471- 01.

In accordance with a requirement of Public Law 106-513 (16 U.S.C. 1441(b)), NOAA hereby gives public notice of the methods, formulas and rationale for the calculations it will use in order to assess fees associated with special use permits (SUPs).

The NOAA Office for Coastal Management (OCM) announces its intent to evaluate the performance of the Weeks Bay and South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserves. The National Estuarine Research Reserve evaluations will be conducted pursuant to sections 312 and 315 of the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) and regulations at 15 CFR part 921, subpart E and part 923, subpart L. Evaluation of a National Estuarine Research Reserve requires findings concerning the extent to which a state has met the national objectives, adhered to its Reserve final management plan approved by the Secretary of Commerce, and adhered to the terms of financial assistance awards funded under the CZMA. The evaluation will include a public meeting, consideration of written and oral public comments and consultations with interested Federal, state, and local agencies and members of the public. When the evaluation is completed, OCM will place a notice in the Federal Register announcing the availability of the Final Evaluation Findings. Notice is hereby given of the date, local time, and location of the public meeting.

This document contains corrections to the preamble to the proposed regulations published on July 9, 2015, that would establish a framework for authorizing the take of marine mammals incidental to the NEFSC's fisheries research activities in the Atlantic coast region for a five-year period, 2015-2020. This action is necessary to correct errors in the estimates presented for Level B harassment of northern bottlenose whales (Hyperoodon ampullatus), dwarf sperm/pygmy sperm whales (Kogia spp.), bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), and harbor seals (Phoca vitulina). This action also corrects errors in the mortality estimates presented for gray seals (Haliochoerus grypus) and harbor seals. The Federal Register proposed rule indicated that written comments were due by August 10, 2015, which allowed 30 calendar days for public input. NMFS has decided to extend the public comment period by 7 calendar days, to August 17, 2015, which allows a total of 37 days for public input.

On May 5, 2015, NMFS published a final rule to implement fishery management measures for the 2015 ocean salmon fisheries off the coast of the states of Washington, Oregon, and California under the jurisdiction of the Pacific Fisheries Management Council (Council). This correcting amendment changes the date of an area closure in the recreational salmon fishery that was incorrect in the original rule; this will make the Federal rule consistent with State regulations.

The SEDAR 41 assessments of the South Atlantic stocks of red snapper and gray triggerfish will consist of a series of workshops and webinars: Data Workshop(s); an Assessment Workshop; and a Review Workshop. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

NMFS is temporarily closing the U.S. pelagic longline fishery for bigeye tuna for vessels over 24 meters in overall length in the eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) through December 31, 2015 because the 2015 catch limit of 500 metric tons is expected to be reached. This action is necessary to prevent the fishery from exceeding the applicable catch limit established by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) in Resolution C-13-01, which governs tuna conservation in the EPO from 2014-2016.

NMFS is issuing regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) to revise the prohibited species policy for highly migratory species off the U.S. West Coast. This action is necessary to accurately reflect the intent of the Fishery Management Plan for U.S. West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species.

NMFS announces that the Mid-Atlantic Scallop Access Area will close to Limited Access General Category Individual Fishing Quota scallop vessels for the remainder of the 2015 fishing year. No vessel issued a Limited Access General Category Individual Fishing Quota permit may fish for, possess, or land scallops from the Mid-Atlantic Scallop Access Area. Regulations require this action once it is projected that 100 percent of trips allocated to the Limited Access General Category Individual Fishing Quota scallop vessels for the Mid- Atlantic Scallop Access Area will be taken.

NMFS will hold a 2-day Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Advisory Panel (AP) meeting in September 2015. The intent of the meeting is to consider options for the conservation and management of Atlantic HMS. The meeting is open to the public.

NMFS announces that 12 American Samoa pelagic longline limited entry permits in three vessel size classes are available for 2015. NMFS is accepting applications for these available permits.

NMFS published a final rule on July 17, 2015, to, in part, implement provisions that would expand a portion of the northern boundary of the Cape Lookout Lophelia Banks Deepwater Coral Habitat Area of Particular Concern (Cape Lookout CHAPC). The final rule included coordinates for only the expansion of the Cape Lookout CHAPC instead of the coordinates for the existing CHAPC plus the expanded area. This notification corrects the coordinates for the Cape Lookout CHAPC to encompass the existing CHAPC plus the expanded area.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's (Council) Spiny Dogfish Advisory Panel (AP) will meet to review recent fishery performance and develop a Fishery Performance Report and/or other recommendations in preparation for the Council's setting of specifications at the October 2015 Council meeting.

We, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), propose regulations to amend the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) to implement the Endangered Species Act (ESA) regarding experimental populations. The CFR would be amended to establish definitions and procedures for: establishing and/or designating certain populations of species otherwise listed as endangered or threatened as experimental populations; determining whether experimental populations are ``essential'' or ``nonessential;'' and promulgating appropriate protective measures for experimental populations. We seek public comment on this proposal.