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

NMFS announces a closure for the 2025 fishing season for the red snapper recreational private angling component in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off Texas in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) through this temporary rule. The red snapper recreational private angling component in the Gulf EEZ off Texas will close at 12:01 a.m., local time, on January 1, 2025, until 12:01 a.m., local time, on June 1, 2025. This closure is necessary to prevent the private angling component from exceeding the Texas regional management area annual catch limit (ACL) and to prevent overfishing of the Gulf red snapper resource.

NMFS proposes a revision to the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) to update the description of the western North Pacific gray whale distinct population segment (DPS) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 in light of the best available science. The proposed revision is informed by our recently completed 5-year review and a DPS analysis prepared by a Status Review Team. We do not propose to change the ESA-listing status of western North Pacific gray whales, which are classified as an endangered species.

Notice is hereby given of the two-year renewed charter for the Marine and Coastal Area-based Management Advisory Committee (MCAM), effective on December 6, 2024.

NMFS announces that the State of New Jersey is transferring a portion of their 2024 commercial bluefish quota to the State of North Carolina. This quota adjustment is necessary to comply with the Atlantic Bluefish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) quota transfer provisions. This announcement informs the public of the revised 2024 commercial bluefish quotas for New Jersey and North Carolina.

The SEDAR 87 assessment process of Gulf of Mexico white, pink, and brown shrimp will consist of a Data Workshop, a series of assessment webinars, and a Review Workshop. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) will host an online meeting of the Area 2A Pacific halibut governmental management entities that is open to the public.

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 implements a closure in Federal waters off Georgia through New York for Atlantic migratory group cobia (Atlantic cobia) that are harvested and sold (commercial). Commercial landings of Atlantic cobia are projected to reach the commercial quota on December 18, 2024. Therefore, NMFS closes the commercial sector for Atlantic cobia in Federal waters. This closure is necessary to protect the Atlantic cobia resource.

NMFS is proposing to modify an existing incidental harassment authorization (IHA) issued to Bay State Wind, LLC (Bay State Wind) on October 3, 2024, authorizing take of marine mammals incidental to marine site characterization surveys conducted off the coasts of Rhode Island and Massachusetts 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 0500 and the associated export cable route (ECR) area. While conducting said marine site characterization surveys, Bay State Wind has encountered common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) at a rate greater than anticipated under the analysis for that IHA and, therefore, requests that NMFS modify the IHA to increase the number of authorized take by Level B harassment for that species only. No other changes to the IHA were requested or are proposed herein, and the expiration date remains unchanged. NMFS will consider public comments on the requested modification prior to making any final decision and agency responses will be summarized in the final notice of our decision.

NMFS announces that the State of New York is transferring a portion of their 2024 commercial bluefish quota to the State of North Carolina. This quota adjustment is necessary to comply with the Atlantic Bluefish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) quota transfer provisions. This announcement informs the public of the revised 2024 commercial bluefish quotas for New York and North Carolina.

NMFS is issuing and modifying regulations under the Tuna Conventions Act (TCA) of 1950, as amended, to implement two Resolutions adopted at the 101st Meeting of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) in August 2023. These Resolutions include Resolution C-23-03 (Amendment to Resolution C-99-07 on Fish Aggregating Devices) and Resolution C-23-04 (On the Design and Biodegradability of Drifting Fish Aggregating Devices (DFADs) in the IATTC Area of Competence). This final rule modifies regulations for the design of fish aggregating devices (FADs) in the eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) to require that they be designed with non-entangling and biodegradable materials. The rule also requires that vessel owners and operators collect data related to the recovery, disposal, or recycling of FADs and submit these data to the IATTC, unless the information is already collected and submitted to the IATTC by an observer.

NMFS has received a request from the University of California Santa Cruz for authorization to take small numbers of marine mammals incidental to rocky intertidal monitoring along the coasts of Oregon and California over the course of 5 years from the date of issuance. Pursuant to regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is announcing receipt of the University of California Santa Cruz's request for the development and implementation of regulations governing the incidental taking of marine mammals. NMFS invites the public to provide information, suggestions, and comments on the University of California Santa Cruz's application and request.

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 (GOM), notification is hereby given that NMFS has modified the expiration date of a Letter of Authorization (LOA) issued to Shell Offshore Inc. (Shell) for the taking of marine mammals incidental to geophysical survey activity in the GOM.

NMFS proposes 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications, apportionments, and prohibited species catch allowances for the groundfish fisheries of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) management area. This action is necessary to establish harvest limits for groundfish during the 2025 and 2026 fishing years and to accomplish the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP). The 2025 harvest specifications supersede those previously set in the final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications, and the 2026 harvest specifications will be superseded in early 2026 when the final 2026 and 2027 harvest specifications are published. The intended effect of this action is to conserve and manage the groundfish resources in the BSAI in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is providing notice that the final rule published on October 16, 2024, to designate Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary (CHNMS), is effective on November 30, 2024.

NMFS issues this notice to inform the public that there will be a decrease of the fee rate required to repay the reduction loan financing the non-pollock groundfish fishing capacity reduction program. Effective January 1, 2025, NMFS is decreasing the Loan A fee rate to $0.016 per pound to ensure timely repayment of the loan. The fee rate for Loan B will remain unchanged at $0.001 per pound. The decreased fee rate is due to a recalculation based on the required amortization target and projected non-pollock groundfish Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for 2025, as well as a temporary adjustment related to 2024 Season B.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is soliciting comments from the public regarding a proposed revision of the management plan for the Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (NBNERR). A management plan provides a framework to guide a reserve's programs, track progress toward meeting its goals, and identify potential opportunities or changes in direction. It is also used to guide programmatic evaluations. Management plan revisions are required at least every five years. This draft, revised management plan is intended to replace the NBNERR management plan approved in 2010.

Notice is hereby given that Humble Bee Films (Responsible Party: Natasha Busjeet), 8 Elmdale Road, Bristol, BS8 1SL, United Kingdom, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct commercial and educational photography on humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae).

NMFS proposes 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications, apportionments, and Pacific halibut prohibited species catch (PSC) limits for the groundfish fisheries of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to establish harvest limits for groundfish during the 2025 and 2026 fishing years and to accomplish the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the GOA (FMP). The 2025 harvest specifications supersede those previously set in the final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications, and the 2026 harvest specifications will be superseded in early 2026 when the final 2026 and 2027 harvest specifications are published. The intended effect of this action is to conserve and manage the groundfish resources in the GOA in accordance with the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).

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 Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold its 154th Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), Executive and Budget Standing Committee (SC) and its 201st Council meeting to take actions on fishery management issues in the Western Pacific Region.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the Eastern Aleutian district (EAI) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) by vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access sector fishery. This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2024 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific ocean perch in the EAI allocated to vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access sector fishery.