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

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Groundfish Committee 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.

This proposed rule would establish requirements to safeguard fishery observers and would establish prior notification procedures for observer placement. NMFS seeks comments on this proposed rule issued under authority of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention Implementation Act (WCPFC Implementation Act). This action is necessary to satisfy the obligations of the United States under the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (Convention), to which it is a Contracting Party.

This final rule announces routine inseason adjustments to management measures in commercial groundfish fisheries. This action is intended to allow commercial fishing vessels to access more abundant groundfish stocks while protecting rebuilding and depleted stocks.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council's (Council) will hold a meeting of the Snapper Grouper Advisory Panel (AP) on November 4-6, 2020.

NMFS is opening directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. This action is necessary to fully use the 2020 total allowable catch of Pacific ocean perch specified for the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area.

NMFS implements management measures described in Amendment 9 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Coral and Coral Reefs of the Gulf of Mexico (Amendment 9) and an associated framework action to the FMP, as prepared by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council). This final rule establishes new habitat areas of particular concern (HAPCs), some of which include a prohibition of the deployment of bottom-tending gear, and modifies fishing regulations for the other existing HAPCs in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf). Additionally, this final rule implements complementary management measures for Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) in the Gulf. The purpose of this final rule is to protect coral essential fish habitat (EFH) in the Gulf.

Notice is hereby given that the Final Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) associated with the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW)'s Trinity River Hatchery and Genetic Management Plan (HGMP) for Southern Oregon Northern California Coast coho salmon hatchery production is now available to the public. The Trinity River Hatchery is located in Trinity County, California.

Notice is hereby given that the Matson Laboratory, LLC (Responsible Party: Carolyn Nistler), has applied for an amendment to Scientific Research Permit No. 21045.

NMFS issues regulations to implement a management measure described in Regulatory Amendment 33 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (Snapper-Grouper FMP), as prepared and submitted by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council). This final rule removes the 4-day minimum season length requirement for South Atlantic red snapper (commercial or recreational). The purpose of this final rule is to improve access to South Atlantic red snapper, particularly for the recreational sector.

The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold virtual meetings of its Fishing Industry Advisory Committee (FIAC) and Non-Commercial Fisheries Advisory Committee (NCFAC) to discuss and make recommendations on fishery management issues in the Western Pacific Region.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a meeting of its Dolphin Wahoo Advisory Panel (AP) on October 28, 2020.

NMFS is exchanging unused rock sole Community Development Quota (CDQ) for yellowfin sole CDQ acceptable biological catch (ABC) reserves in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to allow the 2020 total allowable catch (TAC) of yellowfin sole in the BSAI to be harvested.

On behalf of the Ocean Policy Committee, Ocean Science and Technology Subcommittee, and the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) as Co- Chairs of the Ocean Policy Committee, the National Ocean Mapping, Exploration, and Characterization Council (NOMEC Council) requests input from all interested parties on the development of an Implementation Plan for the National Strategy for Ocean Mapping, Exploring, and Characterizing the United States Exclusive Economic Zone (U.S. EEZ) (``National Strategy''). Through this Request for Information (RFI), the NOMEC Council seeks input from the public on engaging stakeholders in developing the Implementation Plan for the National Strategy, and the processes that will ensure implementation is informed by and responsive to all sectors through sustained engagement and effective partnerships.

Notice is hereby given of the availability of final evaluation findings of state coastal programs and national estuarine research reserves. The NOAA Office for Coastal Management has completed review of the Coastal Zone Management Program evaluations for the states and territories of California, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Minnesota, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. In addition, the NOAA Office for Coastal Management has completed review of the National Estuarine Research Reserve evaluations for Great Bay, Hudson River, Kachemak Bay, North Inlet-Winyah Bay, Old Woman Creek, and Rookery Bay, and Sapelo Island. Copies of these final evaluation findings may be downloaded at http://coast.noaa.gov/czm/evaluations/ evaluation_findings/index.html or by submitting a written request to the person identified under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of a forthcoming meeting of the National Sea Grant Advisory Board (Board). Board members will discuss and provide advice on the National Sea Grant College Program (NSGCP) in the areas of program evaluation, strategic planning, education and extension, science and technology programs, and other matters as described in the agenda found on the NSGCP website at http://seagrant.noaa.gov/WhoWeAre/Leadership/ NationalSeaGrantAdvisoryBoard/UpcomingAdvisoryBoardMeetings.a spx. This notice also responds to the Sea Grant Program Improvement Act of 1976, which requires the Secretary of Commerce to solicit nominations at least once a year for membership on the National Sea Grant Advisory Board. To apply for membership to the Board applicants should submit a current resume. A cover letter highlighting specific areas of expertise relevant to the purpose of the Board is helpful, but not required. Nominations will be accepted by email (preferred) or U.S. mail (See Contact Information Section). NOAA is an equal opportunity employer.

The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary determination that Exempted Fishing Permits to facilitate the use of fishing year 2020 and 2021 monkfish research set-aside days-at-sea warrant further consideration. This notice provides interested parties the opportunity to comment on the proposed Exempted Fishing Permits.

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 [Oslash]rsted Wind Power North America, LLC, ([Oslash]rsted) to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment only, marine mammals during marine site characterization surveys in coastal waters from New York to Massachusetts in the areas of the Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS-A 0486/0517, OCS-A 0487, and OCS-A 0500) and along potential export cable routes to shoreline locations from New York to Massachusetts.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) Charter Halibut Management Committee will meet via webconference on October 27, 2020.

The SEDAR 71 assessment of the South Atlantic stock of Gag Grouper will consist of a data webinar and a series assessment webinars.

NMFS announces that the State of New Hampshire is transferring a portion of its 2020 commercial bluefish quota to the State of North Carolina. This quota adjustment is necessary to comply with the Atlantic Bluefish Fishery Management Plan quota transfer provisions. This announcement informs the public of the revised commercial bluefish quotas for New Hampshire and North Carolina.

The Groundfish Subcommittee of the Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council's) Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will hold an online meeting to review proposed length-based assessment methods. The meeting is open to the public.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a meeting of Wreckfish Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) Shareholders and Wholesale Dealers.

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 the Point Blue Conservation Science (Point Blue) to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment only, marine mammals during seabird research activities in central California.

On September 28, 2020, NMFS published a notice in the Federal Register announcing that NMFS had received an application for an amendment to Permit No. 23807 from Plimsoll Productions Limited, 51-55 Whiteladies Road, Bristol, BS8 2LY, United Kingdom (Responsible Party: Anuschka Schofield). That document did not reflect that filming may also occur up to 3 miles offshore from Colleton County, SC. This document corrects this error. All other information is unchanged.