National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration January 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Notice is hereby given of the next meeting of the Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee (MPAFAC) in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.

On January 3, 2005, NMFS published a notification that the New England Fishery Management Council and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council have submitted Amendment 2 to the Monkfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) (Amendment 2) incorporating the draft Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (FSEIS), Regulatory Impact Review (RIR), and the Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA), for Secretarial review and requested comments from the public. Amendment 2 was developed to address essential fish habitat and bycatch issues, and to revise the FMP to address several issues raised during the public scoping process. In the January 3, 2005, notification, NMFS inadvertently referred to this action as a proposed interim rule. This document corrects that error.

The Groundfish Stock Assessment Review (STAR) Panel for Pacific hake (Whiting) will hold a work session which is open to the public.

Notice is hereby given that a request for modification of scientific research Permit No. 1429 submitted by the National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) has been granted.

Notice is hereby given that Dr. James Hain, Associated Scientists at Woods Hole, Woods Hole, MA has been issued an amendment to a permit for scientific research on a variety of cetaceans in the North Atlantic, including endangered right whales (Eubalaena glacialis).

NMFS proposes initial specifications for the 2005 fishing year for Atlantic mackerel, squid, and butterfish (MSB). Regulations governing these fisheries require NMFS to publish proposed specifications for the upcoming fishing year and to provide an opportunity for public comment. The intent of this action is to fulfill this requirement and to promote the development and conservation of the MSB resources.

The SEDAR Steering Committee will meet to discuss the SEDAR schedule; receive updates on SEDAR 7, Gulf of Mexico red snapper and SEDAR 8, Caribbean yellowtail snapper and spiny lobster; discuss the process for conducting assessment updates; establish the assessment schedule for 2005 and 2006; and clarify objectives for the 2005 CY budget. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

The State of Florida, along with the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (GMFMC) and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC), will hold a data workshop, the first in a series of three workshops, to evaluate the stock status of the spiny lobster.

On December 2, 2004, the proposed List of Fisheries (LOF) for 2005 under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) was published in the Federal Register. NMFS is extending the comment period on this proposed LOF to March 4, 2005.

The Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary (CBNMS or Sanctuary) is seeking applicants for the following vacant seats on its Sanctuary Advisory Council (Council): Community At Large, Maritime Activities, Research, Education, Conservation. Applicants are chosen based upon their particular expertise and experience in relation to the seat for which they are applying; community and professional affiliations; philosophy regarding the protection and management of marine resources; and possibly the length of residence in the area affected by the Sanctuary. Applicants who are chosen as members should expect to serve 2-3 year terms, pursuant to the Council's Charter.

In accordance with section 306 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended (CZMA), OCRM is considering whether to approve Washington's proposed amendment to incorporate the revised WA SMP Guidelines Rule as an amendment to its federally approved WCZMP. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, OCRM will conduct scoping meetings as an opportunity for federal and state agencies, local governments and their citizenry, and representatives of non-governmental organizations, American Indian tribes, or any other interest persons to identify to OCRM what impacts or issues should be addressed in the Environment Impact Statement (EIS).

In accordance with provisions of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as amended, notification is hereby given that an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) has been issued to the Monterey County Department of Public Works (Monterey County DPW) to take small numbers of marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to the replacement of the Sandholdt Road Bridge (Bridge) in Moss Landing, Monterey County, CA.

NMFS issues final specifications for the 2005 and 2006 summer flounder fisheries and for the 2005 scup and black sea bass fisheries, and makes preliminary adjustments to the 2005 commercial quotas for these fisheries. This final rule specifies allowed harvest limits for both commercial and recreational fisheries, including scup possession limits. This action prohibits federally permitted commercial vessels from landing summer flounder in Delaware in 2005. Regulations governing the summer flounder fishery require publication of this notification to advise the State of Delaware, Federal vessel permit holders, and Federal dealer permit holders that no commercial quota is available for landing summer flounder in Delaware in 2005. This action also makes changes to the regulations regarding the commercial scup fishery. The intent of this action is to establish allowed 2005 harvest levels and other measures to attain the target fishing mortality (F) or exploitation rates, as specified for these species in the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP), and to reduce bycatch and improve the efficiency of the commercial scup fishery.

NMFS has determined that a reopening of the coastwide General category Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) fishery is warranted. In addition, NMFS has determined that a BFT quota transfer from the Atlantic tunas Purse seine category to the Reserve category is warranted. These actions are being taken to ensure that U.S. BFT harvest is consistent with recommendations of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), pursuant to the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA), and to meet domestic management objectives under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson- Stevens Act) and the Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish and Sharks (HMS FMP).

Notice is hereby given that the following organizations and individual have been issued amendments to permits for scientific research on Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus): The Alaska SeaLife Center, Seward, Alaska (Permit No. 881-1668); The Aleutians East Borough, Kodiak, Alaska (Permit No. 1010-1641); The National Marine Mammal Laboratory, NMFS, Seattle, Washington (Permit No. 782-1532); The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Corvallis, Oregon (Permit No. 434-1669); and Dr. Randall Davis, Texas A&M University, Department of Marine Biology, Galveston, Texas (Permit No. 800-1664).

NMFS announces that the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) have submitted Amendment 2 to the Monkfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) (Amendment 2) incorporating the draft Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (FSEIS), Regulatory Impact Review (RIR), and the Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA), for Secretarial review and is requesting comments from the public. Amendment 2 was developed to address essential fish habitat (EFH) and bycatch issues, and to revise the FMP to address several issues raised during the public scoping process. The intent of this action is to provide efficient management of the monkfish fishery and to meet conservation objectives.