National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received an application for a permit from Zachary Larson, Crescent City, CA (Permit 1606). This permit would affect Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast (SONCC) coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch). This document serves to notify the public of the availability of the permit application for review and comment before a final approval or disapproval is made by NMFS.

NMFS has determined that the daily Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling category retention limits for Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) should be adjusted to maximize the usefulness of the information obtained from catches for biological sampling. Vessels permitted in the HMS Angling and HMS Charter/Headboat categories are eligible to land BFT under the HMS Angling category quota. Therefore, NMFS adjusts the daily BFT retention limits for the HMS Angling category quota to allow landing of school BFT in North Carolina during the three-week period from March 24, 2007, through April 15, 2007, as specified in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document. This action is intended to provide scientific data that would enhance future recreational fishing opportunities for the HMS Angling and HMS Charter/ Headboat categories, while minimizing the risk of an overharvest of the HMS Angling category BFT quota.

Notice is hereby given that Dorian S. Houser, Ph.D., Biomimetica, 7951 Shantung Drive, Santee, CA 92071 has been issued a permit to conduct research on marine mammals.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Steller Sea Lion Mitigation Committee (SSLMC) will meet in Juneau, AK.

NMFS is opening directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 610 of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) for 48 hours. This action is necessary to fully use the B season allowance of the 2007 total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock specified for Statistical Area 610 of the GOA.

NMFS has received an application for an incidental take permit (Permit) from the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (NCDMF) pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). As required by the ESA, NCDMF's application includes a conservation plan designed to minimize and mitigate any such take of endangered or threatened species. The Permit application is for the incidental take of ESA-listed adult and juvenile sea turtles associated with commercial shrimp trawling without the use of a turtle excluder device (TED) off the coast of North Carolina from Browns Inlet to Rich Inlet due to high concentrations of algae which clog shrimp trawls and TEDs. The duration of the proposed Permit is for 5 years. NMFS is furnishing this notice in order to allow other agencies and the public an opportunity to review and comment on this document. All comments received will become part of the public record and will be available for review.

Notice is hereby given that Inwater Research Group, Inc (Michael J. Bresette-Responsible Party), 4160 NE Hyline Dr, Jensen Beach, FL, 34957, has applied in due form for a permit to take green (Chelonia mydas), loggerhead (Caretta caretta), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), and Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) sea turtles for purposes of scientific research.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory entities will hold public meetings.

On March 5, 2007, NMFS published a final rule implementing 2007 and 2008 final harvest specifications, reserves and apportionments thereof, Pacific halibut prohibited species catch (PSC) limits, and associated management measures for the groundfish fishery of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). Table 10 of that document identifies the apportionment of Pacific halibut PSC trawl limits between the trawl gear and deep- water species complex and the shallow-water species complex. The heading to Table 10 indicated that the final apportionments were for fishing years 2006 and 2007 rather than for 2007 and 2008. In addition, Table 20 of that document contained the final 2007 and 2008 rockfish program halibut mortality limits for the catcher/processor and catcher vessel sectors. That table also contained inadvertent errors. This final rule document corrects errors published in the final harvest specifications.

NMFS is opening directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 610 of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) for 48 hours. This action is necessary to fully use the B season allowance of the 2007 total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock specified for Statistical Area 610 of the GOA.

Notice is hereby given that NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Antarctic Marine Living Resources Program (Rennie Holt, Ph.D., Principal Investigator), 8604 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037 has been issued an amendment to scientific research Permit No. 774- 1847.

NMFS is proposing to implement new management measures for the monkfish fishery through Framework Adjustment 4 (Framework 4) to the Monkfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). Due to concerns over the status of the monkfish resource and the fact that monkfish is nearing the end of the rebuilding program, NMFS intends to delay making a decision on Framework 4 until the results of an upcoming monkfish stock assessment are available in July 2007. Since a decision on Framework 4 would be delayed beyond the start of the fishing year, NMFS is proposing two options for interim management measures for the start of the fishing year on May 1, 2007, that are partially based on the information and management measures contained in Framework 4: Implement the proposed target total allowable catch (TAC), trip limits, and days-at-sea (DAS) contained in Framework 4 for the Northern Fishery Management Area (NFMA), but maintaining the fishing year (FY) 2006 target TAC, trip limits, and DAS for the Southern Fishery Management Area (SFMA); or implement the proposed target TAC, trip limits, and DAS contained in Framework 4 for the NFMA, but close the directed monkfish fishery in the SFMA. In addition, the proposed interim rule would temporarily implement Framework 4 measures that have been determined not to result in any additional negative biological effects. The intent of these proposed actions is to eliminate overfishing and rebuild the monkfish resource in accordance with Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) requirements.

The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries (AA), NOAA, announces temporary restrictions consistent with the requirements of the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan's (ALWTRP) implementing regulations. These regulations apply to lobster trap/pot and anchored gillnet fishermen in an area totaling approximately 1,631 nm \2\ (5,594 km \2\) in March and approximately 832 nm \2\ (2854 km \2\) in April, southeast of Boston, MA, for 15 days. The purpose of this action is to provide protection to an aggregation of northern right whales (right whales).

As required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS has incorporated public comments into revisions of marine mammal stock assessment reports (SARs). These reports for 2006 are now final and available to the public.

This action serves as a notice that NMFS, on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), has determined that overfishing is occurring in fisheries for petrale sole. NMFS notified the Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) of its determination by letter. The Pacific Council is required to take action within 1 year following NMFS notification that overfishing is occurring or a stock is approaching overfishing, a stock is overfished or approaching an overfished condition, or existing remedial action taken to end overfishing or rebuild an overfished stock has not resulted in adequate progress.

NMFS announces that the State of North Carolina is transferring 69,558 lb (31,551 kg) of commercial summer flounder quota to the Commonwealth of Virginia from its 2007 quota. By this action, NMFS adjusts the quotas and announces the revised commercial quota for each state involved.

In response to requests from members of the public, NMFS extends the public comment period on an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) regarding potential amendments to regulatory requirements for turtle excluder devices (TEDs) for an additional 60 days, through May 18, 2007, for the purpose of receiving comments on the ANPR, published in the Federal Register on February 15, 2007.

NMFS announces that the New England Fishery Management Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 13 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan (FMP) (Amendment 13), incorporating the public hearing document and the Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA), for review by the Secretary of Commerce and is requesting comments from the public. The goal of Amendment 13 is to implement an observer service provider mechanism for the scallop fishery that would re-active the industry-funded observer program and the scallop total allowable catch (TAC) and days-at-sea (DAS) set-aside program to help defray the cost of carrying observers. Observer coverage in the scallop fishery is necessary to monitor the bycatch of finfish and interactions with threatened and endangered species. Amendment 13 specifies criteria for observer service providers, observer certification, decertification, and observer deployment logistics. Additionally, Amendment 13 allows adjustments to the observer program to be done by framework action.

NMFS announces that the Elephant Trunk Scallop Access Area (ETAA) will close to general category scallop vessels until it re-opens on March 1, 2008. This action is based on the determination that 865 general category scallop trips into the ETAA are projected to be taken as of 0001 hr local time, March 15, 2007. This action is being taken to prevent the allocation of general category trips in the ETAA from being exceeded during the 2007 fishing year, in accordance with the regulations implementing Framework 18 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

The New England Fishery Management Council's (Council) Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS)/Enforcement Committee will meet to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

NMFS proposes to temporarily suspend circle hook requirements for anglers participating in Atlantic billfish tournaments. The final rule implementing the Final Consolidated HMS Fishery Management Plan (FCHMS FMP) published in the Federal Register on October 2, 2006, and restricted anglers fishing from HMS permitted vessels and participating in Atlantic billfish tournaments to deploying only non-offset circle hooks when using natural baits or natural bait/artificial lure combinations, effective 12:01 am, January 1, 2007. The purpose of the final rule was to reduce post-release mortality of Atlantic billfish and other species with which billfish tournament anglers may interact. NMFS has continued to receive public comment since publication of the Final CHMS FMP regarding the perceived impacts of the billfish tournament non-offset circle hook requirement. The objective of this proposed rulemaking is to increase post-release survival of Atlantic billfishes by improving long-term compliance with billfish tournament non-offset circle hook regulations.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Research Steering Committee (Committee) in March, 2007, 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.

The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA), on behalf of the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC), publishes annual management measures promulgated as regulations by the IPHC and approved by the Secretary of State governing the Pacific halibut fishery. The AA also announces modifications to the Catch Sharing Plan (CSP) for Area 2A (waters off the U.S. West Coast) and implementing regulations for 2007, and announces approval of the Area 2A CSP. These actions are intended to enhance the conservation of Pacific halibut and further the goals and objectives of the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) and the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC).

NMFS announces Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops and Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshops to be held in April, May, and June of 2007. These workshops provide certification opportunities and are required for fishermen and shark dealers to meet new regulatory requirements and maintain valid permits. The Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops are mandatory for all federally permitted Atlantic shark dealers. The Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshops are mandatory for vessel owners and operators who use bottom longline, pelagic longline, or gillnet gear, and have also been issued shark or swordfish limited access permits. Additional free workshops will be held throughout 2007.

NMFS has received an application from Northeast Gateway Energy Bridge\TM\ L.L.C. (Northeast Gateway) and Algonquin Gas Transmission, L.L.C. (Algonquin) for an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to take small numbers of marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to construction and operation of an offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility. Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an authorization to Northeast Gateway/Algonquin to incidentally take, by harassment, small numbers of several species of marine mammals for a period of 1 year.