National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration May 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The SEDAR 16 Assessment Panel will be holding a conference call to review preliminary assessment model results, select a preferred assessment model, and discuss future analysis needs. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

The SEDAR Steering Committee will meet via conference call to discuss assessment updates to be completed during 2009. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a meeting of its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), Standard Operating, Policy and Procedure (SOPPs) Committee, Advisory Panel Selection Committee (Closed Session), Ecosystem-based Management Committee, Shrimp Committee, Spiny Lobster Committee, Limited Access Privilege (LAP) Program Committee, Allocation Committee, SSC Selection Committee (Closed Session), Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) Committee, Snapper Grouper Committee, Snapper Grouper Advisory Panel, and a meeting of the full Council. The Council will also hold a public comment session regarding Amendment 15B to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan (FMP) addressing the sale of bag limit snapper grouper species, methods to reduce the effects of incidental hooking on sea turtles and smalltooth sawfish, commercial permit renewal periods and transferability requirements, implementation of a plan to monitor and access bycatch, establishment of reference points, such as Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) and Optimum Yield (OY) for golden tilefish, and establishment of allocations for snowy grouper and red porgy. In addition, the Council will hold a public comment session regarding Amendment 16 to the Snapper Grouper FMP addressing measures to end overfishing for gag grouper and vermilion snapper and interim allocations of these two species for commercial and recreational fisheries. The Council will also hold a public comment for emergency or interim measures to address overfishing of red snapper if the Council proposes such. A presentation on the Lenfest Ocean Report regarding Annual Catch Limits will be given as part of the Council meeting. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for additional details.

This notice advises the public that the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will postpone a meeting of the Hawaii Archipelago Regional Ecosystem Advisory Committee in Honolulu, HI scheduled for Friday, May 16, 2008.

NMFS is correcting a final rule that appeared in the Federal Register on September 4, 2007. The final rule implemented Amendment 85 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP) as partially approved by NMFS. In addition, NMFS is correcting another final rule that appeared in the Federal Register on September 14, 2007. This final rule implemented Amendment 80 to the FMP.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch for vessels participating in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) trawl limited access fishery in the Central Aleutian District of the BSAI. This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2008 Pacific ocean perch total allowable catch (TAC) specified for vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery in the Central Aleutian District of the BSAI.

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council's (Council) will convene public meetings.

The New England Fishery Management Council's (Council) Groundfish Advisory Panel will meet to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received an application from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) for an incidental take permit pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). This document serves to notify the public of the availability for comment of a revised draft environmental assessment (EA) before a final decision on whether to issue a Finding of No Significant Impact and the permit is made by NMFS. The draft EA is revised to reflect a permit extension from five years to ten years. All comments received will become part of the public record and will be available for review pursuant to section 10(c) of the ESA.

The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NMFS, (Assistant Administrator) has renewed the affirmative finding for the Republic of Ecuador under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). This affirmative finding will allow yellowfin tuna harvested in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean (ETP) in compliance with the International Dolphin Conservation Program (IDCP) by Ecuadorian-flag purse seine vessels or purse seine vessels operating under Ecuadorian jurisdiction to be imported into the United States. The affirmative finding was based on review of documentary evidence submitted by the Republic of Ecuador and obtained from the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) and the U.S. Department of State.

The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NMFS, (Assistant Administrator) has renewed the affirmative finding for the Government of Mexico under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). This affirmative finding will allow yellowfin tuna harvested in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean (ETP) in compliance with the International Dolphin Conservation Program (IDCP) by Mexican-flag purse seine vessels or purse seine vessels operating under Mexican jurisdiction to be imported into the United States. The affirmative finding was based on review of documentary evidence submitted by the Government of Mexico and obtained from the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) and the U.S. Department of State.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels less than 60 ft (

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

Notice is hereby given that the NOAA Fisheries Northeast Region Protected Resources Division (Responsible Party: Mary Colligan), One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930, has been issued a modification to scientific research Permit No. 1614.

Based on the 2007 small coastal sharks (SCS) stock assessment, NMFS is declaring blacknose sharks to be overfished with overfishing occurring. As such, NMFS announces its intent to prepare an EIS under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This EIS would assess the potential effects on the human environment of the proposed action taken to rebuild blacknose sharks and prevent overfishing per the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). The EIS would amend the 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and examine management alternatives available to rebuild blacknose sharks. NMFS is requesting comments on a range of commercial and recreational management measures in both directed and incidental fisheries including, but not limited to, quota levels, regional and seasonal quotas, retention limits, minimum sizes, and time/area closures.

In accordance with section 304(e) of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, as amended, (NMSA) NOAA is soliciting public comment on the draft management plan and draft environmental assessment for the Gerry E. Studds Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.

The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Northeast Region, NMFS (Assistant Regional Administrator) has made a preliminary determination that the subject exempted fishing permit (EFP) application contains all the required information and warrants further consideration. Therefore, NMFS announces that the Assistant Regional Administrator proposes to recommend that an EFP be issued that would allow one commercial fishing vessel to conduct fishing operations that are otherwise restricted by the regulations governing the fisheries of the Northeastern United States. The EFP, which would enable the applicants to investigate the feasibility of using a trawl net with buoyant ground cables and a buoyant sweep to reduce seabed contact and improve species selectivity, would allow for exemptions for one vessel from the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Program as follows: Gulf of Maine (GOM) Rolling Closure Areas II, III, and IV. Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act require publication of this notification to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for proposed EFPs.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene a joint meeting of The Standing and Special Reef Fish SSCs (SSC).

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Scallop Survey Advisory Panel in May, 2008 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.

NMFS closes the commercial fishery for deepwater grouper (misty grouper, snowy grouper, yellowedge grouper, warsaw grouper, and speckled hind) in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Gulf of Mexico. NMFS has determined that the deepwater grouper quota for the commercial fishery will have been reached by May 10, 2008. This closure is necessary to protect the deepwater grouper resource.

NMFS published a notice of Pacific halibut guideline harvest levels (GHLs) for the guided sport charter vessel fishery in the International Pacific Halibut Commission regulatory areas 2C and 3A in the Federal Register on February 5, 2008 (73 FR 6709). This notice contained an incorrect metric conversion for the Area 2C GHL.

In accordance with regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), notification is hereby given that an Incidental Harassment Authorization to take marine mammals, by Level-B harassment, incidental to conducting two marine geophysical surveys by the Lamont- Doherty Earth Observatory (L-DEO) in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean (ETP), has been issued for a period of one year.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) Ecosystem Committee will meet in Seattle, WA,.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Pacific Northwest Crab Industry Advisory Committee (PNCIAC) will meet in Seattle, WA. The meeting is open to the public.