National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration April 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; Snapper-Grouper Management Measures
Document Number: 2011-10488
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2011-04-29
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS issues this proposed rule to implement actions identified in a regulatory amendment (Regulatory Amendment 9) to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (FMP) prepared by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council). This proposed rule would reduce the recreational bag limit for black sea bass, establish a split season for the black sea bass commercial quota, increase the commercial trip limit for greater amberjack, and establish commercial trip limits for vermilion snapper and gag. This rule also proposes a minor revision to the mailing address for the NMFS Southeast Regional Administrator (RA). The intended effect of this proposed rule is to help prevent overfishing of black sea bass, gag, and vermilion snapper while achieving optimum yield (OY) by reducing the rate of harvest of these three species, to achieve OY for greater amberjack, and to implement a technical correction to the regulations.
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Greater Amberjack Management Measures
Document Number: 2011-10479
Type: Rule
Date: 2011-04-29
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS issues this final rule to implement a regulatory amendment to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP) prepared by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council). This final rule establishes a June through July seasonal closure of the recreational sector for greater amberjack in or from the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The intended effect of this final rule is to mitigate the social and economic impacts associated with implementing in-season closures. This rule also revises codified text to clarify the definition of a venting device used to deflate the abdominal cavity of a Gulf reef fish.
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Red Snapper Management Measures
Document Number: 2011-10477
Type: Rule
Date: 2011-04-29
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS issues this final rule to implement a regulatory amendment to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP) prepared by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council). This final rule increases the commercial and recreational quotas for red snapper for the 2011 fishing year and closes the recreational red snapper component of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) reef fish fishery at 12:01 a.m., local time, July 19, 2011. This rule also makes minor revisions to codified text, including revisions to the definition of ``actual ex-vessel price,'' extending the maintenance window for the Gulf individual fishing quota (IFQ) programs, and removing obsolete codified text for Gulf grouper. The intended effect of this final rule is to help achieve optimum yield (OY) for Gulf red snapper without increasing the risk of the red snapper resource experiencing overfishing, allow for better functioning and enforcement of the Gulf IFQ programs, and to remove obsolete text from the regulations.
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Shark Management Measures
Document Number: 2011-10452
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2011-04-29
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
This rule would implement the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) recommendations 10-07 and 10-08, which prohibit the retention, transshipping, landing, storing, or selling of hammerhead sharks in the family Sphyrnidae (except for Sphyrna tiburo) and oceanic whitetip sharks (Carcharhinus longimanus) caught in association with ICCAT fisheries. This rule would affect the commercial HMS pelagic longline (PLL) fishery and recreational fisheries for tunas, swordfish, and billfish in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. This action implements ICCAT recommendations, consistent with the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA) and furthers domestic management objectives under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson- Stevens Act).
Fisheries in the Western Pacific; Pelagic Fisheries; Purse Seine Prohibited Areas Around American Samoa
Document Number: 2011-10451
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2011-04-29
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
This proposed rule would establish 75-nautical mile (nm) purse seine fishing prohibited areas in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) around American Samoa. The proposed rule is intended to reduce catch competition between purse seine vessels and local trolling and longline fleets due to localized stock depletion by purse seine fishing, and minimize gear conflicts between the local longline fleet and domestic purse seine vessels. Currently, there are two 50 nm areas around American Samoa where large fishing vessels (50 ft and longer) are prohibited from fishing. The proposed rule would increase the distance from shore of these prohibited areas for U.S. purse seine vessels only.
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Fishery; 2011 Accountability Measures for Greater Amberjack and Closure of the 2011 Gulf of Mexico Commercial Sector for Greater Amberjack
Document Number: 2011-10449
Type: Rule
Date: 2011-04-29
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS implements accountability measures (AMs) for commercial and recreational greater amberjack in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) for the 2011 fishing year through this temporary final rule, announces the closure date for the 2011 commercial sector for greater amberjack of the Gulf reef fish fishery, and provides an estimated season length for the 2011 recreational greater amberjack sector of the Gulf reef fish fishery. This rule reduces the 2011 commercial and recreational quotas for greater amberjack based on the 2010 quota overages. Additionally, NMFS has determined that the 2011 adjusted commercial quota for Gulf greater amberjack will have been reached by June 18, 2011. These actions are necessary to reduce overfishing of the Gulf greater amberjack resource.
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Queen Conch Fishery of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands; Queen Conch Management Measures
Document Number: 2011-10446
Type: Rule
Date: 2011-04-29
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
This final rule implements measures to address overfishing of Caribbean queen conch in the U.S. Caribbean. This rule extends the queen conch seasonal closure from 3 months to 5 months, and prohibits fishing for and possession of queen conch in or from the Caribbean exclusive economic zone (EEZ) east of 64[deg]34' W. longitude, which includes Lang Bank east of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), when harvest and possession of queen conch is prohibited in St. Croix territorial waters as a result of a territorial quota closure. The intended effects of this final rule are to prevent additional fishing pressure on queen conch in the U.S. Caribbean, and to improve enforcement of regulations affecting the queen conch resource by improving compatibility among Federal and territorial regulations.
Fisheries Off West Coast States; Highly Migratory Species Fisheries; Annual Catch Limits and Accountability Measures
Document Number: 2011-10443
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2011-04-29
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS proposes regulations under authority of the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) to implement Amendment 2 to the Fishery Management Plan for U.S. West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species (HMS FMP) which is currently under review by NMFS. The proposed rule would change the suite of management unit species, modify the process for revising numerical estimates of maximum sustainable yield and optimal yield, and specify status determination criteria so that overfishing and overfished determinations can be made for all management unit species. The proposed rule is necessary to ensure that the HMS FMP is consistent with the objectives of National Standard 1 in the MSA. National Standard 1 mandates that ``Conservation and management measures shall prevent overfishing while achieving, on a continuing basis, the optimum yield from each fishery for the U.S. fishing industry.''
Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Alaska Individual Fishing Quotas (IFQs) for Pacific Halibut and Sablefish
Document Number: 2011-10394
Type: Notice
Date: 2011-04-29
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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.
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
Document Number: 2011-10377
Type: Notice
Date: 2011-04-29
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene Public Hearings on: Amendment 18 to the Fishery Management Plan for Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico; Joint Amendment 10 to the Spiny Lobster Fishery Management Plan for the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic; Generic Annual Catch Limits/ Accountability Measures Amendment for the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council's Red Drum, Reef Fish, Shrimp, Coral and Coral Reefs, and Stony Crab Fishery Management Plans.
North Pacific Fishery Management Council Public Meeting
Document Number: 2011-10374
Type: Notice
Date: 2011-04-29
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory committees will hold public meetings, June 6-June 14, 2011 in Nome, AK.
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
Document Number: 2011-10373
Type: Notice
Date: 2011-04-29
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene a meeting of the Standing, Special Mackerel and Special Reef Fish Scientific and Statistical Committees (SSC).
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery; Framework Adjustment 22
Document Number: 2011-10334
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2011-04-29
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS proposes regulations to implement Framework Adjustment 22 (Framework 22) to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan (FMP), which was developed and adopted by the New England Fishery Management Council (Council) and submitted to NMFS for approval. The specifications proposed in Framework 22 are based on, and being proposed in conjunction with, the management measures proposed in Amendment 15 to the FMP (Amendment 15) that establish the process for setting annual catch limits (ACLs) and accountability measures (AMs) to bring the FMP into compliance with the requirements of the re- authorized Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). The purpose of Framework 22 is to specify the following scallop management measures for the 2011 through 2012 fishing years (FYs): The overfishing limit (OFL), acceptable biological catches (ABC), ACLs, and annual catch targets (ACTs) for both the limited access (LA) and limited access general category (LAGC) fleets; open area days-at-sea (DAS) and Sea Scallop Access Area (access area) trip allocations; DAS adjustments if an access area yellowtail flounder (YTF) total allowable catch (TAC) is caught; LAGC-specific allocations, including access area trip allocations for vessels with individual fishing quotas (IFQs), the Northern Gulf of Maine (NGOM) TAC, and the incidental target TAC; management measures to minimize impacts of incidental take of sea turtles as required by the March 14, 2008, Atlantic Sea Scallop Biological Opinion (Biological Opinion); and the elimination of the default Georges Bank (GB) access area rotation schedule. Framework 22 also proposes, consistent with proposed measures in Amendment 15, precautionary default management measures for FY 2013 to be applied if a new biennial framework adjustment is not implemented by the start of FY 2013.
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings; Correction
Document Number: 2011-10324
Type: Notice
Date: 2011-04-29
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene Public Hearings on: Amendment 18 to the Fishery Management Plan for Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico; Joint Amendment 10 to the Spiny Lobster Fishery Management Plan for the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic; Generic Annual Catch Limits/ Accountability Measures Amendment for the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council's Red Drum, Reef Fish, Shrimp, Coral and Coral Reefs, and Stony Crab Fishery Management Plans.
Stock Status Determination for Atlantic Highly Migratory Scalloped Hammerhead Shark
Document Number: 2011-10328
Type: Notice
Date: 2011-04-28
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
This action serves as a notice that NMFS, on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), has determined that overfishing is occurring on an Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) scalloped hammerhead shark, and the stock is overfished. NMFS notifies the public whenever it determines that: overfishing is occurring, a stock is overfished, or a stock is approaching an overfished condition.
Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
Document Number: 2011-10327
Type: Notice
Date: 2011-04-28
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) will convene a conference call of its Coastal Pelagic Species Advisory Subpanel (CPSAS) that is open to the public.
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper-Grouper Fishery Off the Southern Atlantic States; Red Snapper Management Measures
Document Number: 2011-10326
Type: Rule
Date: 2011-04-28
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS issues this final rule to implement a regulatory amendment (Regulatory Amendment 10) to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (FMP), as prepared by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council). This final rule removes the snapper-grouper area closure implemented through Amendment 17A to the FMP. The intended effect of this final rule is to minimize socio-economic impacts to snapper-grouper fishermen, without subjecting the red snapper resource to overfishing.
Extension of Application Period for Seats for the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council
Document Number: 2011-10243
Type: Notice
Date: 2011-04-28
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The ONMS is extending the deadline and seeking applications for the following vacant seats on the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council: (1) Research Member seat and (2) Conservation Alternate seats. 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 3-year terms, pursuant to the Council's Charter. The Council consists also of three state and three Federal non-voting ex-officio seats.
Fisheries of the Economic Exclusive Zone Off Alaska; Deep-Water Species Fishery by Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the Gulf of Alaska
Document Number: 2011-10190
Type: Rule
Date: 2011-04-27
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for species that comprise the deep-water species fishery by vessels using trawl gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the second seasonal apportionment of the Pacific halibut bycatch allowance specified for the deep-water species fishery in the GOA has been reached.
Incidental Taking of Marine Mammals; Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to the Explosive Removal of Offshore Structures in the Gulf of Mexico
Document Number: 2011-10177
Type: Notice
Date: 2011-04-27
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and implementing regulations, notification is hereby given that NMFS has issued six one-year Letters of Authorization (LOA) to take marine mammals incidental to the explosive removal of offshore oil and gas structures (EROS) in the Gulf of Mexico.
Marine Mammals and Endangered Species; File Nos. 15415 and 14622
Document Number: 2011-10175
Type: Notice
Date: 2011-04-27
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Notice is hereby given that NMFS has issued two permits to conduct research on marine mammals or sea turtles. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for additional information regarding permittees.
Availability of Seats for the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council
Document Number: 2011-9867
Type: Notice
Date: 2011-04-26
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The ONMS is seeking applicants for the following seat on the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council: (1) At- Large (Alternate) seat. 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 3-year terms, pursuant to the Council's Charter. The Council consists also of three state and three federal non-voting ex-officio seats.
Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Russian River Estuary Management Activities
Document Number: 2011-10038
Type: Notice
Date: 2011-04-26
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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 Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment only, three species of marine mammals during estuary management activities conducted at the mouth of the Russian River, Sonoma County, California.
Endangered Species; File No. 15672
Document Number: 2011-10037
Type: Notice
Date: 2011-04-26
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Notice is hereby given that Molly Lutcavage, PhD, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 108 Main Street, Gloucester MA, 01930, has applied in due form for a permit to take leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) for purposes of scientific research.
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Summer Flounder Fishery; Quota Transfer
Document Number: 2011-10036
Type: Rule
Date: 2011-04-26
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS announces that the State of North Carolina is transferring a portion of its 2011 commercial summer flounder quota to the Commonwealth of Virginia. Vessels from North Carolina were authorized by Virginia to land summer flounder under safe harbor provisions, thereby requiring a quota transfer to account for an increase in Virginia's landings that would have otherwise accrued against the North Carolina quota. By this action, NMFS adjusts the quotas and announces the revised commercial quota for each state involved.
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; Reopening of the Commercial Sector for Vermilion Snapper in the South Atlantic
Document Number: 2011-10035
Type: Rule
Date: 2011-04-26
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS reopens the commercial sector for South Atlantic vermilion snapper in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). NMFS previously determined the quota for the commercial sector would be reached by March 10, 2011, and closed the commercial sector for vermilion snapper in the South Atlantic. The latest estimates for landings indicate the quota was not reached by that date. Consequently, NMFS will reopen the commercial sector for 7 days. The purpose of this action is to allow the commercial sector to maximize harvest benefits and at the same time protect the vermilion snapper resource.
Endangered Species; File No. 15566
Document Number: 2011-9945
Type: Notice
Date: 2011-04-25
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Notice is hereby given that South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Marine Resources Division, Charleston, SC 29422-2559 has been issued a permit to take loggerhead (Caretta caretta), Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), green (Chelonia mydas), leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles for purposes of scientific research.
Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits
Document Number: 2011-9944
Type: Notice
Date: 2011-04-25
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Northeast Region, NMFS (Assistant Regional Administrator), has made a preliminary determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) application contains all of the required information and warrants further consideration. This EFP application would exempt commercial fishing vessels from the following Federal American lobster regulations: Trap escape vent requirements to allow 12 federally permitted commercial fishing vessels to utilize a maximum of 500 ventless traps to collect scientific information on American lobsters, including juveniles, in Lobster Conservation Management Areas (LCMAs) 3, 4, and 5 from June through November 2011. This proposed project would be conducted by the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife (NJ DFW) in conjunction with the already present New Jersey At-Sea Lobster Observer Program and New Jersey commercial fishermen. 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.
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Multispecies Fishery; 2011 Sector Operations Plans and Contracts, and Allocation of Northeast Multispecies Annual Catch Entitlements
Document Number: 2011-9711
Type: Rule
Date: 2011-04-25
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
This interim final rule partially approves and implements 19 sector operations plans and contracts for fishing year (FY) 2011. NMFS received sector operations plans and contracts from the following 22 sectors: The Georges Bank (GB) Cod Fixed Gear Sector; the Maine Permit Bank Sector; the Massachusetts Permit Bank Sector; the New Hampshire Permit Bank Sector; the Northeast Coastal Communities Sector; Northeast Fishery Sectors II through XIII; the Port Clyde Community Groundfish Sector; the Rhode Island Permit Bank Sector; Sustainable Harvest Sectors 1 and 3; and the Tri-State Sector. This interim final rule partially approves the operations plans and contracts, and allocates an annual catch entitlement (ACE) of certain NE multispecies stocks to the following 19 sectors: The GB Cod Fixed Gear Sector; the Maine Permit Bank Sector; the Northeast Coastal Communities Sector; Northeast Fishery Sectors II through XIII; the Port Clyde Community Groundfish Sector; Sustainable Harvest Sectors 1 and 3; and the Tri-State Sector. The Massachusetts Permit Bank Sector, the New Hampshire Permit Bank Sector, and the Rhode Island Permit Bank Sector, were unable to fulfill the roster requirements, and, therefore, were not approved to operate in FY 2011. Certain exemptions proposed in the operations plans have not been approved, as explained in detail below. Additionally, NMFS is modifying, for the purposes of this rule, the definition for ``unmarketable'' fish (see Exemption 11) and will accept further comment on this definition. NMFS is also accepting further comment on final sector membership. NMFS will publish a subsequent final rule, if necessary, making any further changes to this definition or in light of additional comments on changes to membership of sectors since the publication of this rule.
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast (NE) Multispecies Fishery; Framework Adjustment 45
Document Number: 2011-9705
Type: Rule
Date: 2011-04-25
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
This final rule partially approves Framework Adjustment (FW) 45 to the NE Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and implements the approved measures. FW 45 was developed by the New England Fishery Management Council (Council) to make adjustments necessary to ensure that conservation and management objectives of the FMP, including preventing overfishing, rebuilding overfished stocks, achieving optimum yield (OY), and minimizing the economic impact of management measures on affected vessels, are being met in accordance with the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). Specifically, this action revises the biological reference points and stock status for pollock, updates annual catch limits (ACLs) for several stocks for fishing years (FYs) 2011-2012, adjusts the rebuilding program for Georges Bank (GB) yellowtail flounder, increases scallop vessel access to the Great South Channel Exemption Area, approves five new sectors, modifies the existing dockside and at-sea monitoring requirements, revises several sector administrative provisions, establishes a Gulf of Maine (GOM) Cod Spawning Protection Area, and refines measures affecting the operations of NE multispecies vessels fishing with handgear. This action approves the Council's proposed FY 2011 U.S./Canada Management Area total allowable catch (TAC), acceptable biological catch (ABC), and ACL for GB yellowtail flounder, but replaces them with new catch limits for this stock through a parallel emergency action, included as part of this final rule, based on the International Fisheries Agreement Clarification Act (IFACA) that provides new flexibility in setting catch limits for this stock. In addition, this action disapproves a measure to delay fishing industry responsibility for paying for at-sea monitoring coverage costs in FY 2012. This action is necessary to ensure that the fishery is managed on the basis of the best available science, to comply with the ABC control rules adopted in Amendment 16 to the FMP, and to enhance the viability of the fishery.
Endangered Species; File No. 14949
Document Number: 2011-9852
Type: Notice
Date: 2011-04-22
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Notice is hereby given that Carlos Diez, Ph.D., Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources, Protected Species Program, P.O. Box 366147, San Juan, PR, 00936, has been issued a permit to take green (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles for purposes of scientific research.
Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
Document Number: 2011-9804
Type: Notice
Date: 2011-04-22
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) will hold a meeting, via conference call, of the Groundfish Management Team (GMT). The meeting is open to the public.
Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
Document Number: 2011-9803
Type: Notice
Date: 2011-04-22
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council) Ad Hoc Salmon Amendment Committee (SAC) will hold a meeting to finalize alternatives and analyses for an amendment to the Pacific Coast Salmon Fishery Management Plan (FMP) to address the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA) requirements for annual catch limits (ACL) and accountability measures (AM). This meeting of the SAC is open to the public.
North Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
Document Number: 2011-9802
Type: Notice
Date: 2011-04-22
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council's Groundfish Plan Team will meet via teleconference in Juneau, AK, Seattle, WA and Anchorage, AK. Note the meeting starts at 1:30 p.m. (ADT)/2:30 PDT, but the lines will open \1/2\ hour prior to the official start, check out the Council Web site at https://www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/npfmc/ for WebEx, meeting numbers and passwords.
Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Pacific Islands Region Permit Family of Forms
Document Number: 2011-9781
Type: Notice
Date: 2011-04-22
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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.
Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Foreign Fishing Vessel Permit Applications
Document Number: 2011-9780
Type: Notice
Date: 2011-04-22
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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.
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Gag Grouper Management Measures
Document Number: 2011-9724
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2011-04-21
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
This proposed temporary rule would replace a temporary rule made effective January 1, 2011, and implement interim measures to reduce overfishing of gag in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf). This rule would reduce the commercial quota for gag and, thus, the combined commercial quota for shallow-water grouper species (SWG), and establish a 2-month recreational season for gag. This rule would also suspend red grouper multi-use allocation in the Gulf grouper and tilefish individual fishing quota (IFQ) program, as recommended by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council). The intended effect of this proposed rule is to reduce overfishing of the gag resource in the Gulf.
National Standard 10 Guidelines
Document Number: 2011-9718
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2011-04-21
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS issues this advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) to provide background information and request public comment on potential adjustments to the National Standard 10 Guidelines.
Fisheries of the Caribbean; Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR); Public Meeting
Document Number: 2011-9707
Type: Notice
Date: 2011-04-21
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The SEDAR assessments of the Caribbean stocks of silk snapper, queen snapper and redtail parrotfish will consist of a series of three workshops: a Data Workshop, an Assessment Workshop, and a Review Workshop. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings
Document Number: 2011-9677
Type: Notice
Date: 2011-04-21
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
This notice advises the public that the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene meetings of the Community Demonstration Projects Program (CDPP) Advisory Panel in Honolulu, HI.
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Recreational Management Measures for the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fisheries; 2011 Scup Specifications; Fishing Year 2011
Document Number: 2011-9627
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2011-04-21
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS proposes two actions in this rulemaking: An increase to the previously implemented scup commercial and recreational landing allowances for 2011 (specifications) and management measures for the 2011 summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass recreational fisheries. Inclusion of the proposed scup specification increase in this rulemaking is necessary to provide an opportunity for the public to comment on the revised recommendation from the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) to increase the commercial and recreational scup landing allowances for 2011. The recreational management measures are necessary to comply with the implementing regulations for these fisheries which require NMFS to publish recreational measures for the fishing year and to provide an opportunity for public comment. The intent of the scup increase is to permit greater commercial and recreational harvest opportunity while preventing overfishing on the scup stock. Recreational management measures are similarly intended to ensure that overfishing the summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass resources in 2011 is unlikely to occur.
National Saltwater Angler Registry Program
Document Number: 2011-9628
Type: Notice
Date: 2011-04-20
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS has designated the states of Pennsylvania and New Hampshire as exempted states for anglers, spear fishers and for-hire fishing vessels.
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Catcher Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
Document Number: 2011-9583
Type: Rule
Date: 2011-04-20
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI). This action is necessary to fully use the B season allowance of the 2011 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod allocated to catcher vessels using trawl gear in the BSAI.
North Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
Document Number: 2011-9530
Type: Notice
Date: 2011-04-20
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council's (NPFMC) Crab Plan Team (CPT) will meet in Juneau, AK.
Fisheries of the South Atlantic; South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
Document Number: 2011-9529
Type: Notice
Date: 2011-04-20
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold a meeting of its Law Enforcement Advisory Panel via conference call. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
Document Number: 2011-9527
Type: Notice
Date: 2011-04-20
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) will convene a meeting of its Coastal Pelagic Species Management Team (CPSMT) that is open to the public.
New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
Document Number: 2011-9526
Type: Notice
Date: 2011-04-20
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Scallop Advisory Panel in May, 2011 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.
Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Harbor Activities Related to the Delta IV/Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle at Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA
Document Number: 2011-9459
Type: Notice
Date: 2011-04-19
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS has received an application from United Launch Alliance (ULA), for an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to take small numbers of marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to conducting Delta Mariner operations, cargo unloading activities, and harbor maintenance activities related to the Delta IV/Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (Delta IV/EELV) at south Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA (VAFB). Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an IHA to ULA to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment only, three species of marine mammals during the specified activity.
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Multispecies Fishery; Approved Sector Monitoring Service Providers
Document Number: 2011-9458
Type: Notice
Date: 2011-04-19
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
This notice announces that the Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) has approved five service providers who applied as eligible to provide dockside and/or at-sea monitoring services to Northeast (NE) multispecies sectors in FY 2011. Amendment 16 to the NE Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP) expanded sector management in the NE multispecies fishery, including a requirement for independent, third-party dockside and at-sea monitoring of sector trips beginning in fishing years (FY) 2010 and 2012, respectively; however, sectors could elect to have an at-sea monitoring program starting in FY 2010. Regulations implementing Amendment 16 require such third-party monitoring service providers to apply to, and be approved by, NMFS in a manner consistent with the Administrative Procedure Act in order to be eligible to provide dockside and/or at-sea monitoring services to sectors. The regulations specify application requirements and criteria for the approval of service providers, which potential providers must demonstrate their compliance with as part of an application for approval by NMFS. Consistent with these regulatory requirements, the Regional Administrator received and reviewed applications from five monitoring service providers for approval to provide dockside and/or at-sea monitoring services to NE multispecies sectors in FY 2011.
Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish
Document Number: 2011-9456
Type: Notice
Date: 2011-04-19
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received a scientific research permit application request relating to salmonids listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The proposed research is intended to increase knowledge of the species and to help guide management and conservation efforts. The application and related documents may be viewed online at: https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/preview/previewopen forcomment.cfm. These documents are also available upon written request or by appointment by contacting NMFS by phone (707) 825-5186 or fax (707) 825-4840.
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