National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration September 15, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This final rule partially approves Framework Adjustment (FW) 46 to the NE Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP), which increases the haddock incidental catch cap allocated to the Atlantic midwater trawl herring fishery to 1 percent of the Georges Bank (GB) haddock Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) and to 1 percent of the Gulf of Maine (GOM) haddock ABC, thereby, adjusting final fishing year (FY) 2011 specifications for the other fishery components of these ABCs. In addition, this action modifies the method for estimating haddock catch in the herring fishery and the relevant accountability measures (AMs) such that, upon attainment of the cap, the midwater trawl herring fleet may not catch or land herring in excess of the incidental catch limit (2,000 lb (907.2 kg)) in or from the appropriate haddock stock area. In addition, in this action NMFS disapproves measures in FW 46 that would have required open access herring vessels using midwater trawl gear to report total kept catch, and notify the Office of Law Enforcement, prior to landing. NMFS also disapproves a measure to require all midwater trawl vessels to report gear used on each trip into the Gulf of Maine or Georges Bank. FW 46 was developed by the New England Fishery Management Council (Council) to address the haddock incidental catch cap in the Atlantic herring fishery to allow the herring fishery to achieve optimum yield, by establishing a better opportunity to fully harvest the available herring quota, while providing incentives for the midwater trawl fishery to minimize haddock catch and, ensuring that haddock catch is adequately controlled and monitored.

This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of a forthcoming meeting of the Sea Grant Advisory Board (Board). Board members will discuss and provide advice on the National Sea Grant College Program 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 National Sea Grant College Program Web site at https://www.seagrant.noaa.gov/leadership/ advisory_board.html.

This notice provides information on a public hearing to be held by NOAA and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) in Chicago, Illinois. The hearing involves the scope and content of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) prepared by NOAA's Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management. The DEIS assesses the environmental impacts associated with approval of the Illinois Coastal Management Program (ICMP). This notice also announces the opening of the public comment period on the DEIS.