National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration December 12, 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) has begun its annual preseason management process for the 2013 ocean salmon fisheries. This document announces the availability of Pacific Council documents as well as the dates and locations of Pacific Council meetings and public hearings comprising the Pacific Council's complete schedule of events for determining the annual proposed and final modifications to ocean salmon fishery management measures. The agendas for the March and April 2013 Pacific Council meetings will be published in subsequent Federal Register documents prior to the actual meetings.

This temporary rule implements emergency measures under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) to close the Elephant Trunk Area (ETA) to all scallop vessels for up to 180 days in order to protect the abundance of small scallops in the area. Closing the ETA will prevent fishing effort in this area, which could reduce long-term scallop biomass and optimum yield from the ETA, and could compromise the overall success of the scallop area rotational management program. The New England Fishery Management Council (Council), with the support of the scallop industry, requested that NMFS take this action quickly in order to minimize fishing effort in the ETA.

Notice is hereby given that a permit has been issued to PRBO Conservation Science, 3820 Cypress Drive, 11, Petaluma, CA 94954 (Responsible Party: Russell Bradley) to conduct research on pinnipeds in California.