National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration October 4, 2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS is opening directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. This action is necessary to fully use the 2017 total allowable catch of Pacific ocean perch specified for the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area.

In accordance with the regulations implementing the individual fishing quota (IFQ) and Federal dealer reporting programs specific to the commercial reef fish fishery in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf), the coastal migratory pelagic (CMP) fisheries in the Gulf and the Atlantic, the spiny lobster fishery of the Gulf and Atlantic, and the snapper- grouper and dolphin-wahoo fisheries in the South Atlantic, the Regional Administrator, Southeast Region, NMFS (RA) has determined that Hurricane Irma has caused catastrophic conditions in the following Florida counties: Manatee, Sarasota, DeSoto, Charlotte, Lee, Collier, Monroe, Miami-Dade, and Broward. Consistent with those regulations, the RA has authorized any dealer in the affected area who does not have access to electronic reporting to delay reporting of trip tickets to NOAA Fisheries from September 29, 2017, through October 31, 2017. The RA has also authorized IFQ participants within this affected area to use paper-based forms, if necessary, for basic required administrative functions, e.g., landing transactions, from September 29, 2017, through October 31, 2017. This temporary rule announcing the determination of catastrophic conditions and allowance of alternative methods for completing required IFQ and other dealer reporting administrative functions is intended to facilitate continuation of IFQ and dealer reporting operations during the period of catastrophic conditions. NMFS will continue to monitor and evaluate conditions. A subsequent Federal Register notice will be published, if needed.

NMFS proposes regulations to implement Amendment 17B to the Fishery Management Plan for the Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico U.S. Waters, (FMP), as prepared and submitted by the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) Fishery Management Council (Council). This proposed rule would allow for the creation of a Federal Gulf shrimp reserve pool permit when certain conditions are met, and would allow non-federally permitted Gulf shrimp vessels to transit through the Gulf exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Amendment 17B would also define the aggregate maximum sustainable yield (MSY) and aggregate optimum yield (OY), and determine a minimum number of commercial vessel moratorium permits in the fishery. This proposed rule also would make technical corrections to the regulations that would revise the coordinates for the Tortugas shrimp sanctuary in the Gulf, and correct the provisions regarding the harvest and possession of wild live rock in Gulf Federal waters. The purpose of this proposed rule and Amendment 17B is to protect federally managed Gulf shrimp stocks while maintaining catch efficiency, economic efficiency, and stability in the fishery.