National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration March 5, 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS announces the availability of an Issues and Options document and its intent to prepare an EIS under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analyzing impacts of potential new management measures for shortfin mako sharks. Such measures would be implemented through rulemaking to address overfishing and to implement, as necessary and appropriate, measures adopted by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) (ICCAT Recommendation 17-08) in response to the 2017 shortfin mako shark stock assessment. Based on that assessment, NMFS determined that North Atlantic shortfin mako sharks were overfished and experiencing overfishing in December 2017. Management alternatives considered would be to meet NMFS's obligations related to ending overfishing and establishing a foundation for rebuilding the shortfin mako shark stock consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) and the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA). Scoping is underway for this action, and NMFS requests comments on a preliminary Issues and Options document that presents range of commercial and recreational management measures, in both directed and incidental fisheries, including, but not limited to, commercial and recreational retention limits, quota levels, minimum size limits, gear modifications, and electronic reporting.

NMFS transfers 10 metric tons (mt) of Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) quota from the Reserve category to the January 2018 subquota period (from January 1 through March 31, 2018, or until the available subquota for this period is reached, whichever comes first) and closes the General category fishery for large medium and giant BFT until the General category reopens on June 1, 2018. The quota transfer is based on consideration of the regulatory determination criteria regarding inseason adjustments and applies to Atlantic tunas General category (commercial) permitted vessels and Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Charter/Headboat category permitted vessels with a commercial sale endorsement when fishing commercially for BFT. The intent of the closure is to prevent overharvest of the available General category January 2018 BFT subquota as adjusted in this action.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels less than 50 feet length overall (LOA) using hook-and- line gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2018 Pacific cod total allowable catch apportioned to catcher vessels less than 50 feet LOA using hook-and-line gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.

Notice is hereby given that Karen Holloway-Adkins, Ph.D., East Coast Biologists, Inc., P.O. Box 37715, Indialantic, Florida 32903, has applied in due form for a permit to take green (Chelonia mydas) and loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtles for purposes of scientific research.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) submitted Amendment 115 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, Amendment 105 to the FMP for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska, Amendment 49 to the FMP for Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs, Amendment 13 to the FMP for the Salmon Fisheries in the EEZ Off Alaska, and Amendment 2 to the FMP for Fish Resources of the Arctic Management Area, (collectively Amendments) to the Secretary of Commerce for review. If approved, these Amendments would revise the FMPs by updating the description and identification of essential fish habitat (EFH), and updating information on adverse impacts to EFH based on the best scientific information available. This action is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the FMPs, and other applicable laws.