National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration November 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory committees will meet December 3, 2018 through December 11, 2018.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) Ecosystem Committee will hold a teleconference on November 27, 2018.

NMFS reopens the commercial sector for king mackerel in the western zone of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) exclusive economic zone (EEZ) through this temporary rule. The most recent commercial landings data for king mackerel in the Gulf western zone indicate the commercial quota for the 2018-2019 fishing year has not yet been reached. Therefore, NMFS reopens the commercial sector for king mackerel in the Gulf western zone for 7 days to allow the commercial quota to be caught.

NMFS proposes to implement management measures described in Amendment 31 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Coastal Migratory Pelagics (CMP) of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) and Atlantic Region (Amendment 31), as prepared by the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf Council) and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils (South Atlantic Council) (Councils). This proposed rule would remove Atlantic migratory group cobia (Atlantic cobia) from Federal management under the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). At the same time, this proposed rule would implement comparable regulations under the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act (Atlantic Coastal Act) to replace the existing Magnuson-Stevens Act based regulations in Atlantic Federal waters. The purpose of Amendment 31 is to facilitate improved coordination of Atlantic cobia in state and Federal waters, thereby more effectively constraining harvest and preventing overfishing and decreasing adverse socio-economic effects to fishermen.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council) Ad Hoc Ecosystem Workgroup (EWG) will hold a webinar, which is open to the public.

The SEDAR 61 stock assessment process for Gulf of Mexico red grouper will consist of an In-person Workshop, and a series of data and assessment webinars. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

Notice is hereby given that the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) have submitted a Hatchery and Genetics Management Plan (HGMP) pursuant to the protective regulations promulgated for Pacific salmon and steelhead under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The HGMP specifies the operation of a hatchery program rearing coho salmon in the upper Trinity River within the State of California. This document serves to notify the public of the availability of the HGMP and associated draft environmental assessment (EA) for comment prior to a decision by NMFS whether to approve the proposed hatchery program.

NMFS publishes Fraser River salmon inseason orders to regulate treaty and non-treaty (all citizen) commercial salmon fisheries in U.S. waters. The orders were issued by the Fraser River Panel (Panel) of the Pacific Salmon Commission (Commission) and subsequently approved and issued by NMFS during the 2018 salmon fisheries within the U.S. Fraser River Panel Area. These orders established fishing dates, times, and areas for the gear types of U.S. treaty Indian and all citizen commercial fisheries during the period the Panel exercised jurisdiction over these fisheries.

NMFS announces a valid specified fishing agreement that allocates up to 1,000 metric tons (t) of the 2018 bigeye tuna limit for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) to identified U.S. longline fishing vessels. The agreement supports the long-term sustainability of fishery resources of the U.S. Pacific Islands, and fisheries development in the CNMI.

NMFS is adjusting the commercial aggregated large coastal shark (LCS) and hammerhead shark management group retention limit for directed shark limited access permit holders in the Atlantic region from 36 LCS other than sandbar sharks per vessel per trip to 45 LCS other than sandbar sharks per vessel per trip. This action is based on consideration of the regulatory determination criteria regarding inseason adjustments. The retention limit will remain at 45 LCS other than sandbar sharks per vessel per trip in the Atlantic region through the rest of the 2018 fishing season or until NMFS announces via a notice in the Federal Register another adjustment to the retention limit or a fishery closure. This retention limit adjustment affects anyone with a directed shark limited access permit fishing for LCS in the Atlantic region.

Notice is hereby given that the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) has submitted a Fishery Management and Evaluation Plan (FMEP) pursuant to the protective regulations promulgated for Pacific salmon and steelhead under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The FMEP specifies the implementation of fisheries targeting adipose-fin- clipped, hatchery-origin Snake River steelhead within the State of Idaho and in boundary waters with Oregon and Washington. This document serves to notify the public of the availability of the FMEP for comment prior to a decision by NMFS whether to approve the proposed fisheries.

Under applicable Federal regulations, notice is hereby given that the Stewardship Division, Office for Coastal Management, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce approves the revised Management Plan for the Jacques Cousteau, New Jersey National Estuarine Research Reserve Management Plan. In accordance with applicable Federal regulations, the Jacques Cousteau Reserve revised its Management Plan, which will replace the plan previously approved in 2009. The revised Management Plan outlines the administrative structure; the research/monitoring, stewardship, education, and training programs of the Reserve; and the plans for future land acquisition and facility development to support Reserve operations. The Jacques Cousteau Reserve takes an integrated approach to management, linking research, education, coastal training, and stewardship functions. The Reserve has outlined how it will manage administration and its core program providing detailed actions that will enable it to accomplish specific goals and objectives. Since the last management plan, the reserve has: Developed core programs; expanded monitoring programs within Jacques Cousteau and its watershed; enhanced exhibits and trails; provided technical assistance to coastal communities throughout the state of New Jersey, conducted training workshops; implemented K-12 education programs; and built new and innovative partnerships with local, state, regional, and U.S. organizations and universities. On January 9, 2018, NOAA issued a notice of a thirty day public comment period for the Jacques Cousteau Reserve revised plan (83 FR 1027). Responses to the written and oral comments received, and an explanation of how comments were incorporated into the final revised plan, are available in Appendix D of the revised plan. The revised Management Plan will serve as the guiding document for the Jacques Cousteau Reserve. View the Jacques Cousteau Reserve Management Plan at URL: https://jcnerr.org/ JCNERR_REVISEDMGMTPLAN%202018.2022.pdf. The impacts of the revised management plan have not changed and the initial Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) prepared at the time of designation is still valid. NOAA has made the determination that the revision of the management plan will not have a significant effect on the human environment and therefore qualifies for a categorical exclusion under NOAA Administrative Order 216-6. An environmental assessment will not be prepared.

NMFS implements accountability measures for commercial gray triggerfish in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic. NMFS indicates that commercial landings for gray triggerfish are projected to reach the commercial annual catch limit (ACL)(commercial quota) for the period of July through December and commercial harvest should close to prevent the quota from being exceeded. Therefore, NMFS is closing the commercial sector for gray triggerfish in the South Atlantic EEZ on November 6, 2018. This closure is necessary to protect the gray triggerfish resource.

NMFS has determined that a reopening of the Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) General category fishery is warranted. This action is intended to provide a reasonable opportunity to harvest the full annual U.S. BFT quota without exceeding it, while maintaining an equitable distribution of fishing opportunities across time periods; help achieve optimum yield in the BFT fishery; and optimize the ability of all permit categories to harvest their full BFT quota allocations. This action applies to Atlantic tunas General category (commercial) permitted vessels and Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Charter/ Headboat category permitted vessels with a commercial sale endorsement when fishing commercially for BFT.

Notice is hereby given that Michelle Shero, Ph.D., 266 Woods Hole Road, Woods Hole, MA 02543, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on Weddell seals (Leptoncychotes weddellii).

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Advisory Panel will hold a public meeting via webinar, jointly with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Advisory Panel.

The SEDAR 57 stock assessment process for Caribbean spiny lobster will consist of a Data Workshop, a series of data and assessment webinars, and a Review Workshop. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) Fishery Monitoring Advisory Committee Subgroup will meet on November 19, 2018.

NMFS implements an accountability measure (AM) for commercial Spanish mackerel in the northern zone of the Atlantic exclusive economic zone (EEZ) through this temporary rule. NMFS has determined that the commercial quota for Spanish mackerel in the northern zone of the Atlantic EEZ will be reached by November 4, 2018. Therefore, NMFS closes the northern zone of the Atlantic EEZ to commercial harvest of Spanish mackerel on November 4, 2018. This closure is necessary to protect the Spanish mackerel resource in the Atlantic.

NMFS announces its request for applications for the 2019 shark research fishery from commercial shark fishermen with directed or incidental shark limited access permits. The shark research fishery allows for the collection of fishery-dependent and biological data for future stock assessments and to meet the research objectives of the Agency. The only commercial vessels authorized to land sandbar sharks are those participating in the shark research fishery. Shark research fishery permittees may also land other large coastal sharks (LCS), small coastal sharks (SCS), smoothhound, and pelagic sharks. Commercial shark fishermen who are interested in participating in the shark research fishery need to submit a completed Shark Research Fishery Permit Application in order to be considered.

NMFS proposes to implement modifications to the regulations implementing the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan to allow vessels issued a limited access general category individual fishing quota sea scallop permit to fish for scallops with small dredges in an expanded area. In addition, NMFS also proposes to modify open area days-at-sea trip reporting procedures for limited access scallop vessels. This action is intended to provide consistency, flexibility, and potential economic benefit to the scallop fleet. This rule notifies the public of these proposed measures and solicits comments on the potential scallop fishery management changes.