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

Results 151 - 200 of 1,248
Caribbean Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
Document Number: 2018-24614
Type: Notice
Date: 2018-11-13
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The Caribbean Fishery Management Council will hold its 164th meeting in December to discuss the items contained in the agenda in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Capital Construction Fund Agreement, Certificate Family of Forms and Deposit/Withdrawal Report
Document Number: 2018-24611
Type: Notice
Date: 2018-11-13
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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.
Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Application for Appointment in the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps
Document Number: 2018-24610
Type: Notice
Date: 2018-11-13
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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.
North Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
Document Number: 2018-24602
Type: Notice
Date: 2018-11-09
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) Halibut Stakeholder Committee will hold a teleconference on November 29, 2018.
North Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
Document Number: 2018-24601
Type: Notice
Date: 2018-11-09
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory committees will meet December 3, 2018 through December 11, 2018.
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC); Public Meeting
Document Number: 2018-24600
Type: Notice
Date: 2018-11-09
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The Research Steering Committee of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold a meeting.
North Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
Document Number: 2018-24599
Type: Notice
Date: 2018-11-09
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) Ecosystem Committee will hold a teleconference on November 27, 2018.
New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
Document Number: 2018-24593
Type: Notice
Date: 2018-11-09
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Scallop Advisory Panel to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from this group will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate.
Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region; Reopening of the Commercial Sector for King Mackerel in the Gulf of Mexico Western Zone
Document Number: 2018-24589
Type: Rule
Date: 2018-11-09
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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.
New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
Document Number: 2018-24588
Type: Notice
Date: 2018-11-09
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Scallop Committee to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from this group will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate.
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Coastal Migratory Pelagics Resources in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region; Amendment 31
Document Number: 2018-24343
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2018-11-09
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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.
Vessel and Aircraft Discharges From United States Coast Guard in Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries
Document Number: 2018-24200
Type: Rule
Date: 2018-11-09
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
With this final rule, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is allowing the United States Coast Guard (USCG or Coast Guard) to carry out certain otherwise prohibited activities within waters of Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary (GFNMS) and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary (CBNMS) beyond approximately 3 nautical miles (nm) from the shore, in the areas of the sanctuaries that were expanded in 2015. This final rule will further the ability of the USCG to complete its mission requirements and NOAA's policy of facilitating uses of the sanctuaries to the extent compatible with resource protection. There is no change to the regulatory prohibitions or exceptions applicable to the pre-expansion boundaries of the two sanctuaries. NOAA published a proposed rule and draft environmental assessment (EA) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) on November 22, 2017. NOAA received written and oral public comments on the proposed rule and draft EA, and NOAA considers and responds to the comments in this final rule and the final EA.
Fisheries of the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico; South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
Document Number: 2018-24436
Type: Notice
Date: 2018-11-08
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The Councils will hold a meeting of a subgroup of their SSC's via webinar to review planning documents for the Scamp stock assessment. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
Document Number: 2018-24433
Type: Notice
Date: 2018-11-08
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council) Ad Hoc Ecosystem Workgroup (EWG) will hold a webinar, which is open to the public.
New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
Document Number: 2018-24431
Type: Notice
Date: 2018-11-08
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The New England Fishery Management Council's is convening an ad-hoc sub-panel of its Scientific and Statistical Committee. Recommendations from this group will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate.
Fisheries of the Gulf of Mexico; Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR); Public Meeting
Document Number: 2018-24430
Type: Notice
Date: 2018-11-08
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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.
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Atka Mackerel in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
Document Number: 2018-24429
Type: Rule
Date: 2018-11-08
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the Bering Sea subarea and Eastern Aleutian district (BS/EAI) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) by vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery. This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2018 total allowable catch (TAC) of Atka mackerel in this area allocated to vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery.
Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish
Document Number: 2018-24384
Type: Notice
Date: 2018-11-07
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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.
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
Document Number: 2018-24375
Type: Rule
Date: 2018-11-07
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the Eastern Aleutian district (EAI) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) by vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery. This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2018 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific ocean perch in the EAI allocated to vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery.
Fraser River Sockeye Salmon Fisheries; Inseason Orders
Document Number: 2018-24371
Type: Rule
Date: 2018-11-07
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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.
Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fisheries; 2019 Fishing Quotas for Atlantic Surfclams and Ocean Quahogs; and Suspension of Minimum Atlantic Surfclam Size Limit
Document Number: 2018-24368
Type: Rule
Date: 2018-11-07
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS suspends the minimum size limit for Atlantic surfclams for the 2019 fishing year. NMFS also announces that the quotas for the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries for 2019 will remain status quo. Regulations governing these fisheries require NMFS to notify the public of the allowable harvest levels for Atlantic surfclams and ocean quahogs from the Exclusive Economic Zone if the previous year's quota specifications remain unchanged.
Pacific Island Pelagic Fisheries; 2018 U.S. Territorial Longline Bigeye Tuna Catch Limits for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Document Number: 2018-24278
Type: Rule
Date: 2018-11-07
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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.
Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Evaluation of the Pacific Islands Managed and Protected Area Community (PIMPAC)
Document Number: 2018-24276
Type: Notice
Date: 2018-11-07
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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.
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Commercial Aggregated Large Coastal Shark and Hammerhead Shark Management Group Retention Limit Adjustment
Document Number: 2018-24274
Type: Rule
Date: 2018-11-07
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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.
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Industry-Funded Monitoring
Document Number: 2018-24087
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2018-11-07
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
This action proposes regulations to implement the New England Fishery Management Council's Industry-Funded Monitoring Omnibus Amendment. The New England Council is considering ways to increase monitoring in certain fisheries to assess the amount and type of catch and reduce uncertainty around catch estimates. This amendment would implement a process to standardize future industry-funded monitoring programs in New England Council fishery management plans and industry- funded monitoring in the Atlantic herring fishery. This action would ensure consistency in industry-funded monitoring programs across fisheries and increase monitoring in the Atlantic herring fishery.
Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish
Document Number: 2018-24262
Type: Notice
Date: 2018-11-06
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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.
Meeting of the Columbia Basin Partnership Task Force of the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee
Document Number: 2018-24237
Type: Notice
Date: 2018-11-06
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
This notice sets forth the proposed schedule and agenda of two forthcoming meetings of the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee's (MAFAC's) Columbia Basin Partnership Task Force (CBP Task Force). The CBP Task Force will discuss the issues outlined in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below.
National Estuarine Research Reserve System
Document Number: 2018-24196
Type: Notice
Date: 2018-11-05
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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.
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 2018 Commercial Accountability Measure and Closure for South Atlantic Red Snapper
Document Number: 2018-24182
Type: Rule
Date: 2018-11-05
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS implements accountability measures for commercial red snapper in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic. NMFS projects commercial landings for red snapper will reach the commercial annual catch limit (ACL) for the 2018 fishing year. Therefore, NMFS is closing the commercial sector for red snapper in the South Atlantic EEZ on November 7, 2018. This closure is necessary to protect the red snapper resource.
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 2018 Commercial Accountability Measure and Closure for South Atlantic Gray Triggerfish; July Through December Season
Document Number: 2018-24180
Type: Rule
Date: 2018-11-05
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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.
Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to the Gustavus Ferry Terminal Improvements Project
Document Number: 2018-24064
Type: Notice
Date: 2018-11-05
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as amended, notification is hereby given that we have issued an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to take small numbers of animals, by Level A and Level B harassment, incidental to the Gustavus Ferry Terminal Improvements project in Gustavus, Alaska
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries
Document Number: 2018-24041
Type: Rule
Date: 2018-11-02
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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.
Marine Mammals; File No. 21636
Document Number: 2018-24039
Type: Notice
Date: 2018-11-02
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Notice is hereby given that Joshua Schiffman, M.D., University of Utah, 2000 Circle of Hope Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84112 has applied in due form for a permit to import, export, and receive marine mammal parts for scientific research.
Marine Mammals; File No. 22183
Document Number: 2018-24038
Type: Notice
Date: 2018-11-02
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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).
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Several Groundfish Species in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
Document Number: 2018-23990
Type: Rule
Date: 2018-11-02
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS apportions amounts of the non-specified reserve to the initial total allowable catch (ITAC) and total allowable catch (TAC) of Aleutian Islands (AI) Greenland turbot, Bering Sea (BS) sablefish, Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) Alaska plaice, BSAI northern rockfish, BSAI ``other flatfish,'' BSAI shortraker rockfish, BSAI sculpins, BSAI skates, and Central and Western Aleutian Islands (CAI/ WAI) blackspotted/rougheye rockfish in the BSAI management area. This action is necessary to allow the fisheries to continue operating. It is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the fishery management plan for the BSAI management area.
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC); Public Meeting
Document Number: 2018-23982
Type: Notice
Date: 2018-11-02
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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.
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC); Public Meeting
Document Number: 2018-23981
Type: Notice
Date: 2018-11-02
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The Working Group of the Northeast Trawl Advisory Panel (NTAP) of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold a public meeting.
Fisheries of the Caribbean; Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR); Public Meeting
Document Number: 2018-23980
Type: Notice
Date: 2018-11-02
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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.
North Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
Document Number: 2018-23979
Type: Notice
Date: 2018-11-02
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) Electronic Monitoring Committee will meet November 19, 2018 through November 20, 2018.
North Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
Document Number: 2018-23978
Type: Notice
Date: 2018-11-02
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) Fishery Monitoring Advisory Committee Subgroup will meet on November 19, 2018.
Shipping Act, Merchant Marine, and Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) Provisions; Fishing Vessel, Fishing Facility and Individual Fishing Quota Lending Program
Document Number: 2018-23956
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2018-11-02
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The NMFS' Fisheries Finance Program (FFP or Program) proposes to revise the operating rules of the Program and set forth procedures, eligibility criteria, loan terms, and other requirements to add FFP financing to construct fishing vessels or reconstruct fishing vessels in limited access fisheries that are neither overfished or subject to overfishing. NMFS believes that this change will help preserve the economic benefits the nation derives from its commercial fishing fleets. Aging fishing vessels will need to be replaced. This will allow the FFP to play a small role in this process. Additionally, new fishing vessels will provide a safer environment for fishing crews and will be more fuel efficient. The rule provides for controls over the uses of replaced vessels that might otherwise contribute to additional harvesting efforts that could lead to overfishing. Currently, the Program provides loans to purchase, refurbish, or refinance fishing vessels, fish processing facilities, aquaculture facilities and individual fishing quota (IFQ) permits. The program also offers loans to community development quota (CDQ) groups to borrow for traditional loan purposes. NMFS also recently amended its regulations to add the purchase or refinancing of federally managed harvesting rights in limited access fisheries.
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region; Commercial Closure for Spanish Mackerel
Document Number: 2018-23950
Type: Rule
Date: 2018-11-02
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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.
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod by Catcher Vessels Greater Than or Equal to 60 Feet Length Overall Using Pot Gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
Document Number: 2018-23909
Type: Rule
Date: 2018-11-01
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels greater than or equal to 60 feet (18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA) using pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2018 Pacific cod total allowable catch allocated to catcher vessels greater than or equal to 60 feet (18.3m) LOA using pot gear in the BSAI.
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Shark Management Measures; 2019 Research Fishery
Document Number: 2018-23901
Type: Notice
Date: 2018-11-01
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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.
Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Reporting Requirements for Commercial Fisheries Authorization Under Section 118 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act
Document Number: 2018-23864
Type: Notice
Date: 2018-11-01
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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.
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Proposed Rule To Expand the Scallop Dredge Exemption Areas Under the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan
Document Number: 2018-23790
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2018-11-01
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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.
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
Document Number: 2018-23830
Type: Notice
Date: 2018-10-31
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
Document Number: 2018-23829
Type: Notice
Date: 2018-10-31
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Endangered and Threatened Species: Take of Anadromous Fish
Document Number: 2018-23812
Type: Notice
Date: 2018-10-31
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS has received an application for a new Enhancement of Survival Permit and a request for entry into an associated proposed Safe Harbor Agreement (Agreement) between the applicant and NMFS. The proposed Enhancement of Survival Permit and Agreement are intended to promote the survival and recovery of Central California Coast (CCC) Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and CCC Steelhead (O. mykiss) listed as endangered and threatened, respectively, under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Information NMFS received as a part of the application is available upon request by contacting the NMFS West Coast Region (WCR) at its California Coastal Office in Santa Rosa, California (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
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