National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration June 28, 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold 4 public hearings, including one webinar hearing, to solicit public comments on the Draft Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Excessive Shares Amendment to the Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fishery Management Plan (FMP).

The Caribbean Fishery Management Council's (Council) Outreach and Education Advisory Panel (OEAP) will hold a 2-day meeting in August to discuss the items contained in the agenda in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

NMFS closes the northern area Angling category fishery for large medium and giant (``trophy'' (i.e., measuring 73 inches curved fork length or greater)) Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT). This action is being taken to prevent further overharvest of the Angling category northern area trophy BFT subquota.

Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received four plans for hatchery operations rearing and releasing Chinook salmon, coho salmon, and chum salmon in the Stillaguamish River basin, Washington. The four plans are submitted pursuant to the Section 4(d), Limit 6. The plans describe programs operated by the Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians (STI). This document serves to notify the public of the availability and opportunity to comment on a draft Environmental Assessment and proposed evaluation and pending determination (PEPD) on the proposed Hatchery and Genetic Management Plans (HGMPs).

NMFS issues this final rule to implement an electronic monitoring (EM) program for two sectors of the limited entry trawl fishery, consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) and the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The action allows catcher vessels in the Pacific whiting fishery and fixed gear vessels in the shorebased Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) fishery to use EM in place of observers to meet the requirements of the Trawl Rationalization Program for 100-percent at- sea observer coverage. This action is necessary to increase operational flexibility and reduce monitoring costs for vessels in the trawl fishery by providing an alternative to observers. Data from the EM program will be used to debit discards of IFQ species from IFQs and mothership cooperative allocations. Through this action, NMFS has also approved and is implementing the following measures: An application process for interested vessel owners; performance standards for EM systems; requirements for vessel operators; a permitting process and standards for EM service providers; and, requirements for processors (first receivers) for receiving and disposing of prohibited and protected species from EM trips.