National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration December 9, 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 2020 Commercial Closure for South Atlantic Snowy Grouper
Document Number: 2020-27064
Type: Rule
Date: 2020-12-09
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS implements an accountability measure for the commercial sector of snowy grouper in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic. NMFS projects commercial landings of snowy grouper will reach the commercial annual catch limit (ACL) for the July through December season by December 12, 2020. Therefore, NMFS closes the commercial sector for snowy grouper in the South Atlantic EEZ on December 12, 2020. This closure is necessary to protect the snowy grouper resource.
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Bluefish Fishery; Quota Transfer From MA to RI
Document Number: 2020-27044
Type: Rule
Date: 2020-12-09
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS announces that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is transferring a portion of its 2020 commercial bluefish quota to the State of Rhode Island. This quota adjustment is necessary to comply with the Atlantic Bluefish Fishery Management Plan quota transfer provisions. This announcement informs the public of the revised commercial bluefish quotas for Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Marine Mammals and Endangered Species
Document Number: 2020-26979
Type: Notice
Date: 2020-12-09
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Notice is hereby given that permits and permit amendments have been issued to the following entities under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA), as applicable.
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Modifying Seasonal Allocations of Pollock and Pacific Cod for Trawl Catcher Vessels in the Central and Western Gulf of Alaska; Correction
Document Number: 2020-26954
Type: Rule
Date: 2020-12-09
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS is correcting a final rule that published in the Federal Register on June 25, 2020, implementing Amendment 109 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA FMP) and a regulatory amendment to the regulations governing pollock fishing in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). The final rule's intent as to Pacific cod was to change the seasonal apportionments of Pacific cod for the trawl catcher vessel (CV) sector. However, in changing the seasonal apportionments, the final rule's regulatory text inadvertently affected the jig sector such that it became unclear if the new, overall seasonal apportionments apply to the jig sector. This correction is necessary to clarify seasonal apportionments of Pacific cod for the jig sector.
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; North Atlantic Swordfish Fishery
Document Number: 2020-26796
Type: Rule
Date: 2020-12-09
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS is adjusting the Swordfish General Commercial permit retention limits for the Northwest Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and U.S. Caribbean regions for January through June of the 2021 fishing year, unless otherwise later noticed. The Swordfish General Commercial permit retention limit in each of these regions is increased from the regulatory default limit (either two or three fish) to six swordfish per vessel per trip. The Swordfish General Commercial permit retention limit in the Florida Swordfish Management Area will remain unchanged at the default limit of zero swordfish per vessel per trip, as discussed in more detail below. These adjustments apply to Swordfish General Commercial permitted vessels and to Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Charter/Headboat permitted vessels with a commercial endorsement when on a non-for-hire trip. This action is based upon consideration of the applicable inseason regional retention limit adjustment criteria.
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