National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration May 28, 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Notice is hereby given of a virtual meeting of the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS[supreg]) Advisory Committee (Committee).

Notice is hereby given that Carlos Diez, Department of Natural and Environmental Resources of Puerto Rico, P.O. Box 9020708, Viejo San Juan, PR 00901, has applied in due form for a permit to take green (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles for purposes of scientific research.

NMFS has received a request from the University of Alaska Geophysics Institute (UAGI) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to a geophysical survey in the Arctic Ocean. The proposed survey would be funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to incidentally take marine mammals during the specified activities. NMFS is also requesting comments on a possible one-time, one-year renewal that could be issued under certain circumstances and if all requirements are met, as described in Request for Public Comments at the end of this notice. NMFS will consider public comments prior to making any final decision on the issuance of the requested MMPA authorizations and agency responses will be summarized in the final notice of our decision.

The Regional Administrator, West Coast Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary determination that three Exempted Fishing Permit applications warrant further consideration. All three applications, two from the California Wetfish Producers Association and one from the West Coast Pelagic Conservation Group, request an exemption from the expected prohibition on primary directed fishing for Pacific sardine during the 2021-2022 fishing year to collect Pacific sardine as part of industry-based scientific surveys. NMFS requests public comment on the applications.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Scallop Advisory Panel via webinar 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.

The Caribbean Fishery Management Council's (Council) District Advisory Panels (DAPs) will hold public virtual meetings to address the items contained in the tentative agenda included in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

The SEDAR 72 stock assessment process for Gulf of Mexico gag grouper will consist of a series of data and assessment webinars. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

NMFS has received a request from the City and County of San Francisco, CA (San Francisco) for an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to take marine mammals incidental to the Treasure Island Ferry Dock Project in San Francisco, California. These activities consist of activities that are covered by the current authorization but will not be completed prior to its expiration. Some changes have occurred during this year's evaluation of the project. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act, NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an IHA to incidentally take marine mammals during the specified activities. NMFS is also requesting comments on a possible one-year renewal IHA that could be issued under certain circumstances and if all requirements are met, as described in Request for Public Comments at the end of this notice. NMFS will consider public comments prior to making any final decision on the issuance of the requested MMPA authorizations and agency responses will be summarized in the final notice of our decision.