National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration August 5, 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Notice is hereby given that NMFS' Southwest Fisheries Science Center, 8901 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037 (Responsible Party: George Watters, Ph.D.), has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on six species of Antarctic pinnipeds.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2021 total allowable catch of Pacific ocean perch in the West Yakutat District of the GOA.

This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda for a meeting of the Science Advisory Board (SAB). The members will discuss issues outlined in the section on Matters to be considered.

NMFS is adding Maine to the list of states for which NMFS has determined that Federal Atlantic tunas regulations are applicable within state waters, consistent with section 9(d) of the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA) and implementing regulations. NMFS is taking this action after considering a request from the Maine Department of Marine Resources (MEDMR) and reviewing the state's relevant laws and regulations. Most states and territories bordering the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico are currently included in the list, except Maine, Connecticut, and Mississippi. This addition of Maine to the list makes Federal Atlantic tunas regulationsincluding but not limited to open and closed seasons, retention limits, size limits, authorized gears and gear restrictions, and permitting and reporting requirements applicable in Maine state waters.

NMFS will require the use of electronic logbooks in the Hawaii pelagic longline fisheries and on Class C and D vessels in the American Samoa pelagic longline fishery. This final rule is intended to reduce human error, improve data accuracy, save time for fishermen and NMFS, and provide more rigorous monitoring and forecasting of catch limits.