National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration September 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On May 5, 2023, NMFS published the proposed rule for Draft Amendment 15 to the 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) regarding spatial fisheries management and electronic monitoring (EM) cost allocation. In the proposed rule, NMFS announced a comment period ending on September 15, 2023. Due to requests from multiple constituents, NMFS is extending the comment period for this action to October 2, 2023. Furthermore, NMFS canceled the Amendment 15 public hearing originally scheduled for August 29, 2023, in Panama City, Florida due to Hurricane Idalia and reschedules it for September 18, 2023.

NMFS has received a request from the U.S. Coast Guard (Coast Guard or USCG) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to pier maintenance and bank stabilization construction activities at USCG Air Station Port Angeles, Port Angeles, Washington. 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 authorization and agency responses will be summarized in the final notice of our decision.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council) Groundfish Subcommittee of the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will hold a meeting to review rebuilding analyses for quillback rockfish in California and any remaining 2023 stock assessment review requests from the September 2023 Council meeting. This meeting is open to the public.

NMFS has received a request from TC Energy Columbia Gulf Transmission, LLC for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to the East Lateral XPRESS Project in Barataria Bay, Louisiana. 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 authorization and agency responses will be summarized in the final notice of our decision.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces the approval of Amendment 53 to the Fishery Management Plan for Bering Sea/ Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs (Crab FMP). Amendment 53 adds a new rebuilding plan for snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) to the Crab FMP. The objective of this amendment is to rebuild the snow crab stock. In order to comply with provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), this action is necessary to implement a rebuilding plan prior to the start of the 2023/2024 fishing season. Amendment 53 is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the Crab FMP, and other applicable laws.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold two virtual/webinar public hearings to solicit public comments on Joint Amendment with the Gulf and South Atlantic Council's to Address Electronic Reporting for Commercial Vessels participating in the coastal logbook program.

Notice is hereby given that Brent Stewart, Ph.D., Brent S Stewart Associates, 3889 Creststone Place, San Diego, CA 92130, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on pinnipeds in California.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Monitoring Committee will hold a public webinar meeting.

In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, notification is hereby given that NMFS has issued a Renewal incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Ferries Division to incidentally harass marine mammals incidental to the Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal Overhead Loading Replacement Project on Bainbridge Island, Washington within the Puget Sound.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Groundfish Plan Teams will hold a meeting. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for agenda.

The Ecosystem-Based Management and Groundfish Subcommittees of the Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council) Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will convene an online meeting to review a proposed approach for developing the use of ecosystem risk evaluation tables and any other Ecosystem and Climate Information for Species, Fisheries, and Fishery Management Plan (Initiative 4) materials provided by the Council's Ecosystem Workgroup. The SSC Ecosystem-Based Management and Groundfish Subcommittee meeting is open to the public.

The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public hybrid meeting of its Joint Groundfish Advisory and Recreational 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.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a hybrid meeting of its Scallop Joint Advisory Panel and Plan Development Team 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 MAFMC will hold a public joint meeting (webinar) of its Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish (MSB) Committee and Advisory Panel to develop recommendations on preferred alternatives in a framework adjustment to the MSB Fishery Management Plan that could implement a volumetric vessel hold baseline requirement and vessel hold upgrade restriction for Illex limited access permits.

NMFS is prohibiting retention of Pacific cod by catcher vessels greater than or equal to 50 feet (15.2 meters (m)) length overall using hook-and-line (HAL) gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the 2023 total allowable catch of Pacific cod apportioned to catcher vessels greater than or equal to 50 feet (15.2 m) length overall using HAL gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA has been reached.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2023 Pacific cod total allowable catch apportioned to trawl catcher vessels in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.