National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a two-hour webinar meeting of its Ecosystem Technical Committee (ETC).

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) submitted to NMFS Amendment 8 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the U.S. West Coast Highly Migratory Species (HMS) July 15, 2024. If approved by the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), these Amendments would update essential fish habitat (EFH) provisions in the existing HMS FMP. This Amendment is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) which requires periodic review and revision of EFH components of FMPs as warranted based on available information.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels using jig gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2024 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod by vessels using jig gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.

This final rule implements the order in United States v. Washington that sets forth updated boundaries of the usual and accustomed (U&A) fishing areas of the Hoh Indian Tribe in the Pacific Ocean.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for dusky rockfish in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2024 total allowable catch of dusky rockfish in the West Yakutat District of the GOA.

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 2024 total allowable catch of Pacific ocean perch in the West Yakutat District of the GOA.

NMFS announces the approval of amendment 127 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI), amendment 115 to the FMP for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), amendment 56 to the FMP for BSAI King and Tanner Crabs, amendment 17 to the FMP for the Salmon Fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off Alaska, and amendment 3 to the FMP for Fish Resources of the Arctic Management Area (amendments). These amendments revise the FMPs by updating the description and identification of essential fish habitat (EFH) and updating information on adverse effects on EFH from fishing and non-fishing activities based on the best scientific information available. These amendments are intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), the FMPs, and other applicable laws.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Advisory Panel will hold a public meeting, jointly with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Advisory Panel.

NMFS proposes regulations under the Tuna Conventions Act of 1950 (TCA), as amended, to implement two resolutions adopted at the 101st meeting of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) in August 2023. These resolutions include Resolution C-23-03 ("Amendment to Resolution C-99-07 on Fish Aggregating Devices") and Resolution C- 23-04 ("On the Design and Biodegradability of Drifting Fish Aggregating Devices (DFADs) in the IATTC Area of Competence"). The proposed rule would modify regulations for the design of fish aggregating devices (FADs) in the eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) to require non-entangling and biodegradable materials. Furthermore, the proposed rule would require that data related to the recovery of FADs for the purpose of final disposal or recycling in the EPO be collected by vessel owners and operators, and submitted to the IATTC, unless that information is already collected and submitted to the IATTC by an observer.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council) Ad- Hoc Klamath River Fall Chinook Workgroup will hold two online meetings.

The SEDAR 95 assessment of the Atlantic stock of cobia will consist of a series of data and assessment webinars. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as amended, notification is hereby given that NMFS has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to San Mateo County Harbor District to incidentally harass marine mammals during activities associated with the Pillar Point Harbor Johnson Pier Expansion and Dock Replacement Project in Princeton, California. There are no changes from the proposed authorization in this final authorization.

NMFS is transferring 10.8 metric tons (mt) of Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) quota from the Reserve category to the Harpoon category. With this transfer, the adjusted Harpoon category quota for the 2024 fishing season is 70 mt. The 2024 Harpoon category fishery is open until November 15, 2024, or until the Harpoon category quota is reached, whichever comes first. This action is intended to provide further harvest opportunities for Harpoon category fishermen, based on consideration of the regulatory determination criteria regarding inseason adjustments and applies to Atlantic Tunas Harpoon category (commercial) permitted vessels.

NMFS received a request from Invenergy Wind Offshore, LLC (IWO) for the renewal of their currently active incidental harassment authorization (IHA) (hereinafter, the "initial IHA") to take marine mammals incidental to marine site characterization surveys in the New York Bight, specifically within the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lease Area OCS-A 0542 (Lease Area) and associated Export Cable Route (ECR) survey area (ECR Area) . IWO's specified activities are identical to those included in the initial IHA. The initial IHA expires on July 30, 2024. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act, prior to issuing the initial IHA, NMFS requested comments on both the proposed IHA and the potential for renewing the initial authorization if certain requirements were satisfied. The renewal requirements have been satisfied, and NMFS is now providing an additional 15-day comment period to allow for any additional comments on the proposed renewal not previously provided during the initial 30-day comment period.

Notice is hereby given that the Oregon Coast Aquarium, 2820 SE Ferry Slip Rd., Newport, Oregon 97365 (Responsible Party: James Burke), has applied in due form for a permit to import up to six Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardsi) for public display.

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 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.

NMFS announces that the Area I, Area II, and New York Bight Scallop Access Areas are closed to Limited Access General Category Individual Fishing Quota scallop vessels for the remainder of the 2024 fishing year. Regulations require this action once it is projected that 100 percent of trips allocated to the Limited Access General Category Individual Fishing Quota scallop vessels for the Area I, Area II, and New York Bight Scallop Access Areas will be taken. This action is intended to prevent the number of trips in the Area I, Area II, and New York Bight Scallop Access Areas from exceeding what is allowed under the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan.

Notice is hereby given that permits or permit amendments have been issued to the following entities under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA), as applicable.

The Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs (CRSRA) division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) Office of Space Commerce will hold a virtual listening session for the regulated community and the public to provide input on regulations regarding Licensing of Private Remote Sensing Space Systems, and implementing practices. During the session, the regulated community and the public may express their thoughts about any challenges or concerns experienced by the regulated community stakeholders in understanding or meeting the requirements of the regulations. Representatives from CRSRA will be present during the listening session and may ask clarifying questions, but will not discuss or address the merits of any comments provided.

We, NMFS, announce the extension of the public comment period on our May 14, 2024, proposed rule to issue protective regulations under section 4(d) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for the conservation of the threatened oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus). As part of that proposed action, we solicited comment on the proposed rule, a draft environmental assessment (EA), and an initial regulatory flexibility analysis (IRFA) over a 60-day period, to end on July 15, 2024. Today, we extend the public comment period by 60 days to September 15, 2024, and announce that we will be holding one or more public hearings on the proposed rule. Comments previously submitted do not need to be resubmitted, as they will be fully considered in the agency's proposed action.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a two-day in-person meeting of its Standing, Reef Fish, Socioeconomic, and Ecosystem Scientific and Statistical Committees (SSC).