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

The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and NMFS will convene a Western Pacific Stock Assessment Review (WPSAR) of a stock assessment update for the multispecies bottomfish complex in Guam. The review will be conducted virtually. A satellite location will be made available for the public to view the review process and NMFS staff will be available in-person to answer questions. See ADDRESSES for the web address to access the meeting and the location of the satellite viewing site.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for the A season pollock sideboard limit by non-exempt American Fisheries Act (AFA) catcher vessels in Statistical Area 610 of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2024 A season allowance of the pollock sideboard limit established for non-exempt AFA catcher vessels in Statistical Area 610 of the GOA.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a meeting of the Wreckfish Sub-Committee.

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

The Mid-Atlantic and New England Fishery Management Councils (Councils) will hold a public meeting of their joint Northeast Trawl Advisory Panel.

In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, NMFS hereby promulgates regulations to govern the incidental taking of marine mammals incidental to the Virginia Electric and Power Company, doing business as Dominion Energy Virginia (Dominion Energy), construction of the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Commercial (CVOW-C) Project (hereafter, the CVOW-C Project or the Project) in Federal and State waters offshore of Virginia, 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 0483 (Lease Area) and along export cable routes to sea-to-shore transition points (collectively referred to as the ``Project Area''), over the course of 5 years (February 5, 2024 through February 4, 2029). These regulations, which allow for the issuance of a Letter of Authorization (LOA) for the incidental take of marine mammals during construction- related activities within the Project Area during the effective dates of the regulations, prescribe the permissible methods of taking and other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on marine mammal species or stocks and their habitat, as well as requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such taking.

NMFS will convene the Research Track Assessment Peer Review Meeting for the purpose of reviewing Applied State Space Modeling. The Research Track Assessment Peer Review is a formal scientific peer- review process for evaluating and presenting results to assessment scientists and fisheries managers. Materials are prepared by the research track working group and reviewed by an independent panel of stock assessment experts from the Center of Independent Experts. The public is invited to attend the presentations and discussions between the review panel and the scientists who have participated in the process.

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.

This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of a meeting of the Ocean Research Advisory Panel (ORAP). The members will discuss issues outlined in the section on Matters to be considered.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) Pacific Northwest Crab Industry Advisory Committee (PNCIAC) will meet via web conference.

NMFS is transferring 20.5 metric tons (mt) of Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) quota from the General category December 2024 subquota to the January through March 2024 subquota period. The adjusted General category January through March 2024 subquota is 58.2 mt. This action provides further opportunities for General category fishermen to participate in the January through March General category fishery, based on consideration of the regulatory determination criteria regarding inseason adjustments. This action would affect Atlantic Tunas General category (commercial) permitted vessels and Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Charter/Headboat permitted vessels with a commercial sale endorsement when fishing commercially for BFT.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Committee and Advisory Panel will jointly hold a public webinar meeting. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for agenda details.

NMFS proposes to implement management measures described in a framework action under the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP), as prepared by the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) Fishery Management Council (Council). If implemented, this proposed rule would modify the ratios used to set the state- specific red snapper private angling component annual catch limits (ACLs) for Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi and would modify each of these state's private angling component ACLs based on the new ratios. In addition, this proposed rule would modify the stock ACL for gray snapper in the Gulf exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The purposes of this proposed rule are to update state specific private angling component calibration ratios and ACLs to provide a more accurate estimate of state landings for red snapper management and to revise gray snapper catch limits with updated scientific information to continue to achieve optimum yield (OY) for the stock.

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 is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific cod from vessels using jig gear to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters) length overall using hook-and-line or pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. This action is necessary to allow the A season apportionment of the 2024 total allowable catch of Pacific cod to be harvested.

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.

NMFS is issuing this notice to advise Federal, state, and local government agencies and the public of withdrawal of the Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed operation of salmon hatchery programs in the Nooksack River Basin in Washington.

Notice is hereby given that Pacific Whale Foundation (Responsible Party: Jens Curie), 300 Ma'alaea Rd. Ste. 211, Wailuku, Hawaii 96793, has applied for an amendment to Scientific Research Permit No. 27099.

NMFS has received a request from the City and Borough of Sitka (CBS) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to Sitka seaplane base construction activities over two years in Sitka, Alaska. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue two incidental harassment authorizations (IHA) to incidentally take marine mammals during the specified activities. NMFS is also requesting comments on possible one- time, 1-year renewals for each 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.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) will convene a meeting of the Scientific and Statistical Committee's (SSC) Groundfish Subcommittee (GFSC) to review public comments associated with the 2021 stock assessment and 2023 rebuilding analyses of quillback rockfish off California. The SSC GFSC meeting is open to the public and will be conducted in person with a web broadcast that provides the opportunity for remote public comment.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council's (Council) will hold a meeting of the Law Enforcement Advisory Panel (AP) January 29- 30, 2024, in Charleston, SC.

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 the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) to incidentally harass marine mammals during construction associated with the Hydaburg Seaplane Base Refurbishment Project in Hydaburg, Alaska.

NMFS announces that the State of North Carolina is transferring a portion of its 2023 commercial summer flounder quota to the State of Connecticut. This adjustment to the 2023 fishing year quota is necessary to comply with the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) quota transfer provisions. This announcement informs the public of the revised 2023 commercial quotas for North Carolina and Connecticut.