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

NOAA is beginning the process to identify Aquaculture Opportunity Areas (AOAs) in Alaska state waters to help sustainably advance invertebrate (e.g., shellfish, sea cucumber) and seaweed (e.g., macroalgae, kelp) aquaculture, in partnership with the State of Alaska. NOAA requests data, comments, views, information, analysis, or suggestions from the public to support the identification of AOAs in Alaska state waters, including siting parameters that can be used to select potential study areas for further analysis. Please respond to the questions listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section, as appropriate.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 610 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the annual 2023 total allowable catch of pollock for Statistical Area 610 in the GOA.

NMFS received a request from the United States National Science Foundation (NSF) for the renewal of their currently active incidental harassment authorization (IHA) (hereinafter, the ``initial IHA'') to take marine mammals incidental to a geophysical survey in the Ross Sea, Antarctica because NSF's activities will not be completed prior to the IHA's expiration. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act, prior to issuing the currently active 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.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 630 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the annual 2023 total allowable catch of pollock for Statistical Area 630 in the GOA.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod, except for the Community Development Quota program (CDQ), in the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the non-CDQ allocation of the 2023 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) Bering Sea Fishery Ecosystem Plan Climate Change Taskforce (BSFEP CC) will meet November 1, 2023 through November 2, 2023.

NMFS is adjusting the 2023 Atlantic herring specifications for the remainder of 2023. Herring regulations specify that NMFS will subtract 1,000 metric tons (mt) from the management uncertainty buffer and reallocate it to the herring annual catch limit and Area 1A sub- annual catch limit if NMFS determines that the New Brunswick weir fishery landed less than 2,722 mt of herring through October 1.

The Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) seeks nominations to fill vacancies on the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC or Committee). MAFAC is responsible to advise the Secretary, NOAA, and NMFS on all matters concerning living marine resources that are the responsibility of the Department of Commerce. The Committee makes recommendations to assist in the development and implementation of departmental regulations, policies, and programs critical to the mission and goals of NMFS. Nominations are encouraged from all individuals involved with or representing interests affected by NMFS actions in managing living marine resources. Nominees should possess demonstrable expertise in a field related to the management of living marine resources and be able to fulfill the time commitment required for two annual meetings and year-round subcommittee work. Individuals serve for a term of 3 years for no more than two consecutive terms if re-appointed. NMFS seeks qualified nominees to fill pending vacancies.

NOAA announces the appointment of members who will serve on the 2023 NOAA Performance Review Board (PRB). The NOAA PRB is responsible for reviewing performance appraisals and ratings of Senior Executive Service (SES), Senior Level (SL), and Scientific and Professional (ST) members and making written recommendations to the appointing authority on retention and compensation matters, including performance-based pay adjustments, awarding of bonuses, and reviewing recommendations for potential Presidential Rank Award nominees. The appointment of members to the NOAA PRB will be for a period of 2 years.

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 Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (L-DEO) to incidentally harass marine mammals during a marine geophysical survey near Puerto Rico in the northwest Atlantic Ocean.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) Council will hold a meeting of its Habitat and Ecosystem Advisory Panel (Habitat AP) in Charleston, SC.

The New England Fishery Management Council's is convening its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) 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.

This temporary rule implements interim measures to reduce Atlantic mackerel catch for the remainder of the 2023 fishing year and the beginning of the 2024 fishing year to reduce the likelihood of overfishing based on new assessment information regarding the status of the Atlantic mackerel stock. This action is intended to reduce potential Atlantic mackerel overfishing through the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024 while the 2024 specifications are developed. We will be collecting comments on the changes in per-trip catch limits to help inform future decisions on this topic.

In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, its implementing regulations, and NMFS' MMPA Regulations for Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Geophysical Surveys Related to Oil and Gas Activities in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), notification is hereby given that NMFS has modified the expiration date of a Letter of Authorization (LOA) issued to CGG for the take of marine mammals incidental to geophysical survey activity in the GOM.

This action decreases the possession and trip limits for Gulf of Maine (GOM) cod for Northeast multispecies common pool vessels for the remainder of the 2023 fishing year, through April 30, 2024. The National Marine Fisheries Service projects that, at its current trajectory, the common pool will exceed its 2023 sub-Annual Catch Limit for GOM cod. This decrease in the possession and trip limit for Gulf of Maine cod is intended to prevent the common pool fishery from exceeding its allocation for this stock prior to the end of the fishing year.

NMFS issues this temporary rule to extend the expiration date of interim measures to reduce overfishing of gag in Federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. This temporary rule extends the commercial and recreational harvest levels and the revised recreational fishing season for gag for an additional 186 days. The purpose of this temporary rule extension is to reduce overfishing of gag while NMFS implements management measures to end overfishing of gag on a permanent basis.

NMFS announces that 25 American Samoa pelagic longline limited entry permits in 2 permit size classes are available for 2023. NMFS is accepting applications for these available permits.

In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as amended, notification is hereby given that NMFS has issued two incidental harassment authorizations (IHAs) to the City of Cordova (Cordova) to incidentally harass marine mammals during construction activities associated with a with the City of Cordova, Cordova Harbor Rebuild project, in Cordova, Alaska.

The MAFMC's Spiny Dogfish Monitoring Committee will meet via webinar to develop recommendations for future Spiny Dogfish specifications.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's (Council) Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will hold a meeting.

Notice is hereby given of a hybrid meeting of the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS[supreg]) Advisory Committee (Committee). The meeting is open to the public and an opportunity for oral and written comments will be provided.

NMFS implements an accountability measure (AM) for the recreational harvest of gag in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) for the 2023 fishing year. NMFS has projected that the 2023 recreational annual catch limit (ACL) for gag will be reached by October 19, 2023. Therefore, NMFS closes the recreational sector for gag to protect the gag resource.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is soliciting applications for membership on the United States Integrated Ocean Observing System Advisory Committee (the Committee), which is a Federal advisory committee. Members of the Committee will fulfill the requirements of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (the Act). The Committee provides advice to the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and to the Interagency Ocean Observation Committee on the planning, integrated design, operation, maintenance, enhancement, and expansion of the United States Integrated Ocean Observing System (U.S. IOOS). U.S. IOOS promotes research to develop, test, and deploy innovations and improvements in coastal and ocean observation technologies and modeling systems, addresses regional and national needs for ocean information, gathers data on key coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes variables and ensures timely and sustained dissemination and availability of these data for societal benefits. U.S. IOOS benefits national safety, the economy, and the environment through support for national defense, marine commerce and forecasting, navigation safety, weather, climate, energy siting and production, economic development, ecosystem-based management of marine and coastal areas, conservation of ocean and coastal resources and public safety.