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

The SEDAR 84 assessment process of U.S. Caribbean yellowtail snapper and stoplight parrotfish will consist of a Data Workshop, and a series of assessment webinars, and a Review Workshop. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

We, NMFS, announce a 90-day finding on a petition to list Gulf of Alaska (GOA) Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), or any evolutionarily significant unit (ESU) that may exist in the petitioned area, as a threatened or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and to designate critical habitat concurrent with the listing. We find that the petition, viewed in the context of information readily available in our files, presents substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted. Therefore, we are commencing a review of the status of Gulf of Alaska Chinook salmon to determine whether listing under the ESA is warranted. To ensure that the status review is comprehensive, we are soliciting scientific and commercial information regarding this species from any interested party.

The Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), supported by NMFS, is holding a public meeting via webinar session to receive an update and provide input on the development of a management strategy evaluation (MSE) for North Atlantic swordfish. The meeting is open to all interested stakeholders.

NMFS proposes to implement measures recommended by the New England Fishery Management Council in Framework Adjustment 12 to the Northeast Skate Complex Fishery Management Plan. This action would specify skate catch limits for fishing years 2024 and 2025, increase seasonal trip limits for the wing fishery, and remove species-specific restrictions for barndoor and smooth skate. This proposed action is necessary to establish skate specifications consistent with the most recent scientific information. The intent of this action is to establish appropriate catch limits for the skate fishery, while providing additional operational flexibility to fishery participants.

The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) application contains all of the required information and warrants further consideration. The EFP would allow federally permitted commercial fishing vessels to fish outside fishery regulations in support of research conducted by the Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation (CFRF). Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act require publication of this notification to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for proposed EFPs.

Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, and implementing regulations, notification is hereby given that a Letter of Authorization (LOA) has been issued to the St. George Reef Lighthouse Preservation Society (Society) for the take of marine mammals incidental to conducting aircraft operations, lighthouse renovation, light maintenance activities, and tour operations on the St. George Reef Lighthouse Station (Station) on Northwest Seal Rock (NWSR).

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 Sunrise Wind, LLC (Sunrise Wind), a 50/50 joint venture between [Oslash]rsted North America, Inc. ([Oslash]rsted) and Eversource Investment, LLC, construction of the Sunrise Wind Offshore Wind Farm Project (hereafter known as the "Project") in Federal and State waters offshore New York, 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-0487 (Lease Area) and along one export cable route to sea- to-shore transition points in Shirley, New York (collectively referred to as the "Project Area"), over the course of 5 years (June 21, 2024June 20, 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.

The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold its Mariana Archipelago Fishery Ecosystem Plan (FEP) Guam Advisory Panel (AP), American Samoa Archipelago FEP AP, Hawaii Archipelago FEP AP, and the Mariana Archipelago FEP Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) AP to discuss and make recommendations on fishery management issues in the Western Pacific Region.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold meetings of the following: Shrimp Committee, Habitat and Ecosystem Management Committee, and Snapper Grouper Committee. The meeting week will also include a formal public comment session and meetings of the Full Council.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory committees will meet June 3, 2024, through June 12, 2024, in Kodiak, AK.

The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) application contains all of the required information and warrants further consideration. The EFP would allow federally permitted commercial fishing vessels to fish outside fishery regulations in support of exempted fishing activities proposed by the NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC). Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act require publication of this notification to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for proposed EFPs.

NMFS announces the 2024 recreational fishing season for the Federal charter vessel/headboat (for-hire) component for red snapper in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) through this temporary rule. The red snapper recreational for-hire component in the Gulf EEZ opens on June 1, 2024, and will close at 12:01 a.m., local time, on August 28, 2024. This closure is necessary to prevent the Federal for-hire component from exceeding its quota and to prevent overfishing of the Gulf red snapper resource.

The SEDAR 92 assessment of the Atlantic stock of blueline tilefish will consist of a series of assessment webinars. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold a public webinar to collect preliminary input to inform development of the Council's next strategic plan for 2025-2029.

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

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 Fishery Management Council (Council). If implemented, this proposed rule would modify the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) greater amberjack commercial trip limit and the recreational fixed closed season. Additionally, this proposed rule would clarify the Gulf red snapper charter vessel/headboat (for-hire) component quota and annual catch target (ACT) regulations. The purposes of this proposed rule are to extend the commercial and recreational fishing seasons for Gulf greater amberjack while continuing to prevent overfishing and rebuild the stock; and clarify that a person on a vessel issued a Gulf for-hire permit at any time during the fishing year can only harvest red snapper if the vessel is operating as a for-hire vessel.

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. This notice pertains to a requested revision and extension of the approved collection of information for national marine sanctuary permits. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment preceding submission of the collection to Office of Management and Budget (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 the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review.

NMFS issues regulations 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). This final rule modifies the ratios used to set the state-specific red snapper private angling component annual catch limits (ACLs) for Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi and modifies each of these state's private angling component ACLs based on the new ratios. In addition, this final rule modifies the stock ACL for gray snapper in the Gulf exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The purposes of this final rule are to update the 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.

We, NMFS, are proposing 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). The proposed regulations would apply all of the prohibitions listed under ESA sections 9(a)(1)(A) through 9(a)(1)(G) for the species, with limited exceptions for scientific research and law enforcement activities that contribute to the conservation of the species. In addition, we are announcing the availability of a draft environmental assessment (EA) that analyzes the environmental impacts of promulgating these regulations. Finally, we solicit comments from the public and all interested parties regarding this proposed rule and the draft EA.

NMFS has received a request from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Portland District, for authorization to take, by Level A and Level B harassment only, small numbers of marine mammals incidental to the Lower Columbia River (LCR) Dredged Material Management Plan (DMMP), in Oregon and Washington, for a period of 5 years from November 2028 through February 2032. Pursuant to regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is announcing receipt of USACE's request for the development and implementation of regulations governing the incidental taking of marine mammals. NMFS invites the public to provide information, suggestions, and comments on USACE's application and request.

The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold its Education Committee (EC) and Social Science Planning Committee (SSPC) meetings to discuss and make recommendations on fishery management issues in the Western Pacific Region.

In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, its implementing regulations, and NMFS' MMPA Regulations for Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Construction of the Revolution Wind Project Offshore of Rhode Island, notification is hereby given that upon request from Revolution Wind, LLC (Revolution Wind), NMFS has modified a Letter of Authorization (LOA) issued to Revolution Wind for the take of marine mammals incidental to activities associated with construction of the Revolution Wind Offshore Wind Energy Project (hereafter known as the "Project") in Federal and State waters offshore Rhode Island. Specifically, NMFS has removed the requirement that each real-time passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) data stream must be monitored by separate PAM operators. NMFS has determined that this modification to the aforementioned monitoring requirement does not change the findings made for the regulations and does not result in any change in the total estimated number of takes of marine mammals.