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

We, NMFS, have completed a comprehensive status review of seven species of giant clams (Hippopus hippopus, H. porcellanus, Tridacna derasa, T. gigas, T. mbalavuana, T. squamosa, and T. squamosina) in response to a petition to list these species as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Based on the best scientific and commercial data available, including the Status Review Report, and after taking into account efforts being made to protect these species, we have determined that H. porcellanus, T. mbalavuana, and T. squamosina are in danger of extinction throughout the entirety of their respective ranges, T. derasa and T. gigas are in danger of extinction in a significant portion of their respective ranges, and H. hippopus is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout a significant portion of its range. Therefore, we propose to list H. porcellanus, T. mbalavuana, T. squamosina, T. derasa, and T. gigas as endangered species and H. hippopus as a threatened species under the ESA. We have determined that the fluted clam, T. squamosa, is not currently in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range and is not likely to become so within the foreseeable future. Therefore, we find that T. squamosa does not meet the definition of a threatened or an endangered species under section 4(a) of the ESA. Further, we propose to exercise the discretionary authority of section 4(d) to extend the prohibitions of section 9 of the ESA to the proposed threatened species, H. hippopus. At this time, we do not propose to designate critical habitat for the three species proposed to be listed that occur within U.S. jurisdiction (H. hippopus, T. derasa, and T. gigas) because critical habitat for these species is not yet determinable. Using the authority of section 4(e) of the ESA, we also propose to list T. crocea, T. maxima, T. noae, and T. squamosa as threatened species due to the similarity of appearance of products derived from these species (e.g., meat, worked shell products, and pearls) to those derived from the six aforementioned species proposed to be listed based on their extinction risk. We propose a special rule to define activities that would and would not be prohibited with respect to these four species in order to mitigate the substantial enforcement challenge associated with this similarity of appearance concern. We solicit information to inform the final listing determination and to inform a future proposal for any determinable critical habitat.

NMFS has received a request from Hilcorp Alaska, LLC (Hilcorp) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to production drilling support activities in Cook Inlet, Alaska. 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, 1-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.

This notice sets forth the proposed schedule and agenda of a forthcoming meeting of the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC). The members will discuss and provide advice on issues outlined under the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below.

The review of the SEDAR 93 assessment of Atlantic red drum will be conducted via an in-person review workshop. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

This rule implements changes to fishing year 2024 recreational management measures for Gulf of Maine (GOM) cod and GOM haddock. The measures are necessary to ensure the recreational fishery achieves, but does not exceed, fishing year 2024 catch limits for GOM cod and GOM haddock. Recreational measures for Georges Bank (GB) cod will remain unchanged in fishing year 2024.

The Caribbean Fishery Management Council (CFMC) will hold the 185th public hybrid meeting to address the items contained in the tentative agenda included in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

Notice is hereby given that the NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science Center, 75 Virginia Beach Drive, Miami, FL 33149 (Responsible Party: Mridula Srinivasan, Ph.D.), has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on cetaceans, and import, export, and receive cetacean parts for scientific research.

Notice is hereby given that NOAA is establishing a national marine sanctuary advisory council for the Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary (LONMS). The new advisory council (council) will replace the pre-designation advisory council which was established September 17, 2019 and which expired upon the designation of LONMS. The council will provide advice and recommendations to ONMS regarding the sanctuary management plan and will serve as liaisons between the sanctuary and constituents and community groups. As a result, ONMS is adding the council to the list of established national marine sanctuary advisory councils. ONMS solicits applications to fill council seats on an as needed basis and is currently seeking applicants for seats on the LONMS Advisory Council. This notice contains web page links and contact information for LONMS and application materials to apply for the council.

NMFS approves and implements the 2024-2026 specifications for the Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan, as recommended by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. This final rule sets the 2024 Illex and longfin squid specifications, and projects the 2025 Illex and 2025-2026 longfin squid specifications. This rule also reaffirms the 2024 butterfish and Atlantic chub mackerel specifications and the previously published projected 2025 chub mackerel specifications. These specifications establish allowable harvest levels that will prevent overfishing, consistent with the most recent scientific information.

This final rule announces routine inseason adjustments to management measures in commercial groundfish fisheries. This action is intended to allow commercial fishing vessels to access more abundant groundfish stocks while protecting overfished and depleted stocks.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public webinar of its Risk Policy Working Group 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.

NMFS announces inseason action for the Washington and Oregon subareas in the Pacific halibut recreational fishery in the International Pacific Halibut Commission's (IPHC) regulatory Area 2A. Specifically, this action announces additional fishing dates in August and September for the Washington subareas and in August through October for the Oregon Central Coast subarea. This action is intended to provide opportunity for anglers to achieve the catch limit in the Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) 2024 Pacific Halibut Catch Sharing Plan.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is providing notice that the final rule published on June 6, 2023, to designate Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary (LONMS), is effective on July 22, 2024.

The Ecosystem-Based Management Subcommittee (SSC ES) of the Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council) Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will convene an online meeting to review 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. In addition, they may review new analyses conducted by the NMFS California Current Integrated Ecosystem Assessment Team that may potentially inform future annual reports to the Pacific Council on the state of the California Current Ecosystem. The SSC ES meeting is open to the public.

The SEDAR 98 assessment process of Gulf of Mexico red snapper will consist of a Data Workshop, a series of assessment webinars, and a Review Workshop. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council) Ad- hoc Sacramento River Fall Chinook (SRFC) Workgroup (Workgroup) will hold a 2-day online meeting in August 2024 and a 1-day online meeting in September 2024.

The Caribbean Fishery Management Council's (Council) Ecosystem-Based Fishery Management Technical Advisory Panel (EBFM TAP) will hold a public virtual meeting to address the items on the tentative agenda included in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

Notice is hereby given that the Maine Department of Marine Resources, 194 McKown Point Road, West Boothbay Harbor, ME 04575 (Sarah Leiter, Responsible Party), has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on marine mammals.

This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of a forthcoming meeting of the National Sea Grant Advisory Board (Board), a Federal advisory committee. Board members will discuss and provide advice on the National Sea Grant College Program (Sea Grant) in the areas of program evaluation, strategic planning, education and extension, science and technology programs, and other matters as described in the agenda found on the Sea Grant website. For more information on this Federal Advisory Committee please visit the Federal Advisory Committee database: https://www.facadatabase.gov/FACA/ FACAPublicPage.

This action implements approved measures for Framework Adjustment 12 to the Northeast Skate Complex Fishery Management Plan (Northeast Skate Complex FMP), which was developed by the New England Fishery Management Council (Council). This action specifies skate catch limits for fishing years 2024 and 2025, increases seasonal trip limits for the wing fishery, removes possession restrictions for barndoor skate in the wing fishery, and removes possession restrictions for smooth skate in both the wing and bait fisheries. This 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 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 Ecosystem and Ocean Planning (EOP) Committee and Advisory Panel (AP) of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a joint meeting. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for agenda details.

NMFS announces that the Commonwealth of Virginia is transferring a portion of its 2024 commercial summer flounder quota to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This adjustment to the 2024 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 2024 commercial quotas for Virginia and Massachusetts.

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.