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

The New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) will host the Eighth National Meeting of the Scientific Coordination Subcommittee (SCS8) of the Council Coordination Committee. The meeting theme is "Applying Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) Control Rules in a Changing Environment." The objective of SCS8 is to provide actionable guidance on how to best support Councils in the management of fisheries, particularly on the use of ABC control rules, given the changing environment.

Three free Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Outreach Workshops will be held from August 19, 2024 through August 21, 2024 in locations across Puerto Rico. These workshops are being offered to be responsive to stakeholder requests for additional outreach in Puerto Rico and U.S. Caribbean communities. The objectives of the HMS Outreach Workshops are to educate fishers, dealers, and the general public on HMS regulations, distribute outreach materials, and assist fishers in applying for HMS permits.

The SEDAR 96 assessment for SE yellowtail snapper will consist of a series of webinars. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

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 announces the date, time, and access information of the public meeting being held, in a virtual format, prior to the 69th meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC). The meeting is open to U.S. citizens only.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces the initiation of a 5-year review for the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus). NMFS is required by the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to conduct 5-year reviews to ensure that the listing classifications of species are accurate. The 5-year review must be based on the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review. We request submission of any such information on the Mediterranean monk seal, particularly information on the status, threats, and recovery of the species that has become available since the previous review in 2017.

NMFS received a request from Attentive Energy, LLC (Attentive Energy), a company registered in Delaware, for the renewal of their previously issued incidental harassment authorization (IHA) (hereafter, the "initial IHA") to take marine mammals incidental to marine site characterization surveys in coastal waters off of New York and New Jersey 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 (Lease) Area OCS-A 0538 and associated export cable route (ECR) area. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), 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.

NMFS seeks comments on this interim final rule issued under authority of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention Implementation Act (WCPFC Implementation Act) that implements a recent decision of the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the western and central Pacific Ocean (WCPFC or Commission) increasing the WCPFC bigeye tuna catch limit for U.S. longline fishing vessels from 3,554 metric tons (mt) to 6,554 mt. This action is necessary to satisfy the obligations of the United States as a member of the Commission.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Joint Herring Committee and Advisory Panel via webinar 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 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.

NMFS proposes regulations to implement Framework Adjustment 16 to the Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan. Framework 16 was developed by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council to establish a volumetric hold baseline for limited access Illex squid vessels, clarify Illex squid reporting requirements, and allow NMFS to collect information on the vessel processing type for Illex and longfin squid vessels. This action is necessary to restrict future increases in the capacity of the Illex squid fishery and to gain more accurate catch information to inform stock assessments.

The New England Fishery Management Council's is convening a Scientific and Statistical Committee subpanel via webinar 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.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold four Best Fishing Practices Master Volunteer Program (BFP MVP) workshops covering best fishing practices, specifically for snapper grouper species, how to get involved in Citizen Science projects, and how to get involved in the Council process.

NMFS announces that the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) proposes to amend the Fishery Ecosystem Plan for the American Samoa Archipelago (FEP). If approved, the FEP would be amended to discontinue the rebuilding plan for American Samoa bottomfish and NMFS would implement annual catch limits (ACL) and accountability measures (AM) for American Samoa bottomfish. The action is necessary because new best scientific information indicates the fishery is not overfished or experiencing overfishing. The proposed action considers the best available scientific, commercial, and other information about the fishery, and supports the long-term sustainability of the fishery.

The Deepwater Horizon (DWH) natural resource trustees for the Alabama Trustee Implementation Group (TIG) have prepared the Final Supplemental Restoration Plan II and Environmental Assessment: Marine Mammals (RPII/EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact. The Final Supplemental RPII/EA evaluates the use of additional funds from the Marine Mammals Restoration Type to extend the implementation of one or more projects currently underway in the Alabama Restoration Area to continue the Alabama TIG's efforts to restore for injuries to marine mammals impacted by the DWH oil spill. The Final Supplemental RPII/EA evaluates two restoration alternatives including consideration of the criteria set forth in the OPA natural resource damage assessment (NRDA) regulations, and an analysis under National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) implementing regulations. A No Action Alternative is also evaluated pursuant to the NEPA. In the Final Supplemental RPII/EA the Alabama TIG selects the preferred alternative for implementation. The total estimated cost to implement the Alabama TIG's Preferred Alternativean extension of the Enhancing Capacity for the Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding Network Projectis $1,881,237. This action allocates the Alabama TIG's remaining Marine Mammals restoration funds.

Notice is hereby given that Olga von Ziegesar, Winged Whale Research, 53254 Marimac Avenue, Homer, AK 99603, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct research on humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae; Western North Pacific, Hawai'i, and Mexico distinct population segments).

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is soliciting comments from the public regarding a proposed revision of the management plan for the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve. A management plan provides a framework to guide a reserve's programs, track progress toward meeting its goals, and identify potential opportunities or changes in direction. It is also used to guide programmatic evaluations of a reserve. Management plan revisions are required at least every five years. This draft revised management plan is intended to replace the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve management plan, which was approved in 2009.

This final rule implements interim annual harvest specifications and management measures for the northern subpopulation of Pacific sardine (hereafter, Pacific sardine), pursuant to an order issued on July 10, 2024, by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in Oceana, Inc., v. Raimondo, et al.. Specifically, this rule re-instates the annual specifications and management measures that were in place for the 2023-2024 fishing year in whole, until the 2024-2025 annual Pacific sardine specifications and management measures are effective.

NMFS closes the Angling category Gulf of Maine area fishery for large medium and giant ("trophy" (i.e., measuring 73 inches (185 centimeters) curved fork length or greater)) Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT). This action applies to Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling and HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessels when fishing recreationally.

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 advisory council applications. 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.

This final rule implements an annual catch limit (ACL) and annual catch target (ACT) for bottomfish in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) for fishing years 2024 and 2025. This rule does not revise, add, or remove the most recent current accountability measure (AM) in NOAA's regulations. Under that AM, NMFS will reduce the ACL and ACT in the following fishing year by the amount of the overage if the average catch from the most recent 3 years exceeds the ACL. This final rule supports the long-term sustainability of the CNMI bottomfish fishery.

Notice is hereby given that NMFS received an application for a Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) incidental take permit from United Water Conservation District (applicant) located in Oxnard, California and the permit application is hereby open for public comment. The permit application concerns the incidental take of endangered Southern California steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) associated with the applicant's otherwise lawful continued operation and maintenance of the existing Freeman Diversion on the lower Santa Clara River, Ventura County, and future proposed activities for expanding the diversion. We are considering issuing a 50-year permit to the applicant that would exempt the applicant's incidental take of endangered steelhead, and are making the permit application and related documents available to the public for review and comment. We will use the comments received, the permit application, and other information required by applicable statute and regulation, to determine whether the permit application meets the criteria for issuing the permit to the applicant. Additionally, we are issuing this notice to advise Federal, State, and local government agencies and the public that we are withdrawing our 2013 Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a previous application from United Water Conservation District for an incidental take permit under the ESA.

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.