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

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 a Letter of Authorization (LOA) has been issued to LLOG Exploration Company (LLOG) for the take of marine mammals incidental to geophysical survey activity in the GOM.

NMFS is proposing to codify a schedule of restricted-fishing days (RFDs) for the 2024 fishing year and subsequent fishing years; reestablish a General category default retention limit for large medium or giant bluefin tuna (BFT) on open days; and make clarifications to the BFT dealer regulations and the definition of a bluefin statistical document (BSD) tag. This proposed action is necessary to increase the likelihood of pacing General category landings to extend fishing opportunities through a greater portion of the General category time period subquotas. Lastly, this proposed action would clarify existing regulations to ensure better understanding and compliance by General category quota participants.

In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) of 1972, and the False Killer Whale Take Reduction Plan, NMFS is publishing a new trigger value for the Southern Exclusion Zone (SEZ) closure. The new trigger is three observed mortality or serious injuries of false killer whales incidental to the deep-set longline fishery within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone.

The SEDAR 82 assessment of the South Atlantic stock of gray triggerfish will consist of a data webinars/workshop, a series of assessment webinars, and a review workshop. A SEDAR 82 Review Workshop has been scheduled for March 12-14, 2024. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and agenda.

Notice is hereby given of a virtual 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.

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.

On behalf of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC)'s Subcommittee on Aquaculture (SCA), NMFS announces the availability of the draft Overview of the National Aquaculture Development Plan (NADP) and draft Strategic Plan for Aquaculture Economic Development (Economic Development Plan) for public comment.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council has submitted Amendment 21 to the Coastal Pelagic Species (CPS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for review by the Secretary of Commerce. If approved, Amendment 21 would make a number of non-substantive, administrative changes to the CPS FMP including defining acronyms upon first use, adding hyperlinks, removing repetitive language, and rearranging sections for clarity and logical sequence. These changes, colloquially referred to as ``housekeeping'' changes, would not change the management of the fishery. This proposed amendment is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the CPS FMP, and other applicable laws. NMFS will consider public comments in deciding whether to approve, disapprove, or partially approve Amendment 21.

The MAFMC and NEFMC will jointly hold a public meeting (webinar) of the Spiny Dogfish and Monkfish Advisory Panels to review potential sturgeon bycatch reduction measures. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for agenda details.

This action implements regulations for the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument. This action is necessary to conform U.S. fishing regulations to be consistent with Presidential Proclamations 9496 and 10287, which prohibited commercial fishing in the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument and directed the Secretaries of Commerce and Interior to promulgate regulations necessary for the proper care and management of the Monument. The measures herein are intended to define the boundary coordinates of the Monument area and clarify the prohibition on commercial fishing in the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) regulations.

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 North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) Scallop Plan Team will meet in Alaska.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is conducting six scoping meetings to solicit comments regarding the rang of alternatives to consider in Amendment 10 (A10) to the Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The Council is proposing to take action through A10 to address spatial and temporal allocation and management of Atlantic herring at the management unit level to minimize user conflicts, contribute to optimum yield and support rebuilding of the resource. The Council is also proposing to take action to enhance river herring (alewife and blueback herring) and shad (American shad and hickory shad) avoidance and other catch reduction measures to better support ongoing coastwide restoration efforts for those species. The Council is scheduling the scoping meetings in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. A summary of public comments received will be provided to the Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate.

In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, notification is hereby given that NMFS promulgates regulations to govern the incidental taking of marine mammals incidental to Empire Offshore Wind, LLC (Empire Wind), a 50-50 partnership between Equinor, ASA (Equinor) and BP p.l.c., during the construction of an offshore wind energy project (the Project) in Federal and State waters off of 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-512) (referred to as the Lease Area) and along two export cable routes to sea-to-shore transition points (collectively, the Project Area), over the course of 5 years (February 22, 2024, through February 21, 2029). These regulations, which allow for the issuance of a Letter of Authorization (LOA) for the incidental take of marine mammals during specific 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. Upon publication of this final rule and within 30 days, NMFS will issue a LOA to Empire Wind for the effective period of the final rule.

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.

NMFS closes the Angling category southern area fishery for large medium and giant (``trophy'' (i.e., measuring 73 inches (185 centimeters (cm)) curved fork length or greater)) Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT). The southern area trophy fishery is defined as south of 39[deg]18' N lat., and outside of the Gulf of Mexico. This action applies to Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling and HMS Charter/ Headboat permitted vessels when fishing recreationally.

NMFS proposes to approve and implement Framework Adjustment 38 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan (FMP) that establishes scallop specifications and other management measures for fishing years 2024 and 2025. Framework 38 would implement measures to protect small scallops to support rotational access area trips to the fleet in future years. This action would also revise regulatory text that is unnecessary, outdated, or unclear. This action is necessary to prevent overfishing and improve both yield-per-recruit and the overall management of the Atlantic sea scallop resource.

NMFS has approved nine companies to provide Northeast multispecies sector at-sea catch monitoring (ASM) and/or electronic catch monitoring (EM) services in fishing year 2024. Regulations implementing the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan require ASM and EM companies to meet service provider performance standards to be approved by NMFS to provide catch monitoring services to sectors. This action approves service providers that sectors may contract with for catch monitoring services for fishing year 2024.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council) Highly Migratory Species Advisory Subpanel (HMSAS) is holding an online meeting.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council) Coastal Pelagic Species Management Team (CPSMT) and Coastal Pelagic Species Advisory Subpanel (CPSAS) will hold public meetings.

On December 19, 2023, the Department of Commerce, published a 30-day public comment period notice in the Federal Register for an information collection entitled ``NMFS Observer Programs' Information That can be Gathered Only Through Questions.'' This document referenced incomplete information in the Needs and Uses section, and Commerce hereby issues a correction notice as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

NMFS announces that the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) proposes to amend the five fishery ecosystem plans (FEP) for fisheries in the Pacific Islands Region. If approved, the FEPs would be amended to update data collection mechanisms identified as standardized bycatch reporting methodologies (SBRM) as needed, and revise descriptions of SBRM for consistency with current NMFS regulations. The proposed action considers the best available scientific, commercial, and other information about the fisheries, and supports the long-term sustainability of fishery resources.

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.

In accordance with 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 Virginia Electric and Power Company, doing business as Dominion Energy Virginia (Dominion Energy), for the taking of marine mammals incidental to the construction of the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Commercial (CVOW-C) Project (hereafter known as the ``CVOW-C Project'' or the ``Project'').