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

NMFS has received a request from the Hilcorp Alaska, LLC (Hilcorp) for authorization to take small numbers of marine mammals incidental to oil and gas activities in Cook Inlet, Alaska, over the course of five years from the date of issuance. Pursuant to regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is announcing receipt of Hilcorp'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 Hilcorp's application and request.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels greater than or equal to 60 feet (18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA) using pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2025 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) allocated to catcher vessels greater than or equal to 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using pot gear in the BSAI.

NMFS has received a request from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) on behalf of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces Regional Support Center (USAF) for an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) that is nearly identical to an IHA previously issued to USAF authorizing the take of marine mammals, by Level A and Level B harassment, incidental to the Eareckson Air Station (EAS) Fuel Pier Repair project in Alcan Harbor on Shemya Island, Alaska. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an IHA to incidentally take marine mammals during the Eareckson Fuel Pier Repair project. NMFS is also requesting comments on a possible 1-year renewal IHA 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 authorizations and agency responses will be summarized in the final notice of our decision. The IHA would be valid for one year from the effective date.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory committees will meet on March 27, 2025, and on March 31, 2025, through April 7, 2025.

NMFS announces a public meeting of the Permanent Advisory Committee (PAC) to advise the U.S. Commissioners to the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPFC) on May 28, 2025. Meeting topics are provided under the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council)'s Enforcement Committee will hold a webconference on Thursday, March 27, 2025.

The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold its Program Planning Standing Committee (SC), Pelagic and International SC, Executive and Budget SC, and its 202nd Council meeting to take actions on fishery management issues in the Western Pacific Region.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's (Council) Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Advisory Panel and Bluefish Advisory Panel will hold a public meeting, jointly with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's (Commission) Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass and Bluefish Advisory Panels.

On February 21, 2025, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration published a notice in the Federal Register announcing a U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS[supreg]) Advisory Committee public meeting to be held from March 12th to March 14th, 2025. This notice announces the cancellation of that public meeting.

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.

On February 12, 2025, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration published a notice in the Federal Register announcing a Hydrographic Services Review Panel public meeting to be held on March 4th and March 5th, 2025. This notice announces the cancellation of that public meeting.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA) using hook-and-line or pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2025 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) allocated to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear in the BSAI.

NMFS closes the General category fishery for Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) for the remainder of the January through March time period. The General category may only retain, possess, or land large medium and giant (i.e., measuring 73 inches (185 centimeters (cm) curved fork length (CFL) or greater) BFT when the fishery is open. This action applies to Atlantic Tunas General category (commercial) permitted vessels and Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) Charter/Headboat permitted vessels with a commercial sale endorsement when fishing commercially for BFT. During the closure, fishermen aboard General category permitted vessels and HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessels may tag and release BFT of all sizes, subject to the requirements of catch-and-release and tag-and-release programs. On June 1, 2025, the fishery will reopen automatically.

NMFS announces that the Pacific Fishery Management Council (referred to as "the Council") has submitted amendment 35 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (PCGFMP) to the Secretary of Commerce for review. If approved, amendment 35 would define stocks that are in need of conservation and management, consistent with the provisions and guidelines of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). Amendment 35 would define stocks for eight species within the fishery management unit. These species were prioritized because they are scheduled for stock assessments in 2025 or in 2027. Amendment 35 is necessary for NMFS to make stock status determinations, which in turn will help prevent overfishing, rebuild overfished stocks, and achieve optimum yield. Amendment 35 is administrative in nature and does not change harvest levels or timing and location of fishing, nor does it revise the goals and objectives or the management frameworks of the PCGFMP.

NMFS has received a request from the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to geotechnical drilling in St. George, 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.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2025 total allowable catch of Pacific cod by catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public hybrid meeting of its Joint Skate and Monkfish Advisory Panels 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 SEDAR 90 assessment process for South Atlantic red snapper will consist of a Data Workshop, and a series of assessment webinars, and a Review Workshop. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a hybrid meeting of its Groundfish Joint Committee and Advisory Panel 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 Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) of the Mid- Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a meeting.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a one day in-person meeting of its Reef Fish Advisory Panel (AP).

The MAFMC will hold a public webinar meeting of its Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Advisory Panel and Bluefish Advisory Panel. This meeting will be held jointly with the respective Advisory Panels of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for agenda details.

The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold its 155th Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), Hawaii Archipelago and Pacific Remote Island Areas (PRIA) Fishery Ecosystem Plan (FEP) Advisory Panel (AP), and American Samoa Archipelago FEP AP to discuss and make recommendations on fishery management issues in the Western Pacific Region.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a second Recreational Initiative Public Engagement Workshop via webinar.