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

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold three 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.

In this final rule, NMFS updates the Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) regulations regarding the sea turtle safe handling and release requirements and equipment in the HMS pelagic and bottom longline fisheries. This action is based in part on two technical memoranda published by NMFS' Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC). The regulatory updates replace some of the more technical terms with those that are more commonly used, add more detail to make the regulations more understandable, and add additional tools or options for fishermen to use to safely handle and release sea turtles. In addition, this final rule simplifies the regulations by removing redundancies, making minor changes in formatting, and revising wording to clarify responsibility of implementation.

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 Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind Project 1, LLC (Project Company 1), for the taking of marine mammals incidental to the construction of the Atlantic Shores South Project (hereafter known as the "Project").

NMFS announces the approval of amendment 8 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the U.S. West Coast Highly Migratory Species (HMS). This amendment updates essential fish habitat (EFH) provisions in the existing HMS FMP. This amendment promotes the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) which requires periodic review and revision of EFH components of FMPs as warranted based on available information.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) and its advisory bodies will meet November 13-18, 2024, in Costa Mesa, CA and via webinar. The Council meeting will be live streamed with the opportunity to provide public comment remotely.

In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, notification is hereby given that NMFS has issued a renewal incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to the Port of Bellingham to incidentally harass marine mammals incidental to maintenance and rehabilitation of the Bellingham Shipping Terminal in Bellingham, WA.

Notice is hereby given that Karen Holloway-Adkins, Ph.D., East Coast Biologists, Inc., P.O. Box 33715, Indialantic, FL 32903, has requested a modification to scientific research Permit No. 21467-02.

This notice sets forth the proposed schedule and agenda for a meeting of the Science Advisory Board (SAB). The members will discuss issues outlined in the section on Matters to be considered.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public hybrid meeting of its Groundfish Recreational Advisory Panel Meeting to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). This meeting will be held in-person with a webinar option. Recommendations from this group will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will hold a one day in-person meeting of its Outreach and Education Technical Committee.

The SEDAR 91 assessment process of US Caribbean spiny lobster will consist of a Data Workshop, and a series of assessment webinars, and a Review Workshop. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

Notice is hereby given that the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, San Jos[eacute] Industrial Park, 1375 Ave. Ponce de Le[oacute]n, San Juan, PR 00926 (Responsible Party: Nilda Jimenez-Marrero, Ph.D.), has applied in due form for a permit to take pillar coral (Dendrogyra cylindrus) for purposes of enhancement.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces the availability of our final 2024 Update to: Technical Guidance for Assessing the Effects of Anthropogenic Sound on Marine Mammal Hearing (Version 3.0): Underwater and In-Air Criteria for Onset of Auditory Injury and Temporary Threshold Shifts (2024 Updated Technical Guidance). The 2024 Updated Technical Guidance provides updated information, or acoustic criteria, to predict when individual marine mammals, both in-air and underwater, will experience changes in their hearing sensitivity (auditory injury or temporary threshold shift) from exposure to anthropogenic sound sources. The 2024 Updated Technical Guidance replaces NMFS's current 2018 Revisions to: Technical Guidance for Assessing the Effects of Anthropogenic Sound on Marine Mammal Hearing (Version 2.0): Underwater Thresholds for Onset of Permanent and Temporary Threshold Shifts (2018 Revised Technical Guidance).

NMFS issues these proposed regulations to implement amendment 34 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (Groundfish FMP). The proposed regulations include a closure to commercial groundfish bottom contact gear in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS). Specifically, NMFS proposes to implement a new groundfish exclusion area (GEA) for the purposes of coral research and restoration within MBNMS at the site of Sur Ridge. The purpose of this proposed action is to close the Sur Ridge site within the MBNMS off California to commercial groundfish bottom contact gear in order to protect future deep-sea coral research and restoration projects from the impact of fishing gear. The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) conducts scientific research in National Marine Sanctuaries, including on deep sea coral survival, growth and reproduction, under the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA) and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).

NMFS has received a request from the United States Navy (Navy) for authorization to take marine mammals, by Level B harassment only, incidental to pile driving training exercises at Naval Base Ventura County, Port Hueneme (NBVC). NMFS previously issued an incidental harassment authorization IHA to the Navy for similar activities on April 28, 2023 (hereinafter referred to as the initial IHA); however, during the initial authorization period, only one of four planned training exercise was performed. The Navy is requesting, and NMFS is proposing to issue an IHA authorizing incidental take for an additional four training exercises. 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 specified activities. 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 Navy's activities are considered military readiness activities pursuant to the MMPA, as amended by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (NDAA).

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 US Wind, Inc. (US Wind) during the construction of an offshore wind energy project (the Project) in Federal and State waters off of Maryland, 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-0490) (referred to as the Lease Area) and along associated export cable routes to sea-to-shore transition points (collectively, the project area), over the course of 5 years (January 1, 2025 through December 31, 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.

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

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

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) Bering Sea Fishery Ecosystem Plan Climate Change Taskforce (CCTF) will meet November 6, 2024.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC; Council) will hold a meeting of the Snapper Grouper Commercial Sub-Committee.

In accordance with the regulations implementing the individual fishing quota (IFQ) program, Federal dealer reporting, and Federal charter vessel and headboat (for-hire vessel) reporting specific to the reef fish fishery in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf), coastal migratory pelagic (CMP) fisheries in the Gulf and Atlantic, snapper-grouper fishery in the South Atlantic, and dolphin and wahoo fishery in the Atlantic, the Regional Administrator (RA), NMFS Southeast Region, has determined that Hurricane Milton has caused catastrophic conditions in the Gulf and the Atlantic for certain Florida counties. This temporary rule authorizes, in the affected area described in this temporary rule, any Federal dealer or for-hire electronic reporting program participant who does not have access to electronic reporting to delay reporting, and any IFQ dealer to use paper-based forms, if necessary, for basic required administrative functions, e.g., landing transactions. This temporary rule is intended to facilitate continuation of IFQ and electronic reporting operations during the period of catastrophic conditions.

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

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's (Council) Ecosystem and Ocean Planning (EOP) Committee and Advisory Panel (AP) will hold a joint meeting. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for agenda details.

In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as amended, notification is hereby given that NMFS has issued a renewal incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to Community Offshore Wind, LLC (COSW) to incidentally harass marine mammals incidental to marine site characterization surveys offshore from New Jersey and New York 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 (OCS) Lease Area OCS-A 0539 (Lease Area) and associated Export Cable Route (ECR) survey area (ECR Area). There are no changes from the proposed authorization to this final authorization.