National

National

Northeast

Northeast

South Atlantic

Alaska

Pacific

Alaska

Pacific

Alaska

Pacific

Pacific

Northeast – New England Fishery Management Council Holds Public Meeting

West Coast – Pacific Fishery Management Council holds Public Meetings

West Coast – North Pacific Fishery Management Council holds Public Meeting

National – NOAA Extends Comment Period on National Standard 1 Guidelines

NOAA Fisheries Service extended the public comment period on the proposed rule to revise National Standard 1 (NS1) guidelines, including guidance on how to comply with new annual catch limit (ACL) and accountability measures (AM) requirements for ending overfishing of fisheries managed by federal fishery management plans. NOAA Fisheries Service has received various requests to extend the comment period for the proposed rule beyond its current 90-day comment period. The extension of the comment period for another two weeks is intended to ensure that NOAA Fisheries Service provides adequate time for various stakeholders and members of the public to comment on the proposed guidance on ACLs and AMs and other proposed revisions to the NS1 guidelines. The comment period ending date is extended from September 8, 2008, to September 22, 2008.

Comments, identified by 0648-AV60, may be submitted by any of the following methods: Electronic submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking portal: http://www.regulations.gov; Fax: 301-713-1193, Attn: Mark Millikin; Mail: Mark R. Millikin, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13357, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (mark outside of envelope "Comments on Annual Catch Limits proposed rule'').

Copies of the Regulatory Impact review (RIR)/Regulatory Flexibility Act analysis (RFAA) for this proposed rule are available from Mark R. Millikin at the address listed above. The RIR/RFAA document is also available via the internet at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/msa2007/catchlimits.htm.

For further information contact: Mark R. Millikin, Senior Fishery Management Specialist, 301-713-2341.

National – Interagency Cooperation Proposal Under ESA

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and NOAA Fisheries Service propose to amend regulations governing interagency cooperation under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The Services are proposing these changes to clarify several definitions, to clarify when the section 7 regulations are applicable and the correct standards for effects analysis, and to establish time frames for the informal consultation process.

Comments must be received by September 15, 2008 to ensure their full consideration in the final decision on this proposal. Submit your comments or materials concerning this proposed rule in one of the following ways: (1) Through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions on the Web site for submitting comments. (2) By U.S. mail or hand-delivery to Public Comment Processing, Attention: 1018-AT50, Division of Policy and Directives Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 222, Arlington, VA 22203. E-mail or faxes will not be accepted. All comments will be posted on http://www.regulations.gov. This generally means that any personal information you provide will be posted (see the Public Comments section below for more information).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, DC 20240; telephone: 202-208-4416; or James H. Lecky, Director, Office of Protected Resources, NOAA Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910; telephone: 301-713-2332.

Northeast – NOAA Fisheries Seeks Comment on EIS for Mackerel, Squid and Butterfish Fisheries

On December 19, 2005, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, in cooperation with NOAA Fisheries Service, announced its intent to prepare a supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) for Amendment 11 to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan. Since then, the Council and NOAA Fisheries Service have determined that the Amendment 11 document is an independent action and therefore will be handled as an EIS, rather than SEIS. The Council has chosen to consider management measures in this action in addition to limited access in the Atlantic mackerel fishery, including: The implementation of annual catch limits and accountability measures for Atlantic mackerel and butterfish required under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006; an update of the description and identification of essential fish habitat for all life stages of mackerel, Loligo squid, Illex squid, and butterfish (including gear impacts on Loligo egg EFH); and possible limitations on at-sea processing of mackerel. For purposes of scoping, this supplemental Notice of Intent (NOI) seeks comments on only the above listed new measures that may be included in Amendment 11. Additional scoping will take place via solicitation of public comment at Council meetings and related Council committee meetings as Amendment 11 is considered and developed.

Public comments on the supplemental NOI for Amendment 11 must be received on or before 5 p.m., local time, September 10, 2008. Written comments on the supplementary notice of intent for Amendment 11 may be sent by any of the following methods: E-mail to the following address: MSBAmendment11@noaa.gov; Mail to Sustainable Fisheries Division, Northeast Regional Office, NOAA Fisheries Service, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope "Scoping Comments on Supplemental NOI for Amendment 11;'' or Fax to 978-281-9135. Mark the fax ''Scoping Comments on Supplemental NOI for Amendment 11.''

Copies of supporting documents used by the Council are available from: Daniel Furlong, Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, Room 2115, Federal Building, 300 South New Street, Dover, DE 19904-6790, telephone 302-674-2331.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel Furlong, Executive Director,
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, Room 2115, Federal Building,
300 South New Street , Dover, DE 19904-6790 , telephone 302-674-2331.

Northeast – NOAA Fisheries adjusts Scup 2008 Winter II Quota

NOAA Fisheries Service adjusted the 2008 Winter II commercial scup quota. This action complies with Framework Adjustment 3 (Framework 3) to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan, which established a process to allow the rollover of unused commercial scup quota from the Winter I period to the Winter II period. DATES: Effective August 11, 2008, through December 31, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Ruccio, Fishery Policy Analyst, 978-281-9104.

South Atlantic – NOAA closes commercial Golden Tilefish fishery

NOAA Fisheries Service closed the commercial fishery for golden tilefish in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic from August 17, 2008 until January 1, 2009. NOAA Fisheries Service has determined that the quota for the commercial fishery for golden tilefish will have been reached by August 17, 2008. This closure is necessary to protect the golden tilefish resource.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Britni Tokotch, telephone 727-824- 5305, fax 727-824-5308.

Alaska – NOAA Fisheries publishes correction in BSAI Atka Mackerel fishery

On July 30, 2008, NOAA Fisheries Service published a revised Table 4 that reallocated Atka mackerel from the 2008 incidental catch allowance to the B season allowance for the Amendment 80 cooperative in the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). Table 4 of that document contains the final 2008 and 2009 BSAI Atka mackerel allocations. That table contained inadvertent calculation errors that are corrected in this rule. DATES: Effective August 14, 2008, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228.

Pacific – NOAA announces applications for permits regarding Endangered and Threatened Species

NOAA Fisheries Service has received six scientific research permit application requests relating to Pacific salmon. The proposed research is intended to increase knowledge of species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and to help guide management and conservation efforts. Comments or requests for a public hearing on the applications must be received at the appropriate address or fax number no later than 5 p.m. Pacific standard time on September 15, 2008. Written comments on the applications should be sent to the Protected Resources Division, NOAA Fisheries Service, 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Suite 1100, Portland, OR 97232-1274. Comments may also be sent via fax to 503-230-5441 or by e-mail to resapps.nwr@noaa.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Garth Griffin, Portland, OR (503) 231-2005, Fax: (503) 230-5441. Permit application instructions are available from the address above.

Alaska – NOAA announces fishery assignments in Atka Mackerel Lottery

NOAA Fisheries Service has notified the owners and operators of registered vessels of their assignments for the 2008 B season Atka mackerel fishery in harvest limit area (HLA) 542 and/or 543 of the Aleutian Islands subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to allow the harvest of the 2008 B season HLA limits established for area 542 and area 543 pursuant to the 2008 and 2009 harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI. DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), August 12, 2008, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., November 1, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Hogan, 907-586-7228.

Pacific – NOAA seeks comments on deep water shrimp FMP amendment

The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council proposes to amend the Fishery Management Plan for Crustacean Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region. If approved by the Secretary of Commerce, Amendment 13 to the Crustaceans FMP would designate deepwater shrimp of the genus Heterocarpus as management unit species, and require Federal permits and data reporting for deepwater shrimp fishing in Federal waters of the western Pacific. Amendment 13 is intended to improve information on deepwater shrimp fisheries and their ecosystem impacts, and to provide a basis for future management of the fisheries, if needed. Comments on Amendment 13, which includes an environmental assessment, must be received by October 14, 2008.

Comments on the amendment, identified by 0648-AV29, may be sent to either of the following addresses: Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal www.regulations.gov; or Mail: Mail written comments to William L. Robinson, Regional Administrator, NOAA Fisheries Service, Pacific Islands Region (PIR), 1601 Kapiolani Blvd, Suite 1110, Honolulu, HI 96814-4700.

Copies of Amendment 13, including an environmental assessment, are available from the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council, 1164 Bishop St., Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813, telephone 808-522-8220, fax 808-522-8226, www.wpcouncil.org .

Alaska – NOAA temporarily closes Thornyhead Rockfish fishery in western GOA

NOAA Fisheries Service is prohibiting retention of thornyhead rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) because the 2008 total allowable catch (TAC) of thornyhead rockfish in this area has been reached. The closure is effective August 13, 2008 through December 31, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Hogan, 907-586-7228.

Pacific – NOAA finalizes Black Coral Quota and Gold Coral Moratorium

This final rule, effective September 12, 2008, implements Amendment 7 to the Fishery Management Plan for Precious Coral Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region (Precious Corals FMP). The rule designates the Au'au Channel, Hawaii, black coral bed as an "Established Bed'' with a harvest quota of 5,000 kg every two years that applies to Federal and State of Hawaii waters, and implements a 5-year moratorium on the harvest of gold coral throughout the U.S. western Pacific. This rule is intended to prevent overfishing and achieve optimum yields of black coral resources, and to prevent overfishing and stimulate research on gold corals.

Amendment 7 is available from the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council), 1164 Bishop St., Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813, telephone 808-522-8220, fax 808-522-8226, or www.wpcouncil.org .

Pacific – NOAA seeks comment in Pelagic Fisheries and Squid Jig Fisheries FMPs

The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council proposes to amend the Fishery Management Plan for Pelagic Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region. If approved by the Secretary of Commerce, Amendment 15 would add three species of pelagic squid to the management unit, and establish Federal permitting and reporting requirements for squid jig fishing vessels over 50 ft in length. These vessels would also be required to carry observers if requested by NOAA Fisheries Service. Combined, these measures are intended to enable the Council and NOAA Fisheries Service to better monitor and manage the U.S. domestic pelagic squid fisheries.

Comments on Amendment 15, which includes an environmental assessment, must be received by October 10, 2008. Comments on the amendment, identified by 0648-AS71, may be sent to either of the following addresses: Electronic Submission: Via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal www.regulations.gov; or Mail: William L. Robinson, Regional Administrator, NOAA Fisheries Service, Pacific Islands Region (PIR), 1601 Kapiolani Blvd, Suite 1110, Honolulu, HI 96814-4700.

Copies of Amendment 15, including an environmental assessment, are available from the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council), 1164 Bishop St., Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813, telephone 808-522-8220, fax 808-522-8226, or www.wpcouncil.org .

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Harman, NOAA Fisheries Service PIR, 808-944-2271.