NOAA Fisheries

Beluga Whales

• 72 FR 73798, December 28, 2007. Notice of Availability of Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Subsistence Harvest Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS). Comment Period through February 11, 2008.
• 72 FR 37697, July 11, 2007. Notice of public hearing to be held on July 27, 2007, from 6 to 9 p.m. in Soldotna, AK. Written comments must be received by August 3, 2007.
• 72 FR 34661, June 25, 2007. Notice of a public hearing to be held in Silver Spring, Maryland on July 31, 2007, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Written comments must be received by August 3, 2007.
• 72 FR 32605, June 13, 2007. Notice of public hearings on the proposed listing of the Cook Inlet beluga whale as an endangered species. Hearings to be held on July 19, 2007, in Homer and on July 20, 2007, in Anchorage, AK. Written comments must be received by August 3, 2007.
• 72 FR 30534, June 1, 2007. Extension of public comment period and notice of public hearings on proposed Endangered Species Act listing of Cook Inlet beluga whales. The deadline for comments on the April 20, 2007 (72 FR 19854) proposed rule is extended from June 19, 2007, to August 3, 2007.
• 72 FR 19854, April 20, 2007. Proposed endangered status for the Cook Inlet beluga whale. Public comment period through June 19, 2007.

Crab

• 72 FR 70286, December 11, 2007. NMFS proposes regulations to require domestic fishing vessel operators to provide a U.S. Coast Guard approved pilot ladder as a safer and more enforceable means for authorized personnel to board certain domestic fishing vessels. Comment period through January 10, 2008.
• 72 FR 33732, June 19, 2007. Proposed rule to correct certain provisions of a June 28, 2006, essential fish habitat rule for Alaska fisheries. Comment period through July 19, 2007
• 72 FR 5255, February 5, 2007. Notice of Availability of Amendment 25 to the FMP for Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs. Comment period through April 6, 2007.

Essential Fish Habitat (EFH)

• 72 FR 65539, November 21, 2007. Proposed rule to implement BSAI Amendment 88 and revise the Aleutian Islands Habitat Conservation Area boundary. Comment period through January 7, 2008.
• 72 FR 63871, November 13, 2007. Notice of Availability of Aleutian Islands Habitat Conservation Area Revision: Amendment 88 to the FMP for Groundfish of the BSAI, Amendment 23 to the FMP for BSAI King and Tanner Crabs, Amendment 12 to the FMP for the Scallop Fishery off Alaska, and Amendment 9 to the FMP for Salmon Fisheries in the EEZ off the Coast of Alaska. Comment period on these amendments through January 14, 2008.
• 72 FR 42369, August 2, 2007. Correction to 72 FR 33732, June 19, 2007 to reopen the comment period on this PR because the E-mail account listed in the PR rule for the submission of comments was in error and did not accept comments as intended. Comment period through September 4, 2007.
• 72 FR 33732, June 19, 2007. Proposed rule to correct certain provisions of a June 28, 2006, essential fish habitat rule for Alaska fisheries. Comment period through July 19, 2007

Groundfish Harvest Specifications and Management

• 72 FR 70286, December 11, 2007. NMFS proposes regulations to require domestic fishing vessel operators to provide a U.S. Coast Guard approved pilot ladder as a safer and more enforceable means for authorized personnel to board certain domestic fishing vessels. Comment period through January 10, 2008.
• 72 FR 68810, December 6, 2007. Proposed 2008 and 2009 harvest specifications, reserves and apportionments, and Pacific halibut prohibited species catch for the groundfish fishery of the GOA. Comments must be received by January 7, 2008.
• 72 FR 68833, December 6, 2007. Proposed 2008 and 2009 harvest specifications and prohibited species catch allowances for the groundfish fisheries of the BSAI. Comment period through January 7, 2008.
• 72 FR 67692, November 30, 2007. Proposed rule to repeal regulations providing for a groundfish vessel incentive program (VIP) that was designed to reduce the rate at which Pacific halibut and red king crab are taken as incidental catch in Alaska groundfish trawl fisheries. Comment period through December 31, 2007.
• 72 FR 65539, November 21, 2007. Proposed rule to implement BSAI Amendment 88 and revise the Aleutian Islands Habitat Conservation Area boundary. Comment period through January 7, 2008.
• 72 FR 63871, November 13, 2007. Notice of Availability of Aleutian Islands Habitat Conservation Area Revision: Amendment 88 to the FMP for Groundfish of the BSAI, Amendment 23 to the FMP for BSAI King and Tanner Crabs, Amendment 12 to the FMP for the Scallop Fishery off Alaska, and Amendment 9 to the FMP for Salmon Fisheries in the EEZ off the Coast of Alaska. Comment period on these amendments through January 14, 2008.
• 72 FR 53516, September 19, 2007. Proposed rule to revise the seabird avoidance measures for the Alaska hook-and-line groundfish and halibut fisheries. Comment period through October 19, 2007.
• 72 FR 42369, August 2, 2007. Correction to 72 FR 33732, June 19, 2007 to reopen the comment period on this PR because the E-mail account listed in the PR rule for the submission of comments was in error and did not accept comments as intended. Comment period through September 4, 2007.
• 72 FR 39779, July 20, 2007. Proposed rule to implement an industry fee system for repaying a $35 million Federal loan financing a fishing capacity reduction program in the longline catcher processor subsector of the BSAI nonpollock groundfish fishery. Comment period through August 20, 2007.
• 72 FR 33732, June 19, 2007. Proposed rule to correct certain provisions of a June 28, 2006, essential fish habitat rule for Alaska fisheries. Comment period through July 19, 2007
• 72 FR 31548, June 7, 2007. NMFS to hold an additional public workshop on the proposed Amendment 80 Program which would implement a limited access privilege program for specific groundfish fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. The workshop will be held on Monday, June 18, in Seattle, WA.
• 72 FR 30052, May 30, 2007. Proposed rule to implement Amendment 80 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area. Comments must be received no later than June 29, 2007.
• 72 FR 27798, May 17, 2007. NMFS to hold a public workshop on the proposed Amendment 80 Program which would implement a limited access privilege program for specific groundfish fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. The workshop will be held on Wednesday, May 23, 2007.
• 72 FR 21198, April 30, 2007. Notice of Availability of Amendment 80 to the FMP for Groundfish of the BSAI. Comment period through June 29, 2007.
• 72 FR 19454, April 18, 2007. Proposed rule for Amendment 84 to the regulations governing salmon bycatch in the BSAI. Comment period through June 4, 2007.
• 72 FR 18943, April 16, 2007. Proposed rule for Amendment 68 for the Central Gulf of Alaska rockfish fisheries to revise monitoring and enforcement provisions related to catcher/processor vessels harvesting under the opt-out fishery, and to make changes to regulations governing the rockfish fisheries. This action is necessary to clarify procedures and to correct discrepancies in a November 20, 2006, final rule. Comment period through April 30, 2007.
• 72 FR 14069, March 26, 2007. Notice of Availability of Amendment 84 to the FMP for Groundfish of the BSAI. Comment period through May 25, 2007.
• 72 FR 5654, February 7, 2007. Proposed rule to implement Amendment 85 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area and to implement recent changes to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Comments must be received no later than March 26, 2007.

Halibut Charter Harvest Levels

• 72 FR 74257, December 31, 2007. Proposed regulations to limit the harvest of Pacific halibut by guided sport charter vessel anglers in International Pacific Halibut Commission Area 2C of Southeast Alaska to the guideline harvest level for that area under two different scenarios. Comment period through January 30, 2008.
• 72 FR 17071, April 6, 2007. Proposed rule that would restrict the harvest of halibut by persons fishing on a guided sport charter vessel in International Pacific Halibut Commission Regulatory Area 2C. Comment period through April 23, 2007.

Illegal, Unreported, or Unregulated Fishing Activities/Bycatch

• 72 FR 33436, June 18, 2007. Advanced notice of public input sessions on the proposed rulemaking to develop certification procedures to address illegal, unreported, or unregulated (IUU) fishing activities and bycatch of protected living marine resources. Public input sessions July, 2007.

Individual Fishing Quota Program (IFQ)

• 72 FR 70286, December 11, 2007. NMFS proposes regulations to require domestic fishing vessel operators to provide a U.S. Coast Guard approved pilot ladder as a safer and more enforceable means for authorized personnel to board certain domestic fishing vessels. Comment period through January 10, 2008.
• 72 FR 64034, November 14, 2007. Proposed rule to modify the regulations for the IFQ Program for the fixed-gear commercial Pacific halibut fishery and sablefish fishery. Comment period through December 14, 2007.

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act

• 72 FR 72657, December 21, 2007. Proposed rule and revised definitions for certain regulatory terms, and procedural and technical changes to the regulations addressing scientific research activities, exempted fishing, and exempted educational activities under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Comment period through March 20, 2008.

Marine Mammal Take and Research Permits

• 72 FR 52339, September 13, 2007. Advance notice of proposed rulemaking changes to its implementing regulations, and criteria governing the issuance of permits for scientific research and enhancement activities under section 104 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Comment period through November 13, 2007.

North Pacific Right Whales

• 72 FR 61089, October 29, 2007. Proposed rule to list the North Pacific right whale as endangered and designate critical habitat for this species in the GOA and BSAI. Comment period through December 28, 2007 and request for public hearings must be made in writing by December 13, 2007.

Observer Program (Groundfish)

• 72 FR 14764, March 29, 2007. Proposed rule to amend regulations supporting the North Pacific Groundfish Observer Program. Comment period through April 27, 2007.
• 72 FR 7948, February 22, 2007. Proposed rule to amend regulations implementing the North Pacific Groundfish Observer Program and to ensure uninterrupted observer coverage in North Pacific groundfish fisheries. Comment period through March 23, 2007.
• 72 FR 4226, January 30, 2007. Proposed rule to to maintain and improve the safety and effectiveness of fishing vessel observers. Comment period through March 1, 2007.

Observer Program (Marine Mammal)

• 72 FR 35393, June 28, 2007. Proposed rule for the 2008 List of Fisheries, as required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Comment period through August 27, 2007.
• 72 FR 4226, January 30, 2007. Proposed rule to to maintain and improve the safety and effectiveness of fishing vessel observers. Comment period through March 1, 2007.

Recordkeeping and Reporting

• 72 FR 35748, June 29, 2007. Proposed rule for substantial revisions to recordkeeping and reporting requirements. Comment period through July 30, 2007.

Salmon

• 72 FR 42369, August 2, 2007. Correction to 72 FR 33732, June 19, 2007 to reopen the comment period on this PR because the E-mail account listed in the PR rule for the submission of comments was in error and did not accept comments as intended. Comment period through September 4, 2007.
• 72 FR 33732, June 19, 2007. Proposed rule to correct certain provisions of a June 28, 2006, essential fish habitat rule for Alaska fisheries. Comment period through July 19, 2007

Scallop

• 72 FR 42369, August 2, 2007. Correction to 72 FR 33732, June 19, 2007 to reopen the comment period on this PR because the E-mail account listed in the PR rule for the submission of comments was in error and did not accept comments as intended. Comment period through September 4, 2007.
• 72 FR 33732, June 19, 2007. Proposed rule to correct certain provisions of a June 28, 2006, essential fish habitat rule for Alaska fisheries. Comment period through July 19, 2007

Seabird Bycatch Reduction and Avoidance Measures

• 72 FR 53516, September 19, 2007. Proposed rule to revise the seabird avoidance measures for the Alaska hook-and-line groundfish and halibut fisheries. Comment period through October 19, 2007.

Steller Sea Lion Recovery Plan

• 72 FR 28473, May 21, 2007. Draft Revised Recovery Plan for the western & eastern distinct population segments of the Steller Sea Lion. Comment period through August 20, 2007.