Recent Regulatory Actions--Fisheries 2006 2005 2004 2003 & Earlier
Final Rule to Implement Amendment 16-4 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish FMP
This rule's management measures are intended to, among other things,
reduce and minimize the bycatch and discard of overfished and depleted
stocks. This rule also implements a new Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation
Area off Washington State, which will be closed to commercial salmon
troll fishing to reduce incidental mortality of yelloweye rockfish
in the salmon troll fishery.
Final Rule to Implement Amendment 18 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish FMP
Amendment 18 responds to a court order by setting the Pacific Fishery Management Council's bycatch minimization policies and requirements into the FMP.
Temporary Rule to Extend Observer Program for Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery
This rule continues management measures implemented by a June 16, 2006, emergency rule that were set to expire on December 13, 2006. This rule, which maintains the existing requirements and ensures that observers can continue to be deployed in the scallop fishery throughout the year, is effective through June 11, 2007.
Proposed Rule to Reduce Red Snapper Bycatch
This proposed rule would implement interim measures to reduce overfishing and reduce bycatch and discrards of Gulf red snapper. Proposed measures include reducing the commercial minimum size limit from 15 inches to 13 inches and establishing a target reduction goal for shrimp trawl bycatch mortality on red snapper that is 50 percent less than shrimp trawl bycatch mortality during 2001-2003. Comments on the proposed rule will be accepted until January 26, 2007.
Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for American Lobster Fishery
NOAA Fisheries is seeking public comment on the implementation of further minimum carapace length increases, escape vent size increases, and trap reductions in the offshore American lobster fishery. A January 2006 stock assessment indicated stable abundance of lobster for the Georges Bank and majority of the Gulf of Maine stocks. However, decreased stock abundance and recruitment due to high fishing mortality were evident in the assessment of the Southern New England stock and the statistical area of the Gulf of Maine stock that includes Massachusetts Bay and Stellwagen Bank. Comments will be accepted until January 17, 2007.
Proposed Rule to Implement 2007 and 2008 Management Measures for Alaska Groundfish
NOAA Fisheries has proposed harvest specifications, reserves and apportionments, and Pacific halibut prohibited species catch limits for the groundfish fisheries of the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands. Comments on the proposed rules will be accepted until January 16, 2007.
Final Rule to Implement Framework Adjustment (FW) 42 to the NE Multispecies FMP and FW 3 to the Monkfish FMP
Framework 42 and Framework 3, which are designed to reduce fishing mortality to meet rebuilding goals for various Northeast fisheries, also includes provisions to modify and standardize bycatch reporting requirements, provide incentives for the proper use of haddock separator trawls, prohibit the discarding of monkfish, and encourage the diamond mesh to reduce yellowtail flounder discards.
Proposed Rule for Management Measures for Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish
These proposed measures include trimester quota allocations for the Loligo squid fishery and an increased Loligo squid incidental catch limit for Illex squid moratorium vessels are proposed for 2007. Comments on this proposed rule may be submitted through January 4, 2007.
Temporary Rule to Close Closed Area II Scallop Access Area
The Closed Area II Scallop Access Area is closed to scallop vessels until February 28, 2007. This action has been taken to prevent the scallop fleet from exceeding a bycatch allowance for yellowtail flounder.
Final Rule to Implement Amendment 13C to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region
This rule, among other things, requires at least 2-inch mesh in black sea bass pots and requires black sea bass pots to be removed from the water after the quota is reached. These measures should reduce mortality of undersized trap-caught black sea bass.
Final Rule to Implement Amendment 13 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico
This rule establishes, among other things, a 10-year moratorium on issuance of Federal Gulf shrimp vessel permits, requires owners or operators of all federally permitted Gulf shrimp vessels to report information on landings and vessel and gear characteristics, and requires vessels selected by NOAA Fisheries to carry observers and/or install an electronic logbook provided by NOAA Fisheries.
Comments Requested on Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Red Snapper
NOAA Fisheries is requesting comments from the public on a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) that addresses overfishing of red snapper. This DEIS provides an analysis of alternatives for further reducing the fishing mortality rates for red snapper in directed and non-directed fisheries. Comments on this document must be received by 5pm, eastern time, on November 27, 2006.
Data Collection Proposed for Hagfish Fishery
To meet the New England Fishery Management Council's request for information on the Atlantic hagfish fishery, this proposed rule would require all seafood dealers who intend to purchase hagfish caught in or from the Exclusive Economic Zone to be permitted and to submit a weekly electronic report containing trip-level information. Dealer reports would help to determine the level of discards and discard mortality of hagfish and to verify landings. Written comments on this proposed rule must be received by December 1, 2006.
Final Rule to Implement Framework 43 to the NE Multispecies Fishery Management Plan
This rule is designed to address the bycatch of New England groundfish by vessels fishing for Atlantic herring. It's measures require, among other things, that vessels with a Category 1 Atlantic herring fishing permit may possess incidentally caught haddock until they reach a specified cap. After the cap is reached, all herring vessels are limited to 2,000 lb of herring per trip if any of the herring was caught within a defined area. In addition, Atlantic herring processors and dealers that sort herring catches as part of their operations are required to cull and report all haddock.
Final Rule Allows Small Scallop Dredge Vessels to Harvest Scallops in a Manner Consistent with Bycatch Reduction Objectives
This rule allows allow vessels issued either a General Category Atlantic sea scallop permit or a limited access sea scallop permit, when not fishing under a scallop days-at-sea limitation, to fish for scallops with small dredges within the Great South Channel Scallop Dredge Exemption Area. The intent of this action is to allow small scallop dredge vessels to harvest scallops in a manner that is consistent with bycatch reduction objectives.
Proposed Rule to Modify Rebuilding Plans for Seven Overfished Pacific Coast Species
NOAA Fisheries has published a proposed rule to implement Amendment 16-4 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan, including revised rebuilding plans for seven overfished species: bocaccio, canary rockfish, cowcod, darkblotched rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, widow rockfish, and yelloweye rockfish. In addition, this proposed rule would implement a new Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Area off Washington State , which will be closed to commercial salmon troll fishing. Comments must be received by 5pm on October 31.
Inseason Changes to Pacific Groundfish Management Measures
NOAA Fisheries has announced inseason changes for the commercial and recreational Pacific Coast groundfish fisheries, including increasing the widow rockfish bycatch limit and decreasing the canary rockfish bycatch limit for the commercial limited entry non-tribal primary whiting fishery. These actions, effective October 1, 2006, are intended to allow access to more abundant groundfish while protecting overfished stocks. Comments on these actions will be accepted through November 2.
Temporary Rule to Prohibit Directed Fishing for Deep-Water Species in the Gulf of Alaska
Directed fishing for species that comprise the deep-water species fishery is prohibited for vessels using trawl gear in the Gulf of Alaska . This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2006 Pacific halibut bycatch allowance. The closure is in effect through 1200 hrs, A.l.t., on October 1.
Final Rule to Protect Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) off Alaska
This final rule amends the fishery management plans for groundfish, king and tanner crabs, scallops and salmon by identifying and describing EFH and designating habitat areas of particular concern. It prohibits fishing with bottom contact gear by federally permitted vessels in the Habitat Protection Areas and also prohibits fishing with nonpelagic trawl gear in the Habitat Conservation Areas and fishing in the Habitat Conservation Zones with mobile bottom contact gear.
Gear Restrictions Modified in U.S./Canada Management Area
NOAA Fisheries has modified the gear restrictions for the U.S./Canada Management Area to require all limited access NE multispecies vessels fishing on a Northeast multispecies day-at-sea with trawl gear in the Eastern U.S./Canada Area to use a haddock separator trawl. This action is intended to slow the catch of Georges Bank cod in the Eastern U.S./Canada Area so that the total allowable catch is not exceeded, while prolonging access to yellowtail flounder and haddock in the Eastern U.S./Canada Area.
Proposed Rule to Implement Framework 42 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and Framework 3 to the Monkfish FMP
This rule would, among other things, provide gear performance incentives and modify the trawl codend mesh size requirement. Public comments must be received by August 25.
Notice of Availability of West Coast Groundfish Amendment 18
The Pacific Fishery Management Council has submitted Amendment 18 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for NOAA Fisheries' review. Over the past several years, the Council and NOAA Fisheries have managed the groundfish fisheries with a broad suite of measures designed to minimize bycatch. These measures would be formally organized and brought into the FMP through Amendment 18. Comments on Amendment 18 must be received by August 8.
Proposed Rule to Implement Amendment 18 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan
This rule would establish a new standardized bycatch reporting methodology and bycatch minimization requirements for groundfish fisheries off the U.S. Pacific Coast. These proposed regulations would require that groundfish fishery management measures take into account the co-occurrence ratios of overfished species with more abundant target stocks, require vessels that participate in the open access groundfish fisheries to carry observers if directed by NOAA, and authorize the use of depth-based closed areas to achieve various bycatch reduction goals. Public comments on this proposed rule must be received by August 8.
Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Final Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan
The FEIS describes a range of management measures that could impact fishermen and dealers for all HMS fisheries (tunas, sharks, swordfish and billfish). These alternatives include management measures that would, among other things, establish mandatory workshops for fishermen and dealers, implement a complementary time/area closure, and consider criteria for modifying and establishing time/area closures. Comments on the FEIS must be submitted by August 14, 2006.
NOAA Considering Exempted Fishing Permit to Allow Drift Gillnetting in Leatherback Conservation Area
NOAA Fisheries has determined that an application for an exempted fishing permit (EFP) from the Federation of Independent Seafood Harvesters may warrant further consideration. The EFP would authorize approximately 30 vessels to fish from August 15 to November 15, 2006 , in the Pacific Leatherback Conservation Area. The proposed EFP would allow a maximum of 300 drift gillnet sets, with 100% observer coverage required, and would impose a limit on leatherback sea turtles and other protected species that could be incidentally taken in this fishery. If any of the limits is reached, the EFP would be immediately revoked. Comments on this EFP application must be submitted by August 10, 2006.
Inseason Adjustments to Pacific Coast Groundfish Management
NOAA Fisheries has announced changes to management measures in the commercial and recreational Pacific Coast groundfish fisheries, including implementation of a darkblotched rockfish bycatch limit for the commercial limited entry primary whiting fishery. Public comments will be accepted through August 2.
Final Rule to Implement Revisions to the 2006 Commercial and Recreational Measures for West Coast Groundfish
These new management measures are intended to achieve but not exceed optimum yields, prevent overfishing, rebuild overfished species, and reduce and minimize the incidental catch and discard of overfished and depleted stocks.
Final Rule to Implement Amendment 69 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska
This rule allows the total allowable catch amount for the "other species'' complex to be set at less than or equal to 5 percent of the target species. It also raises the maximum retainable amount of "other species'' in the directed arrowtooth flounder fishery from 0 percent to 20 percent, which will reduce the amount of "other species'' that are discarded in the arrowtooth flounder fishery.
Final Rule to Implement New Groundfish Retention Program to Reduce Bycatch
NOAA Fisheries Service has announced that a new groundfish retention standard program in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Island management area will take effect on January 20, 2008. The new program applies to trawl catcher/processor vessels that are 125 ft in length or greater, and that are not listed as American Fisheries Act catcher/processors. The percent of groundfish retained will be a percent calculated as a specified ratio of the round-weight equivalent of total retained groundfish to total groundfish catch. The owners or operators of these vessels will be required to meet this standard on an annual basis.
Proposed Rule to Allow Additional Scallop Vessels in Great South Channel
This rule would allow vessels issued either a General Category Atlantic sea scallop permit or a limited access sea scallop permit, when not fishing under a scallop days-at-sea limitation, to fish for scallops with small dredges within the Great South Channel Scallop Dredge Exemption Area. Based on the observed bycatch rates of yellowtail flounder in scallop dredges in this area, and projections of the annual number of General Category scallop dredge trips, the total catch of yellowtail flounder in this program would likely represent less than 0.5 percent of the FY 2006 total allowable catch for the yellowtail stocks. Opening of the Great South Channel also may redistribute the effort in the scallop fishery away from other areas that have higher bycatch rates of yellowtail flounder. Public comments on this proposal must be received no later than July 21, 2006.
Temporary
Rule to Close the Flatfish Trawl Fishery in the Bering Sea and Aleutian
Islands
Directed fishing for rock sole, flathead sole, and "other flatfish" by
vessels using trawl gear is now closed in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the second
seasonal allowance of the 2006 halibut bycatch allowance specified for this fishery.
The closure is effective through 1200 hrs, Alaska local time, on July 1, 2006.
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