National

National

National

National

New England

Atlantic

Atlantic

Mid-Atlantic

Gulf

Pacific

National – Public Comments Requested on Interagency Wetland Guidance

Section 404 of the Clean Water Act regulates the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States, including wetlands. The Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is responsible for processing Section 404 permits and analyzing impacts associated with proposed projects. When an applicant proposes a project with unavoidable impacts to wetlands, the Corps often requires compensatory mitigation to replace aquatic functions lost due to permitted activities. The mitigation package can include different types of wetland mitigation, including both on-site or off-site, and in-kind or out-of-kind mitigation. (The term “on-site” refers to “within the project boundaries and/or areas adjacent or contiguous to the impact area”, and “in-kind” refers to “the same physical and functional type as that of the impact area.”)

Public comments are now being requested on the revised Draft Federal Guidance on the Use of Off-Site and Out-of-Kind Compensatory Mitigation Under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. The draft guidance was prepared as part of the National Wetlands Mitigation Action Plan. The Plan, developed jointly by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Interior, and Transportation, includes 17 tasks that the agencies will complete by 2005 to improve the ecological performance and results of compensatory mitigation.

For more information on the National Wetlands Mitigation Action Plan, or a copy of the draft guidance, go to: http://www.mitigationactionplan.gov/guidance.htm. Public comments on the draft guidance will be accepted until May 23, 2004.

National – NOAA Honors 30 Environmental Heroes in 2004

Last week on April 22, in celebration of the 34th anniversary of Earth Day, NOAA acknowledged and honored the efforts of 30 individuals for their voluntary contributions and professional dedication to the stewardship and conservation of our nation’s natural resources and environment.

Established in 1995 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Earth Day, the Environmental Hero award is presented to individuals and organizations that volunteer their time and energy to help NOAA carry out it’s mission. Each line office within NOAA nominates individuals to the Administration. This year NOAA Fisheries nominated eight individuals for various efforts in fisheries management and habitat restoration. For a full listing go to www.nmfs.noaa.gov/mediacenter/ check it out and see who you know.

National - Proposed Rule to Implement the Marine Mammal Protection Act’s Zero Rate Mortality Goal

Section 118 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) addresses the taking of marine mammals incidental to commercial fishing operations. The MMPA provides for the preparation of stock assessments for all marine mammal stocks in waters under U.S. jurisdiction, development and implementation of take reduction plans for stocks that may be reduced or are being maintained below their optimum sustainable population levels due to interactions with commercial fisheries, and studies of pinniped-fishery interactions.

This proposed rule would define the “insignificance threshold”, that is, the maximum number of individuals from a particular marine mammal stock that could be removed (through incidental catch in commercial fishing operations) and still be considered “insignificant levels approaching a zero mortality and serious injury rate”. The insignificance threshold that has been proposed is 10 percent of a marine mammal stock’s Potential Biological Removal level.

The proposed rule published in the Federal Register on April 29, 2004 and comments will be accepted for 30 days. For a copy of the proposed rule and supporting documents, or for more information on the requirements of the MMPA, visit: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/prot_res/overview/mm.html#overview.

National – Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistical Survey (MRFSS) Looks to Stakeholders for Input and Review

On April 26-27, the Fisheries Statistics Division of the Office of Science and Technology hosted a 2003 Constituent Review of 2003 MRFSS data. We hosted over a dozen constituents from the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, as well as our contractors and state partners in recreational data collection. Local stakeholders (ACCSP/ASMFC), and a representative from the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Resources also attended.

This meeting was designed to give our constituents a better understanding of how MRFSS data are collected, processed, and used to produce estimates. With an emphasis on quality control, we provided a detailed description of our current program - taking participants through the entire data lifecycle, reviewing 2003 data, answering questions about the 2003 data and the MRFSS program in general, and discussing ways to increase constituent participation in the data review process.

MRFSS staff will be reviewing and assimilating the discussion notes to create a system for facilitating constituent involvement in real-time data review. Once approved by the meeting participants, the system will be put in place for 2004. For more information contact Nicole D. Bartlett, 301-713-2328, nicole.bartlett@noaa.gov.

New England – New Action to Protect Endangered Right Whales

This is an advance notice that a Dynamic Area Management action has been triggered by the sighting of 4 endangered right whales southeast of Boston, MA. The specified gear restrictions will be effective from 0001 hours on May 2 through 2400 hours on May 16 in an area that is approximately 1059 nm2. The coordinates are:

41°33'N, 69°52'W (NW Corner)
41°33'N, 68°40'W
41°00'N, 69°05'W
41°07'N, 68°55'W
40°53'N, 68°55'W
40°53'N, 69°52'W

For additional details, visit: http://www.nero.noaa.gov/whaletrp/.

Atlantic – Highly Migratory Species: Comments Requested on Issues & Options Paper, Nine Public Meetings Scheduled

NOAA Fisheries announces the availability of an Issues and Options paper for Amendment 2 to the Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and Sharks Fishery Management Plan (HMS FMP) and Amendment 2 to the Billfish Fishery Management Plan (Billfish FMP), request public comment, and announces the dates and times of nine public meetings. This paper examines management alternatives to issues raised by the HMS and Billfish advisory panels (APs) and by the general public.

In February 2004, NOAA Fisheries met with the APs for HMS and Billfish to discuss fishery management issues and potential options for future rulemaking. The Issues and Options paper raises issues and lists potential options to address these issues. Some of the issues include: General category quota allocation of Atlantic bluefin tuna, filleting tunas at sea, changing the swordfish bag limit for anglers, changing the large coastal shark trip limit for directed permit holders, streamlining the limited access permit program, non-tournament reporting of billfish harvest, species identification workshops, implementation of the bycatch reduction plan, simplifying the quota and permitting administrative processes for exempted fishing permits, and updating essential fish habitat (EFH) identifications for all HMS. These management measures could affect fishermen, dealers, equipment suppliers, or anyone who is involved in HMS fisheries.

NOAA Fisheries plans to attend and present the Issues and Options paper at several Fishery Management Council meetings that occur in May and June 2004.

For a copy of the paper and a list of scheduled public meetings go to http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms or contact Chris Rilling with the HMS Management Division at 301-713-2347.

Atlantic – Final Regulations Published for 2004 Spiny Dogfish Fishery

NOAA Fisheries announced final specifications for the 2004-2005 spiny dogfish fishery in a rule that published on April 27, 2004. This action specifies a commercial quota for the spiny dogfish fishery to achieve the annual target fishing mortality rate (F) specified in the Spiny Dogfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and support stock rebuilding. The new quota is effective May 27, 2004, through April 30, 2005.

The commercial spiny dogfish quota of 4 million lb for the 2004-2005 fishing year will be divided into two semi-annual periods as follows: 2,316,000 lb for quota period 1 (May 1, 2004 - Oct. 31, 2004); and 1,684,000 lb for quota period 2 (Nov. 1, 2004 - April 30, 2005). The possession limits will be 600 lb for quota period 1 and 300 lb for quota period 2.

Copies of supporting documents are accessible on the Internet at http://www.nero.nmfs.gov/ro/doc/nero.html FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric Jay Dolin at (978) 281-9259 or eric.dolin@noaa.gov.

Mid-Atlantic - Reinstatement of Permit Requirements for the Tilefish Fishery

In a final rule that published on April 26, 2004, NOAA Fisheries reinstated the permit requirements for commercial tilefish vessels. This final rule is based on additional information provided by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council that supports and explains the basis for the limited access permit criteria in the Tilefish Fishery Management Plan (FMP).

The final rule also allocates tilefish total allowable landings (TAL) to the various limited access permit categories for the remainder of the 2004 fishing year (November 1, 2003 - October 31, 2004). This action is intended to prevent overfishing and ensure rebuilding. The tilefish TAL for the 2004 fishing year is 1.995 million lb. The TAL is first reduced by 5 percent to account for incidental catch of tilefish. The remaining 1,895,250 lb is then distributed among the limited access permit categories. The rule becomes effective on May 31, 2004.

The final rule, supporting analyses, and the small entity compliance guide are accessible via the Internet at http://www.nero.nmfs.gov. For more information contact Douglas W. Christel at (978) 281-9141 orDouglas.Christel@noaa.gov.

Gulf – Commercial Red Snapper Fishery Notice

NOAA Fisheries announces that the commercial fishery for red snapper in Gulf of Mexico federal waters will open at noon, local time, on May 1, 2004, and close at noon, local time, on May 10, 2004. The 2004 Gulf of Mexico commercial red snapper quota is 4.65-million pounds. The commercial fishing season is divided into spring and fall seasons. The spring season began at noon, local time, on February 1, with 3.10 million pounds available, and the fall season begins at noon, local time, on October 1, with the remainder of the annual quota available. During the spring and fall seasons, fishing will be allowed the first 10 days of each month until the quota is caught. Preliminary landings data for February 1-10, 2004 (482,863 pounds), March 1-10, 2004 (546,627 pounds), and April 1-10, 2004 (683,543) totaled 1,713,033 pounds of red snapper landed. Therefore, a total of 1,386,967 pounds remain in the spring quota.

The operator of a vessel with a valid reef fish permit and a Class 1 or Class 2 red snapper license having red snapper aboard must have landed and sold such red snapper before noon, local time, on May 10, 2004. The minimum size limit for the commercial fishery is 15 inches total length.

Pacific – Final Catch Sharing Plan for Pacific Halibut

A new final rule implements the recommendations of the Pacific Council regarding Pacific halibut catch sharing in Area 2A. The affected area includes the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California. The rule, which becomes effective May 1, 2004, will enhance the conservation of pacific halibut and protect yelloweye rockfish and overfished species of groundfish from incidental catch in the halibut fisheries.

Electronic copies of the plan and supporting documents are available at: http://www.nwr.noaa.gov (click on "Pacific Halibut.'') For additional information, contact Jamie Goen or Yvonne deReynier by phone at 206-526-6140; or e-mail: jamie.goen@noaa.gov, yvonne.dereynier@noaa.gov.

April 22, 2004

Notice - Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits (EFPs).
Notice - Taking Marine mammals (Eglin AFB, FL).

April 26, 2004

Notice - Marine Mammals and Endangered Species; National Marine Fisheries Service File No. 31-1741; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service File No. MA081663-0.

April 27, 2004

Notice - Marine Mammals and Endangered Species; National Marine Fisheries Service File No. 31-1741; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service File No. MA081663-0.

April 28, 2004

Notice - North Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting (May 12).
Notice - North Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting (May 18 and 19).
Notice - Recreational Fisheries Strategic Plan Public Meeting
Rule - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Groundfish by Vessels Using Non-Pelagic Trawl Gear in the Red King Crab Savings Subarea filed today (April 23, 2004) at 2:29 p.m.
Rule - Pacific Halibut Fisheries; Catch Sharing Plan.

April 29, 2004

Notice - Marine Mammals; File No. 350-1739.
Notice - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request [Licensing of Private Land Remote-Sensing Space Systems].
Notice - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request [Teacher-At-Sea Program].
Notice - Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits (EFPs) [Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences (Manomet)].
Proposed Rule - Authorization for Commercial Fisheries Under the MMPA.
Rule - I.D. 041904C. Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Annual Specifications and Management Measures; Inseason Adjustments; Corrections.
Rule - Fisheries of the Economic Exclusive Zone Off Alaska; Deep-Water Species Fishery by Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the Gulf of Alaska.

April 30, 2004

Notice - Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery; Partial Approval of Amendment 10.
Notice - Fisheries of the Caribbean; Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Shrimp Fishery Off the Southern Atlantic States; Amendment 6.
Notice - Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting.
Notice - North Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting.
Notice - NOA (Atlantic HMS Amendment 2 to the Atlantic Billfish).
Rule - Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast (NE) Multispecies Fishery; Amendment 13; Correction.
Rule - Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (DAM East of Nantucket, MA).
Rule - Alaska IFQ Program; Community Purchase.
Rule - Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements for Alaska Pacific Halibut IFQ Program