🐟Notice of Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council Public Meeting
The Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) of the Mid- Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a meeting.
Learn More🌊Rescission of Renewable Energy Leasing Schedule Announced
The Department of the Interior (the Department or DOI), acting through the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), is amending the Department's regulations to rescind a section that provides for publishing a renewable energy leasing schedule every 2 years. This section is not necessary because it is not mandated by the statute for renewable energy regulations.
Learn More🎣Analysis of Exempted Fishing Permits for Snapper-Grouper Fishery
NMFS announces the receipt of two applications for exempted fishing permits (EFPs) from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). If granted, the EFPs would authorize limited recreational harvest of red snapper outside of any Federal recreational season in South Atlantic Federal waters and exempt that harvest from the red snapper recreational bag and possession limits, recreational annual catch limits (ACLs), general reporting requirements for charter vessels and headboats, and accountability measures (AMs). FWC's projects are intended to test alternative recreational management strategies that could be used by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) to reduce the number of discards of red snapper and other federally managed snapper-grouper species, create additional opportunities to participate in sustainable recreational harvest, and improve angler satisfaction.
Learn More⛏️Proposed Rule on Deep Seabed Mining Regulations for Businesses
The Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act (DSHMRA or the Act) charges NOAA with the responsibility for issuing licenses for exploration and permits for commercial recovery of polymetallic nodules from the deep seabed in areas beyond national jurisdiction and promulgating regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of the Act. Some provisions of the regulations require updating to reflect significant technological and information changes since the initial regulations were promulgated in the 1980s. NOAA proposes to include a consolidated license and permit review process in a section of the regulations that was reserved for this purpose and make other changes.
Learn More🎣New Regulation on Pacific Halibut Charter Fishing Stamps
This final rule authorizes fee collection for the Recreational Quota Entity (RQE) Program. A charter halibut stamp (stamp) is required under this final rule for every charter vessel angler, 18 years of age or older, for each charter vessel fishing trip in a given calendar day, or each calendar day during a charter vessel fishing trip that spans multiple days, who intends to catch and retain halibut on a charter vessel in International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) regulatory areas 2C in Southeast Alaska and 3A in South Central Alaska. Persons who hold charter halibut permits (CHPs) must purchase electronic stamps from NMFS. Charter vessel guides are required to validate a stamp for each adult charter vessel angler intending to catch and retain halibut on a charter vessel fishing trip. This final rule is necessary to promote stability and economic viability in the charter halibut fishery and is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982 (Halibut Act), and other applicable laws.
Learn More🎣New Triggerfish Management Regulations Affecting Puerto Rico's Fisheries
NMFS issues this final rule to implement management measures described in Framework Action 3 under the Puerto Rico Fishery Management Plan (FMP) (Framework Action 3). Specifically, this final rule modifies the annual catch limits (ACLs) for the triggerfish stock complex in Federal waters off Puerto Rico. The purpose of this final rule and Framework Action 3 is to update management reference points for the triggerfish stock complex under the Puerto Rico FMP consistent with the most recent stock assessment to prevent overfishing and achieve optimum yield (OY).
Learn More🎣2025 Management Measures for Pacific Halibut Commercial Fishery
NMFS is implementing annual management measures for the 2025 non-Tribal directed commercial Pacific halibut fishery that operates south of Point Chehalis, WA, (lat. 46[deg]53.30' N) in the International Pacific Halibut Commission's (IPHC) regulatory Area 2A off Washington, Oregon, and California. Annual management measures include fishing periods and fishing period limits. NMFS is also implementing modified permit deadlines for all Area 2A non-Tribal commercial fisheries and is modifying inseason action announcement procedures for the Area 2A non-Tribal directed commercial fishery. These actions are intended to conserve Pacific halibut and provide fishing opportunity where available.
Learn More🐟2025 Harvest Specifications for Cook Inlet Salmon Fisheries
NMFS announces the final 2025 harvest specifications for salmon fishing in the Cook Inlet exclusive economic zone (EEZ) Area. This action is necessary to establish harvest limits for salmon during the 2025 fishing year and to accomplish the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for the Salmon Fisheries in the EEZ off Alaska (Salmon FMP). The intended effect of this action is to conserve and manage the salmon resources in the Cook Inlet EEZ Area in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).
Learn More🐟Notice on Gulf of America Red Snapper Assessment Webinar
The SEDAR 98 assessment process for Gulf red snapper will consist of a Data Workshop, a series of assessment webinars, and a Review Workshop. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
Learn More🌊Navy Announces Environmental Impact Statement for Sonar Testing
Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Presidential Executive Order 12114, DoN has prepared and filed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS/OEIS) for Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Low-Frequency Active (SURTASS LFA) Sonar Training and Testing in the Western North Pacific and Indian Oceans. The Draft SEIS/OEIS includes an analysis of the potential environmental impacts associated with conducting at-sea training and testing activities within the SURTASS LFA Study Area. The purpose of the Proposed Action is to perform training and testing activities that ensure the Navy remains proficient in the use of SURTASS LFA sonar in support of the Navy's mission.
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