🐬Proposed IHA for Eareckson Air Station Fuel Pier Repair Project
NMFS has received a request from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) on behalf of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces Regional Support Center (USAF) for an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) that is nearly identical to an IHA previously issued to USAF authorizing the take of marine mammals, by Level A and Level B harassment, incidental to the Eareckson Air Station (EAS) Fuel Pier Repair project in Alcan Harbor on Shemya Island, Alaska. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an IHA to incidentally take marine mammals during the Eareckson Fuel Pier Repair project. NMFS is also requesting comments on a possible 1-year renewal IHA that could be issued under certain circumstances and if all requirements are met, as described in Request for Public Comments at the end of this notice. NMFS will consider public comments prior to making any final decision on the issuance of the requested MMPA authorizations and agency responses will be summarized in the final notice of our decision. The IHA would be valid for one year from the effective date.
Learn More🦈2025 Atlantic Shark Workshops
Free Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops and Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshops will be held in April, May, and June of 2025. Certain fishermen and shark dealers are required to attend a workshop to meet regulatory requirements and to maintain valid permits. Specifically, the Atlantic Shark Identification Workshop is mandatory for all federally permitted Atlantic shark dealers. The Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshop is mandatory for vessel owners and operators who use bottom longline, pelagic longline, or gillnet gear, and who have also been issued shark or swordfish limited access permits. Additional free workshops will be conducted in 2025 and will be announced in a future notice. In addition, NMFS has implemented online recertification workshops for persons who have already taken an in-person training.
Learn More🎣Amendment 23 to CPS Fishery Management Plan Impacting Fisheries
The Pacific Fishery Management Council has submitted Amendment 23 to the Coastal Pelagic Species (CPS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for review by the Secretary of Commerce. If approved, Amendment 23 would implement a revised rebuilding plan for the northern subpopulation of Pacific sardine. This proposed amendment is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act or MSA), the CPS FMP, and other applicable laws. NMFS will consider public comments in deciding whether to approve, disapprove, or partially approve Amendment 23. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, NMFS also announces the availability of a draft environmental assessment that analyzes the potential effects of the associated proposed amendment.
Learn More🎣Notice of Public Meeting for Pacific Fisheries Advisory Committee
NMFS announces a public meeting of the Permanent Advisory Committee (PAC) to advise the U.S. Commissioners to the Commission for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPFC) on May 28, 2025. Meeting topics are provided under the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice.
Learn More🐟Reallocation of Pollock Allowances in Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amounts of the Aleut Corporation and the Community Development Quota (CDQ) pollock directed fishing allowance (DFA) from the Aleutian Islands subarea to the Bering Sea subarea. This action is necessary to provide the opportunity for the harvest of the 2025 total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock, consistent with the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI).
Learn More🌊NOAA Cancels U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System Public Meeting
On February 21, 2025, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration published a notice in the Federal Register announcing a U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS[supreg]) Advisory Committee public meeting to be held from March 12th to March 14th, 2025. This notice announces the cancellation of that public meeting.
Learn More🎣MAFMC Public Meeting on Recreational Fisheries Amendment
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's (Council) Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Advisory Panel and Bluefish Advisory Panel will hold a public meeting, jointly with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's (Commission) Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass and Bluefish Advisory Panels.
Learn More🎣Public Meeting on Fishery Management by Mid-Atlantic Council
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's (Council) Tilefish Advisory Panel will hold a public meeting.
Learn More🦐Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council Public Meeting Notice
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will hold a virtual Public Hearing for Shrimp Framework Action.
Learn More🐟Western Pacific Fishery Management Council Public Meetings Overview
The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold its Program Planning Standing Committee (SC), Pelagic and International SC, Executive and Budget SC, and its 202nd Council meeting to take actions on fishery management issues in the Western Pacific Region.
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