Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012
NMFS is requesting comments on the proposed rule for the 2012 tribal fishery for Pacific whiting. This proposed rule would establish a tribal allocation of 17.5 percent of the U.S. total allowable catch (TAC) for 2012. The regulations proposed by this action would also establish a process for reapportionment of unused tribal allocation of Pacific whiting to the nontribal fisheries.
This proposed rule is accessible by visiting https://federalregister.gov/a/2012-4113.
For further information, please contact: Mr. Kevin C. Duffy (Northwest Region, NMFS), Phone: 206–526–4743, Fax: 206–526–6736 and email: Kevin.Duffy@noaa.gov.
Tuesday, February 21st, 2012
Amendment 16 to the Salmon FMP; Stock Classification, Status Determination Criteria, Annual Catch Limits and Accountability Measures, and De Minimis Fishing Provisions is available on the Salmon Amendment 16 webpage.
Amendment 16 to the Salmon FMP provides a framework for specifying biological and management reference points and accountability measures that will meet the requirements of the revised MSA and NS1Gs to account for uncertainty in the fishery management process, reduce the probability of overfishing, and include clear and objective status determination criteria, while integrating with existing management processes and capabilities to the degree possible.
Wednesday, February 15th, 2012
The Briefing Book for the March 2012 Council meeting has been posted to the Council’s website on the “Current Briefing Book” webpage. The Briefing Book contains “situation summaries” (brief summaries that provide background for each agenda item), reports and materials for each agenda item, and written public comment.
Thursday, February 9th, 2012
NOAA is requesting comments on list of gear by fisheries and fishery management council. This is an extension of the currently approved information collection. The deadline for written comments is on or before April 9, 2012.
View the February 9, 2012 Federal Register notice announcing the extension.
The list has been published and appears in 50 CFR 600.725(v).
Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Paula Evans, NMFS Office of Sustainable Fisheries at (301) 427-8557 or Paula.Evans@noaa.gov.
Wednesday, February 8th, 2012
The Council’s annual review of ocean salmon fisheries is available online. The review document provides a summary of important biological and socioeconomic data from which to assess the impacts of past management actions, determine how well management objectives are being met, and improve regulations for the future. The Council will formally review this report at its March meeting prior to the development of management options for the approaching fishing season.
Wednesday, February 1st, 2012
On January 30, 2012, NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office released a Biological Opinion for the continued operation of the Hawaii-based shallow-set longline fishery under the Fishery Ecosystem Plan for Pelagic Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region (Pelagics FEP), as managed under the 2010 regulations implementing Amendment 18. The Biological Opinion concludes that ”it is NMFS’ biological opinion that the proposed action is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of these five species, and is not likely to destroy or adversely modify designated critical habitat.” NMFS anticipates the following incidental takes may occur within any 2-year period as a result of the continued operation of the Hawaii shallow-set longline fishery with a projected expansion of up to 5,500 sets per year:
- Humpback whale: 2 interactions (0.40 killed)
- N. Pacific loggerhead turtles: 68 interactions (14 killed)
- Leatherback turtles: 52 interactions (12 killed)
- Olive ridley turtles: 4 interactions (2 killed)
- Green turtles 6 interactions (2 killed)
Exceeding these interaction rates could result in the re-initiation of consultation pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act.
Tuesday, January 31st, 2012
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces the availability for public review the Draft Recovery Plan (Draft Plan) for the Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast (SONCC) Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) evolutionarily significant unit. NMFS is soliciting review and comment from the public and all interested parties on the Draft Plan, and will consider all substantive comments received during the review period before submitting the Draft Plan for final approval. Comments are due no later than March 5, 2012.
Electronic copies of the DRAFT Plan, as well as the public hearing flyers, are available on the following NMFS website:
http://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/recovery/
If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Julie Weeder, NMFS, at 707-825-5168 or Julie.Weeder@noaa.gov.
Tuesday, January 24th, 2012
NOAA announced today the designation of additional critical habitat to provide protection for endangered leatherback sea turtles along the U.S. West Coast. NOAA is designating 41,914 square miles of marine habitat in the Pacific Ocean off the coasts of California, Oregon and Washington. This regulation is currently on file with the Federal Register and is available at the link below. The regulation will formally publish on January 26th, and will become effective on February 25, 2012.
http://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/01/26/2012-00995/critical-habitat-designation-for-the-endangered-leatherback-sea-turtle-endangered-and-threatened
Tuesday, December 20th, 2011
The proposed agenda for the January 10-12, 2012, HMSMT meeting in La Jolla, California is available here.
Tuesday, December 13th, 2011
The final rule establishing the 2012 harvest specifications and management measures for certain groundfish species taken in the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (PCGFMP) was published in the Federal Register on December 13, 2011. This action includes regulations to implement Secretarial Amendment 1 to the PCGFMP.
Download the December 13, 2011 Federal Register notice to view the details.
