Possum

WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS

National

Navy Sonar Testing Application Comments Sought East Coast

New Rule to Limit Weakfish Bycatch Alaska

Comments Sought on Proposed Rule to Limit Bottom-Trawling Alaska

Active Duty Fishermen Quota Changes Proposed Alaska

Steller Sea Lion Recovery Plan Available Gulf of Mexico

Preparation of New Gulf Reef Fish Environmental Assessment Planned Northwest

Public Comments Sought on Activities that May Impact Steelhead, Chinook, and Bull Trout

EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

NOAA Fisheries Actions

Calendar

WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS

National – Navy Sonar Testing Application Comments Sought

NOAA Fisheries has received a request from the U.S. Navy for authorization for the take of marine mammals incidental to Atlantic Fleet Active Sonar Training (AFAST) activities conducted off the Atlantic coast and in the Gulf of Mexico for the period beginning January 2009 and ending January 2014. Pursuant to the implementing regulations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NOAA Fisheries is announcing our receipt of the Navy's request for the development and implementation of regulations governing the incidental taking of marine mammals and inviting information, suggestions, and comments on the Navy's application and request. Comments and information must be received no later than April 4, 2008 and should be sent to: Michael Payne, Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3225. Comments may be sent by email to: PR1.050107K@noaa.gov. Comments sent via e-mail, including all attachments, must not exceed a 10-megabyte file size.

For additional information, please contact Jolie Harrison, telephone (301) 713-2289.

East Coast - New Rule to Limit Weakfish Bycatch

NOAA Fisheries has completed a final rule to decrease the incidental catch allowance for weakfish caught in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) from 300 lb (135 kg) to no more than 150 lb (67 kg) per day or trip, whichever is longer in duration. This measure was developed to respond to recent stock assessment data that suggested low weakfish biomass. While the reduced bycatch provision would not itself resolve the biomass issue, its impact will potentially slow the decline and have positive effects on the stock health. The new rule modifies regulations for the Atlantic coast stock of weakfish so that they are consistent with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's plan for weakfish. The rule becomes effective April 3, 2008.

For additional information, please contact Brian H., telephone 301-713-2334.

Alaska – Comments Sought on Proposed Rule to Limit Bottom-Trawling

NOAA Fisheries has issued a proposed rule that would establish new habitat conservation measures as part of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area. This proposal, called Amendment 89, if approved, would prohibit nonpelagic trawling in certain waters of the Bering Sea to protect bottom habitat from the potential adverse effects of nonpelagic trawling. Amendment 89 also would establish the Northern Bering Sea Research Area for studying the impacts of nonpelagic trawling on bottom habitat. This proposed rule is necessary to protect Bering Sea bottom habitat and to provide the opportunity to further study the environmental impacts of nonpelagic trawling. Written comments, identified by 0648-AW06, must be received by April 21, 2008 and may be sent via the Federal eRulemaking Portal website at redirect, by mail to P. O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802, or by FAX to (907) 586-7557. Comments may also be hand delivered to the Federal Building: 709 West 9th Street, Room 420A, Juneau, AK.

For additional information, please contact Melanie Brown, telephone 907-586-7228.

Alaska – Active Duty Fishermen Quota Changes Proposed

NOAA Fisheries has proposed regulations to modify both the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program and the Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program for the fixed-gear commercial Pacific halibut and sablefish fisheries. Changes proposed would allow members of the National Guard and military reserves who are mobilized to active duty to temporarily transfer their annual halibut and sablefish IFQ to other eligible IFQ recipients. This would allow guardsmen and reservists to accrue some economic benefit from their annual IFQ if unable to harvest it due to military service. This proposal also allows the use of longline pot fishing gear in the Bering Sea Web Hosting, VPS and Dedicated Servers by eBoundHost IFQ and CDQ fisheries in the month of June. Comments, identified as RIN 0648-AV64, must be received no later than April 4, 2008 and may be sent via the Federal eRulemaking Portal: redirect, by mail to P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802, or by Fax to 907-586-7557. Comments may also be hand delivered to the Federal Building: 709 West 9th Street, Room 420A, Juneau, AK.

For additional information, please contact Obren Davis, telephone (907) 586-7228.

Alaska – Steller Sea Lion Recovery Plan Available

NOAA Fisheries has announced the availability of the Final Revised Recovery Plan, dated March 2008, for the western and eastern distinct population segments (DPS) of Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus). NOAA Fisheries also provides a link to the comprehensive and extensive responses to comments on the May 2007 Draft Revised Steller Sea Lion Recovery Plan posted on our website. The Final Revised Steller Sea Lion Recovery Plan and the Responses to Comments are available on the Internet at the following address: Draft Recovery Plan for Steller Sea Lions. Copies of the Plan may also be obtained from NOAA Fisheries, Protected Resources Division, 222 W 7th Ave. #43, Anchorage, Alaska 99513-7577; or from the Alaska Regional Office, Protected Resources Division, P.O. Box 21668, 709 W. 9th St, Juneau, AK, 99802-1668.

For additional information, please contact Lisa Rotterman at (907) 271-5006 or Kaja Brix at (907) 586-7235.

Gulf of Mexico – Preparation of New Gulf Reef Fish Environmental Assessment Planned

NOAA Fisheries and the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council are preparing an Environmental Assessment (EA) for reef fish in the Gulf of Mexico. Amendment 30 to the Reef Fish Fisheries Management Plan (FMP) describes management alternatives to improve the status of greater amberjack, gray triggerfish, gag, and red grouper. Amendment 30 has now been split into 30A and 30B to more efficiently administer revisions to the fishery management plan (FMP) due to significant biomass improvements for greater amberjack and gray triggerfish. Analysis of gag and red grouper management measures in Amendment 30B, such as establishing marine reserves, ending overfishing of gag, establishing gag and red grouper total allowable catch (TAC) indicates no significant environmental impacts.

For additional information, please contact Peter Hood, telephone (727) 824-5305.

Northwest – Public Comments Sought on Activities that May Impact Steelhead, Chinook, and Bull Trout

The Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries are seeking comments on an Environmental Assessment/ Habitat Conservation Plan (EA/HCP) pertaining to an application by the Broughton Land Company (BLC). The company is seeking incidental take permits (ITPs) to authorize lawful take of the following threatened fish species: the bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus); Snake River spring/summer Chinook salmon and the Snake River fall Chinook salmon (both Oncorhynchus tshawytscha); and the middle Columbia River steelhead trout and the Snake River steelhead trout (both O. mykiss). Comments are requested from the public on the permit applications and the draft EA/HCP. The EA/HCP describes the proposed action and the measures that the BLC will implement to minimize and mitigate take of the threatened fish species discussed above. To review the documents, please visit this Fish and Wildlife website. All comments must be received on or before April 4, 2008 and may be sent by email to fw1broughtonhcp@fws.gov, by mail to the FWS Field Supervisor, Upper Columbia Fish and Wildlife Office, 11103 East Montgomery Drive, Spokane, WA 99206, or by FAX to (509) 891-6748.

For additional information, please contact Michelle Eames, Project Manager, FWS, at (509) 893-8012, (509) 893-8010, or Dennis Carlson, Project Manager, NOAA Fisheries, at (360) 753-5828.

EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council Red Snapper Meeting March 25 -26, 2008

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene a public meeting of the Ad Hoc Recreational Red Snapper Advisory Panel (AP) from 9 a.m. on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at the Renaissance Riverview Plaza Hotel, 64 S. Water St., Mobile, AL 36602; telephone: (251) 438-4000. At this meeting, the AP will prioritize the goals and objectives for the recreational red snapper fishery that were developed in earlier meetings as well as the list of ideas for managing the recreational red snapper fishery that was previously developed. The AP will select ideas from its list for further development, and will begin the initial work of developing those ideas into possible management action. The AP will also discuss the possible formation of working groups for the task of developing discussion papers on the ideas to be developed. In addition, the AP will receive several presentations providing an overview on marine protected areas, a review of party boat and charter boat catch data, a discussion of educational materials on proper venting and dehooking, and clarification on referendum requirements pertaining to possible changes in the red snapper allocation.

For additional information, please contact Steven Atran, Population Dynamics Statistician; Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: (813) 348-1630.

Shark Identification and Protected Species Handling Workshops

NOAA Fisheries is announcing free Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops and Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshops to be held in April, May, and June 2008. Fishermen and shark dealers are required to attend a workshop to meet new regulatory requirements and maintain valid permits. The Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops are mandatory for all federally permitted Atlantic shark dealers. The Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification Workshops are mandatory for vessel owners and operators who use bottom longline, pelagic longline, or gillnet gear, and have also been issued shark or swordfish limited access permits. Additional free workshops will be held in 2008 and announced in the Federal Register. The Atlantic Shark Identification Workshops will be held April 24 at 10:30 a.m. – 3:30p.m. in Tampa, Florida, May 22 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in Wilmington, North Carolina , and June 19 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Jefferson, Louisiana . The Protected Species Safe Handling, Release, and Identification workshops will be held April 8 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Gulfport, Mississippi, May 21 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina , and June 18 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Indian Rocks Beach, Florida , and June 25 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Manahawkin, New Jersey .

For additional information, please contact Greg Fairclough, phone: (727) 824-5399.

FEDERAL REGISTER ACTIONS

For a list of only those actions open for public comment, try going to redirect and scroll search for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

For a list of all daily actions, check the Federal register online at: Federal Register: Main Page.

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