Download or read book Environmental Assessment Final Regulatory Impact Review and Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis for a Final Rule to Establish Quotas for the 2011 Commercial Fishing Season and Adaptive Management Measures for the Atlantic Shark Fishery written by and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page 109 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "The 2011 Atlantic commercial shark season specifications adjusts quotas for the 2011 fishing season for the Atlantic shark fisheries based on any over- and/or underharvests during the 2009 and 2010 Atlantic commercial shark fishing seasons and announces the start of the fishing season for all Atlantic shark fisheries, including the shark research fishery. This rulemaking does not affect the annual base quotas or the methods for calculating adjusted quotas established in Amendments 2 and 3 to the 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) (73 FR 35778, June 24, 2008; corrected at 73 FR 40658, July 15, 2008; 75 FR 30484, June 1, 2010). In addition to establishing the 2011 quotas, in this final action, NMFS is also implementing criteria to add flexibility to shark management to allow for delays to the start of the different shark species/complex fishing seasons each year through the annual specifications process as well as to allow inseason actions to make adjustments to the shark trip limits, as necessary, to extend the fishing season. The included Environmental Assessment (EA) tiers from and incorporates by reference the pre-existing Amendment 2 to the 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory Species HMS FMP (Amendment 2) and Amendment 3 to the 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory Species HMS FMP (Amendment 3), as well as the scope and effect of activities analyzed in the April 2008 FEIS for Amendment 2 and the March 2010 FEIS for Amendment 3. These measures are meant to provide, to the extent practicable, the furtherance of equitable fishing opportunities for commercial shark fishermen in all regions and areas while also considering the ecological needs of the different species. In addition, having management flexibility would help accommodate any necessary adjustments to the fishery, such as adjusting the opening of seasons, in light of unanticipated events, such as the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico or inclement weather"--Abstract.
Download or read book Final Environmental Assessment Regulatory Impact Review and Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis for Amendment 6 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan Commercial Shark Management Measures written by LeAnn Hogan and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 229 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In September 2010, NMFS published an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) to request public comment on potential adjustments to the regulations governing the Atlantic shark fisheries to address specific issues such as commercial landings that exceed quotas, declining numbers of fishing permits since limited access was implemented, complex regulations, derby fishing conditions due to small quotas and short seasons, increasing numbers of regulatory discards, and declining market prices and to identify specific goals for management of these fisheries in the future. Based on the comments received on the ANPR, in September 2011, NMFS published a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an FMP Amendment that would consider catch shares for the Atlantic shark fisheries. Based on comments received on the ANPR and NOI, in April 2014, NMFS released a Predraft for Amendment 6 to the 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) that included management options for changes to regional quota and permit structures. On May, 27 2014, NMFS published another NOI announcing its intent to prepare an Environmental Assessment instead of an Environmental Impact Statement and that the agency was moving away from the catch share concept for this particular Amendment. On January 20, 2015, NMFS released the Draft EA and published a proposed rule (80 FR 2648) for Amendment 6 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP, and the public comment period was open until April 3, 2015. This Final EA analyzes the potential environmental impacts related to (1) permit stacking (2) adjusting the large coastal sharks (LCS) trip limit for shark directed limited access permit holders; (3) establishing a management boundary in the Atlantic region, (4) creating sub-regional quotas in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico regions for LCS and small coastal sharks (SCS); (5) modifying the LCS and SCS quota linkages; (6) implementing total allowable catches and adjusting the non-blacknose SCS commercial quotas in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico regions based on the 2013 Atlantic sharpnose and bonnethead sharks stock assessments; and (7) modifying upgrading restrictions for shark permit holders.
Download or read book Final Environmental Assessment Final Regulatory Impact Review and Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis for a Final Rule to Modify the Retention of Incidentally caught Highly Migratory Species in Atlantic Trawl Fisheries written by and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 95 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This final action will modify the permitting and retention requirements for Atlantic HMS to address the incidental catch of North Atlantic swordfish in the Illex squid trawl fishery, and the incidental catch of species in the smoothhound shark complex (genus Mustelus) in all Atlantic trawl fisheries. The action will reduce regulatory dead discards of incidentally caught swordfish in the Illex squid trawl fishery by establishing a new Incidental HMS Squid Trawl permit. It will also establish a retention limit for smoothhound sharks in all Atlantic trawl fisheries. This action will be consistent with the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan. The action is not expected to significantly alter current fishing practices or increase fishing effort, and is not be expected to change previously analyzed endangered species or marine mammal interaction rates or magnitudes, or affect critical habitat"--Cover letter; Portfolio comprised of two related PDF documents digitized and organized by: NOAA Office of Program Planning and Integration (PPI) National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) staff.
Download or read book Draft Environmental Assessment Regulatory Impact Review and Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis for a Temporary Rule to Set the 2011 Gulf of Mexico Gag Recreational and Commercial Management Measures written by and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 92 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This interim rule would reduce the commercial gag quota to 430,000 pounds for the 2011 fishing year, temporarily suspend the use of red grouper multi-use IFQ allocation so it cannot be used to harvest gag, and set a recreational gag fishing season from September 16 through November 15. The environmental assessment (EA) provides a review of the NEPA criteria for significant effects (40 CFR Part 1508.27) and NOAA Fisheries Service criteria for significance (NAO 216-6 Section 6.02), and concluded no significant effect on the quality of the human environment is anticipated from this action"--Cover letter; Portfolio comprised of three related PDF documents digitized and organized by: NOAA Office of Program Planning and Integration (PPI) National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) staff.
Download or read book Environmental Assessment Regulatory Impact Review and Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis for a Rule to Implement the 2011 International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas Recommendation on Silky Sharks written by and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 52 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This action is necessary to implement recommendations of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) pursuant to the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA) and to achieve domestic management objectives under the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson- Stevens Act). This action implements Recommendation 11-08 adopted at the 2011 annual meeting of ICCAT. Recommendation 11-08 requires fishing vessels operating in ICCAT-managed fisheries to release all silky sharks whether dead or alive, and prohibits retaining on board, transshipping, or landing any part or whole carcass of silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis). This action also prohibits the storing, selling or purchasing of silky sharks. This measure is consistent with the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP)"--Abstract.
Download or read book Environmental Assessment Regulatory Impact Review and Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis for a Rule to Adjust the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna General and Harpoon Category Regulations written by and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 94 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "In this action, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) would adjust regulations governing the U.S. BFT fishery to : (1) Increase the General category maximum BFT daily retention limit from three to five fish (with limit adjustments to be executed via inseason actions when and if appropriate): (2) Allow the BFT General category season to remain open until the January subquota is reached or March 31 (whichever happens first): and (3) Increase the Harpoon category daily retention limit of BFT measuring 73 to 81 inches from two to four fish. This action is intended to enable more thorough utilization of the available U.S. BFT quota for the General and Harpoon permit categories: minimize bycatch and bycatch mortality to the extent practicable: expand fishing opportunities for participants in the commercial winter General category fishery: and increase NMFS' flexibility for selling the General category retention limit depending on available quota. This action would be consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act, and the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan. This action is not expected to significantly alter current fishing practices and bycatch mortality rates, or increase fishing effort, and it is not expected to change previously analyzed endangered species or marine mammal interaction rates or magnitudes."--Cover letter; Portfolio comprised of two related PDF documents digitized and organized by: NOAA Office of Program Planning and Integration (PPI) National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) staff.
Download or read book Final Environmental Assessment Regulatory Impact Review and Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis for a Final Rule to Implement the 2010 International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas Recommendations on Sharks written by and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 59 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "NMFS is implementing the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) recommendations 10-07 and 10-08, which prohibit the retention, transshipping, landing, storing, or selling of hammerhead sharks in the family Sphyrnidae (except for Sphyrna tiburo) and oceanic whitetip sharks (Carcharhinus longimanus) caught in association with ICCAT fisheries. This rule affects the commercial HMS pelagic longline (PLL) fishery and recreational fisheries for tunas, swordfish, and billfish in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. This action implements lCCAT recommendations, consistent with the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act, and furthers domestic management objectives under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. This action will not significantly impact the quality of the human environment, and all beneficial and adverse impacts of the action have been addressed to reach the conclusion of no significant impacts"--Cover letter; Portfolio comprised of two related PDF documents digitized and organized by: NOAA Office of Program Planning and Integration (PPI) National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) staff.
Download or read book Final Environmental Assessment Final Regulatory Impact Review and Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis for a Final Rule to Require the Use of Weak Hooks on Pelagic Longline Vessels in the Gulf of Mexico written by and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 94 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Since 2007, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has conducted research on pelagic longline (PLL) vessels operating in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) to reduce the discards of large Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT). Interim results show that the use of a weak hook can significantly reduce the amount of BFT caught by PLL vessels with some reductions in the catches of target species, yellowfin tuna (YFT) and swordfish. This action will require the use of weak hooks to reduce bycatch of BFT, allow normal operation of PLL fisheries in the GOM with minimal short-term adverse socio-economic impacts, and have both short and long-term beneficial ecological impacts on the stock status of BFT, a historically overfished species. This measure will be consistent with the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan. This action is not expected to significantly alter current fishing practices or increase fishing effort, would not be expected to change previously analyzed endangered species or marine mammal interaction rates or magnitudes, or affect critical habitat"--Cover letter.
Download or read book Environmental Assessment Regulatory Impact Review and Final Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis for a Final Rule to Implement the Bottlenose Dolphin Take Reduction Plan and Revise the Large Mesh Size Restriction Under the Mid Atlantic Large Mesh Gillnet Rule written by and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 266 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The majority of the Atlantic east coast commercial fisheries are managed under the authority of either individual states and/or the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSFCMA). These fisheries are also subject to the requirements of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The 1994 amendments to the MMPA require the preparation and implementation of Take Reduction Plans (TRPs) for strategic marine mammal stocks that interact with Category I or II fisheries. The purposes of the ESA, as stated in Section 2(b), are to provide a means whereby the ecosystems upon which endangered or threatened species depend may be conserved, to provide a program for the conservation of such endangered or threatened species, and to take such steps as may be appropriate to achieve the treaties and conventions set forth in the Act. This rulemaking combines two actions under different regulatory authorities, the MMPA and ESA. The action under the MMPA is necessary because the western North Atlantic coastal bottlenose dolphin stock, Tursiops truncatus, is a strategic stock in which the serious injury and mortality incidental to nine Category I and II fisheries is exceeding PBR levels. The Preferred Alternative will implement the final BDTRP, which contains regulatory and non-regulatory management measures to directly reduce bycatch of bottlenose dolphins incidental to these fisheries. Regulatory measures will achieve the short-term goal of the MMPA and include gillnet effort reduction, gear tending requirements, gear or gear deployment modifications for small, medium, and large mesh gillnets in seven management units from New Jersey through the east coast of Florida. Non-regulatory measures will also help meet the short-term goal and provide a framework for meeting the long-term goal of the MMPA. Non-regulatory measures include continued research and monitoring, enforcement of regulations, outreach to fishermen, and a collaborative effort with states to remove derelict crab trap/pot gear. The Preferred Alternative also contains an action under the ESA to amend the current large mesh gillnet size restriction in the mid-Atlantic large mesh gillnet rule from greater than 8-inch (20.3 cm) stretched mesh to 7-inches (17.8 cm) or larger stretched mesh. This action is intended to provide consistency in state and federal management of large mesh gillnets and facilitate compliance of commercial fishermen with these regulations.
Download or read book Environmental Assessment regulatory Impact Review final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis for a Regulatory Amendment to Revise Harvest Regulations Associated with the Community Development Quota Fisheries in Accordance with the Magnuson Stevens Fisherty Conservation Management Act as Amended by the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2006 written by and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 74 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This Environmental Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review/Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis evaluates the environmental effects, as well as costs and benefits, of different alternatives to modify fishery management regulations for the Community Development Quota (CDQ) fisheries conducted in the Bering Sea and Aleuitian Islands. Proposed changes to 50 CFR part 679 include revising CDQ regulations associated with fisheries observer coverage requirements, bycatch retention, vessel licensing, and reporting requirements to ensure that they are no more restrictive than the regulations in effect for comparable individual fishing quota fisheries and fisheries managed with cooperatives. These proposed changes are necessary to comply with the requirements of Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, as amended by the Coast Guard and Maritime Transporation Act of 2006"--Abstract.
Download or read book Environmental Assessment Regulatory Impact Review and Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis for a Temporary Rule to Implement Measures to Limit the Gulf of Mexico Gag Commercial and Recreational Harvests and Suspend the Red Grouper Individual Fishing Quota Multi use Allocation written by and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page 168 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This interim rule would reduce the commercial gag quota to 100,000 pounds for the 2011 fishing year, temporarily suspend the use of red grouper multi-use IFQ allocation so it cannot be used to harvest gag, and to temporarily halt the recreational harvest of gag until long-term recreational fishing management measures can be implemented to allow a harvest at appropriate levels. The environmental assessment (EA) provides a review of the NEPA criteria for significant effects (40 CFR Part 1508.27) and NOAA Fisheries Service criteria for significance (NAO 216-6 Section 6.02), and concluded no significant effect on the quality of the human environment is anticipated from this action"--Cover letter.
Download or read book Final Environmental Assessment Regulatory Impact Review and Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis for a Final Rule to Establish Identification and Certification Procedures for Nations Under the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act written by and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page 514 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This action would establish regulations for the Secretary of Commerce to certify nations whose vessels are engaged in illegal, unreported, or unregulated (IUU) fishing activity or bycatch of protected living marine resources. These regulations are procedural and administrative in nature"--Cover letter.
Download or read book Environmental Assessment regulatory Impact Review final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis for a Regulatory Amendment to Limit Access by Federally permitted Vessels to the BSAI Pacific Cod Parallel Waters Fishery written by and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 44 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This final rule would amend federal fishing permits (FFPs) and license limitation program licenses to require Pot and Hook-and-Line catcher/processors to have the same endoresements on those permits and licenses to catch Pacific cod in the State of Alaska parallel fishery as are required for them to participate in the federal fisheries. It would also prevent vessels from surrendering an FFP or removing endorsements on an FFP to avoid federal recordkeeping and reporting, vessel monitoring systems, and observer requirements"--Cover letter.
Download or read book Final Amendment 5a to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan Including a Final Environmental Impact Statement a Final Regulatory Impact Review a Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis a Final Social Impact Analysis written by and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page 407 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The National Marine Fisheries Service is amending the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan based on several shark stock assessments that were completed from 2009 to 2012. The assessments for Atlantic blacknose, dusky, and scalloped hammerhead sharks indicated that these species are overfished and experiencing overfishing. The assessment for sandbar sharks indicated that this species is overfished, but not experiencing overfishing. The assessment for Gulf of Mexico blacktip sharks indicated that the stock is not overfished and not experiencing overfishing. NMFS did not accept the assessment for Gulf of Mexico blacknose sharks; therefore, the overfished and overfishing statuses have been determined to be unknown. After considering comments received during scoping and on a Predraft document, the Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for Amendment 5 and the proposed rule published in the Federal Register on December 7, 2012 (77 FR 73029), and November 26, 2012 (77 FR 70552), respectively. The DEIS and proposed rule considered measures to reduce fishing mortality and effort in order to rebuild overfished Atlantic shark species while ensuring that a limited shark fishery can be maintained, consistent with all legal obligations. The Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) describes a range of alternatives that could impact shark fishermen and dealers, including new commercial quota limits consistent with stock assessment recommendations to prevent overfishing and rebuild overfished stocks and modification of recreational measures to limit the retention of overfished stocks. The DEIS also considered measures for dusky sharks to end overfishing and rebuild the stock based on a recent stock assessment, but after considering public comment, NMFS has decided that these measures require further analyses, which NMFS will conduct in an upcoming separate proposed action.
Download or read book Final Regulatory Impact Review final Environmental Assessment initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis written by and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 132 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This action would amend the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP) and federal regulations related to the Amendment 80 Program to establish a process for the owners of Amendment 80 vessels to replace eligible trawl catcher/processor vessels. The action is necessary to rectify the currently untenable disagreement among the FMP, implementing regulations, and a recent Court Order (Arctic Sole Seafoods, Inc. v. Gutierrez, Case No. 07-1676MJP; May 19, 2008) that vacated the specific regulatory provisions that preclude vessel replacement"--Abstract from Environmental Assessment; Portfolio comprised of three related PDF documents digitized and organized by: NOAA Office of Program Planning and Integration (PPI) National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) staff.
Download or read book Environmental Assessment regulatory Impact Review final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis written by and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 64 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This Environmental Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review/Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis analyzes Amendment 34 which amends the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Crab Rationali zation Program to exempt additional recipients of crab quota share from Gulf of Alaska Pacific cod and pollock harvest limits, called sideboards. Sideboards apply to some vessels and license limitation program licenses that are used to participate in these fisheries. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council determined that these recipients demonstrated a sufficient level of historical participation in Gulf of Alaska Pacific cod or pollock fisheries and should be exempt from the Gulf of Alaska Pacific cod and pollock sideboards. This action is necessary to give these recipients an opportunity to participate in the Gulf of Alaska Pacific cod and pollock fisheries at historical levels. This final rule revises regulations governing exemptions from and calculations of sideboard harvest limits in the Gulf of Alaska Pacific cod and pollock fisheries and revises Tables 17 and 18 that establish the 20II - 2012 Gulf of Alaska ground fish harvest sideboard limits. To fully implement Amendment 34 NMFS will reissue Federal fisheries permits and license limitation program licenses to all participants that are affected by the action."--Cover letter; Portfolio comprised of three related PDF documents digitized and organized by: NOAA Office of Program Planning and Integration (PPI) National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) staff.
Download or read book Final Amendment 20B to the Fishery Management Plan for the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region written by Ryan Rindone and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 255 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "The EA analyzed the effects of a range of alternatives identified in Amendment 20B to the FMP. These actions (1) adjust king mackerel trip limits and fishing seasons in the eastern Gulf of Mexico (Gulf), (2) allow transit of king mackerel through closed areas, (3) create regional quotas for Atlantic migratory group king and Spanish mackerel, (4) make administrative changes to the FMP, and (5) create new management areas and catch limits for Gulf cobia. None of these actions are expected to alter the manner in which the fishery is prosecuted; therefore the effects of the actions are not expected to be significant"--Cover letter summary.
