NMFS issues final quotas for the Atlantic surfclam, ocean quahog, and Maine mahogany ocean quahog fisheries for 2003. These regulations specify allowable harvest levels of Atlantic surfclams and ocean quahogs from the exclusive economic zone and an allowable harvest level of Maine mahogany ocean quahogs from the waters north of 43[deg] 50' N. lat.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues a regulation to implement the annual harvest guideline for Pacific sardine in the U.S. exclusive economic zone off the Pacific coast for the fishing season January 1, 2003, through December 31, 2003. This harvest guideline has been calculated according to the regulations implementing the Coastal Pelagic Species (CPS) Fishery Management

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is currently reviewing the status of 25 Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESUs) of salmon and steelhead (Oncorhynchus spp.) that are currently listed as threatened or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended, or listed as a candidate species. NMFS is announcing that

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 10413 (44 U.S.C. 3506 (c)(2)(A)).

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 10413 (44 U.S.C. 3506 (c)(2)(A)).

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 10413 (44 U.S.C. 3506 (c)(2)(A)).

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is providing notice that it is increasing the number of fisheries for which the Marine Mammal Authorization Program (MMAP) registration is integrated with existing Federal fishery licensing and permitting programs. NMFS is integrating MMAP registration at this time for Category I or II federal fisheries permitted through the NMFS Southeast

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries (AA), NOAA, announces voluntary restrictions consistent with the requirements of the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan's (ALWTRP) implementing regulations. These voluntary restrictions apply to lobster trap/pot and anchored gillnet fishermen in an area totaling approximately 1,460 square nautical

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS has received a request from ConocoPhillips Alaska Inc. (CPA) for an authorization to take small numbers of ringed and bearded seals by harassment incidental to conducting onice seismic operations in the Beaufort Sea during oil and gas exploration activities. Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Research Steering Committee, Groundfish Oversight Committee and Social Science Advisory Committee in January, 2003 to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from these groups will be brought to

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Notice is hereby given that The Honolulu Laboratory, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, 2570 Dole Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 968222396 (Dr. George Antonelis, Jr., Principal Investigator), has been issued an amendment to scientific research Permit No. 848133509 to extend the expiration date through May 31, 2003.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues an emergency rule to: establish the commercial annual quotas for ridgeback and nonridgeback large coastal sharks (LCS) at 783 metric tons (mt) dressed weight (dw) and 931 mt dw, respectively; establish the commercial annual quota for small coastal sharks (SCS) at 326 mt dw; and suspend the regulation regarding the commercial ridgeback

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the State of North Carolina has transferred 43,000 lb (19,504.5 kg) of its 2002 commercial quota to the State of Maryland; and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has transferred 150,000 lb (68,038.9 kg) of its 2002 commercial quota to the State of New York. The revised quotas for the calendar year 2002 following the transfer

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the directed fishery for Loligo squid in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) will be closed effective December 24, 2002, through December 31, 2002. Vessels issued a Federal permit to harvest Loligo squid may not retain or land more than 2,500 lb (1.13 mt) of Loligo squid per trip for the remainder of the year. This action is

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 10413 (44 U.S.C. 3506 (c)(2)(A)).

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Notice is hereby given of the intent to fully approve the Wisconsin Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program (coastal nonpoint program) and of the availability of the draft Approval Decisions on conditions for the Wisconsin coastal nonpoint program. Section 6217 of the Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments (CZARA), 16 U.S.C. 1455b,

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The Advisory Committee on Commercial Remote Sensing (ACCRES) will meet January 14, 2003.
Date and Time: The meeting is scheduled as follows: January 14, 2003, 8:30 a.m.5 p.m. The first part of this meeting will be closed to the public. The public portion of the meeting will begin at 1 p.m.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Crab Rationalization Community Protection Committee will meet in Anchorage, AK.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues interim 2003 total allowable catch (TAC) amounts for each category of groundfish, Community Development Quota (CDQ) reserve amounts, American Fisheries Act (AFA) pollock allocations and sideboard amounts, and prohibited species catch (PSC) allowances and prohibited species quota (PSQ) reserves for the groundfish fishery of the Bering

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues interim 2003 total allowable catch (TAC) amounts for each category of groundfish, American Fisheries Act (AFA) sideboard amounts, and specifications for prohibited species catch (PSC) amounts for the groundfish fishery of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). Without interim specifications in effect on January 1, the groundfish fisheries would not

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is issuing an interim final rule to prohibit fishing with drift gillnets in the California/Oregon (CA/OR) thresher shark/ swordfish drift gillnet fishery in U.S. waters off southern California, south of Point Conception (34[deg]27' N.) and west to the 120[deg]W., from August 15 through August 31, and January 1 through January 31, when the

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes to amend regulations governing the Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) fishery as they affect landing of BFT in the Atlantic pelagic longline fishery. The intent of this action is to minimize dead discards of BFT and improve management of the Atlantic pelagic longline fishery, while complying with the National Standards of the

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Scallop Advisory Panel, Oversight Committee and Habitat Oversight Committee in January, 2003 to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from these groups will be brought to the full Council for

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) has made a preliminary determination that the subject EFP application contains all required information and warrants further consideration. The Regional Administrator has also made a preliminary determination that the activities authorized under the EFP would be consistent with the

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration