The New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) is scheduling a public meeting of its Research Steering Committee in November, 2004. Recommendations from the committee will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes to revise regulations governing the Western Alaska Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program. These regulatory amendments would simplify the processes for making quota transfers, for authorizing vessels as eligible to participate in the CDQ fisheries, and for obtaining approval of alternative fishing plans. This proposed action is

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a public hearing to solicit comments on ``Draft Amendment 3 for Addressing EFH Requirements, Habitat Areas of Particular Concern (HAPCs), and Adverse Effects of Fishing in the Following Fishery Management Plans of the Gulf of Mexico: Shrimp, Red Drum, Reef fish, Stone Crab, Coral

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 issues this notice to inform the public about tendering reduction payments to accepted bidders under the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crab fishing capacity reduction program. NMFS has accepted reduction bids, and a successful referendum has approved an industry fee system for repaying the $97.4 million reduction loan financing

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory committees will hold public meetings December 6 through December 14, 2004 at the Anchorage Hilton Hotel, Anchorage, AK.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The Southeast Data, Assessment and Review (SEDAR) process for the Caribbean Yellowtail Snapper and Spiny Lobster consists of a series of three workshops: a data workshop, an assessment workshop, and a review workshop. As part of this series, a Data Workshop is being held. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold meetings of its Shrimp Committee, Mackerel Committee, Protected Resources Committee, Dolphin Wahoo Committee and Snapper Grouper Committee. The Council will also hold a joint meeting of its Ecosystem Based Management Committee and Habitat Committee, a joint Executive/ Finance

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues a final rule that requires the operator of a federally permitted catcher vessel using hookandline or jig gear in the Southeast Outside District (SEO) of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) to retain and land all demersal shelf rockfish (DSR) caught while fishing for groundfish or for Pacific halibut under the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS has determined that the Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) General category and Angling category fisheries will close in all areas. This action is being taken to ensure that U.S. BFT harvest is consistent with recommendations of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), pursuant to the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS amends the regulations governing the North and South Atlantic swordfish fisheries to implement recommendations adopted at the 2002 meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). Specifically, NMFS: increases the North Atlantic swordfish quota to 3,877 metric tons (mt) whole weight (ww) in 2003 and to

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues proposed regulations to implement Amendment 22 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (Amendment 22) prepared by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council). These proposed regulations would provide the regulatory authority to implement a mandatory observer program for

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Correction

In proposed rule document 0425113 beginning on page 65127 in the issue of Wednesday, November 10, 2004 make the following correction:

On page 65129, the second table should have the heading: ``Table 2. Estimated Bycatch for the MidAtlantic BeachBased and Ocean Gillnet Fisheries in 2000 and Southeast U.S. Shark Gillnet Fishery from

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) and its MagnusonStevens Act (MSA) Reauthorization Committee; its Ecosystem Committee; and, its Executive Committee will hold public meetings.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Ad Hoc Bycatch Committee in December, 2004 to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from this group will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2004 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod apportioned to vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

In accordance with provisions of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as amended, notification is hereby given that an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to take small numbers of marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to wall replacement and bluff improvement projects at La Jolla, California, has been issued to the City of San Diego.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the commercial salmon fishery in the area from the OregonCalifornia Border to Humboldt South Jetty, CA was modified to close at midnight on Friday, September 17, 2004. This action was necessary to conform to the 2004 management goals. The intended effect of this action is to allow the fishery to operate within the seasons and

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces the recreational salmon fishery in the area from the U.S.Canada Border to Cape Alava, WA (Neah Bay Subarea) was modified to reopen effective Friday, September 10, 2004, through the earlier of September 19 or a modified subarea quota of 30,750 coho. This action was necessary to conform to the 2004 management goals.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the commercial salmon fishery in the subarea from the Queets River, WA to Cape Falcon OR, was projected to reach its 10,000 coho quota and was closed effective at midnight on Tuesday, September 7, 2004. In addition, regulations for the commercial salmon fishery in the subarea from the U.S.Canada Border to the Queets River, were

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes quotas for the Atlantic surfclam, ocean quahog, and Maine mahogany ocean quahog fisheries for 20052007. Regulations governing these fisheries require NMFS to publish the proposed specifications for the 20052007 fishing years and seek public comment on such proposed measures. The intent of this action is to propose allowable harvest

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The NOAA Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) announces its intent to evaluate the performance of the San Francisco (California) Bay Conservation and Development Commission Coastal Management Program; the Louisiana Coastal Management Program; the North Inlet/Winyah Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, South Carolina; and the

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS) is seeking applicants for the following vacant seats on its Sanctuary Advisory Council (Council): Research alternate, Recreation (non consumptive), Recreation (nonconsumptive) alternate, Public AtLarge, Public AtLarge alternate, Business, Conservation, and Commercial Fishing. Applicants are

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS or Sanctuary) is seeking applicants for the following vacant seats on its Sanctuary Advisory Council (Council): Maritime Heritage; South Florida Ecosystem Restoration; South Florida Ecosystem Restoration (alternate); CitizenatLarge, Upper Keys (alternate); Commercial fishing, Marine/ Tropical

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS has received a request from the U.S. Minerals Management Service (MMS), U.S. Department of the Interior, for regulations to authorize the take, by harassment, of small numbers of marine mammals incidental to seismic surveys during oil and gas exploration activities by the U.S. oil and
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gas industry in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). By

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration