NOAA NEPA Document Database

The proposed federal action is to fund projects that are consistent with the scope of the S-K Program. The proposed project is the establishment of the integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) system, including deployment of the AquaFort system, siting of the AquaFort, larval rearing and cage stocking, growout operation, harvesting of product, environmental monitoring, training and outreach.

Amendment 34 to the CMP FMP would update the Atlantic migratory group king mackerel acceptable biological catch, annual catch limits, recreational annual catch targets, and sector allocations based on the Southeast Data, Assessment and Review 38 Update assessment (SEDAR 38 Update 2020). Additionally, Amendment 34 to the CMP FMP proposes changes to management measures for Atlantic king mackerel and Atlantic migratory group Spanish mackerel. At this time, there are no critical or other timing needs, and this action is not expected to be controversial. We are not aware of any specific alternative that is being advocated for or against by a relevant stakeholder or other interested party. There are no known litigation risks.

The Northwest Fisheries Science Center is proposing to install a new seawater treatment, distribution system and head tank to replace the existing system at the MRS, and to construction of up to four additional single or two-story buildings to house hatcheries, laboratories and offices at the site.

Amendment 50 would modify management of South Atlantic red porgy. Actions include establishing a new rebuilding plan, and revising the acceptable biological catch, annual catch limits, annual optimum yield, sector allocations, accountability measures, and management measures for the commercial and recreational sectors. Amendment 50 would end overfishing of South Atlantic red porgy, rebuild the stock, and achieve optimum yield while minimizing, to the extent practicable, adverse social and economic effects.

This action proposes to change the Gulf of Mexico commercial trip limit for gray triggerfish from 16 to 25 fish in light of an increase in the commercial annual catch limit (ACL). Projections indicate increasing the trip limit will not lead to early closures of the fishery or exceedance of commercial ACL. No potential significant impacts or any known issues or problems with the project have been determined at this time. The action is supported by the affected fishery and is not expected to lead to overfishing.

The purpose of this action is to consider modifications to the process for setting recreational bag, size, and season limits (i.e., measures) for summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and bluefish. This action is needed to ensure that measures aim to prevent overfishing, are reflective of stock status, appropriately account for uncertainty in the recreational data, take into consideration angler preferences, and provide an appropriate level of stability and predictability in changes from year to year.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council developed Amendment 51 to respond to the most recent stock assessment for South Atlantic snowy grouper (SEDAR 36 Update 2020). The findings of the assessment indicated that the South Atlantic snowy grouper stock is overfished and undergoing overfishing. A rebuilding plan is currently in place, and NMFS expects the stock to continue rebuilding under the existing rebuilding plan. Amendment 51 would end overfishing of South Atlantic snowy grouper, rebuild the stock, and achieve optimum yield while minimizing, to the extent practicable, adverse social and economic effects.

Amendment 51 and the proposed rule would modify management of South Atlantic snowy grouper. The amendment and proposed rule would lower the acceptable biological catch, annual catch limits (ACL), and annual optimum yield from 218,848 pounds (lbs) whole weight (ww) to 119,654 lbs ww in 2023. Amendment 51 and the proposed rule would change accountability measures (AM) and management measures for the recreational sectors, while raising the commercial allocation by 4.55% to 87.55%.

Lease at Port of Gulfport with minor site modifications to house the new Unmanned Crew Systems headquarters and two large vessels in OMAO fleet.

The proposed action is to identify deep-set buoy gear as a legal commercial fishing gear in the Fishery Management Plan for West Coast Highly Migratory Species Fisheries (HMS FMP) and pursuant regulations. Management measures including but not limited to permit program functions, gear and operational specifications, monitoring, and reporting would be established in the HMS FMP or federal regulations or both.

The Framework Amendment updates management reference points for spiny lobster under the Puerto Rico, St. Thomas and St. John, and St. Croix Fishery Management Plans based on best scientific information available from the SEDAR 57 spiny lobster stock assessments and application of the Caribbean Fishery Management Council’s Acceptable Biological Catch Control Rule included in each FMP. The Framework Amendment would also revise the trigger for accountability measures for spiny lobster under each FMP.

Due to delays in the implementation of the Puerto Rico, St. Thomas and St. John, and St. Croix FMPs, the proposed rule for the Framework Amendment would only include ACLs for years 2023 and 2024 and later.

There are no known potential significant impacts or issues.

The proposed action s to develop and approve management measures for the 2023 ocean salmon fisheries.

Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (L-DEO) plans to conduct a high-energy 2-D survey at the Cape Fear submarine slide complex off North Carolina from the R/V Langseth during Spring/Summer 2023. The 2-D survey would occur within the Exclusive Economic Zone of the United States and in International Waters, in waters depths ranging from 200 to 5,500 m deep. The survey would use an 18-airgun array consisting of 40-360 in3 GI guns, with a total discharge volume of 3,300 in3. Approximately 6083 km of transect lines would be surveyed in the study area. The survey is expected to last for 33 days, with approximately 28 days of seismic operations, 3 days of piston coring and heat flow measurements, and 2 days of trains. This IHA would be valid for one year from the date of issuance. L-DEO’s requested is for the take of 30 species of marine mammals by Level B harassment and, for 2 of these species, by Level A harassment. No mortality or serious injury is anticipated nor is any proposed for authorization.
There was no public or NGO concern with this action during the 30 day comment period for the proposed IHA. Although this action involves the use of seismic airguns in a region where North Atlantic right whales could occur, the additional requirements in the IHA reduce the potential impact on this species. The survey is not expected to result in serious injury or mortality of any marine mammals. There is no known congressional interest in this particular action.

This action would establish federal fisheries management for salmon fishing in the upper Cook Inlet EEZ in AK. This would establish holistic fishery management for both the commercial drift gillnet and recreational salmon fisheries that occur in the area. Management of this area was previously deferred to the State of Alaska. This action is a result of litigation. A previous rule to apply federal management by closing the area was vacated by the federal District Court of AK.

. Amendment 52 and the proposed rule would increase the catch levels (acceptable biological catch and annual catch limits), modify sector allocations, and revise management measures for golden tilefish based on the Southeast Data, Assessment and Review 66 (2021) stock assessment. Results from the assessment indicated that the stock is not overfished and not undergoing overfishing. The proposed rule would change the commercial longline fishing season and recreational accountability measures for golden tilefish. Additionally, the proposed rule would reduce the recreational blueline tilefish bag limit from three fish per person per day to two fish per person per day; prohibit the retention of blueline tilefish by the captain and crew of for-hire vessels; and modify the recreational accountability measures for blueline tilefish.

This Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) serves as a framework to analyze the potential impacts on the natural and human (social and economic) environment from aquaculture research and development projects funded by federal financial assistance award programs in the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and includes anticipated environmental impacts of current and future related initiatives and decisions. This PEA is a planning tool to support tiered, site-specific analyses by narrowing the spectrum of environmental impacts to focus on project-level reviews as needed. Projects will vary in terms of project or activity size, complexity, geographic location and timing. Therefore, this PEA provides a programmatic-level analysis of environmental impacts associated with the proposed action and alternatives. In addition, NOAA intends to rely on this document to assess site-specific or project-level/specific actions that are determined to be within the range of alternatives and scope of potential environmental effects, and do not have significant impacts on social and economic factors of the human environment.

If approved, Amendment 16 would incorporate the Cook Inlet EEZ Area into the Salmon FMP, thereby bringing the Cook Inlet EEZ Area and the salmon fisheries that occur within it under Federal management by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and NMFS. Amendment 16 and its implementing regulations would establish federal fishery management measures for all salmon fishing that occurs in the Cook Inlet EEZ, which includes drift gillnet and recreational salmon fisheries. This proposed rule is necessary to comply with rulings from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska, and to ensure the Salmon FMP is consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. There is significant litigation risk associated with this action.

The proposed action would implement recent decision of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission on non-entangling fish aggregating devices and IMO numbers, and on mitigating impacts from fishing on sharks and mobulid rays.

The proposed action would prohibit the use of buoy gear for all harvest by the recreational sector and would increase the maximum number of hooks that can be used with buoy gear when fishing for any species for authorized fisheries in federal waters off Puerto Rico, St. Thomas and St. John, and St. Croix. The proposed action would not significantly impact the quality of the human environment.

This document is for re-issuing the permits for the sockeye salmon captive broodstock hatchery program in the Snake River basin. The proposed action is a re-issuance from the prior proposed action with only minor updates. There are no significant impacts with the continuation of the program per the EA being submitted.

The Port of Alaska (POA) requests authorization for the take of small numbers of marine mammals, by Level A and Level B harassment, incidental to its North Extension Stabilization (NES) Step 1 (NES1) Project (Project) at the existing port facility in Anchorage, Alaska. The North Extension is considered a failed structure. Parts of the North Extension bulkhead structure and the surrounding upland area are unstable and collapsing, and some of the sheet piles are visibly twisted and buckled. The structure presents safety hazards and logistical impediments to ongoing Port operations, and much of the upland area is currently unusable. The NES Project will result in removal of the failed sheet pile structure and reconfiguration and realignment of the shoreline within the North Extension. The NES1 project will include vibratory and impact pile installation and removal, which may result in the take, by Level A and Level B harassment, of marine mammals.