Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries

0648-BB92 201410 The Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions 0648 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA 0600 Department of Commerce DOC Revision of the National Standard 1 Guidelines Other Significant Previously Published in The Unified Agenda Proposed Rule Stage No No 50 CFR 600 16 USC 1801 et seq PL 94-265 Yes

Since 2007, fisheries management within the U.S. has experienced many changes, in particular the implementation of annual catch limits and accountability measures under all fishery management plans. Based on this experience, the NMFS believes the National Standard guidelines can be improved to enhance the utility of the guidelines for managers and the public. The objective of the proposed revisions is to improve and streamline the guidelines, address concerns raised during the implementation of annual catch limits and accountability measures, and provide flexibility within current statutory limits to address fishery management issues.

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Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act

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The rule attempts to improve fisheries management by proposing alternatives that clarify guidance in the following topic areas: 1) identifying fishery management objectives; 2) identifying whether stocks require conservation and management; 3) managing data limited stocks; 4) stock complexes; 5) aggregate maximum sustainable yield estimates; 6) depleted stocks; 7) multi-year overfishing determinations; 8) optimum yield; 9) acceptable biological catch control rules; 10) accountability measures; 11) establishing annual catch limits and accountability measures mechanisms in Fishery Management Plans; and 12) flexibility in rebuilding stocks.

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The changes to the guidelines would not establish any new requirements and thus are technical in nature. As such, the changes would allow, but do not require the Fishery Management Councils or the Secretary of Commerce, to make changes to their Fishery Management Plans. Because changes to the guidelines would not directly alter the behavior of any entities that operate in federally managed fisheries, no direct economic effects are expected to result from this action. The potential benefits of revising the National Standard guidelines include: improving and streamlining the guidance, providing additional clarity, and providing flexibility to address fishery management issues.

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NMFS anticipates that a revision to the National Standard guidelines would enhance the utility of the guidelines. NMFS does not foresee any risks associated with revising the National Standard guidelines.

]]> ANPRM 05/03/2012 77 FR 26238 ANPRM Comment Period Extended 07/03/2012 77 FR 39459 NPRM 12/00/2014 No No Federal No No No No 0648-AV60 Related to Alan Risenhoover Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries 0648 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA 301 713-2334 301 713-0596 alan.risenhoover@noaa.gov NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13362, Silver Spring MD 20910