Notice2026-08503
Draft Supplemental Environmental Assessment for Fisheries Research Conducted and Funded by the Southwest Fisheries Science Center
Primary source
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Published
May 1, 2026
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS announces the availability of the draft Supplemental Programmatic Environmental Assessment (SPEA) for Fisheries Research Conducted and Funded by the Southwest Fisheries Science Center. Publication of this notice begins the official public comment period for this SPEA. The purpose of this draft SPEA is to evaluate potential changes in the direct and indirect effects of research previously analyzed in the 2015 Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) and the 2020 SWFSC SPEA, and new or modified research activities along the U.S. west coast and in the Scotia Sea area off Antarctica. Where necessary, updates to certain information on species, stock status, or other components of the affected environment that may result in different conclusions from the 2015 PEA and 2020 SPEA are presented in this analysis.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 84 (Friday, May 1, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 84 (Friday, May 1, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23404-23405]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-08503]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XF612]
Draft Supplemental Environmental Assessment for Fisheries
Research Conducted and Funded by the Southwest Fisheries Science Center
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the availability of the draft Supplemental
Programmatic Environmental Assessment (SPEA) for Fisheries Research
Conducted and Funded by the Southwest Fisheries Science Center.
Publication of this notice begins the official public comment period
for this SPEA. The purpose of this draft SPEA is to evaluate potential
changes in the direct and indirect effects of research previously
analyzed in the 2015 Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC)
Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) and the 2020 SWFSC SPEA,
and new or modified research activities along the U.S. west coast and
in the Scotia Sea area off Antarctica. Where necessary, updates to
certain information on species, stock status, or other components of
the affected environment that may result in different conclusions from
the 2015 PEA and 2020 SPEA are presented in this analysis.
DATES: Comments must be received no later than June 1, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Electronic comments on the draft SPEA may be submitted to
Elise Kohli, Environmental Compliance Specialist, at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#57393a31247924203124347924273236173938363679303821"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="cba5a6adb8e5b8bcadb8a8e5b8bbaeaa8ba5a4aaaae5aca4bd">[email protected]</span></a>. Comments sent via email, including all
attachments, must not exceed a 10-megabyte file size. Physical comments
may be submitted to Aras Zygas, Chief of Staff, at 8901 La Jolla Shores
Drive, La Jolla, CA 92307. NMFS may not consider comments sent to
addresses other than the ones provided here.
A copy of the draft SPEA may be obtained by writing to the address
specified above, telephoning the contact listed below (see FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT), or visiting the internet at: <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov</a>. Documents cited in this notice may also be
viewed, by appointment, during regular business hours at the
aforementioned address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elise Kohli, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#187d74716b7d3673777074715876777979367f776e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="22474e4b51470c494d4a4e4b624c4d43430c454d54">[email protected]</span></a>,
(858) 334-2863.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The SWFSC is the research arm of NMFS in the
Southwest Region. The purpose of SWFSC fisheries research is to produce
scientific information necessary for the management and conservation of
living marine resources along the U.S. west coast in the California
Current Ecosystem (CCE), throughout the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean,
and in the Scotia Sea area off Antarctica. SWFSC's research is needed
to promote both the long-term sustainability of marine resources and
the recovery of certain species, while generating social and economic
opportunities and benefits from their use. Primary research activities
include: trawl and seine surveys to support assessments of coastal
pelagic species and groundfish in the CCE; fish cages to support
groundfish biological studies; ecosystem surveys using active acoustic
systems and other oceanographic equipment in the CCE; and surveys using
unmanned systems in the Antarctic Research Area and CCE.
NMFS has prepared the draft SPEA (EAXX-006-48-1WC-1737064752) under
NEPA to evaluate alternatives for conducting and funding fisheries and
ecosystem research activities as the primary Federal action. In the
draft SPEA, NMFS also evaluates the proposed promulgation of
regulations and authorization of marine mammal take incidental to the
fisheries research under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).
Additionally, the draft SPEA evaluates activities that could result in
the incidental take of species listed under the Endangered Species Act
(ESA) within the proposed research action area.
The following two alternatives are currently evaluated in the draft
SPEA
<bullet> No-Action Alternative--Conduct Federal Fisheries and
Ecosystem Research with Scope and Protocols without changes; and
<bullet> Preferred Alternative--Conduct Federal Fisheries and
Ecosystem Research (including New or Modified Research) with Mitigation
for MMPA and ESA Compliance.
The alternatives include a program of fisheries and ecosystem
research projects conducted or funded by the SWFSC as the primary
Federal action. Because this primary action is connected to a secondary
Federal action (also called a connected action under NEPA), to consider
authorizing incidental take of marine mammals under the MMPA, NMFS must
identify as part of this evaluation ``(t)he means of effecting the
least practicable adverse impact on the species or stock and its
habitat'' (section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA [16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.]).
NMFS must therefore identify and evaluate a reasonable range of
mitigation measures to minimize impacts to protected species that occur
in SWFSC research areas. These mitigation measures are considered as
part of the identified alternatives in order to evaluate their
effectiveness to minimize potential adverse environmental impacts. The
action alternatives include mitigation measures intended to minimize
potentially adverse interaction with other protected species that occur
within the action area. Protected species include all marine mammals,
which are covered under the MMPA, all species listed under the ESA, and
bird species protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Potential direct and indirect effects on the environment are
evaluated under each alternative in the draft SPEA. The environmental
effects on the following resources are considered: physical
environment, special resource areas, fish, marine mammals, birds, sea
turtles, invertebrates, and the social and economic environment.
NMFS requests comments on the draft SPEA for fisheries research
conducted and funded by the NMFS SWFSC. Please include, with your
comments, any supporting data or literature citations that may be
informative in substantiating your comment.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.
[[Page 23405]]
Dated: April 28, 2026.
Kristen Koch,
Director, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-08503 Filed 4-30-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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