81 FR 15683 - Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 57 (March 24, 2016)

Page Range		15683-15684
FR Document		2016-06687

The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary determination that Exempted Fishing Permits to facilitate the use of monkfish research set-aside days-at-sea warrants further consideration. This notice is to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on the proposed Exempted Fishing Permits.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 57 (Thursday, March 24, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 57 (Thursday, March 24, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15683-15684]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-06687]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE492


Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic 
Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable 
Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary 
determination that Exempted Fishing Permits to facilitate the use of 
monkfish research set-aside days-at-sea warrants further consideration. 
This notice is to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment 
on the proposed Exempted Fishing Permits.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 8, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by any of the following 
methods:
     Email: [email protected]. Include in the subject line 
``Comments on 2016 Monkfish RSA EFP.''
     Mail: John K. Bullard, Regional Administrator, NMFS, 
Greater Atlantic Regional Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, 
MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope ``Comments on 2016 Monkfish 
RSA EFP.''
     Fax: (978) 281-9135.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Reid Lichwell, Fishery Management 
Specialist, (978) 282-9112, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: These Exempted Fishing Permits (EFPs) would 
facilitate monkfish research set-aside (RSA) compensation fishing in 
support of projects funded under the 2016 monkfish RSA competition. 
Project proposals are currently under review. Consistent with previous 
monkfish RSA compensation fishing EFPs, vessels fishing under a RSA 
days-at-sea (DAS) would be authorized to harvest monkfish in excess of 
the landing limits in the Northern and Southern Monkfish Fishery 
Management Areas.
    The monkfish RSA program has been allocated 500 monkfish RSA DAS as 
established by the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management 
Councils (70 FR 21929, April 28, 2005). These monkfish RSA DAS would be 
divided between research award recipients and sold to fishermen to fund 
approved monkfish research projects. Award recipients receive an 
allocation of RSA DAS and a maximum amount of landed weight that may be 
landed under available DAS. Projects are constrained to the total DAS 
or maximum available landing weight, whichever is reached first. NOAA's 
National Marine Fisheries Service uses 32,000 lb (14.51 mt) of whole 
monkfish for each RSA DAS to calculate a maximum allocation of 
1,600,000 lb (725.75 mt) to be harvested under these projects. As an 
example, a project awarded 100 RSA DAS would receive a maximum RSA 
harvest limit of 320,000 lb (144.1 mt) of whole monkfish (or tail 
weight equivalent) to be landed. Allowing vessels an exemption from 
monkfish landing limits provides an incentive for vessels to purchase 
RSA DAS to catch more monkfish per-trip, while constraining each 
project to a maximum available harvest limit

[[Page 15684]]

ensures that the overall monkfish RSA allocation will not be exceeded.
    If approved, the applicants may request minor modifications and 
extensions to the EFP throughout the year. EFP modifications and 
extensions may be granted without further notice if they are deemed 
essential to facilitate completion of the proposed research and have 
minimal impacts that do not change the scope of the initially approved 
EFP request. Any fishing activity conducted outside the scope of the 
exempted fishing activity would be prohibited.

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: March 21, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-06687 Filed 3-23-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 57 / Thursday, March 24, 2016 / Notices 15683

least 24 hours in advance of each the first meeting of this group. The interested parties the opportunity to
Webinar. items of discussion for this webinar are comment on the proposed Exempted
SEDAR address: South Atlantic as follows: Fishing Permits.
Fishery Management Council, 4055 1. Select Panel Chair. DATES: Comments must be received on
Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, N. 2. Develop terms of reference or before April 8, 2016.
Charleston, SC 29405. specifying the Panel’s purpose and
approach. ADDRESSES: You may submit written
www.sedarweb.org.
3. Recommend organizing committee comments by any of the following
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julia methods:
for Stock ID/Meristics workshop.
Byrd, SEDAR Coordinator, 4055 Faber 4. Provide input on topic for next • Email: NMFS.GAR.EFP@noaa.gov.
Place Drive, Suite 201, North SEDAR Procedural Workshop. Include in the subject line ‘‘Comments
Charleston, SC 29405; phone (843) 571– Although non-emergency issues not on 2016 Monkfish RSA EFP.’’
4366; email: julia.byrd@safmc.net. contained in this agenda may come • Mail: John K. Bullard, Regional
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: before this group for discussion, those Administrator, NMFS, Greater Atlantic
Agenda issues may not be the subject of formal Regional Office, 55 Great Republic
action during this meeting. Action will Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the
The Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, be restricted to those issues specifically outside of the envelope ‘‘Comments on
and Caribbean Fishery Management identified in this notice and any issues 2016 Monkfish RSA EFP.’’
Councils, in conjunction with NOAA arising after publication of this notice • Fax: (978) 281–9135.
Fisheries and the Atlantic and Gulf that require emergency action under
States Marine Fisheries Commissions, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Reid
section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Lichwell, Fishery Management
have implemented the Southeast Data, Fishery Conservation and Management
Assessment and Review (SEDAR) Specialist, (978) 282–9112,
Act, provided the public has been Reid.Lichwell@noaa.gov.
process, a multi-step method for notified of the intent to take final action
determining the status of fish stocks in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: These
to address the emergency.
the Southeast Region. SEDAR is a three- Exempted Fishing Permits (EFPs) would
step process including: (1) Data Special Accommodations facilitate monkfish research set-aside
Workshop; (2) Assessment Process This meeting is accessible to people (RSA) compensation fishing in support
utilizing webinars; and (3) Review with disabilities. Requests for auxiliary of projects funded under the 2016
Workshop. The product of the Data aids should be directed to the SAFMC monkfish RSA competition. Project
Workshop is a data report which office (see ADDRESSES) at least ten proposals are currently under review.
compiles and evaluates potential working days prior to the meeting. Consistent with previous monkfish RSA
datasets and recommends which compensation fishing EFPs, vessels
Note: The times and sequence specified in fishing under a RSA days-at-sea (DAS)
datasets are appropriate for assessment this agenda are subject to change.
analyses. The product of the Assessment would be authorized to harvest
Process is a stock assessment report Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. monkfish in excess of the landing limits
which describes the fisheries, evaluates in the Northern and Southern Monkfish
Dated: March 21, 2016.
the status of the stock, estimates Fishery Management Areas.
Tracey L. Thompson,
biological benchmarks, projects future The monkfish RSA program has been
population conditions, and recommends Acting Director, Office of Sustainable allocated 500 monkfish RSA DAS as
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
research and monitoring needs. The established by the New England and
[FR Doc. 2016–06671 Filed 3–23–16; 8:45 am] Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management
assessment is independently peer
reviewed at the Review Workshop. The BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Councils (70 FR 21929, April 28, 2005).
product of the Review Workshop is a These monkfish RSA DAS would be
Summary documenting panel opinions divided between research award
regarding the strengths and weaknesses DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE recipients and sold to fishermen to fund
of the stock assessment and input data. National Oceanic and Atmospheric approved monkfish research projects.
Participants for SEDAR Workshops are Administration Award recipients receive an allocation
appointed by the Gulf of Mexico, South of RSA DAS and a maximum amount of
Atlantic, and Caribbean Fishery RIN 0648–XE492 landed weight that may be landed under
Management Councils and NOAA available DAS. Projects are constrained
Fisheries Southeast Regional Office, Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; to the total DAS or maximum available
Highly Migratory Species Management General Provisions for Domestic landing weight, whichever is reached
Division, and Southeast Fisheries Fisheries; Application for Exempted first. NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries
Science Center. Participants include: Fishing Permits Service uses 32,000 lb (14.51 mt) of
data collectors and database managers; AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries whole monkfish for each RSA DAS to
stock assessment scientists, biologists, Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and calculate a maximum allocation of
and researchers; constituency Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 1,600,000 lb (725.75 mt) to be harvested
representatives including fishermen, Commerce. under these projects. As an example, a
environmentalists, and non- ACTION: Notice; request for comments. project awarded 100 RSA DAS would
governmental organizations (NGOs); receive a maximum RSA harvest limit of
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

international experts; and staff of SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional 320,000 lb (144.1 mt) of whole monkfish
Councils, Commissions, and state and Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, (or tail weight equivalent) to be landed.
federal agencies. Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has Allowing vessels an exemption from
The SEDAR Data Best Practices made a preliminary determination that monkfish landing limits provides an
Standing Panel is charged with Exempted Fishing Permits to facilitate incentive for vessels to purchase RSA
developing, reviewing, and evaluating the use of monkfish research set-aside DAS to catch more monkfish per-trip,
best practice recommendations for days-at-sea warrants further while constraining each project to a
SEDAR Data Workshops. This will be consideration. This notice is to provide maximum available harvest limit

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15684 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 57 / Thursday, March 24, 2016 / Notices

ensures that the overall monkfish RSA Written comments on this application DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
allocation will not be exceeded. should be submitted to the Chief,
If approved, the applicants may Permits and Conservation Division, at National Oceanic and Atmospheric
request minor modifications and the address listed above. Comments may Administration
extensions to the EFP throughout the also be submitted by facsimile to (301) RIN 0648–XE503
year. EFP modifications and extensions 713–0376, or by email to
may be granted without further notice if NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Please Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to
they are deemed essential to facilitate include the File No. in the subject line Specified Activities; Seabird
completion of the proposed research of the email comment. Monitoring and Research in Glacier
and have minimal impacts that do not Bay National Park, Alaska, 2016
change the scope of the initially Those individuals requesting a public
approved EFP request. Any fishing hearing should submit a written request AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
activity conducted outside the scope of to the Chief, Permits and Conservation Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
the exempted fishing activity would be Division at the address listed above. The Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
prohibited. request should set forth the specific Commerce.
reasons why a hearing on this ACTION: Notice; proposed incidental
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
application would be appropriate. harassment authorization; request for
Dated: March 21, 2016.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rosa comments.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable L. González or Amy Hapeman, (301) SUMMARY: NMFS (hereinafter, ‘‘we’’ or
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 427–8401. ‘‘our’’) received an application from
[FR Doc. 2016–06687 Filed 3–23–16; 8:45 am] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Glacier Bay National Park (Glacier Bay
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P subject permit is requested under the NP) requesting an Incidental
authority of the Endangered Species Act Harassment Authorization
of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. (Authorization) to take marine
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 1531 et seq.) and the regulations mammals, by harassment, incidental to
governing the taking, importing, and conducting proposed seabird
National Oceanic and Atmospheric monitoring and research activities
Administration exporting of endangered and threatened
within Glacier Bay National Park from
species (50 CFR parts 222–226).
May through September, 2016. Per the
RIN 0648–XE517 The applicant requests a five-year Marine Mammal Protection Act, we
research permit to continue long-term request comments on our proposal to
Endangered Species; File No. 19697 projects studying green and hawksbill issue an Authorization to Point Blue to
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries sea turtle aggregations in the coastal incidentally take, by Level B harassment
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and waters of Puerto Rico, including Mona, only, one species of marine mammal,
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Monito, and Desecheo Islands, and the harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) during
Commerce. Culebra Archipelago. Proposed research the specified activity.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application. would involve vessel surveys for DATES: NMFS must receive comments
abundance counts and capture by hand and information no later than April 25,
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that or tangle nets to assess the population 2016.
Carlos E. Diez, Departamento de structure, trends in relative abundance, ADDRESSES: Address comments on the
Recursos Naturales y Ambientales de habitat utilization, genetics, application to Jolie Harrison, Chief,
Puerto Rico, Programa de Especies zoogeography, and epidemiology of sea Permits and Conservation Division,
Protegidas, P.O. Box 366147, San Juan, turtles in their foraging habitats. Office of Protected Resources, National
Puerto Rico, 00936, has applied in due Annually, up to 150 green and 150 Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-
form for a permit to take green (Chelonia hawksbill sea turtles would be captured. West Highway, Silver Spring, MD
mydas) and hawksbill (Eretmochelys 20910. The mailbox address for
Each turtle would be flipper and passive
imbricata) sea turtles for purposes of providing email comments is
integrated transponder tagged,
scientific research. ITP.Pauline@noaa.gov. You must
measured, weighed, photographed/
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email videoed, and may be blood and tissue include 0648–XE503 in the subject line.
comments must be received on or before sampled. A subset of up to 10 sea turtles We are not responsible for email
April 25, 2016. comments sent to addresses other than
annually of each species may also be
ADDRESSES: The application and related outfitted with satellite transmitters to the one provided here. Comments sent
documents are available for review by track movements post-release. Another via email, including all attachments,
selecting ‘‘Records Open for Public subset of up to 10 green sea turtles must not exceed a 25-megabyte file size.
Comment’’ from the ‘‘Features’’ box on would also be authorized for ultrasound NMFS is not responsible for email
the Applications and Permits for comments sent to addresses other than
and tumor removal surgery in a local
Protected Species (APPS) home page, the one provided here.
facility.
https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then Instructions: All submitted comments
selecting File No. 19697 from the list of Dated: March 18, 2016. are a part of the public record and
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

available applications. Julia Harrison, NMFS will post them to http://
These documents are also available Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/
upon written request or by appointment Office of Protected Resources, National incidental/research.htm without
in the Permits and Conservation Marine Fisheries Service. change. All Personal Identifying
Division, Office of Protected Resources, [FR Doc. 2016–06682 Filed 3–23–16; 8:45 am] Information (for example, name,
NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by
13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone the commenter may be publicly
(301) 427–8401; fax (301) 713–0376. accessible. Do not submit confidential

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Document Created: 2016-03-24 00:57:24
Document Modified: 2016-03-24 00:57:24

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice; request for comments.
Dates		Comments must be received on or before April 8, 2016.
Contact		Reid Lichwell, Fishery Management Specialist, (978) 282-9112, [email protected]
FR Citation		81 FR 15683
RIN Number		0648-XE49

81 FR 15683 - Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 57 (March 24, 2016)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration