81 FR 19580 - 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 65 (April 5, 2016)

Page Range		19580-19581
FR Document		2016-07740

The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit application contains all of the required information and warrants further consideration. The Exempted Fishing Permit would allow a commercial fishing vessel to fish outside of the limited access scallop regulations in support of research conducted by the Coonamessett Farm Foundation. The exemptions are in support of gear research designed to reduce flatfish bycatch in the limited access general category scallop fishery. Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act require publication of this notification to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for proposed Exempted Fishing Permits.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 65 (Tuesday, April 5, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 65 (Tuesday, April 5, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19580-19581]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-07740]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE555


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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable 
Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary 
determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit application contains all 
of the required information and warrants further consideration. The 
Exempted Fishing Permit would allow a commercial fishing vessel to fish 
outside of the limited access scallop regulations in support of 
research conducted by the Coonamessett Farm Foundation. The exemptions 
are in support of gear research designed to reduce flatfish bycatch in 
the limited access general category scallop fishery.
    Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act require publication of this notification to provide 
interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for 
proposed Exempted Fishing Permits.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 20, 2016.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shannah Jaburek, Fisheries Management 
Specialist, 978-282-8456.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Coonamesset Farm Foundation (CFF) has 
submitted a proposal titled ``Determining the Impacts of Dredge Bag 
Modifications on Flatfish Bycatch in the LAGC Scallop Fishery,'' that 
has been favorably reviewed and is pending final approval by NOAA's 
Grants Management Division under the 2016

[[Page 19581]]

Atlantic Sea Scallop Research Set-Aside (RSA) Program. The project 
would test a modified flounder cookie sweep on the outer bale bars of 
the scallop dredge that is used in the limited access general category 
(LAGC) scallop fishery and film fish-dredge interactions to monitor the 
effectiveness of the gear modification in reducing flatfish bycatch. 
CFF submitted a complete application for an EFP on March 14, 2016, to 
enable data collection activities during research trips. The EFP would 
allow one commercial fishing vessel to use gear that may be considered 
obstructed at 50 CFR 648.51(b)(4)(iii), waive scallop observer program 
requirements at Sec.  648.11(g) in order allow a researcher with 
adequate room to sample catch on deck, and temporarily exempt the 
participating vessels from possession limits and minimum size 
requirements specified in 50 CFR part 648, subsections B and D through 
O, for sampling purposes only. Any fishing activity conducted outside 
the scope of the exempted fishing activity would be prohibited, 
including landing fish in excess of a possession limit or below the 
minimum size.
    One vessel would conduct scallop dredging in June 2016-April 2017, 
on about 25 trips lasting approximately one day-at-sea (DAS) each for a 
project total of 25 DAS. The first trip would be comprised of shorter 
tow durations and serve as a calibration day for the underwater video 
equipment to determine the correct configuration on the dredge that 
would be used on each of the following trips. All other trips would 
complete approximately six tows per day for a maximum duration of 90 
minutes at a tow speed of 4.2 knots. Trips would take place in the 
Southern New England Dredge Exemption Area where part of the LAGC fleet 
normally operates.
    All tows would be conducted using a single 9-foot (2.74-m) dredge 
following an alternate paired tow strategy where a pair consists of one 
control and one experimental tow. Researchers would attach the two 6- 
to 7-foot (1.83- to 2.13-m) cookie sweeps to each of the outer bale 
bars using chain and shackles for the experimental tows and then remove 
them for the control tows. The cookie sweeps would be constructed of 
round rubber disks with no larger than a 3-inch (7.62-cm) diameter, and 
the attachment chains would be evenly spaced and varied in length to 
account for dredge position while being towed to ensure contact with 
the ocean bottom. Exemption from the dredge gear obstruction regulation 
would allow researchers to use the cookie sweep for the experimental 
tows.
    Researchers would weigh all scallop catch in industry bushel 
baskets caught in both dredges and a one basket sub-sample from each 
dredge would be measured in 5-mm increments. Total weight of bycatch 
species and individual measurements to the nearest centimeter would 
also be obtained by the researcher. If the volume of the catch is 
large, subsampling protocols would be necessary. All bycatch would be 
returned to the sea as soon as practicable following data collection. 
Exemption from possession limit and minimum sizes would support catch 
sampling activities, and ensure the vessel is not in conflict with 
possession regulations while collecting catch data. All catch above a 
possession limit or below a minimum size would be discarded as soon as 
practicable following data collection. Exempting the vessel from the 
sea scallop observer program requirements would allow researchers 
flexibility for catch sampling timing and space accommodations since 
vessels in the LAGC fleet are typically smaller with limited deck 
space.
    All research trips would otherwise be conducted in a manner 
consistent with normal commercial fishing conditions and catch 
consistent with the LAGC daily possession limit would be retained for 
sale.
    If approved, the applicant 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 or impact 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 31, 2016.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-07740 Filed 4-4-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

19580 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 65 / Tuesday, April 5, 2016 / Notices

• Email: nmfs.gar.efp@noaa.gov. would use an experimental net bag DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Include in the subject line ‘‘Comments cover and the other would fish with an
on DA16–013 NFI Incidental Discard industry standard 12-foot (4.57-m) turtle National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Mortality EFP.’’ excluder dredge. The experimental Administration
• Mail: John K. Bullard, Regional cover is constructed of 17⁄8-inch (4.76- RIN 0648–XE555
Administrator, NMFS, Greater Atlantic cm) mesh and sewn into the top of the
Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great dredge apron. The bag can be dumped Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions;
Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. independently of the 4-inch (10.16-cm) General Provisions for Domestic
Mark the outside of the envelope ring bag to collect the scallops and other Fisheries; Application for Exempted
‘‘Comments on DA16–013 NFI organisms that pass through the 4-inch Fishing Permits
Incidental Discard Mortality EFP.’’ (10.16-cm) rings. The dredge
• Fax: (978) 281–9135. AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
configurations would be switched to the Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
opposite side after five tows for each Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Shannah Jaburek, Fisheries Management substrate.
Specialist, 978–282–8456. Commerce.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NOAA
All scallops that filter through the 4- ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
awarded the National Fisheries Institue inch (10.16-cm) rings and into the mesh
bag would be measured for shell height SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional
(NFI) a grant through the 2014 Atlantic Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries,
sea scallop research set-aside program and assessed for damage to the shell in
one of three categories: Not injured; sub- Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has
in support of a project titled, made a preliminary determination that
‘‘Determining Incidental Discard lethal (repairable); or lethal (non-
an Exempted Fishing Permit application
Mortality of Atlantic Sea Scallops, repairable). After all scallops are
contains all of the required information
Placopecten magellanicus, in the assessed, they would be returned to the
and warrants further consideration. The
Scallop Dredge Fishery in the Mid- ocean bottom as soon as practicable. Exempted Fishing Permit would allow a
Atlantic Bight.’’ NMFS issued the The researchers would then use this commercial fishing vessel to fish
National Fisheries Institute (NFI) an information to estimate the proportion outside of the limited access scallop
Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) on April of scallops in each injury category. The regulations in support of research
30, 2015, to complete the project. On weight of scallop catch retained in the conducted by the Coonamessett Farm
February 16, 2016, NMFS received a 4-inch (10.16-cm) ring bags of both Foundation. The exemptions are in
request to authorize participating dredges would be estimated by the support of gear research designed to
vessels to perform an additional 20 tows captain. Researchers would take shell reduce flatfish bycatch in the limited
over the course of two limited access measurements of a subsample of 50 access general category scallop fishery.
Atlantic sea scallop days-at-sea (DAS). scallops per tow per dredge to Regulations under the Magnuson-
NFI is requesting exemptions that determine size selectivity within each Stevens Fishery Conservation and
would allow one commercial fishing dredge. All other bycatch in the Management Act require publication of
vessel to fish outside of the DAS experimental net bag would be sorted, this notification to provide interested
regulations found at 50 CFR 648.53(b); parties the opportunity to comment on
the captain would estimate the weights,
mesh size restrictions at § 648.51(a)(2); applications for proposed Exempted
and researchers would measure a
obstruction in dredge gear restrictions at Fishing Permits.
minimum of 25 lengths per individual
§ 648.51(b)(4)(iii); and the crew size
species. No catch would be landed for DATES: Comments must be received on
regulations at § 648.51(c). In addition,
sale. or before April 20, 2016.
the EFP would temporarily exempt the
participating vessel from possession If approved, the applicant may ADDRESSES: You may submit written
limits and minimum size requirements request minor modifications and comments by any of the following
specified in 50 CFR part 648, extensions to the EFP throughout the methods:
subsections B and D through O, for year. EFP modifications and extensions • Email: nmfs.gar.efp@noaa.gov.
sampling purposes only. Any fishing Include in the subject line ‘‘CFF LAGC
may be granted without further notice if
activity conducted outside the scope of Modified Sweep EFP.’’
they are deemed essential to facilitate
the exempted fishing activity would be • Mail: John K. Bullard, Regional
completion of the proposed research Administrator, NMFS, Greater Atlantic
prohibited. and have minimal impacts that do not
The project would conduct dredging Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great
change the scope or impact of the Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930.
activities to assess the incidental initially approved EFP request. Any
mortality of scallops passing through Mark the outside of the envelope
fishing activity conducted outside the ‘‘Comments on CFF LAGC Modified
the 4-inch (10.16-cm) rings of a 12-foot scope of the exempted fishing activity
(4.57-m) Turtle Deflector Dredge on Sweep EFP.’’
sandy and hard (gravel) substrates.
would be prohibited. • Fax: (978) 281–9135.
Dredging would be conducted over Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
approximately two DAS during the Dated: March 31, 2016. Shannah Jaburek, Fisheries Management
proposed period of May 2016 through Specialist, 978–282–8456.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
June 2016. All dredging would occur in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
open access scallop fishing areas off the Coonamesset Farm Foundation (CFF)
National Marine Fisheries Service.
coast of New Jersey. A total of 20 scallop has submitted a proposal titled
[FR Doc. 2016–07733 Filed 4–4–16; 8:45 am]
tows would be conducted (10 tows per ‘‘Determining the Impacts of Dredge Bag
substrate). Each tow would be made at BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Modifications on Flatfish Bycatch in the
depths of 18 to 25 fathoms (32.92 to LAGC Scallop Fishery,’’ that has been
45.72 m) for a duration of 40 minutes. favorably reviewed and is pending final
The scallop vessel would fish two approval by NOAA’s Grants
dredges simultaneously. One dredge Management Division under the 2016

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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 65 / Tuesday, April 5, 2016 / Notices 19581

Atlantic Sea Scallop Research Set-Aside Researchers would weigh all scallop SUMMARY: In compliance with the
(RSA) Program. The project would test catch in industry bushel baskets caught Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), this
a modified flounder cookie sweep on in both dredges and a one basket sub- notice announces that the Information
the outer bale bars of the scallop dredge sample from each dredge would be Collection Request (ICR) abstracted
that is used in the limited access general measured in 5-mm increments. Total below has been forwarded to the Office
category (LAGC) scallop fishery and weight of bycatch species and of Management and Budget (OMB) for
film fish-dredge interactions to monitor individual measurements to the nearest review and comment. The ICR describes
the effectiveness of the gear centimeter would also be obtained by the nature of the information collection
modification in reducing flatfish the researcher. If the volume of the and its expected costs and burden.
bycatch. CFF submitted a complete catch is large, subsampling protocols DATES: Comments must be submitted on
application for an EFP on March 14, would be necessary. All bycatch would or before May 5, 2016.
2016, to enable data collection activities be returned to the sea as soon as ADDRESSES: Comments regarding the
during research trips. The EFP would practicable following data collection. burden estimated or any other aspect of
allow one commercial fishing vessel to Exemption from possession limit and the information collection, including
use gear that may be considered minimum sizes would support catch suggestions for reducing the burden,
obstructed at 50 CFR 648.51(b)(4)(iii), sampling activities, and ensure the may be submitted directly to the Office
waive scallop observer program vessel is not in conflict with possession of Information and Regulatory Affairs in
requirements at § 648.11(g) in order regulations while collecting catch data. OMB, within 30 days of publication of
allow a researcher with adequate room All catch above a possession limit or the notice, by email at
to sample catch on deck, and below a minimum size would be OIRAsubmissions@omb.eop.gov. Please
temporarily exempt the participating discarded as soon as practicable identify the comments by OMB Control
vessels from possession limits and following data collection. Exempting the No. 3038–0031. Please provide the
minimum size requirements specified in vessel from the sea scallop observer Commission with a copy of all
50 CFR part 648, subsections B and D program requirements would allow submitted comments at the address
through O, for sampling purposes only. researchers flexibility for catch listed below. Please refer to OMB
Any fishing activity conducted outside sampling timing and space Reference No. 3038–0031, found on
the scope of the exempted fishing accommodations since vessels in the http://reginfo.gov. Comments may also
activity would be prohibited, including LAGC fleet are typically smaller with be mailed to the Office of Information
landing fish in excess of a possession limited deck space. and Regulatory Affairs, Office of
limit or below the minimum size. All research trips would otherwise be Management and Budget, Attention:
One vessel would conduct scallop conducted in a manner consistent with Desk Officer for the Commodity Futures
dredging in June 2016-April 2017, on normal commercial fishing conditions Trading Commission, 725 17th Street
about 25 trips lasting approximately one NW., Washington, DC 20503, and to the
and catch consistent with the LAGC
day-at-sea (DAS) each for a project total Commission through its Web site at
daily possession limit would be retained
of 25 DAS. The first trip would be http://comments.cftc.gov. Follow the
for sale.
comprised of shorter tow durations and instructions for submitting comments
serve as a calibration day for the If approved, the applicant may
request minor modifications and through the Web site.
underwater video equipment to Comments may also be mailed to:
determine the correct configuration on extensions to the EFP throughout the
year. EFP modifications and extensions Christopher Kirkpatrick, Secretary of the
the dredge that would be used on each Commission, Commodity Futures
of the following trips. All other trips may be granted without further notice if
they are deemed essential to facilitate Trading Commission, Three Lafayette
would complete approximately six tows Centre, 1155 21st Street NW.,
per day for a maximum duration of 90 completion of the proposed research
and have minimal impacts that do not Washington, DC 20581, or by Hand
minutes at a tow speed of 4.2 knots. Delivery/Courier at the same address.
Trips would take place in the Southern change the scope or impact of the
initially approved EFP request. Any A copy of the supporting statements
New England Dredge Exemption Area for the collection of information
where part of the LAGC fleet normally fishing activity conducted outside the
scope of the exempted fishing activity discussed above may be obtained by
operates. visiting http://reginfo.gov. All
All tows would be conducted using a would be prohibited.
comments must be submitted in
single 9-foot (2.74-m) dredge following Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. English, or if not, accompanied by an
an alternate paired tow strategy where a Dated: March 31, 2016. English translation. Comments will be
pair consists of one control and one posted as received to http://
Alan D. Risenhoover,
experimental tow. Researchers would www.cftc.gov.
attach the two 6- to 7-foot (1.83- to 2.13- Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
National Marine Fisheries Service. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
m) cookie sweeps to each of the outer
bale bars using chain and shackles for [FR Doc. 2016–07740 Filed 4–4–16; 8:45 am] Sonda R. Owens, Commodity Futures
the experimental tows and then remove BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Trading Commission, (202) 418–5182;
them for the control tows. The cookie fax: (202) 418–5414; email: sowens@
sweeps would be constructed of round cftc.gov and refer to OMB Control No.
rubber disks with no larger than a 3- 3038–0031.
inch (7.62-cm) diameter, and the COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An agency
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

attachment chains would be evenly COMMISSION may not conduct or sponsor, and a
spaced and varied in length to account person is not required to respond to, a
Agency Information Collection
for dredge position while being towed to collection of information unless it
Activities Under OMB Review
ensure contact with the ocean bottom. displays a currently valid OMB control
Exemption from the dredge gear AGENCY: Commodity Futures Trading number. The OMB control numbers for
obstruction regulation would allow Commission. the CFTC’s regulations were published
researchers to use the cookie sweep for on December 30, 1981. See 46 FR 63035
ACTION: Notice.
the experimental tows. (Dec. 30, 1981). The Federal Register

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Document Created: 2018-02-07 13:53:20
Document Modified: 2018-02-07 13:53:20

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 20, 2016.
Contact		Shannah Jaburek, Fisheries Management Specialist, 978-282-8456.
FR Citation		81 FR 19580
RIN Number		0648-XE55

81 FR 19580 - 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 65 (April 5, 2016)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration