81_FR_71911 81 FR 71710 - Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits

81 FR 71710 - 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 201 (October 18, 2016)

Page Range71710-71711
FR Document2016-25137

The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit application from the Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management contains all of the required information and warrants further consideration. This Exempted Fishing Permit would allow seven commercial fishing vessels and one party/charter vessel to collect black sea bass catch data while on routine fishing trips and retain a limited amount of black sea bass for laboratory analysis. Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act require publication of this notice to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for proposed Exempted Fishing Permits.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 201 (Tuesday, October 18, 2016) 
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 201 (Tuesday, October 18, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71710-71711]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-25137]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE911


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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[[Page 71711]]

SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable 
Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary 
determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit application from the 
Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation and Rhode Island Department of 
Environmental Management contains all of the required information and 
warrants further consideration. This Exempted Fishing Permit would 
allow seven commercial fishing vessels and one party/charter vessel to 
collect black sea bass catch data while on routine fishing trips and 
retain a limited amount of black sea bass for laboratory analysis. 
Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act require publication of this notice to provide interested 
parties the opportunity to comment on applications for proposed 
Exempted Fishing Permits.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 2, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by any of the following 
methods:
     Email to: [email protected]. Include in the subject 
line ``BSB Research Fleet EFP.''
     Mail to: 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 
BSB Research Fleet EFP.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Reid Lichwell, Fisheries Management 
Specialist, 978-281-9112.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation 
(CFRF) and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RI DEM) 
submitted a complete application for an EFP on September 9, 2016, to 
develop a research fleet that would collect fishery-dependent 
information on black sea bass for eight months, November 2016 through 
July 2017. The EFP would authorize seven commercial fishing vessels and 
one party/charter vessel to collect data on black sea bass catch, and 
retain a limited amount of black sea bass for a laboratory study 
conducted by RI DEM. This EFP would exempt the participating vessels 
from the following Federal regulations:
    1. Recreational possession limits specified at 50 CFR 648.145;
    2. Commercial and party/charter minimum size limits for black sea 
bass specified at 50 CFR 648.147(a) and (b) respectively;
    The research fleet would be comprised of vessels fishing with 
different gear types including trawls, lobster pots, gillnets, and hook 
and line. All gear deployments would be typical of the routine fishing 
practices associated with the fishery being targeted. All vessels 
fishing under this research would have either a black sea bass 
moratorium or charter/party federal permit allowing them to legally 
land black sea bass. There will be no increase in fishing effort 
associated with this project.
    Each vessel would be randomly selected to conduct sampling events 
during three trips per month within Southern New England and the Mid-
Atlantic Bight. During each sampling event, up to 50 black sea bass 
would be temporarily held to record their length and sex. Some may be 
retained for shoreside analysis. Each vessel would be allowed to retain 
100 black sea bass per month, not to exceed a cumulative total of 6,400 
individual fish or 10,880 lb (4,935 kg) of black sea bass catch over 
the course of the project.
    All legal sized black sea bass retained for sampling by commercial 
vessels would be reported through a dealer as ``research'' landings and 
attributed to the state of Rhode Island's allocated commercial black 
sea bass quota. Undersize black sea bass retained for sampling would be 
weighed and recorded as bycatch on all appropriate fishing logs. The 
participating vessels would be able to sell their additional catch as 
they typically would under the permits they possess. Catch not retained 
for sale or sampling will be returned to the sea as soon as 
practicable. The participating vessels would be issued the appropriate 
state exemptions to all applicable state regulations. If the Federal 
commercial coastwide quota for black sea bass is reached and leads to a 
Federal black sea bass closure, then no retention of black sea bass 
would occur under this EFP until the fishery reopens.
    Vessels fishing under this research permit would be exempt from the 
commercial and party/charter minimum size limits for black sea bass, to 
allow for the retention of both adult and undersized juvenile black sea 
bass. The party/charter vessel would be exempt from the possession 
limits found at Sec.  648.145 to retain black sea bass for sampling 
above the designated possession limit; there are no federal commercial 
possession limits for black sea bass.
    If approved, CFRF and RI DEM may request minor modifications and 
extensions to the EFP throughout the study period. 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: October 13, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-25137 Filed 10-17-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

71710 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 201 / Tuesday, October 18, 2016 / Notices mitigation, monitoring and reporting of decisions, Congress created six Regional ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at such taking are set forth. Fisheries Science Centers, each a the Admiral Fell Inn, 888 S. Broadway, NMFS has defined ‘‘negligible distinct organizational entity and the Baltimore, MD 21231; telephone: (410) impact’’ in 50 CFR 216.103 as ‘‘an scientific focal point within NMFS for 522–7377. impact resulting from the specified region-based, Federal fisheries-related Council address: Mid-Atlantic Fishery activity that cannot be reasonably research. This research is aimed at Management Council, 800 N. State expected to, and is not reasonably likely monitoring fish stock recruitment, Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901; to, adversely affect the species or stock abundance, survival and biological telephone: (302) 674–2331 or on their through effects on annual rates of rates, geographic distribution of species Web site, at www.mafmc.org. recruitment or survival.’’ and stocks, ecosystem process changes, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Except with respect to certain and marine ecological research. The Christopher M. Moore, Ph.D., Executive activities not pertinent here, the MMPA AFSC is the research arm of NMFS in Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery defines ‘‘harassment’’ as: ‘‘any act of U.S. waters off of Alaska. Management Council, telephone: (302) pursuit, torment, or annoyance which (i) Research is aimed at monitoring fish 526–5255. has the potential to injure a marine stock recruitment, survival and mammal or marine mammal stock in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: biological rates, abundance and wild (Level A harassment); or (ii) has geographic distribution of species and Agenda the potential to disturb a marine stocks, and providing other scientific mammal or marine mammal stock in the The Mid-Atlantic Fishery information needed to improve our wild by causing disruption of behavioral Management Council’s Summer understanding of complex marine patterns, including, but not limited to, Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass ecological processes. The AFSC migration, breathing, nursing, breeding, Monitoring Committee will meet proposes to administer and conduct feeding, or sheltering (Level B November 9 and 10 to develop these survey programs over the five-year harassment).’’ recommendations for recreational period. management measures for the summer Summary of Request Information Solicited flounder, scup, and black sea bass On June 28, 2016, NMFS received an Interested persons may submit fisheries for the 2017 fishing year. The adequate and complete application from information, suggestions, and comments Committee may also discuss initial the AFSC requesting authorization for concerning the AFSC’s request (see analyses related to a possible scup take of marine mammals incidental to ADDRESSES). NMFS will consider all commercial seasons framework action. fisheries research conducted by the information, suggestions, and comments A detailed agenda and background AFSC. The requested regulations would related to the request during the documents will be made available on be valid for five years from the date of development of proposed regulations the Council’s Web site (www.mafmc.org) issuance. The AFSC plans to conduct governing the incidental taking of prior to the meeting. fisheries research surveys in multiple marine mammals by the AFSC, if Special Accommodations geographic regions, including the Gulf appropriate. of Alaska, Bering Sea, and Arctic Ocean. These meetings are physically Dated: October 13, 2016. accessible to people with disabilities. It is possible that marine mammals may Donna S. Wieting, interact with fishing gear (e.g., trawls Requests for sign language Director, Office of Protected Resources, interpretation or other auxiliary aid nets, longlines) used in AFSC’s fisheries National Marine Fisheries Service. research projects, resulting in injury, should be directed to M. Jan Saunders, [FR Doc. 2016–25191 Filed 10–17–16; 8:45 am] (302) 526–5251, at least 5 days prior to serious injury, or mortality. In addition, the AFSC operates active acoustic BILLING CODE 3510–22–P the meeting date. devices that have the potential to Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. disturb marine mammals. Because the DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Dated: October 12, 2016. specified activities have the potential to Tracey L. Thompson, take marine mammals present within National Oceanic and Atmospheric Acting Director, Office of Sustainable these action areas, the AFSC requests Administration Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. authorization to take multiple species of [FR Doc. 2016–25090 Filed 10–17–16; 8:45 am] RIN 0648–XE960 marine mammal that may occur in these BILLING CODE 3510–22–P areas. Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Specified Activities Council (MAFMC); Meeting The Federal Government has a DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries responsibility to conserve and protect Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and National Oceanic and Atmospheric living marine resources in U.S. federal Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Administration waters and has also entered into a Commerce. number of international agreements and ACTION: Notice of a public meeting. RIN 0648–XE911 treaties related to the management of living marine resources in international SUMMARY: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; waters outside the United States. NOAA Management Council’s (MAFMC’s) General Provisions for Domestic has the primary responsibility for Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Fisheries; Application for Exempted Bass Monitoring Committee will hold a Fishing Permits Lhorne on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES managing marine fin and shellfish species and their habitats, with that public meeting. AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries responsibility delegated within NOAA DATES: The meeting will begin at 1 p.m. Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and to NMFS. on Wednesday, November 9, 2016, and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), In order to direct and coordinate the end at 3 p.m. on Thursday, November Commerce. collection of scientific information 10, 2016, to view the agenda see ACTION: Notice; request for comments. needed to make informed management SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. VerDate Sep<11>2014 13:19 Oct 17, 2016 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\18OCN1.SGM 18OCN1

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 201 / Tuesday, October 18, 2016 / Notices 71711 SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional different gear types including trawls, proposed research and have minimal Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, lobster pots, gillnets, and hook and line. impacts that do not change the scope or Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has All gear deployments would be typical impact of the initially approved EFP made a preliminary determination that of the routine fishing practices request. Any fishing activity conducted an Exempted Fishing Permit application associated with the fishery being outside the scope of the exempted from the Commercial Fisheries Research targeted. All vessels fishing under this fishing activity would be prohibited. Foundation and Rhode Island research would have either a black sea Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Department of Environmental bass moratorium or charter/party federal Dated: October 13, 2016. Management contains all of the required permit allowing them to legally land information and warrants further black sea bass. There will be no increase Emily H. Menashes, consideration. This Exempted Fishing in fishing effort associated with this Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Permit would allow seven commercial project. Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. fishing vessels and one party/charter Each vessel would be randomly [FR Doc. 2016–25137 Filed 10–17–16; 8:45 am] vessel to collect black sea bass catch selected to conduct sampling events BILLING CODE 3510–22–P data while on routine fishing trips and during three trips per month within retain a limited amount of black sea bass Southern New England and the Mid- for laboratory analysis. Regulations Atlantic Bight. During each sampling DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery event, up to 50 black sea bass would be Conservation and Management Act temporarily held to record their length Defense Acquisition Regulations require publication of this notice to and sex. Some may be retained for System provide interested parties the shoreside analysis. Each vessel would [OMB Control Number 0704–0225; Docket opportunity to comment on applications be allowed to retain 100 black sea bass Number DARS–2016–0041] for proposed Exempted Fishing Permits. per month, not to exceed a cumulative DATES: Comments must be received on total of 6,400 individual fish or 10,880 Information Collection Requirement; or before November 2, 2016. lb (4,935 kg) of black sea bass catch over Defense Federal Acquisition the course of the project. Regulation Supplement (DFARS); ADDRESSES: You may submit written All legal sized black sea bass retained Administrative Matters comments by any of the following for sampling by commercial vessels methods: would be reported through a dealer as AGENCY: Defense Acquisition • Email to: nmfs.gar.efp@noaa.gov. Regulations System, Department of ‘‘research’’ landings and attributed to Include in the subject line ‘‘BSB Defense (DoD). the state of Rhode Island’s allocated Research Fleet EFP.’’ ACTION: Notice and request for commercial black sea bass quota. • Mail to: John K. Bullard, Regional comments regarding a proposed revision Undersize black sea bass retained for Administrator, NMFS, Greater Atlantic of an approved information collection sampling would be weighed and Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great requirement. recorded as bycatch on all appropriate Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. fishing logs. The participating vessels SUMMARY: In compliance with section Mark the outside of the envelope would be able to sell their additional 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork ‘‘Comments on BSB Research Fleet catch as they typically would under the Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. EFP.’’ permits they possess. Catch not retained chapter 35), DoD announces the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Reid for sale or sampling will be returned to proposed revision of a public Lichwell, Fisheries Management the sea as soon as practicable. The information collection requirement and Specialist, 978–281–9112. participating vessels would be issued seeks public comment on the provisions SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The the appropriate state exemptions to all thereof. DoD invites comments on: (a) Commercial Fisheries Research applicable state regulations. If the Whether the proposed collection of Foundation (CFRF) and Rhode Island Federal commercial coastwide quota for information is necessary for the proper Department of Environmental black sea bass is reached and leads to a performance of the functions of DoD, Management (RI DEM) submitted a Federal black sea bass closure, then no including whether the information will complete application for an EFP on retention of black sea bass would occur have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of September 9, 2016, to develop a under this EFP until the fishery reopens. the estimate of the burden of the research fleet that would collect fishery- Vessels fishing under this research proposed information collection; (c) dependent information on black sea permit would be exempt from the ways to enhance the quality, utility, and bass for eight months, November 2016 commercial and party/charter minimum clarity of the information to be through July 2017. The EFP would size limits for black sea bass, to allow collected; and (d) ways to minimize the authorize seven commercial fishing for the retention of both adult and burden of the information collection on vessels and one party/charter vessel to undersized juvenile black sea bass. The respondents, including the use of collect data on black sea bass catch, and party/charter vessel would be exempt automated collection techniques or retain a limited amount of black sea bass from the possession limits found at other forms of information technology. for a laboratory study conducted by RI § 648.145 to retain black sea bass for The Office of Management and Budget DEM. This EFP would exempt the sampling above the designated (OMB) has approved this information participating vessels from the following possession limit; there are no federal collection for use through March 31, Federal regulations: commercial possession limits for black 2017. DoD proposes that OMB extend its 1. Recreational possession limits sea bass. approval for use for three additional Lhorne on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES specified at 50 CFR 648.145; If approved, CFRF and RI DEM may request minor modifications and years beyond the current expiration 2. Commercial and party/charter extensions to the EFP throughout the date. minimum size limits for black sea bass specified at 50 CFR 648.147(a) and (b) study period. EFP modifications and DATES: DoD will consider all comments respectively; extensions may be granted without received by December 19, 2016. The research fleet would be further notice if they are deemed ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, comprised of vessels fishing with essential to facilitate completion of the identified by OMB Control Number VerDate Sep<11>2014 13:19 Oct 17, 2016 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\18OCN1.SGM 18OCN1


Document Created: 2016-10-17 23:52:39
Document Modified: 2016-10-17 23:52:39
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice; request for comments.
DatesComments must be received on or before November 2, 2016.
ContactReid Lichwell, Fisheries Management Specialist, 978-281-9112.
FR Citation81 FR 71710 
RIN Number0648-XE91
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