81 FR 83205 - New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 224 (November 21, 2016)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 224 (November 21, 2016)
| Page Range | 83205-83206 | |
| FR Document | 2016-27974 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 224 (Monday, November 21, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 83205-83206] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-27974] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648-XF050 New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; public meeting. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council), Atlantic Herring Committee, Atlantic Herring Advisory Panel and Atlantic Herring Plan Development Team is scheduling a public workshop on the Atlantic Herring Acceptable Biological Catch Control Rule Management Strategy Evaluation to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from this group will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate. DATES: This workshop will be held on Wednesday, December 7, 2016 at 9 a.m. and Thursday, December 8, 2016 at 8:30 a.m. ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held at the Sheraton Harborside Hotel, 250 Market Street, Portsmouth, ME 03801; phone: (888) 627-7138; fax: (603) 431-7805. Council address: New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council; telephone: (978) 465-0492. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Introduction The New England Fishery Management Council is currently developing Amendment 8 to the Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan. Through Amendment 8, the Council expects to establish a long-term control rule for the acceptable biological catch (ABC) of Atlantic herring that may explicitly account for herring's role in the ecosystem and address the biological and ecological requirements of the Atlantic herring resource. A control rule is a method for establishing an annual catch limit or target fishing level based on scientific information. A long- term control rule is needed to provide guidance on setting an annual ABC to account for scientific uncertainty, stock status, and the Council's risk tolerance to maintain a sustainable Atlantic herring stock that includes consideration of herring as a forage species. In January 2016, the Council approved conducting a Management Strategy Evaluation (MSE) to support the development of alternatives for an ABC control rule. MSE is a collaborative decision-making process involving more public input and technical analysis than the normal amendment development process. The MSE will help determine how a range of control rules may perform relative to potential objectives. The Council held an initial public workshop in May 2016 to develop recommendations for a range of potential objectives of the ABC control rule, how progress towards these objectives may be measured, and the control rules to test. In June 2016, after reviewing the workshop recommendations and additional input from the Herring Plan Development Team, Advisory Panel, and Committee, the Council approved moving forward with the MSE. Technical work has been underway ever since. Workshop Purpose The purpose of this workshop is to provide continued opportunities for public input on the Management Strategy Evaluation of Atlantic herring ABC control rules. Workshop Goals The Council is holding this workshop to: Develop a common understanding of the outcomes of the MSE technical simulations, which tested the performance of a range of ABC control rules relative to potential objectives, identified at the May 2016 public workshop and approved by the Council in June. The workshop also aims to get input from stakeholders on: Identifying acceptable ranges of performance for various metrics, so that tradeoffs in achieving objectives may be identified; narrowing the range of Atlantic herring ABC control rule alternatives to consider in more detail; and what, if any, additional (minor) MSE simulation work would be helpful for establishing a long- term ABC control rule. Finally, the workshop will provide a chance for stakeholders of the Atlantic herring fishery to have greater input than typically possible at Council meetings, through constructive and open dialogue among resource users, scientists, fishery managers, and members of the public. Special Accommodations This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to [[Page 83206]] Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, at (978) 465-0492, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: November 16, 2016. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2016-27974 Filed 11-18-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 224 / Monday, November 21, 2016 / Notices 83205
24, 2011 (76 FR 68719, November 7, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE sustainable Atlantic herring stock that
2011) authorized Dr. Stewart to includes consideration of herring as a
continue a long term study on National Oceanic and Atmospheric forage species.
pinnipeds in California. California sea Administration In January 2016, the Council
lions (Zalophus californianus), northern approved conducting a Management
RIN 0648–XF050
elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris), Strategy Evaluation (MSE) to support
and harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) may be New England Fishery Management the development of alternatives for an
captured and sampled at several sites: Council; Public Meeting ABC control rule. MSE is a collaborative
San Nicolas Island, San Miguel Island, decision-making process involving more
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries public input and technical analysis than
Santa Rosa Island, Santa Cruz Island, Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and the normal amendment development
Piedras Blancas, Cape San Martin, and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), process. The MSE will help determine
Gorda. The minor amendment (No. Commerce. how a range of control rules may
16553–01) extends the duration of the ACTION: Notice; public meeting. perform relative to potential objectives.
permit through October 31, 2017, but The Council held an initial public
does not change any other terms or SUMMARY: The New England Fishery workshop in May 2016 to develop
conditions of the permit. Management Council (Council), Atlantic recommendations for a range of
Herring Committee, Atlantic Herring potential objectives of the ABC control
Permit No. 20532: The requested
Advisory Panel and Atlantic Herring rule, how progress towards these
permit (81 FR 59190, August 29, 2016) Plan Development Team is scheduling a
authorizes receipt, import, and export of objectives may be measured, and the
public workshop on the Atlantic control rules to test. In June 2016, after
biological samples from museum Herring Acceptable Biological Catch reviewing the workshop
holdings and stranded animals Control Rule Management Strategy recommendations and additional input
worldwide for scientific research to Evaluation to consider actions affecting from the Herring Plan Development
chronologically profile anthropogenic New England fisheries in the exclusive Team, Advisory Panel, and Committee,
and physiological data including economic zone (EEZ). the Council approved moving forward
hormones and pesticides to record Recommendations from this group will with the MSE. Technical work has been
exposure and stress. Samples will be be brought to the full Council for formal underway ever since.
from blue (Balaenoptera musculus), consideration and action, if appropriate.
gray (Eschrichtius robustus), fin (B. Workshop Purpose
DATES: This workshop will be held on
physalus), minke (B. acutorostrata), Wednesday, December 7, 2016 at 9 a.m. The purpose of this workshop is to
bowhead (Balaena mysticetus), and Thursday, December 8, 2016 at 8:30 provide continued opportunities for
humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae), a.m. public input on the Management
and sperm whales (Physeter ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held
Strategy Evaluation of Atlantic herring
macrocephalus). Samples may also be at the Sheraton Harborside Hotel, 250 ABC control rules.
obtained from subsistence hunted Market Street, Portsmouth, ME 03801; Workshop Goals
bowhead whales in Alaska. The permit phone: (888) 627–7138; fax: (603) 431– The Council is holding this workshop
is valid through November 1, 2021. 7805. to: Develop a common understanding of
Council address: New England the outcomes of the MSE technical
In compliance with the National
Fishery Management Council, 50 Water simulations, which tested the
Environmental Policy Act of 1969
Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950. performance of a range of ABC control
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a final
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: rules relative to potential objectives,
determination has been made that the
activities proposed are categorically Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, identified at the May 2016 public
New England Fishery Management workshop and approved by the Council
excluded from the requirement to
Council; telephone: (978) 465–0492. in June. The workshop also aims to get
prepare an environmental assessment or
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: input from stakeholders on: Identifying
environmental impact statement.
Introduction acceptable ranges of performance for
As required by the ESA, as applicable, various metrics, so that tradeoffs in
issuance of these permits was based on The New England Fishery achieving objectives may be identified;
a finding that such permits: (1) Were Management Council is currently narrowing the range of Atlantic herring
applied for in good faith; (2) will not developing Amendment 8 to the ABC control rule alternatives to
operate to the disadvantage of such Atlantic Herring Fishery Management consider in more detail; and what, if
endangered species; and (3) are Plan. Through Amendment 8, the any, additional (minor) MSE simulation
consistent with the purposes and Council expects to establish a long-term work would be helpful for establishing
policies set forth in section 2 of the control rule for the acceptable biological a long-term ABC control rule. Finally,
ESA. catch (ABC) of Atlantic herring that may the workshop will provide a chance for
explicitly account for herring’s role in stakeholders of the Atlantic herring
Dated: November 15, 2016.
the ecosystem and address the fishery to have greater input than
Julia Harrison, biological and ecological requirements typically possible at Council meetings,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, of the Atlantic herring resource. A
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
through constructive and open dialogue
Office of Protected Resources, National control rule is a method for establishing among resource users, scientists, fishery
Marine Fisheries Service. an annual catch limit or target fishing managers, and members of the public.
[FR Doc. 2016–27860 Filed 11–18–16; 8:45 am] level based on scientific information. A
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P long-term control rule is needed to Special Accommodations
provide guidance on setting an annual This meeting is physically accessible
ABC to account for scientific to people with disabilities. Requests for
uncertainty, stock status, and the sign language interpretation or other
Council’s risk tolerance to maintain a auxiliary aids should be directed to
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![83206 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 224 / Monday, November 21, 2016 / Notices
Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, at 8503 (phone), or fax a request to (301) fishery permit. Generally, the shark
(978) 465–0492, at least 5 days prior to 713–1917. Copies of the Shark Research research fishery permits are valid only
the meeting date. Fishery Application are also available at for the calendar year for which they are
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. the HMS Web site at http:// issued.
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/ The specific 2017 trip limits and
Dated: November 16, 2016. compliance/efp/index.html. number of trips per month will depend
Tracey L. Thompson, Additionally, please be advised that on the availability of funding, number of
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable your application may be released under selected vessels, the availability of
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. the Freedom of Information Act. observers, the available quota, and the
[FR Doc. 2016–27974 Filed 11–18–16; 8:45 am] FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: objectives of the research fishery, and
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Karyl Brewster-Geisz, Guý DuBeck, will be included in the permit terms at
Larry Redd, at (301) 427–8503 (phone) time of issuance. The number of
or (301) 713–1917 (fax), or Delisse Ortiz participants in the research fishery
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE at 240–681–9037 (phone). changes each year. In 2016, five
fishermen were chosen to participate.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
From 2008 through 2016, there has been
Administration Atlantic shark fisheries are managed
an average of seven participants each
under the authority of the Magnuson-
RIN 0648–XE931 year with the range from five to eleven.
Stevens Fishery Conservation and The trip limits and the number of trips
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens taken per month have changed each
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species;
Act). The Consolidated HMS Fishery year the research fishery has been
Atlantic Shark Management Measures;
Management Plan (FMP) is active. Participants may also be limited
2017 Research Fishery
implemented by regulations at 50 CFR on the amount of gear they can deploy
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries part 635. on a given set (e.g., number of hooks
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and The shark research fishery was and sets, soak times, length of longline).
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), established, in part, to maintain time In the 2016 fishing season, NMFS
Commerce. series data for stock assessments and to split the sandbar and LCS research
ACTION: Notice of intent; request for meet NMFS’ research objectives. Since fishery quotas equally among selected
applications. the shark research fishery was participants, with each vessel allocated
established in 2008, the research fishery 14.5 mt dw of sandbar shark research
SUMMARY: NMFS announces its request has allowed for: The collection of fishery quota and 8.0 mt dw of other
for applications for the 2017 shark fishery-dependent data for current and LCS research fishery quota. NMFS also
research fishery from commercial shark future stock assessments; the operation established a regional dusky bycatch
fishermen with directed or incidental of cooperative research to meet NMFS’ limit where once three or more dusky
shark limited access permits. The shark ongoing research objectives; the sharks were brought to the vessel dead
research fishery allows for the collection collection of updated life-history in any of five regions across the Gulf of
of fishery-dependent and biological data information used in the sandbar shark Mexico and Atlantic through the entire
for future stock assessments and to meet (and other species) stock assessment; year, any shark research fishery permit
the research objectives of the Agency. the collection of data on habitat holder in that region was not able to
The only commercial vessels authorized preferences that might help reduce soak their gear for longer than 3 hours.
to land sandbar sharks are those fishery interactions through bycatch If, after the change in soak time, there
participating in the shark research mitigation; evaluation of the utility of were three or more additional dusky
fishery. Shark research fishery the mid-Atlantic closed area on the shark interactions (alive or dead)
permittees may also land other large recovery of dusky sharks and collection observed, shark research fishery permit
coastal sharks (LCS), small coastal of hook-timer and pop-up satellite holders were not able to make a trip in
sharks (SCS), smoothhound sharks, and archival tag (PSAT) information to that region for the remainder of the year,
pelagic sharks. Commercial shark determine at-vessel and post-release unless otherwise permitted by NMFS.
fishermen who are interested in mortality of dusky sharks; and There were slightly different measures
participating in the shark research collection of sharks to determine the established for shark research fishery
fishery need to submit a completed weight conversion factor from dressed participants in the mid-Atlantic shark
Shark Research Fishery Permit weight to whole weight. closed area in order to allow NMFS
Application in order to be considered. The shark research fishery allows observers to place satellite archival tags
DATES: Shark Research Fishery selected commercial fishermen the on dusky sharks and collect other
Applications must be received no later opportunity to earn revenue from selling scientific information on dusky sharks
December 21, 2016. additional sharks, including sandbar while also minimizing any dusky shark
ADDRESSES: Please submit completed sharks. Only the commercial shark mortality.
applications to the HMS Management fishermen selected to participate in the Participants were also required to
Division at: shark research fishery are authorized to keep any dead sharks, unless they were
• Mail: Attn: Guý DuBeck, HMS land sandbar sharks subject to the a prohibited species, in which case they
Management Division (F/SF1), NMFS, sandbar quota available each year. The were required to release them. If the
base quota is 90.7 metric tons (mt) regional non-blacknose SCS, blacknose,
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring,
MD 20910. dressed weight (dw) per year, although smoothhound and/or pelagic shark
• Fax: (301) 713–1917. this number may be reduced in the management group quotas were closed,
• Email: NMFS.Research.Fishery@ event of overharvests, if any. The then the shark research fishery permit
noaa.gov. selected shark research fishery holder fishing in the closed region had
For copies of the Shark Research permittees will also be allowed to land to discard all of the species from the
Fishery Permit Application, please write other LCS, SCS, smoothhound sharks, closed management groups regardless of
to the HMS Management Division at the and pelagic sharks per any restrictions condition. Any sharks, except
address listed above, call (301) 427– established on their shark research prohibited species or closed
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Document Created: 2018-02-14 08:33:42
Document Modified: 2018-02-14 08:33:42
| 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; public meeting. | |
| Dates | This workshop will be held on Wednesday, December 7, 2016 at 9 a.m. and Thursday, December 8, 2016 at 8:30 a.m. | |
| Contact | Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council; telephone: (978) 465-0492. | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 83205 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XF05 |
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