82 FR 21367 - 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 82, Issue 87 (May 8, 2017)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 87 (May 8, 2017)
| Page Range | 21367-21368 | |
| FR Document | 2017-09280 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 87 (Monday, May 8, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 21367-21368] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-09280] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648-XF384 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. This Exempted Fishing Permit would allow four commercial fishing vessels, directed by Coonamessett Farm Foundation, to be exempt from Atlantic sea scallop regulations for the purpose of bycatch reduction research. 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 May 23, 2017. [[Page 21368]] ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by any of the following methods:Email: [email protected]. Include in the subject line ``Comments on CFF Extended Link Apron EFP.'' Mail: John K. Bullard, Regional Administrator, NMFS, NE Regional Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope ``Comments on CFF Extended Link Apron EFP.'' FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alyson Pitts, Fishery Management Specialist, 978-281-9352, [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Coonamessett Farm Foundation (CFF) submitted a complete application for an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) on March 30, 2017, to conduct commercial fishing activities that the regulations would otherwise restrict. The EFP would authorize four vessels to test the efficacy of an extended link scallop dredge apron at reducing the capture of yellowtail and windowpane flounder and small scallops over the duration of four directed research cruises. The EFP would support research associated with a project titled ``Development of an Extended Link Apron: A Broad Range Tool for Bycatch Reduction,'' that has been funded under the 2017 Atlantic Sea Scallop Research Set-Aside (RSA) Program. CFF is requesting exemptions that would exempt four commercial fishing vessels from the following regulations: Atlantic sea scallop days-at-sea (DAS) allocations at 50 CFR 648.53(b) Crew size restrictions at Sec. 648.51(c) Atlantic sea scallop observer program requirements at Sec. 648.11(g) Access area program requirements at Sec. 648.59(a)(1)-(3), (b)(2), (b)(4) Rotational closed area exemptions for Closed Area I Access Area at Sec. 648.60(c), Closed Area II Access Area at Sec. 648.60(d), Closed Area II Extension Scallop Rotational Area at Sec. 648.60(e) and Nantucket Lightship Scallop Rotational Area at Sec. 648.60(f) Possession limits and minimum size requirements specified in 50 CFR part 648, subsections B and D through O, to allow temporary possession for biological sampling. Any fishing activity conducted outside the scope of the exempted fishing activity would be prohibited. Four vessels would conduct scallop dredging in July 1, 2017-January 31, 2018, on a total of four 7-day trips, for a total of 28 DAS. Each trip would complete approximately 15 tows per DAS for an overall total of 420 tows for the project. In addition to open areas, tows could occur in Closed Area I and II Scallop Access Areas, Closed Area II Extension Scallop Rotational Area, and Nantucket Lightship Scallop Rotational Area. Trips would be centralized around areas with high yellowtail and winter flounder bycatch and in areas with a mixed abundance of harvestable size and pre-recruit scallops. The four trips would fish two 15-foot (4.57-m) Turtle Deflector Dredges, towed for a maximum duration of 30 minutes with a tow speed of 4.8-5.1 knots. One dredge would be rigged with a standard linked bag while the other would be rigged with a uni-directional extended link apron. Standard linking is defined as a single link between ring spaces, and the extended link is defined as two links linked together between rings. Both dredges would use 4-inch (10.16-cm) rings and a 10- inch (25.40-cm) twine top. For all tows, the sea scallop catch would be counted into baskets and weighed. One basket from each dredge would be randomly selected and the scallops would be measured in 5-mm increments to determine size selectivity. Finfish catch would be sorted by species and then counted, weighed, and measured in 1-mm increments. Depending on the volume of scallops and finfish captured, the catch would be subsampled as necessary. No catch would be retained for longer than needed to conduct sampling and no finfish or scallop catch would be landed for sale. Table 1, below contains an estimate of the finfish catch anticipated for the project. Table 1--CFF Extended Link Apron Project Catch Estimates ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Scientific name Number Weight (lbs) Weight (kg) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NE Skate Complex (excluding barndoor Rajidae Species......... 56,250 100,000 45,359 skate). Barndoor Skate........................ Dipturus laevis......... 375 500 226 Summer Flounder....................... Paralichthys dentatus... 75 150 68 Winter Flounder....................... Pseudopleuronectes 225 500 226 americanus. Yellowtail Flounder................... Limanda ferruginea...... 1,500 1,500 680 Windowpane Flounder................... Scopthalmus aquosus..... 1,500 1,500 680 Monkfish.............................. Lophius americanus...... 1,750 3,500 1,587 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CFF needs these exemptions to allow them to conduct experimental dredge towing without being charged DAS, and to deploy gear in closed access areas where concentrations of primary bycatch species are sufficiently high to provide statistically robust results. Participating vessels need crew size waivers to accommodate science personnel, and possession waivers will enable researchers to conduct finfish sampling activities. The project would be exempt from the sea scallop observer program requirements because activities conducted on the trip are not consistent with normal fishing operations. 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: May 3, 2017. Karen H. Abrams, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2017-09280 Filed 5-5-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 87 / Monday, May 8, 2017 / Notices 21367
ACTION: Notice of public meeting. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Although other non-emergency issues
not on the agenda may come before the
SUMMARY: The Pacific Fishery National Oceanic and Atmospheric Scientific and Statistical Committee for
Management Council (Pacific Council) Administration discussion, in accordance with the
will convene a meeting of its Economics Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
and Groundfish Subcommittees of the RIN 0648–XF387
Conservation and Management Act,
Scientific and Statistical Committee those issues may not be the subject of
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management
(SSC). The meeting is open to the formal action during this meeting.
Council; Public Meeting
public. Actions of the Scientific and Statistical
DATES: The meeting will be held AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Committee will be restricted to those
Wednesday, May 24, 2017 and Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and issues specifically identified in the
Thursday, May 25, 2017, from 8:30 a.m. Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), agenda and any issues arising after
to 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time or until Commerce. publication of this notice that require
business is completed on each day. ACTION: Notice of a public meeting via emergency action under Section 305(c)
ADDRESSES: Watertown Hotel, webinar. of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Wallingford Room, 4242 Roosevelt Way SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Conservation and Management Act,
NE., Seattle, WA 98105, telephone: 1– Management Council will hold a half provided the public has been notified of
855–580–8614. day meeting of its Standing and Reef the Council’s intent to take action to
Council address: Pacific Fishery Fish Scientific and Statistical address the emergency.
Management Council, 7700 NE Committees (SSC). Dated: May 3, 2017.
Ambassador Place, Suite 101, Portland,
DATES: The meeting will convene on Tracey L. Thompson,
OR 97220.
Wednesday, May 10, 2017, 1 p.m.–4 Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John
p.m., EDT. Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
DeVore, Staff Officer; telephone: (503)
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held [FR Doc. 2017–09215 Filed 5–5–17; 8:45 am]
820–2413.
via webinar. BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Council address: Gulf of Mexico
primary purpose of the meeting is to Fishery Management Council, 2203 N.
review draft analyses informing the Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Pacific Council’s five-year review of the 33607; telephone: (813) 348–1630.
U.S. West Coast Trawl Catch Share National Oceanic and Atmospheric
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Program. The SSC Economics and Administration
Steven Atran, Senior Fishery Biologist,
Groundfish subcommittees will conduct
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management
a review of the draft review document.
Council; steven.atran@gulfcouncil.org; RIN 0648–XF384
The Pacific Council and its advisors will
telephone: (813) 348–1630.
receive the report and recommendations Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions;
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
of the SSC Economics and Groundfish General Provisions for Domestic
subcommittees on the five-year review Wednesday, May 10, 2017; 1 p.m.–4 Fisheries; Application for Exempted
of the U.S. West Coast Trawl Catch p.m. Fishing Permits
Share Program at its June 7–14, 2017 1. Introductions and Adoption of
meeting in Spokane, WA. Agenda AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
Although other non-emergency issues 2. Vermilion Snapper OFL and ABC Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
not contained in this agenda may come Projections Under a 26% SPR MSY Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
before this Council for discussion, those Proxy Commerce.
issues may not be the subjects of formal 3. Review of Draft Underharvest Carry-
action during this meeting. Council ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
over Options
action will be restricted to those issues 4. Status Determination Criteria Options
specifically listed in this notice and any SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional
Paper Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries,
issues arising after publication of this 5. Other Business
notice that require emergency action Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has
Meeting Adjourns— made a preliminary determination that
under section 305(c) of the Magnuson- You may register for the SSC Meeting:
Stevens Act, provided that the public an Exempted Fishing Permit application
Standing and Reef Fish on or before contains all of the required information
has been notified of the Council’s intent May 10, 2017 at: https://
to take final action to address the and warrants further consideration. This
attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/ Exempted Fishing Permit would allow
emergency. 6351571192497709313. four commercial fishing vessels,
Special Accommodations The Agenda is subject to change. The directed by Coonamessett Farm
latest version along with other meeting Foundation, to be exempt from Atlantic
This meeting is physically accessible
materials will be posted on the sea scallop regulations for the purpose
to people with disabilities. Requests for
Council’s file server. To access the file of bycatch reduction research.
sign language interpretation or other
server, the URL is https://
auxiliary aids should be directed to Mr. Regulations under the Magnuson-
public.gulfcouncil.org:5001/webman/
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Kris Kleinschmidt (503) 820–2280 at Stevens Fishery Conservation and
index.cgi, or go to the Council’s Web
least 10 days prior to the meeting date. Management Act require publication of
site and click on the FTP link in the
Dated: May 3, 2017. lower left of the Council Web site this notification to provide interested
Tracey L. Thompson, (http://www.gulfcouncil.org). The parties the opportunity to comment on
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable username and password are both applications for proposed Exempted
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. ‘‘gulfguest’’. Click on the ‘‘Library Fishing Permits.
[FR Doc. 2017–09227 Filed 5–5–17; 8:45 am] Folder’’, then scroll down to ‘‘SSC DATES: Comments must be received on
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P meeting–2017–05’’. or before May 23, 2017.
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![21368 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 87 / Monday, May 8, 2017 / Notices
ADDRESSES: You may submit written CFF is requesting exemptions that areas with high yellowtail and winter
comments by any of the following would exempt four commercial fishing flounder bycatch and in areas with a
methods: vessels from the following regulations: mixed abundance of harvestable size
• Email: NMFS.GAR.EFP@noaa.gov. • Atlantic sea scallop days-at-sea (DAS) and pre-recruit scallops.
Include in the subject line ‘‘Comments allocations at 50 CFR 648.53(b) The four trips would fish two 15-foot
on CFF Extended Link Apron EFP.’’ • Crew size restrictions at § 648.51(c) (4.57-m) Turtle Deflector Dredges,
• Mail: John K. Bullard, Regional • Atlantic sea scallop observer program towed for a maximum duration of 30
Administrator, NMFS, NE Regional requirements at § 648.11(g) minutes with a tow speed of 4.8–5.1
Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, • Access area program requirements at
knots. One dredge would be rigged with
Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside § 648.59(a)(1)–(3), (b)(2), (b)(4)
• Rotational closed area exemptions for a standard linked bag while the other
of the envelope ‘‘Comments on CFF would be rigged with a uni-directional
Extended Link Apron EFP.’’ Closed Area I Access Area at
§ 648.60(c), Closed Area II Access extended link apron. Standard linking is
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Area at § 648.60(d), Closed Area II defined as a single link between ring
Alyson Pitts, Fishery Management Extension Scallop Rotational Area at spaces, and the extended link is defined
Specialist, 978–281–9352, alyson.pitts@ § 648.60(e) and Nantucket Lightship as two links linked together between
noaa.gov. Scallop Rotational Area at § 648.60(f) rings. Both dredges would use 4-inch
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: • Possession limits and minimum size (10.16-cm) rings and a 10-inch (25.40-
Coonamessett Farm Foundation (CFF) requirements specified in 50 CFR part cm) twine top.
submitted a complete application for an 648, subsections B and D through O, For all tows, the sea scallop catch
Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) on to allow temporary possession for would be counted into baskets and
March 30, 2017, to conduct commercial biological sampling. Any fishing weighed. One basket from each dredge
fishing activities that the regulations activity conducted outside the scope would be randomly selected and the
would otherwise restrict. The EFP of the exempted fishing activity scallops would be measured in 5-mm
would authorize four vessels to test the would be prohibited. increments to determine size selectivity.
efficacy of an extended link scallop Four vessels would conduct scallop Finfish catch would be sorted by species
dredge apron at reducing the capture of dredging in July 1, 2017–January 31, and then counted, weighed, and
yellowtail and windowpane flounder 2018, on a total of four 7-day trips, for measured in 1-mm increments.
and small scallops over the duration of a total of 28 DAS. Each trip would Depending on the volume of scallops
four directed research cruises. The EFP complete approximately 15 tows per and finfish captured, the catch would be
would support research associated with DAS for an overall total of 420 tows for subsampled as necessary. No catch
a project titled ‘‘Development of an the project. In addition to open areas, would be retained for longer than
Extended Link Apron: A Broad Range tows could occur in Closed Area I and needed to conduct sampling and no
Tool for Bycatch Reduction,’’ that has II Scallop Access Areas, Closed Area II finfish or scallop catch would be landed
been funded under the 2017 Atlantic Extension Scallop Rotational Area, and for sale. Table 1, below contains an
Sea Scallop Research Set-Aside (RSA) Nantucket Lightship Scallop Rotational estimate of the finfish catch anticipated
Program. Area. Trips would be centralized around for the project.
TABLE 1—CFF EXTENDED LINK APRON PROJECT CATCH ESTIMATES
Weight Weight
Species Scientific name Number (lbs) (kg)
NE Skate Complex (excluding barndoor skate) .............. Rajidae Species .............................................................. 56,250 100,000 45,359
Barndoor Skate ................................................................ Dipturus laevis ................................................................ 375 500 226
Summer Flounder ............................................................ Paralichthys dentatus ..................................................... 75 150 68
Winter Flounder ............................................................... Pseudopleuronectes americanus ................................... 225 500 226
Yellowtail Flounder .......................................................... Limanda ferruginea ......................................................... 1,500 1,500 680
Windowpane Flounder ..................................................... Scopthalmus aquosus .................................................... 1,500 1,500 680
Monkfish ........................................................................... Lophius americanus ........................................................ 1,750 3,500 1,587
CFF needs these exemptions to allow year. EFP modifications and extensions DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
them to conduct experimental dredge may be granted without further notice if
towing without being charged DAS, and they are deemed essential to facilitate National Oceanic and Atmospheric
to deploy gear in closed access areas completion of the proposed research Administration
where concentrations of primary and have minimal impacts that do not
bycatch species are sufficiently high to RIN 0648–XF359
change the scope or impact of the
provide statistically robust results. initially approved EFP request. Any Fisheries of the South Atlantic;
Participating vessels need crew size fishing activity conducted outside the Southeast Data, Assessment, and
waivers to accommodate science scope of the exempted fishing activity Review (SEDAR); Public Meeting
personnel, and possession waivers will would be prohibited.
enable researchers to conduct finfish National Marine Fisheries
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
AGENCY:
sampling activities. The project would Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
be exempt from the sea scallop observer Dated: May 3, 2017. Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
program requirements because activities Karen H. Abrams, Commerce.
conducted on the trip are not consistent ACTION: Notice of SEDAR 50 Assessment
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
with normal fishing operations. Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. Workshop for Atlantic blueline tilefish.
If approved, the applicant may
[FR Doc. 2017–09280 Filed 5–5–17; 8:45 am]
request minor modifications and SUMMARY: The SEDAR 50 assessment of
extensions to the EFP throughout the BILLING CODE 3510–22–P the Atlantic stock of blueline tilefish
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Document Created: 2017-05-06 02:21:32
Document Modified: 2017-05-06 02:21:32
| 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 May 23, 2017. | |
| Contact | Alyson Pitts, Fishery Management Specialist, 978-281-9352, [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 21367 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XF38 |
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