82 FR 22515 - 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 93 (May 16, 2017)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 93 (May 16, 2017)
| Page Range | 22515-22516 | |
| FR Document | 2017-09879 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 93 (Tuesday, May 16, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 22515-22516] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-09879] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648-XF415 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 these Exempted Fishing Permit applications contain all of the required information and warrant further consideration. These Exempted Fishing Permits would authorize three commercial fishing vessels to conduct independent projects testing the economic viability of using hook gear to selectively target healthy pollock and haddock stocks in the Western Gulf of Maine and Cashes Ledge Closure Areas (excluding Cashes Ledge Habitat Closed Area), and to temporarily retain undersized catch for measurement and data collection. 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 31, 2017. ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by any of the following methods:Email: [email protected]. Include in the subject line ``Comments on Hook Gear Access to WGOM and Cashes Ledge Closure Areas 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 Hook Gear in WGOM and Cashes Ledge EFP.'' FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Claire Fitz-Gerald, Fishery Management Specialist, 978-281-9255, [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Three commercial fishermen submitted separate and complete applications requesting an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) to conduct commercial fishing activities that the regulations would otherwise restrict. In total, these EFPs would authorize three commercial fishing vessels to fish a combined total of 200 trips in the Western Gulf of Maine (WGOM) and Cashes Ledge Closure Areas (excluding the Cashes Ledge Habitat Closed Area) with hook gear and to temporarily retain undersized catch for measurement and data collection. This EFP would authorize the applicants to use hook gear to selectively target pollock and haddock while maintaining minimal bycatch. In addition, the applicants propose to leverage these exemptions to explore and develop premium markets to increase the value of the catch. This study would be conducted in the WGOM and Cashes Ledge Closure Areas (excluding habitat closed areas); the applicants have requested access to these areas based on reports that there is a high concentration of the target species located in these areas. The exemptions are necessary to conduct this study because vessels on commercial groundfish trips are prohibited from fishing for groundfish in these closed areas and from retaining undersized groundfish. EFP trips would occur year-round (excluding seasonal closures), although the majority of trips would occur in the summer and fall months. Participating vessels would take a combined total of 200 trips to closed areas. Trips would be roughly 24 hours or less in length. Estimated average catch would be between 1,000 and 2,000 lb (453.5 to 907.2 kg) of pollock and haddock, combined, per trip. Bycatch is expected to be minimal; applicants estimate 50 to 100 lb (22.7 to 45.4 kg) of cod and 10 to 25 lb (4.5 to 11.3 kg) of redfish and cusk per trip. Participating vessels would use a combination of automated jigging machines and handlines to target pollock and haddock; one vessel would use two jigging machines and three rods; another would use four rods only; the final vessel would use three jigging machines only. Because these vessels would be fishing in closed areas, the agency would monitor their catch closely to ensure minimal interactions with Gulf of Maine cod. Cod catch would be restricted to 5 percent of the total expected catch, to be applied cumulatively across each project. In the event that an applicant exceeds the vessel's cap, that EFP authorization would end. One-hundred-percent monitoring would be required for this EFP. A vessel may carry a Northeast Fishery Observer Program (NEFOP) or At-Sea Monitoring (ASM) observer assigned to the trip through the Pre-Trip Notification System (PTNS). In the event of a waiver, the applicant must secure data collection services from a third party ASM provider, at the vessel's expense. All observers would record lengths of kept and discarded fish, gear characteristics, and fishing location. Undersized fish would be sampled and returned to the water as quickly as possible. All legal-sized Northeast multispecies would be landed, and all catch would be attributed to the vessel's sector annual catch entitlement in accordance with standard catch accounting procedures. All proceeds from the sale of catch would be retained by the vessel. The applicant would maintain a record of all ex-vessel price information to inform the questions about the ability this gear to establish a premium market for the target species. 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. [[Page 22516]] Dated: May 11, 2017. Karen H. Abrams, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2017-09879 Filed 5-15-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 93 / Tuesday, May 16, 2017 / Notices 22515
the holder fails to abide by the applications for proposed Exempted trip. Bycatch is expected to be minimal;
conditions prescribed herein, or if Fishing Permits. applicants estimate 50 to 100 lb (22.7 to
NMFS determines the authorized taking DATES: Comments must be received on 45.4 kg) of cod and 10 to 25 lb (4.5 to
is having more than a negligible impact or before May 31, 2017. 11.3 kg) of redfish and cusk per trip.
on the species or stock of affected ADDRESSES: You may submit written Participating vessels would use a
marine mammals. comments by any of the following combination of automated jigging
Request for Public Comments methods: machines and handlines to target
• Email: NMFS.GAR.EFP@noaa.gov. pollock and haddock; one vessel would
We request comment on our analyses, Include in the subject line ‘‘Comments use two jigging machines and three
the draft authorization, and any other on Hook Gear Access to WGOM and rods; another would use four rods only;
aspect of this Notice of Proposed IHA Cashes Ledge Closure Areas EFP.’’ the final vessel would use three jigging
for the proposed taking of marine • Mail: John K. Bullard, Regional machines only.
mammals incidental to seabird and Administrator, NMFS, NE Regional
pinniped research activities in central Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Because these vessels would be
California. Please include with your Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside fishing in closed areas, the agency
comments any supporting data or of the envelope ‘‘Comments on Hook would monitor their catch closely to
literature citations to help inform our Gear in WGOM and Cashes Ledge EFP.’’ ensure minimal interactions with Gulf
final decision on the request for MMPA FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: of Maine cod. Cod catch would be
authorization. Claire Fitz-Gerald, Fishery Management restricted to 5 percent of the total
Dated: May 11, 2017. Specialist, 978–281–9255, claire.fitz- expected catch, to be applied
Donna S. Wieting, gerald@noaa.gov. cumulatively across each project. In the
Director, Office of Protected Resources, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Three event that an applicant exceeds the
National Marine Fisheries Service. commercial fishermen submitted vessel’s cap, that EFP authorization
[FR Doc. 2017–09864 Filed 5–15–17; 8:45 am] separate and complete applications would end. One-hundred-percent
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P requesting an Exempted Fishing Permit monitoring would be required for this
(EFP) to conduct commercial fishing EFP. A vessel may carry a Northeast
activities that the regulations would Fishery Observer Program (NEFOP) or
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE otherwise restrict. In total, these EFPs At-Sea Monitoring (ASM) observer
would authorize three commercial assigned to the trip through the Pre-Trip
National Oceanic and Atmospheric fishing vessels to fish a combined total Notification System (PTNS). In the
Administration of 200 trips in the Western Gulf of event of a waiver, the applicant must
Maine (WGOM) and Cashes Ledge secure data collection services from a
RIN 0648–XF415
Closure Areas (excluding the Cashes third party ASM provider, at the vessel’s
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Ledge Habitat Closed Area) with hook expense. All observers would record
General Provisions for Domestic gear and to temporarily retain lengths of kept and discarded fish, gear
Fisheries; Application for Exempted undersized catch for measurement and characteristics, and fishing location.
Fishing Permits data collection. Undersized fish would be sampled and
This EFP would authorize the
returned to the water as quickly as
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries applicants to use hook gear to
selectively target pollock and haddock possible. All legal-sized Northeast
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
while maintaining minimal bycatch. In multispecies would be landed, and all
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce. addition, the applicants propose to catch would be attributed to the vessel’s
leverage these exemptions to explore sector annual catch entitlement in
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
and develop premium markets to accordance with standard catch
SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional increase the value of the catch. This accounting procedures. All proceeds
Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, study would be conducted in the from the sale of catch would be retained
Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has WGOM and Cashes Ledge Closure Areas by the vessel. The applicant would
made a preliminary determination that (excluding habitat closed areas); the maintain a record of all ex-vessel price
these Exempted Fishing Permit applicants have requested access to information to inform the questions
applications contain all of the required these areas based on reports that there about the ability this gear to establish a
information and warrant further is a high concentration of the target premium market for the target species.
consideration. These Exempted Fishing species located in these areas. The If approved, the applicant may
Permits would authorize three exemptions are necessary to conduct request minor modifications and
commercial fishing vessels to conduct this study because vessels on extensions to the EFP throughout the
independent projects testing the commercial groundfish trips are
year. EFP modifications and extensions
economic viability of using hook gear to prohibited from fishing for groundfish
may be granted without further notice if
selectively target healthy pollock and in these closed areas and from retaining
they are deemed essential to facilitate
haddock stocks in the Western Gulf of undersized groundfish. EFP trips would
Maine and Cashes Ledge Closure Areas occur year-round (excluding seasonal completion of the proposed research
(excluding Cashes Ledge Habitat Closed closures), although the majority of trips and have minimal impacts that do not
Area), and to temporarily retain would occur in the summer and fall change the scope or impact of the
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
undersized catch for measurement and months. Participating vessels would initially approved EFP request. Any
data collection. take a combined total of 200 trips to fishing activity conducted outside the
Regulations under the Magnuson- closed areas. Trips would be roughly 24 scope of the exempted fishing activity
Stevens Fishery Conservation and hours or less in length. Estimated would be prohibited.
Management Act require publication of average catch would be between 1,000 Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
this notification to provide interested and 2,000 lb (453.5 to 907.2 kg) of
parties the opportunity to comment on pollock and haddock, combined, per
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![22516 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 93 / Tuesday, May 16, 2017 / Notices
Dated: May 11, 2017. authority of the Marine Mammal Recommendations from this group will
Karen H. Abrams, Protection Act of 1972, as amended be brought to the full Council for formal
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the consideration and action, if appropriate.
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. regulations governing the taking and DATES: This meeting will be held on
[FR Doc. 2017–09879 Filed 5–15–17; 8:45 am] importing of marine mammals (50 CFR Thursday, June 1, 2017 at 9:30 a.m.
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P part 216), the Endangered Species Act of ADDRESSES: Meeting address: The
1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 meeting will be held at the Courtyard by
et seq.), the regulations governing the Marriott Boston Logan Airport, 225
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE taking, importing, and exporting of William McClennan Highway, Boston,
endangered and threatened species (50 MA 02128; phone: (617) 569–5250.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric CFR 222–226), and the Fur Seal Act of Council address: New England
Administration 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et Fishery Management Council, 50 Water
RIN 0648–XF350 seq.). Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950.
The applicant proposes to receive,
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Marine Mammals; File No. 21045 import, and export teeth from pinnipeds
Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director,
to perform age analysis. Teeth may be
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries New England Fishery Management
received 500 individual harbor seals
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Council; telephone: (978) 465–0492.
(Phoca vitulina), 1,000 individuals of
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), each species of bearded (Erignathus SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Commerce. barbatus) or spotted (P. largha) seals, Agenda
ACTION: Notice; receipt of applications. 2,000 ringed seals (P. hispida) and up to
The Scallop Committee will review
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that 500 additional pinnipeds of any other
the general workload for 2017 based on
the Matson Laboratory [Carolyn Nistler, species, excluding walrus, annually.
Council priorities and a draft action
Responsible Party], 135 Wooden Shoe The requested duration of the permit is
plan for Scallop Framework 29 (FW29)
Lane, Manhattan, MT 59741, has five years.
In compliance with the National and potentially identify
applied in due form for a permit to recommendations for prioritizing work
import, export, and receive marine Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial items in upcoming actions. They will
mammal parts for scientific research. also review progress on potential
determination has been made that the
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email management measures that may be
comments must be received on or before activities proposed are categorically
excluded from the requirement to included in FW29, including: (1)
June 15, 2017. Flatfish accountability measures; (2)
prepare an environmental assessment or
ADDRESSES: The applications and Modifications to the management of the
environmental impact statement.
related documents are available for Concurrent with the publication of Northern Gulf of Maine area; (3)
review by selecting ‘‘Records Open for this notice in the Federal Register, Measures to modify scallop access areas
Public Comment’’ from the ‘‘Features’’ NMFS is forwarding copies of the consistent with potential changes to
box on the Applications and Permits for applications to the Marine Mammal habitat and groundfish mortality closed
Protected Species (APPS) home page, Commission and its Committee of areas. The committee will also discuss
https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then Scientific Advisors. the establishment of a control date that
selecting File No. 21045 from the list of may limit the ability of Limited Access
available applications. Dated: May 11, 2017.
General Category (LAGC) permit holders
These documents are also available Julia Harrison, to move between permit categories.
upon written request or by appointment Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, They will provide research
in the Permits and Conservation Office of Protected Resources, National recommendations for the 2018/19
Division, Office of Protected Resources, Marine Fisheries Service.
Scallop Research Set-Aside (RSA)
NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room [FR Doc. 2017–09849 Filed 5–15–17; 8:45 am]
federal funding announcement. Other
13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone BILLING CODE 3510–22–P business may be discussed as necessary.
(301) 427–8401; fax (301) 713–0376. Although non-emergency issues not
Written comments on either of these contained in this agenda may come
applications should be submitted to the DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE before this group for discussion, those
Chief, Permits and Conservation issues may not be the subject of formal
Division, at the address listed above. National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration action during this meeting. Action will
Comments may also be submitted by be restricted to those issues specifically
facsimile to (301) 713–0376, or by email RIN 0648–XF394 listed in this notice and any issues
to NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. arising after publication of this notice
Please include the File No. 21045 in the New England Fishery Management that require emergency action under
subject line of the email comment. Council; Public Meeting section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens
Those individuals requesting a public Act, provided the public has been
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
hearing should submit a written request notified of the Council’s intent to take
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
to the Chief, Permits and Conservation final action to address the emergency.
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Division at the address listed above. The
Commerce. Special Accommodations
request should set forth the specific
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
ACTION: Notice; public meeting.
reasons why a hearing on this This meeting is physically accessible
application would be appropriate. SUMMARY: The New England Fishery to people with disabilities. Requests for
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Management Council (Council) is sign language interpretation or other
Shasta McClenahan or Jennifer scheduling a public meeting of its auxiliary aids should be directed to
Skidmore, (301) 427–8401. Scallop Committee to consider actions Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, at
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The affecting New England fisheries in the (978) 465–0492, at least 5 days prior to
subject permit is requested under the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). the meeting date. Consistent with 16
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Document Created: 2017-05-16 13:52:16
Document Modified: 2017-05-16 13:52:16
| 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 31, 2017. | |
| Contact | Claire Fitz-Gerald, Fishery Management Specialist, 978-281-9255, [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 22515 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XF41 |
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