82 FR 27236 - 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 113 (June 14, 2017)

Page Range		27236-27236
FR Document		2017-12317

The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit application from the Coonamessett Farm Foundation to conduct a scallop survey contains all of the required information and warrants further consideration. Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act require publication of this notice intended to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for proposed Exempted Fishing Permits.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 113 (Wednesday, June 14, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 113 (Wednesday, June 14, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 27236]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-12317]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF475


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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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 
Coonamessett Farm Foundation to conduct a scallop survey contains all 
of the required information and warrants further consideration.
    Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act require publication of this notice intended to provide 
interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for 
proposed Exempted Fishing Permits.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 29, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by any of the following 
methods:
     Email: [email protected]. Include in the subject line 
``CFF NGOM Survey 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 NGOM Survey EFP.''

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Coonamessett Farm Foundation submitted a 
complete application on May 23, 2017, to conduct an optical and dredge 
survey in the Northern Gulf of Maine (NGOM) Scallop Management Area. 
The project titled ``An Optical Assessment of Sea Scallop Abundance and 
Distribution in Select Areas of the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop 
Management Area'' would be funded through the Scallop Research Set-
Aside Program. The primary survey instrument would be the HabCam 
imaging system, consisting of a camera that continuously takes photos 
and a side scanning sonar, that would be towed approximately 2.5 meters 
above the ocean floor. A scallop survey dredge would also be deployed 
to enable collection of biological information. The vessel would be 
exempt from the Atlantic sea scallop days-at-sea (DAS) allocations at 
50 CFR 648.53(b); NGOM management program requirements at Sec.  648.62; 
crew size restrictions at Sec.  648.51(c); dredge gear restrictions at 
Sec.  648.51(b); and observer program requirements at Sec.  648.11(g). 
The vessel would also be temporarily exempt from possession limits and 
minimum size requirements specified in 50 CFR part 648, subparts B and 
D through O, for biological sampling purposes only. These exemptions 
would support an abundance survey of the NGOM Scallop Management Area.
    The primary survey instrument will be the HabCam imaging system, 
but a scallop survey dredge would be deployed to enable collection of 
biological information. One vessel would conduct the survey in early 
July 2017 over the course of four days-at-sea. Researchers would 
conduct 3 dredge tows per day for a maximum of 12 tows using the NMFS 
survey dredge. The survey dredge is 8 feet (2.4 m) in width equipped 
with 2-inch (5.1-cm) rings, 4-inch (10.2-cm) diamond twine top, and a 
1.5-inch (3.8-cm) diamond mesh liner. All tows would be conducted at 
speeds between 4.8 to 5.1 knots (2.5 to 2.6 m/s) for 10-15 minutes. The 
dredge tow locations would be determined during the optical survey 
using the HabCam system based on scallop abundance. This survey would 
provide scallop biomass estimates that would support scallop resource 
management in the NGOM Management Area. The survey will occur in parts 
of Stellwagen Bank and Jeffrey's Ledge that are open to commercial 
scallop fishing. No dredge tows will occur in a habitat closed area.
    In addition to collecting Habcam image data, scientific personnel 
will record detailed catch information on scallops, finfish, and 
invertebrates from dredge tows. No fish or scallops will be retained 
for commercial purposes, but frozen samples of scallop meats may be 
retained. All bycatch would be returned to the sea as soon as 
practicable following data collection. These exemptions will allow CFF 
to conduct experimental dredge towing without being charged DAS, as 
well as deploy gear that is not consistent with current scallop 
regulations. Participating vessels need crew size waivers to 
accommodate science personnel. Exemption from possession limit and 
minimum sizes would ensure the vessel is not in conflict with 
possession regulations while collecting catch data. The project would 
also 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: June 9, 2017.
Margo B. Schulze-Haugen,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-12317 Filed 6-13-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

27236 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 113 / Wednesday, June 14, 2017 / Notices

the Secretary, the Department must SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The dredge tows. No fish or scallops will be
make a suitability determination for all Coonamessett Farm Foundation retained for commercial purposes, but
DEC nominees. After completion of a submitted a complete application on frozen samples of scallop meats may be
vetting process, the Secretary selects May 23, 2017, to conduct an optical and retained. All bycatch would be returned
nominees for appointment to local dredge survey in the Northern Gulf of to the sea as soon as practicable
DECs. DEC members are appointed by Maine (NGOM) Scallop Management following data collection. These
and serve at the pleasure of the Area. The project titled ‘‘An Optical exemptions will allow CFF to conduct
Secretary of Commerce. Assessment of Sea Scallop Abundance experimental dredge towing without
Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1512, 15 U.S.C. 4721. and Distribution in Select Areas of the being charged DAS, as well as deploy
Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop gear that is not consistent with current
Dated: June 6, 2017. Management Area’’ would be funded scallop regulations. Participating vessels
Laura Barmby, through the Scallop Research Set-Aside need crew size waivers to accommodate
District Export Council Program Manager. Program. The primary survey science personnel. Exemption from
[FR Doc. 2017–12250 Filed 6–13–17; 8:45 am] instrument would be the HabCam possession limit and minimum sizes
BILLING CODE 3510–FP–P imaging system, consisting of a camera would ensure the vessel is not in
that continuously takes photos and a conflict with possession regulations
side scanning sonar, that would be while collecting catch data. The project
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE towed approximately 2.5 meters above would also be exempt from the sea
the ocean floor. A scallop survey dredge scallop observer program requirements
National Oceanic and Atmospheric would also be deployed to enable because activities conducted on the trip
Administration collection of biological information. The are not consistent with normal fishing
RIN 0648–XF475 vessel would be exempt from the operations.
Atlantic sea scallop days-at-sea (DAS) If approved, the applicant may
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; allocations at 50 CFR 648.53(b); NGOM request minor modifications and
General Provisions for Domestic management program requirements at extensions to the EFP throughout the
Fisheries; Application for Exempted § 648.62; crew size restrictions at year. EFP modifications and extensions
Fishing Permits § 648.51(c); dredge gear restrictions at may be granted without further notice if
§ 648.51(b); and observer program they are deemed essential to facilitate
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries requirements at § 648.11(g). The vessel
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and completion of the proposed research
would also be temporarily exempt from and have minimal impacts that do not
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), possession limits and minimum size
Commerce. change the scope or impact of the
requirements specified in 50 CFR part initially approved EFP request. Any
ACTION: Notice; request for comments. 648, subparts B and D through O, for fishing activity conducted outside the
biological sampling purposes only. scope of the exempted fishing activity
SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional These exemptions would support an
Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, would be prohibited.
abundance survey of the NGOM Scallop
Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has Management Area. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
made a preliminary determination that The primary survey instrument will Dated: June 9, 2017.
an Exempted Fishing Permit application be the HabCam imaging system, but a Margo B. Schulze-Haugen,
from the Coonamessett Farm scallop survey dredge would be Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Foundation to conduct a scallop survey deployed to enable collection of Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
contains all of the required information biological information. One vessel [FR Doc. 2017–12317 Filed 6–13–17; 8:45 am]
and warrants further consideration. would conduct the survey in early July BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
Regulations under the Magnuson- 2017 over the course of four days-at-sea.
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Researchers would conduct 3 dredge
Management Act require publication of tows per day for a maximum of 12 tows DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
this notice intended to provide using the NMFS survey dredge. The
interested parties the opportunity to survey dredge is 8 feet (2.4 m) in width National Oceanic and Atmospheric
comment on applications for proposed equipped with 2-inch (5.1-cm) rings, 4- Administration
Exempted Fishing Permits. inch (10.2-cm) diamond twine top, and
DATES: Comments must be received on a 1.5-inch (3.8-cm) diamond mesh liner. RIN 0648–XF476
or before June 29, 2017. All tows would be conducted at speeds
ADDRESSES: You may submit written
between 4.8 to 5.1 knots (2.5 to 2.6 m/ Fisheries of the Gulf of Mexico;
comments by any of the following s) for 10–15 minutes. The dredge tow Southeast Data, Assessment, and
methods: locations would be determined during Review (SEDAR); Public Meeting
• Email: nmfs.gar.efp@noaa.gov. the optical survey using the HabCam
system based on scallop abundance. AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
Include in the subject line ‘‘CFF NGOM Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Survey EFP.’’ This survey would provide scallop
biomass estimates that would support Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
• Mail: John K. Bullard, Regional Commerce.
scallop resource management in the
Administrator, NMFS, Greater Atlantic
NGOM Management Area. The survey ACTION: Notice of SEDAR 51 pre-
Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great
will occur in parts of Stellwagen Bank
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES

Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. assessment webinar for Gulf of Mexico
and Jeffrey’s Ledge that are open to gray snapper.
Mark the outside of the envelope
commercial scallop fishing. No dredge
‘‘Comments on CFF NGOM Survey SUMMARY: The SEDAR 51 assessment
tows will occur in a habitat closed area.
EFP.’’ In addition to collecting Habcam process of Gulf of Mexico gray snapper
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: image data, scientific personnel will will consist of a Data Workshop, a series
Shannah Jaburek, Fisheries Management record detailed catch information on of assessment webinars, and a Review
Specialist, 978–282–8456. scallops, finfish, and invertebrates from Workshop.

VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:36 Jun 13, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\14JNN1.SGM 14JNN1

Document Created: 2017-06-14 01:24:07
Document Modified: 2017-06-14 01:24:07

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 June 29, 2017.
Contact		Shannah Jaburek, Fisheries Management Specialist, 978-282-8456.
FR Citation		82 FR 27236
RIN Number		0648-XF47

82 FR 27236 - Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 113 (June 14, 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration