82 FR 52882 - Fisheries Off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Application for an Exempted Fishing Permit
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 219 (November 15, 2017)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 219 (November 15, 2017)
| Page Range | 52882-52884 | |
| FR Document | 2017-24716 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 219 (Wednesday, November 15, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 52882-52884] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-24716] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648-XF799 Fisheries Off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Application for an Exempted Fishing Permit AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; receipt of exempted fishing permit applications; request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS announces the receipt of two exempted fishing permit (EFP) applications. The first application was received from The Nature Conservancy (TNC) for an EFP to test commercial pot fishing gear for selective harvest of lingcod. The lingcod pot gear EFP is intended to provide for the selective harvest of lingcod with fixed gear inside the non-trawl rockfish conservation area (RCA), allowing harvest of lingcod within existing annual catch limits (ACLs) while keeping catch of co- occurring overfished species (e.g. yelloweye rockfish) within rebuilding ACLs. The second application was received from the West Coast Seafood Processors Association, Environmental Defense Fund, Oregon Trawl Commission, and Midwater Trawlers Cooperative for an EFP to test if and how the removal of certain trawl gear, time, and area restrictions for the Shorebased Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program may impact the nature and extent of bycatch of prohibited species. This EFP is intended to allow participating limited entry groundfish bottom trawl and midwater trawl vessels more flexibility in 2018 to target pelagic rockfish species, such as widow, chilipepper, and yellowtail rockfish. The NMFS West Coast Region's Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries has made a preliminary determination that the subject EFP applications contain all the required information and warrant further consideration. Therefore, NMFS announces that the Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries proposes to recommend that EFPs be issued. DATES: Comments must be received no later than 5 p.m., local time on November 30, 2017. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by 0648-XF799, by any one of the following methods:Email: [email protected]. Mail: Barry Thom, Regional Administrator, West Coast Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., Seattle, WA 98115-0070, Attn: Karen Palmigiano. Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the public record and would generally be posted for public viewing on www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender would be publicly accessible. NMFS would accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous). Attachments to electronic comments would be accepted in Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats only. Information relevant to this notice or the EFP applications are available for public review during business hours at the NMFS West Coast Regional Office at 7600 Sand Point Way NE., Seattle, WA 98115, or by requesting them via phone or the email address listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Palmigiano at (206) 526-4491 or [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This action is authorized by the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and implementing regulations at 50 CFR 600.745, which states that EFPs may be used to authorize fishing activities that would otherwise be prohibited. Lingcod Pot Gear EFP At its June 2016 meeting, the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) received an EFP application from TNC for the use of pot gear to target lingcod within the non-trawl RCA offshore of Washington and Oregon. An initial opportunity for public comment was provided during this meeting. At that time, the Council recommended that NMFS consider issuing the EFP for a period of two years (i.e., 2017 and 2018). The two-year duration was intended to coincide with the 2017-18 biennial harvest specifications and management measures process. However, due to unforeseen delays, NMFS was unable to issue this EFP for 2017, and is proposing to issue the EFP described below beginning in 2018. The EFP would expire no later than December 31, 2018. [[Page 52883]] In 2014, during preliminary gear testing conducted by TNC and their research partners, catch of lingcod was lower than anticipated. During testing, the gear was only fished in areas open to non-trawl groundfish fishing, which included the area seaward of the non-trawl RCA, in depths ranging from approximately 100-200 fathoms (fm) (54.7-109.4 meters). Applicants hypothesize that low catch of lingcod was primarily due to the non-trawl RCA (a depth-based area closure prohibiting fishing for lingcod with pot gear from approximately 30 fathoms to 100 fathoms), closing depths where lingcod are most commonly found (i.e., shallower than 100 fm). Subsequently, TNC proposed and the Council recommended to NMFS an EFP which would provide an exemption to participating vessels to target lingcod with pot gear inside the non- trawl RCA off Washington and Oregon. This EFP is necessary to allow activities that are otherwise prohibited by Federal regulations. As the RCAs were implemented to reduce incidental catch of overfished species, it is not uncommon for the Council to recommend to NMFS the permitting of fishing opportunities to occur inside a RCA when the gear is highly selective, with low bycatch of non-target and overfished groundfish species. Entanglement of humpback whales in pot gear buoy lines is a concern, particularly in the West Coast sablefish pot fishery, which is designated as a Category II fishery in the 2017 List of Fisheries (82 FR 9690, February 8, 2017) due to its occasional interactions with humpback whales; the last of which was documented in 2006. Concerns with regards to the pot gear, similar to sablefish pot gear with regards to the buoy lines, being employed in the proposed EFP are mitigated because the magnitude of the fishing effort permitted under this EFP would be minimal and occur off Oregon, where fewer documented interactions between pot gear and humpback whales has occurred. Therefore, NMFS is proposing to approve the EFP consistent with general requirements following the conclusion of the public comment period. Subsequently, NMFS would issue the actual permits for the EFP to individual participants and TNC as the entity coordinating EFP-related fishing activities as appropriate. NMFS intends to use an adaptive management approach for this EFP in which NMFS may revise requirements and protocols to improve the EFP without issuing another Federal Register Notice, provided that the modifications fall within the scope of the Council's original intent. Such changes may be granted without further public notice if they are deemed essential to facilitate completion of the proposed research and result in only a minimal change in the scope or impacts of the initially approved EFP request. In accordance with NOAA Administrative Order (NAO) 216-6, a Categorical Exclusion or other appropriate National Environmental Policy Act document would be completed prior to the issuance of any permits under this EFP. Further review and consultation may be necessary before a final determination is made to issue the permits. After publication of this document in the Federal Register, the EFP, if approved by NMFS, may be implemented following the public comment period. NMFS would consider comments submitted, as well as the Council's discussion at their June 2016 Council meeting, in deciding whether to approve the application as requested. NMFS may approve the application in its entirety or may make any alterations needed to achieve the goals of the EFP. 2018 Trawl Gear EFP In September 2017, the Council received an application for an EFP from the West Coast Seafood Processors Association, Environmental Defense Fund, Oregon Trawl Commission, and Midwater Trawlers Cooperative to test if and how the removal of certain gear, time, and area restrictions for the Shorebased IFQ Program may impact the nature and extent of prohibited species bycatch, particularly salmon and eulachon. This EFP is intended to allow participating limited entry groundfish bottom trawl and midwater trawl vessels more flexibility in 2018 to target pelagic rockfish species, such as widow, chilipepper, and yellowtail rockfish. An opportunity for public testimony was provided during the Council meeting, after which the Council recommended the EFP with several changes. Specifically, the Council narrowed the number of exemptions they recommended to include in the EFP. After the Council meeting, the applicants updated their application based on the Council's recommendations and resubmitted a final version of the application to NMFS on October 4, 2017. Copies of the final version of the application are available from NMFS. (See ADDRESSES for how to obtain this information). In late 2016, industry members proposed a trawl gear EFP for 2017 (later known as the 2017 trawl gear EFP) to provide them exemptions to the minimum mesh size requirement and exemptions to the requirement to use selective flatfish trawl shoreward of the trawl RCA north of 42[deg] North latitude (N. lat) for limited entry bottom trawl vessels. Since implementation of the 2017 trawl gear EFP in March 2017, limited entry groundfish bottom trawl vessels have been testing their new gear configurations by targeting midwater pelagic rockfish (primarily widow rockfish and yellowtail rockfish) using modified bottom trawl gear north of 42[deg] N. lat. shoreward of the trawl RCA with minimal impacts on Chinook salmon. As of the end of October 2017, there have been 50 trips taken by 10 vessels, and they have caught a total of four Chinook salmon. Information on gear configurations has been collected, and the data would helpful information any potential modifications or elimination of current gear restrictions. To continue collecting information on impacts to salmon and eulachon that may arise from the modification or elimination of gear, time, and area regulations, the applicants have requested a 2018 trawl gear EFP that expands upon the 2017 trawl gear EFP. The trawl gear EFP in 2018 would provide participating vessels with several exemptions regarding the required minimum mesh size, the requirement to use selective flatfish trawl gear shoreward of the trawl RCA and north of 42[deg] N. lat., the prohibition on fishing with midwater groundfish trawl gear north of 40[deg]10' N. lat. in all areas prior to May 15th each year, the prohibition on fishing with midwater groundfish trawl gear south of 40[deg]10' N. lat. within the boundaries of the trawl RCA (midwater groundfish trawling would still be prohibited shoreward of the RCA and south of 40[deg]10' N. lat.), the prohibition on bringing a new haul onboard before a previous haul is stowed, and the prohibition on carrying and fishing more than one type of groundfish trawl gear (midwater and bottom trawl gear) on the same trip. If approved, vessels fishing on an EFP trip with bottom trawl gear would be permitted to use any small footrope gear that meets the definition in regulations at Sec. 660.11 shoreward of the RCA and north of 42[deg] N. lat. similar to what is required south of 40[deg]10' N. lat. Vessels fishing on an EFP trip with limited entry midwater trawl vessels would be permitted to fish within all areas north of 40[deg]10' N. lat. and within the boundaries and seaward of the RCA south of 40[deg]10' N. lat. for the duration of this EFP. These vessels would not be constrained to the primary whiting season dates. All participating groundfish bottom trawl and midwater trawl vessels on an EFP trip would be [[Page 52884]] permitted to carry and fish both groundfish trawl gear types (bottom trawl and midwater trawl) on the same trip, assuming the proper declarations are made, and bring a new haul on board before a previous haul is stowed. Finally, vessels fishing on an EFP trip would not be constrained by the mesh requirements regarding size or how it is measured. Participating vessels would carry observers or use a NMFS- approved electronic monitoring system on 100-percent of trips, as is currently required in the IFQ program. NMFS has some concerns with the potential impacts these exemptions may have on protected and prohibited species. The best available data suggests that bycatch rates of Endangered Species Act listed salmon, eulachon, and green sturgeon could increase as a result of the increased effort resulting from this EFP. However, because a targeted fishery for chilipepper, widow, and yellowtail rockfish has not existed in more than a decade and the fishery has changed a lot since this data was collected, this data may not reflect current bycatch rates resulting in its limited utility for predicting current impacts to protected and prohibited species. Thus, NMFS has been working with the applicant to develop an EFP that would meet the applicants' objectives to better target pelagic rockfish species while collecting information about bycatch and minimizing bycatch to the extent practicable. To address NMFS's concerns, the applicants included in their application a requirement to collect bycatch information at the haul level and genetic samples on all salmon caught. Additionally, the applicants proposed and the Council recommended that all salmon caught by vessels participating in this EFP would be subject to a total salmon harvest guideline of 3,547 Chinook salmon. In addition, the Council recommend two sub-harvest guidelines to further help mitigate against potential impacts: Prior to May 15th--All vessels fishing on an EFP trip north of 42[deg] N. lat. would be subject to a sub-harvest guideline of 720 Chinook salmon (out of the 3,547 Chinook salmon total harvest guideline) for this area, including seaward, within, and shoreward of the trawl RCA, from the inception of this EFP until 12:01 a.m. on May 15th which corresponds to the start of the Primary whiting season for the Shorebased IFQ fishery. From May 15th through the end of this EFP, all EFP trips taken north of 42[deg] N. lat. would be subject to the remainder of total harvest guideline (3,547 Chinook salmon) for the EFP. South of 42[deg] N. lat.--All vessels fishing on an EFP trip south of 42[deg] N. lat. would be subject to a sub-harvest guideline of 80 Chinook salmon (out of the 3,547 Chinook salmon harvest guideline) for this area for the duration of this EFP. If the overall harvest guideline of 3,547 Chinook salmon for the EFP is reached, the EFP would be shut down. Additionally, if a sub- harvest guideline is reached EFP trips for which that sub-harvest guideline apply would be shut down. For example, if vessels fishing north of 42[deg] N. lat. prior to May 15th catch more than 720 Chinook salmon, the EFP would be shut down until May 15th when it would open back up in this area under the 3,547 Chinook salmon harvest guideline. For the area south of 42[deg] N. lat., if any time during the EFP vessels fishing in this area catch more than 80 Chinook salmon, the EFP activity in the area south of 42[deg] N. lat. would be shut down and would not reopen for the remainder of the EFP. The applicants have not proposed a specific list of participating vessels, as is traditionally the case, but rather are proposing that NMFS publish a public notice to gauge interest from limited entry groundfish midwater and bottom trawl vessels. Depending on the amount of interest and where vessels may be fishing, NMFS may need to limit participation by time and area to mitigate against potential impacts. Participating vessels that enroll in the EFP would be required to declare into and out of the EFP on a monthly basis by notifying NMFS. Information collected under the EFP could be used to support the analysis for potential new and modifications to existing gear regulations. With many of the current gear regulations having been in place for more than ten years, it is difficult for NMFS, the Council, and industry to predict the impacts of removing these regulations. In the past ten years, the industry has changed significantly. Reduction in capacity, innovations in gear technologies, and changes in management have all contributed to these changes. This EFP would help demonstrate what potential impacts, if any, today's fleet may have if some of the current gear, area, and time regulations are modified from what is currently in regulation. Therefore, NMFS is proposing to approve a 2018 trawl gear EFP, covering all the exemptions stated above following the conclusion of the public comment period, review of public comment, and completion of an analysis of the potential impacts. Pending approval, NMFS would issue the permits for the EFP to the vessel owner or designated representative as the ``EFP holder.'' NMFS intends to use an adaptive management approach in which NMFS may revise requirements and protocols to improve the program without issuing another Federal Register Notice, provided that the modifications fall within the scope of the original EFP. In addition, the applicants may request minor modifications and extensions to the EFP throughout the course of research. EFP modifications and extensions may be granted without further public notice if they are determined essential to facilitate completion of the proposed research and result in only a minimal change in the scope or impacts of the initially approved EFP request. In accordance with NAO Administrative Order 216-6, a Categorical Exclusion or other appropriate National Environmental Policy Act document would be completed prior to the issuance of any permits under this EFP. After publication of this document in the Federal Register, the EFP, if approved by NMFS, may be implemented following the public comment period. NMFS would consider comments submitted, as well as the Council's discussion at their September 2017 Council meeting, in deciding whether to approve the application as requested. NMFS may approve the application in its entirety or may make any alterations needed to achieve the goals of the EFP. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq., and 16 U.S.C. 7001 et seq. Dated: November 9, 2017. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2017-24716 Filed 11-14-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![52882 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 219 / Wednesday, November 15, 2017 / Notices
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE • Email: nmfs_gf_efp2018.wcr@
Katherine Cheney; NFMS West Coast noaa.gov.
Region; 503–231–6730; email: National Oceanic and Atmospheric • Mail: Barry Thom, Regional
Katherine.Cheney@noaa.gov. Administration Administrator, West Coast Region,
NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE.,
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is RIN 0648–XF799
Seattle, WA 98115–0070, Attn: Karen
hereby given of a meeting of MAFAC’s Palmigiano.
Fisheries Off West Coast States;
CBP Task Force. The MAFAC was Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Instructions: Comments sent by any
established by the Secretary of Application for an Exempted Fishing other method, to any other address or
Commerce (Secretary) and, since 1971, Permit individual, or received after the end of
advises the Secretary on all living the comment period, may not be
marine resource matters that are the AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries considered by NMFS. All comments
responsibility of the Department of Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and received are a part of the public record
Commerce. The complete MAFAC Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and would generally be posted for
charter and summaries of prior MAFAC Commerce. public viewing on www.regulations.gov
meetings are located online at http:// ACTION: Notice; receipt of exempted without change. All personal identifying
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ocs/mafac/. The fishing permit applications; request for information (e.g., name, address, etc.),
CBP Task Force reports to MAFAC and comments. confidential business information, or
otherwise sensitive information
is being convened to discuss and
SUMMARY: NMFS announces the receipt submitted voluntarily by the sender
develop recommendations for long-term of two exempted fishing permit (EFP) would be publicly accessible. NMFS
goals to meet Columbia Basin salmon applications. The first application was would accept anonymous comments
recovery, conservation needs, and received from The Nature Conservancy (enter ‘‘N/A’’ in the required fields if
harvest opportunities. These goals will (TNC) for an EFP to test commercial pot you wish to remain anonymous).
be developed in the context of habitat fishing gear for selective harvest of Attachments to electronic comments
capacity and other factors that affect lingcod. The lingcod pot gear EFP is would be accepted in Microsoft Word,
salmon mortality. More information is intended to provide for the selective Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats only.
available at the CBP Task Force Web harvest of lingcod with fixed gear inside Information relevant to this notice or
page: http:// the non-trawl rockfish conservation area the EFP applications are available for
www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/ (RCA), allowing harvest of lingcod public review during business hours at
columbia_river/index.html. within existing annual catch limits the NMFS West Coast Regional Office at
(ACLs) while keeping catch of co- 7600 Sand Point Way NE., Seattle, WA
Matters To Be Considered occurring overfished species (e.g. 98115, or by requesting them via phone
The meeting time and agenda are yelloweye rockfish) within rebuilding or the email address listed in the FOR
ACLs. The second application was FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.
subject to change. Updated information
received from the West Coast Seafood FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
will be available on the CBP Task Force
Processors Association, Environmental Karen Palmigiano at (206) 526–4491 or
Web page above. Meeting topics include
Defense Fund, Oregon Trawl karen.palmigiano@noaa.gov.
progress reports on applying the
Commission, and Midwater Trawlers SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
analytical framework to example species
Cooperative for an EFP to test if and action is authorized by the Pacific Coast
as prototypes and updates on
how the removal of certain trawl gear, Groundfish Fishery Management Plan
quantitative goal setting, guiding time, and area restrictions for the (FMP) and implementing regulations at
principles, and vision. The meeting is Shorebased Individual Fishing Quota 50 CFR 600.745, which states that EFPs
open to the public as observers, and (IFQ) Program may impact the nature may be used to authorize fishing
public input will be accepted on and extent of bycatch of prohibited activities that would otherwise be
December 6, 2017, from 3:30 to 4 p.m., species. This EFP is intended to allow prohibited.
limited to the time available. participating limited entry groundfish
Lingcod Pot Gear EFP
Special Accommodations bottom trawl and midwater trawl
vessels more flexibility in 2018 to target At its June 2016 meeting, the Pacific
The meeting is physically accessible pelagic rockfish species, such as widow, Fishery Management Council (Council)
to people with disabilities. Requests for chilipepper, and yellowtail rockfish. received an EFP application from TNC
sign language interpretation or other The NMFS West Coast Region’s for the use of pot gear to target lingcod
auxiliary aids should be directed to Assistant Regional Administrator for within the non-trawl RCA offshore of
Sustainable Fisheries has made a Washington and Oregon. An initial
Katherine Cheney; 503–231–6730, by
preliminary determination that the opportunity for public comment was
November 28, 2017. provided during this meeting. At that
subject EFP applications contain all the
Dated: November 9, 2017. required information and warrant time, the Council recommended that
Jennifer Lukens, further consideration. Therefore, NMFS NMFS consider issuing the EFP for a
Director for the Office of Policy, National announces that the Assistant Regional period of two years (i.e., 2017 and 2018).
Marine Fisheries Service. Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries The two-year duration was intended to
[FR Doc. 2017–24721 Filed 11–14–17; 8:45 am] proposes to recommend that EFPs be coincide with the 2017–18 biennial
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
issued. harvest specifications and management
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
measures process. However, due to
DATES: Comments must be received no unforeseen delays, NMFS was unable to
later than 5 p.m., local time on issue this EFP for 2017, and is
November 30, 2017. proposing to issue the EFP described
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, below beginning in 2018. The EFP
identified by 0648–XF799, by any one of would expire no later than December
the following methods: 31, 2018.
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![52884 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 219 / Wednesday, November 15, 2017 / Notices
permitted to carry and fish both • South of 42° N. lat.—All vessels or designated representative as the ‘‘EFP
groundfish trawl gear types (bottom fishing on an EFP trip south of 42° N. holder.’’ NMFS intends to use an
trawl and midwater trawl) on the same lat. would be subject to a sub-harvest adaptive management approach in
trip, assuming the proper declarations guideline of 80 Chinook salmon (out of which NMFS may revise requirements
are made, and bring a new haul on the 3,547 Chinook salmon harvest and protocols to improve the program
board before a previous haul is stowed. guideline) for this area for the duration without issuing another Federal
Finally, vessels fishing on an EFP trip of this EFP. Register Notice, provided that the
would not be constrained by the mesh If the overall harvest guideline of modifications fall within the scope of
requirements regarding size or how it is 3,547 Chinook salmon for the EFP is the original EFP. In addition, the
measured. Participating vessels would reached, the EFP would be shut down. applicants may request minor
carry observers or use a NMFS-approved Additionally, if a sub-harvest guideline modifications and extensions to the EFP
electronic monitoring system on 100- is reached EFP trips for which that sub- throughout the course of research. EFP
percent of trips, as is currently required harvest guideline apply would be shut modifications and extensions may be
in the IFQ program. down. For example, if vessels fishing granted without further public notice if
NMFS has some concerns with the north of 42° N. lat. prior to May 15th they are determined essential to
potential impacts these exemptions may catch more than 720 Chinook salmon, facilitate completion of the proposed
have on protected and prohibited the EFP would be shut down until May research and result in only a minimal
species. The best available data suggests 15th when it would open back up in change in the scope or impacts of the
that bycatch rates of Endangered this area under the 3,547 Chinook initially approved EFP request.
Species Act listed salmon, eulachon, salmon harvest guideline. For the area In accordance with NAO
and green sturgeon could increase as a south of 42° N. lat., if any time during Administrative Order 216–6, a
result of the increased effort resulting the EFP vessels fishing in this area catch Categorical Exclusion or other
from this EFP. However, because a more than 80 Chinook salmon, the EFP appropriate National Environmental
targeted fishery for chilipepper, widow, activity in the area south of 42° N. lat. Policy Act document would be
and yellowtail rockfish has not existed would be shut down and would not completed prior to the issuance of any
in more than a decade and the fishery reopen for the remainder of the EFP. permits under this EFP. After
The applicants have not proposed a publication of this document in the
has changed a lot since this data was
specific list of participating vessels, as Federal Register, the EFP, if approved
collected, this data may not reflect
is traditionally the case, but rather are by NMFS, may be implemented
current bycatch rates resulting in its
proposing that NMFS publish a public following the public comment period.
limited utility for predicting current
notice to gauge interest from limited NMFS would consider comments
impacts to protected and prohibited entry groundfish midwater and bottom
species. Thus, NMFS has been working submitted, as well as the Council’s
trawl vessels. Depending on the amount
with the applicant to develop an EFP discussion at their September 2017
of interest and where vessels may be
that would meet the applicants’ Council meeting, in deciding whether to
fishing, NMFS may need to limit
objectives to better target pelagic approve the application as requested.
participation by time and area to
rockfish species while collecting NMFS may approve the application in
mitigate against potential impacts.
information about bycatch and its entirety or may make any alterations
Participating vessels that enroll in the
minimizing bycatch to the extent needed to achieve the goals of the EFP.
EFP would be required to declare into
practicable. To address NMFS’s and out of the EFP on a monthly basis Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., 16
concerns, the applicants included in by notifying NMFS. U.S.C. 773 et seq., and 16 U.S.C. 7001 et seq.
their application a requirement to Information collected under the EFP Dated: November 9, 2017.
collect bycatch information at the haul could be used to support the analysis for Emily H. Menashes,
level and genetic samples on all salmon potential new and modifications to
caught. Additionally, the applicants Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
existing gear regulations. With many of Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
proposed and the Council the current gear regulations having been [FR Doc. 2017–24716 Filed 11–14–17; 8:45 am]
recommended that all salmon caught by in place for more than ten years, it is
vessels participating in this EFP would BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
difficult for NMFS, the Council, and
be subject to a total salmon harvest industry to predict the impacts of
guideline of 3,547 Chinook salmon. In removing these regulations. In the past DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
addition, the Council recommend two ten years, the industry has changed
sub-harvest guidelines to further help significantly. Reduction in capacity, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
mitigate against potential impacts: innovations in gear technologies, and Administration
• Prior to May 15th—All vessels changes in management have all
fishing on an EFP trip north of 42° N. RIN 0648–XF811
contributed to these changes. This EFP
lat. would be subject to a sub-harvest would help demonstrate what potential Endangered and Threatened Species;
guideline of 720 Chinook salmon (out of impacts, if any, today’s fleet may have Take of Anadromous Fish
the 3,547 Chinook salmon total harvest if some of the current gear, area, and
guideline) for this area, including time regulations are modified from what AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
seaward, within, and shoreward of the is currently in regulation. Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
trawl RCA, from the inception of this Therefore, NMFS is proposing to Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
EFP until 12:01 a.m. on May 15th which approve a 2018 trawl gear EFP, covering
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
Commerce.
corresponds to the start of the Primary all the exemptions stated above ACTION: Applications for four new
whiting season for the Shorebased IFQ following the conclusion of the public scientific research permits, two permit
fishery. From May 15th through the end comment period, review of public modifications, and eight permit
of this EFP, all EFP trips taken north of comment, and completion of an analysis renewals.
42° N. lat. would be subject to the of the potential impacts. Pending
remainder of total harvest guideline approval, NMFS would issue the SUMMARY:Notice is hereby given that
(3,547 Chinook salmon) for the EFP. permits for the EFP to the vessel owner NMFS has received 14 scientific
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Document Created: 2018-10-25 10:37:55
Document Modified: 2018-10-25 10:37:55
| 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; receipt of exempted fishing permit applications; request for comments. | |
| Dates | Comments must be received no later than 5 p.m., local time on November 30, 2017. | |
| Contact | Karen Palmigiano at (206) 526-4491 or [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 52882 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XF79 |
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