82 FR 58181 - International Affairs; U.S. Fishing Opportunities in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization Regulatory Area
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 236 (December 11, 2017)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 236 (December 11, 2017)
| Page Range | 58181-58185 | |
| FR Document | 2017-26665 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 236 (Monday, December 11, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 58181-58185] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-26665] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648-XF836 International Affairs; U.S. Fishing Opportunities in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization Regulatory Area AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notification of U.S. fishing opportunities. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: We are announcing 2018 fishing opportunities in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Regulatory Area. This action is necessary to make fishing privileges in the NAFO Regulatory Area available on an equitable basis to the extent possible. The intended effect of this notice is to alert U.S. fishing vessels of the NAFO fishing opportunities, to relay the available quotas available to U.S. participants, and to outline the process and requirements for vessels to apply to participate in the 2018 NAFO fishery. DATES: Valid from January 1, 2018, through December 31, 2018. Expressions of interest regarding fishing opportunities in NAFO will be accepted through December 26, 2017. ADDRESSES: Expressions of interest regarding U.S. fishing opportunities in NAFO should be made in writing to John K. Bullard, U.S. Commissioner to [[Page 58182]] NAFO, NMFS Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office at 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930 (phone: 978-281-9315, email: [email protected]). Information relating to chartering vessels of another NAFO Contracting Party, transferring NAFO fishing opportunities to or from another NAFO Contracting Party, or U.S. participation in NAFO is available from Patrick E. Moran in the NMFS Office of International Affairs and Seafood Inspection at 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (phone: 301-427-8370, fax: 301-713-2313, email: [email protected]). Additional information about NAFO fishing opportunities, NAFO Conservation and Enforcement Measures (CEM), and the High Seas Fishing Compliance Act (HSFCA) Permit required for NAFO participation is available from Shannah Jaburek, in the NMFS Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office at 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930 (phone: 978-282-8456, fax: 978-281-9135, email: [email protected]) and online from NAFO at https://www.nafo.int. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shannah Jaburek, (978) 282-8456. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: General NAFO Background The United States is a Contracting Party to the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization or NAFO. NAFO is an intergovernmental fisheries science and management body whose convention applies to most fishery resources in international waters of the Northwest Atlantic, except salmon, tunas/marlins, whales, and sedentary species such as shellfish. Currently, NAFO has 12 contracting parties from North America, Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean. NAFO's Fisheries Commission is responsible for the management and conservation of the fishery resources in the Regulatory Area (waters outside the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs)). Figure 1 shows the NAFO Regulatory Area. [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN11DE17.013 As a Contracting Party within NAFO, the United States may be allocated catch quotas or effort allocations for certain species in specific areas within the NAFO Regulatory Area and may participate in fisheries for other species for which we have not received a specific quota. For most stocks for which the United States does not receive a specific allocation, an open allocation, known as the ``Others'' allocation under the Convention, is shared access between all NAFO Contracting Parties. Additional information on NAFO can be found online at https://www.nafo.int/About-us. The 2018 NAFO Conservation and Enforcement Measures (CEM) that specify the fishery regulations, Total Allowable Catches (TACs or ``quotas'') and other information about the fishery program are available online at: https://www.nafo.int/Fisheries/Conservation. This notice announces the fishing opportunities available to U.S. vessels in NAFO regulatory waters, including specific 2018 stocks for which the United States has an allocation under NAFO, and fishing opportunities under the `Other' NAFO allocations. This notice also outlines the application process and other requirements for U.S. vessels that wish to participate in the 2018 NAFO fisheries. [[Page 58183]] NAFO Fishing Opportunities Available to U.S. Fishing Vessels The principal species managed by NAFO are Atlantic cod, yellowtail and witch flounders, Acadian redfish, American plaice, Greenland halibut, white hake, capelin, shrimp, skates, and Illex squid. NAFO specifies conservation measures for fisheries on these species occurring in its Regulatory Area, including TACs for these managed species that are allocated among NAFO Contracting Parties. The United States received quota allocations at the 2017 NAFO Annual Meeting for two stocks to be fished during 2018. The species, location by NAFO subarea, and allocation (in metric tons (mt)) of these 2018 U.S. fishing opportunities are as follows: Redfish in Division 3M, 69 mt; and Illex Squid in Subareas 3 & 4, 453 mt. In addition, the United States expects a transfer of 1,000 mt of NAFO Division 3LNO yellowtail flounder from Canada's 2018 quota allocation consistent with a 2008 bilateral arrangement between the two countries. The TACs that may be available to U.S. vessels for stocks where the United States has not been allocated quota (i.e., the ``Others'' allocation in Annex I.A of the CEM) are as follows: Table 1--2018 NAFO ``Others'' Allocations ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Others Species NAFO Division Quota ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Cod.................................. 3M..................... 45 Redfish.............................. 3LN.................... 85 3M..................... 124 3O..................... 100 Yellowtail Flounder.................. 3LNO................... 85 Witch Flounder....................... 3NO.................... 11 White Hake........................... 3NO.................... 59 Skates............................... 3LNO................... 258 Illex squid.......................... Squid 3_4 (Sub-Areas 794 3+4). ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Note that the United States shares these allocations with other NAFO Contracting Parties, and access is on a first come, first served basis. Directed fishing is prohibited by NAFO when the ``Others'' quota for a particular stock has been fully harvested. Additional directed quota for these and other stocks managed within the NAFO Regulatory Area could be made available to U.S. vessels through industry-initiated chartering arrangements or government-to- government transfers of quota from other NAFO Contracting Parties. U.S. vessels participating in NAFO may also retain bycatch of NAFO managed species to the following maximum amounts as outlined in Article 6 of the 2018 CEM. The percentage, by weight, is calculated as a percent of each stock of the total catch of species listed in Annex I.A (i.e., the NAFO managed stocks previously listed) retained onboard from the applicable division at the time of inspection, based on logbook information: 1. Cod, Division 3M: 1,250 kg or 5 percent, whichever is more; 2. Witch Flounder, Division 3M: 1,250 kg or 5 percent, whichever is more; 3. Redfish, Division 3LN: 1,250 kg or 5 percent, whichever is more; 4. Cod, Division 3NO: 1,000 kg or 4 percent, whichever is more; 5. For all other Annex I.A stocks where the U.S. has no specific quota the bycatch limit is, 2,500 kg or 10 percent unless a ban on fishing applies or the quota for the stock has been fully utilized. If the fishery for the stock is closed or a retention ban applies, the permitted bycatch limit is 1,250 kg or 5 percent; and 6. For the directed yellowtail flounder fishery in Divisions 3LNO (where the United States has a 1,000 mt yellowtail flounder allocation in 2018) vessels may retain 15 percent of American plaice. Opportunities to fish for species not listed above (i.e., species listed in Annex I.A of the 2018 NAFO CEM and non-allocated on non- regulated species), but occurring within the NAFO Regulatory Area, may also be available. U.S. fishermen interested in fishing for these other species should contact the NMFS Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (see ADDRESSES) for additional information. Authorization to fish for such species will include permit-related conditions or restrictions, including but not limited to, minimum size requirements, bycatch-related measures, and catch limits. Any such conditions or restrictions will be designed to ensure the optimum utilization, long- term sustainability, and rational management and conservation of fishery resources in the NAFO Regulatory Area, consistent with the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries as well as the Amendment to the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries, which has been adopted by all NAFO Contracting Parties. Applying for These Fishing Opportunities Expressions of interest to fish for any or all of the 2018 U.S. fishing opportunities in NAFO described above will be considered from all U.S. fishing interests (e.g., vessel owners, processors, agents, others). Applicants are urged to carefully review and thoroughly address the application requirements and selection criteria as detailed below. Expressions of interest should be directed in writing to Regional Administrator John Bullard (see ADDRESSES). Information Required in an Application Letter Expressions of interest should include a detailed description of anticipated fishing operations in 2018. Descriptions should include, at a minimum:Intended target species; Proposed dates of fishing operations; Vessel(s) to be used to harvest fish, including the name, registration, and home port of the intended harvesting vessel(s); The number of fishing personnel and their nationality involved in vessel operations; Intended landing port or ports; including for ports outside of the United States, whether or not the product will be shipped to the United States for processing; Processing facilities to be used; Target market for harvested fish; and, Evidence demonstrating the ability of the applicant to successfully prosecute fishing operations in the NAFO Regulatory Area, in accordance with NAFO management measures. This may include descriptions of previously successful NAFO or domestic fisheries participation. Note that applicant U.S. vessels must possess or be eligible to receive a valid High Seas Fishing Compliance Act (HSFCA) permit. HSFCA permits are available from the NMFS Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office. Information regarding other requirements for fishing in the NAFO Regulatory Area is detailed below and is also available from the NMFS Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (see ADDRESSES). U.S. applicants wishing to harvest U.S. allocations using a vessel from another NAFO Contracting Party, or hoping to enter a chartering arrangement with a vessel from another NAFO Contracting Party, should see below for details on U.S. and NAFO requirements for such activities. If you have further questions regarding what information is required in an expression of interest, please contact Patrick Moran (see ADDRESSES). Criteria Used in Identifying Successful Applicants Applicants demonstrating the greatest benefits to the United States through their intended operations will be most successful. Such benefits may include: [[Page 58184]] The use of U.S vessels and crew to harvest fish in the NAFO Regulatory Area; Detailed, positive impacts on U.S. employment as a result of the fishing, transport, or processing operations; Use of U.S. processing facilities; Transport, marketing, and sales of product within the United States; Other ancillary, demonstrable benefits to U.S. businesses as a result of the fishing operation; and Documentation of the physical characteristics and economics of the fishery for future use by the U.S. fishing industry. Other factors we may consider include but are not limited to: A documented history of successful fishing operations in NAFO or other similar fisheries; the history of compliance by the vessel with the NAFO CEM or other domestic and international regulatory requirements, including potential disqualification of an applicant with repeated compliance issues; and, for those applicants without NAFO or other international fishery history, a description of demonstrated harvest, processing, marketing, and regulatory compliance within domestic fisheries. To ensure equitable access by U.S. fishing interests, we may provide additional guidance or procedures, or we may issue regulations designed to allocate fishing interests to one or more U.S. applicants from among qualified applicants. After reviewing all requests for allocations submitted, we may also decide not to grant any allocations if it is determined that no requests adequately meet the criteria described in this notice. Notification of Selected Vessels in the 2018 NAFO Fisheries We will provide written responses to all applicants notifying them of their application status and, as needed for successful applicants, allocation awards will be made as quickly as possible so that we may notify NAFO and take other necessary actions to facilitate operations in the regulatory area by U.S. fishing interests. Successful applicants will receive additional information from us on permit conditions and applicable regulations before starting 2018 fishing operations. Mid-Season Allocation Adjustments In the event that an approved U.S. entity does not, is not able to, or is not expected to fish an allocation, or part thereof, awarded to them, NMFS may reallocate to other approved U.S. entities. If requested, approved U.S. entities must provide updated fishing plans and/or schedules. A U.S. entity may not consolidate or transfer allocations without prior approval from NMFS. Chartering a Vessel To Fish Available U.S. Allocations Under the bilateral arrangement with Canada, the United States may enter into a chartering (or other) arrangement with a Canadian vessel to harvest the transferred yellowtail flounder. For other NAFO- regulated species listed in Annexes I.A and I.B, the United States may enter into a chartering arrangement with a vessel from any other NAFO Contracting Party. Additionally, any U.S. vessel or fishing operation may enter into a chartering arrangement with any other vessel or business from a NAFO Contracting Party. The United States and the other Contracting Party involved in a chartering arrangement must agree to the charter, and the NAFO Executive Secretary must be advised of the chartering arrangement before the commencement of any charter fishing operations. Any U.S. vessel or fishing operation interested in making use of the chartering provisions of NAFO must provide at least the following information: The name and registration number of the U.S. vessel; a copy of the charter agreement; a detailed fishing plan; a written letter of consent from the applicable NAFO Contracting Party; the date from which the vessel is authorized to commence fishing; and the duration of the charter (not to exceed six months). Expressions of interest using another NAFO Contracting Party vessel under charter should be accompanied by a detailed description of anticipated benefits to the United States, as described above. Additional detail on chartering arrangements can be found in Article 26 of the CEM (https://www.nafo.int/Fisheries/Conservation). Any vessel from another Contracting Party wishing to enter into a chartering arrangement with the United States must be in full current compliance with the requirements outlined in the NAFO Convention and CEM. These requirements include, but are not limited to, submission of the following reports to the NAFO Executive Secretary: Notification that the vessel is authorized by its flag state to fish within the NAFO Regulatory Area during 2018; Provisional monthly catch reports for all vessels of that NAFO Contracting Party operating in the NAFO Regulatory Area; Daily catch reports for each day fished by the subject vessel within the Regulatory Area; Observer reports within 30 days following the completion of a fishing trip; and An annual statement of actions taken by its flag state to comply with the NAFO Convention. The United States may also consider the vessel's previous compliance with NAFO bycatch, reporting, and other provisions, as outlined in the NAFO CEM, before authorizing the chartering arrangement. Transfer of U.S. Quota Allocations to Another NAFO Party Under NAFO rules in effect for 2018, the United States may transfer fishing opportunities by mutual agreement with another NAFO Contracting Party and with prior notification to the NAFO Executive Secretary. An applicant may request to arrange for any of the previously described U.S. opportunities to be transferred to another NAFO party, although such applications will likely be given lesser priority than those that involve more direct harvesting or processing by U.S. entities. Applications to arrange for a transfer of U.S. fishing opportunities should contain a letter of consent from the receiving NAFO Contracting Party, and should also be accompanied by a detailed description of anticipated benefits to the United States. As in the case of chartering operations, the United States may also consider a NAFO Contracting Party's previous compliance with NAFO bycatch, reporting, and other provisions, as outlined in the NAFO CEM, before entering agreeing to a transfer. Receiving a Transfer of NAFO Quota Allocations From Another NAFO Party Under NAFO rules in effect for 2018, the United States may receive transfers of additional fishing opportunities from other NAFO Contracting Parties. We are required to provide a letter consenting to such a transfer and must provide notice to the NAFO Executive Secretary. In the event that an applicant is able to arrange for the transfer of additional fishing opportunities from another NAFO Contracting Party to the United States, the U.S. may agree to facilitate such a transfer. However, there is no guarantee that if an applicant has facilitated the transfer of quota from another Contracting Party to the United States, such applicant will receive authorization to fish for such quota. If quota is transferred to the United States, we may need to solicit new applications for the use of such quota. All applicable NAFO requirements for transfers must be met. As in the case of chartering operations, the United States may also consider a NAFO Contracting Party's [[Page 58185]] previous compliance with NAFO bycatch, reporting, and other provisions, as outlined in the NAFO CEM, before agreeing to accept a transfer. Any fishing quota or other harvesting opportunities received via this type of transfer are subject to all U.S and NAFO rules as detailed below. For more details on NAFO requirements for chartering and transferring NAFO allocations, contact Patrick Moran (see ADDRESSES). Fishing in the NAFO Regulatory Area U.S. applicant vessels must be in possession of, or obtain, a valid HSFCA permit, which is available from the NMFS Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office. All permitted vessels must comply with any conditions of this permit and all applicable provisions of the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries and the CEM. We reserve the right to impose additional permit conditions that ensure compliance with the NAFO Convention and the CEM, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and any other applicable law. The CEM provisions include, but are not limited to: Maintaining a fishing logbook with NAFO-designated entries (Annex II.A and Article 28); Adhering to NAFO hail system requirements (Annexes II.D and II.F; Article 28; Article 30 part B); Carrying an approved onboard observer for each trip consistent with requirements of Article 30 part A; Maintaining and using a functioning, autonomous vessel monitoring system authorized by issuance of the HSFCA permit as required by Articles 29 and 30; and Complying with all relevant NAFO CEM requirements, including minimum fish sizes, gear, bycatch retention, and per-tow move on provisions for exceeding bycatch limits in any one haul/set. Further details regarding U.S. and NAFO requirements are available from the NMFS Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, and can also be found in the 2018 NAFO CEM on the Internet (https://www.nafo.int/Fisheries/Conservation). Vessels issued valid HSFCA permits under 50 CFR part 300 are exempt from certain domestic fisheries regulations governing fisheries in the Northeast United States found in 50 CFR 648. Specifically, vessels are exempt from the Northeast multispecies and monkfish permit, mesh size, effort-control, and possession limit restrictions (Sec. Sec. 648.4, 648.80, 648.82, 648.86, 648.87, 648.91, 648.92, and 648.94), while transiting the U.S. exclusive economic zone with multispecies and/or monkfish on board the vessel, or landing multispecies and/or monkfish in U.S. ports that were caught while fishing in the NAFO Regulatory Area. These exemptions are conditional on the following requirements: The vessel operator has a letter of authorization issued by the Regional Administrator on board the vessel; for the duration of the trip, the vessel fishes, except for transiting purposes, exclusively in the NAFO Regulatory Area and does not harvest fish in, or possess fish harvested in, or from, the U.S. EEZ; when transiting the U.S. EEZ, all gear is properly stowed and not available for immediate use as defined under Sec. 648.2; and the vessel operator complies with the provisions, conditions, and restrictions specified on the HSFCA permit and all NAFO CEM while fishing in the NAFO Regulatory Area. Dated: December 6, 2017. John H. Henderschedt, Director, NOAA Fisheries Office of International Affairs and Seafood Inspection. [FR Doc. 2017-26665 Filed 12-8-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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Æ suspension of all unliquidated entries I. Abstract of the functions of the agency, including
(and entries for which liquidation has not whether the information shall have
become final) for which these requirements This request is for extension of a
currently approved information practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
were not met and agency’s estimate of the burden
Æ the requirement that the importer post collection.
applicable antidumping duty (AD) and National marine sanctuary regulations (including hours and cost) of the
countervailing duty (CVD) cash deposits at 15 CFR part 922 list specific activities proposed collection of information; (c)
equal to the rates as determined by the that are prohibited in national marine ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
Department; sanctuaries. These regulations also state clarity of the information to be
• This certification was completed at or that otherwise prohibited activities are collected; and (d) ways to minimize the
prior to the time of shipment; permissible if a permit is issued by the burden of the collection of information
• I am aware that U.S. law (including, but on respondents, including through the
not limited to, 18 U.S.C. 1001) imposes
Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
(ONMS). Persons desiring a permit must use of automated collection techniques
criminal sanctions on individuals who or other forms of information
knowingly and willfully make material false submit an application, and anyone
statements to the U.S. government. obtaining a permit is generally required technology.
to submit one or more reports on the Comments submitted in response to
Signature llllllllllllllll
activity allowed under the permit. this notice will be summarized and/or
lllllllllllllllllllll included in the request for OMB
NAME OF COMPANY OFFICIAL The recordkeeping and reporting
requirements at 15 CFR part 922 form approval of this information collection;
lllllllllllllllllllll they also will become a matter of public
TITLE the basis for this collection of
information. This information is record.
lllllllllllllllllllll
DATE required by ONMS to protect and Dated: December 6, 2017.
manage sanctuary resources as required Sarah Brabson,
[FR Doc. 2017–26607 Filed 12–8–17; 8:45 am] by the National Marine Sanctuaries Act NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P (16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.). [FR Doc. 2017–26664 Filed 12–8–17; 8:45 am]
II. Method of Collection BILLING CODE 3510–NK–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Depending on the permit being
requested, various applications, reports,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
and telephone calls may be required
Administration from applicants. Applications and National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Proposed Information Collection; reports can be submitted via email, fax, Administration
Comment Request; National Marine or traditional mail. Applicants are
encouraged to use electronic means to RIN 0648–XF836
Sanctuary Permits
apply for permits and submit reports
International Affairs; U.S. Fishing
AGENCY:National Oceanic and whenever possible.
Opportunities in the Northwest Atlantic
Atmospheric Administration, III. Data Fisheries Organization Regulatory
Commerce. Area
OMB Control Number: 0648–0141.
ACTION: Notice. Form Number(s): None. AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
Type of Review: Regular submission Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
SUMMARY: The Department of (extension of a currently approved Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce, as part of its continuing information collection). Commerce.
effort to reduce paperwork and Affected Public: Business or other for-
ACTION: Notification of U.S. fishing
respondent burden, invites the general profit organizations; individuals or
households; not-for-profit institutions; opportunities.
public and other Federal agencies to
take this opportunity to comment on Federal government; state, local, or SUMMARY: We are announcing 2018
proposed and/or continuing information tribal government. fishing opportunities in the Northwest
collections, as required by the Estimated Number of Respondents: Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO)
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. 555. Regulatory Area. This action is
Estimated Time per Response: necessary to make fishing privileges in
DATES:Written comments must be General permits, 1 hour and 30 minutes; the NAFO Regulatory Area available on
submitted on or before February 9, 2018. special use permits, 8 hours; historical an equitable basis to the extent possible.
resources permits, 13 hours; baitfish The intended effect of this notice is to
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments
permits and lionfish removal permits, 5 alert U.S. fishing vessels of the NAFO
to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental
minutes; permit amendments and fishing opportunities, to relay the
Paperwork Clearance Officer,
certifications, 30 minutes; voluntary available quotas available to U.S.
Department of Commerce, Room 6616,
registrations, 15 minutes; appeals, 24 participants, and to outline the process
14th and Constitution Avenue NW.,
hours; Tortugas access permits, 6 and requirements for vessels to apply to
Washington, DC 20230 (or via the
minutes. participate in the 2018 NAFO fishery.
Internet at pracomments@doc.gov).
Estimated Total Annual Burden
DATES: Valid from January 1, 2018,
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hours: 2,095.
Requests for additional information or Estimated Total Annual Cost to through December 31, 2018. Expressions
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
copies of the information collection Public: $1,080.00 in recordkeeping/ of interest regarding fishing
instrument and instructions should be reporting costs. opportunities in NAFO will be accepted
directed to Kate Spidalieri through December 26, 2017.
IV. Request for Comments ADDRESSES: Expressions of interest
(Kate.Spidalieri@noaa.gov; 240–533–
0679). Comments are invited on: (a) Whether regarding U.S. fishing opportunities in
the proposed collection of information NAFO should be made in writing to
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: is necessary for the proper performance John K. Bullard, U.S. Commissioner to
VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:54 Dec 08, 2017 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\11DEN1.SGM 11DEN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/82_FR_58417/page/1.svg)
![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 236 / Monday, December 11, 2017 / Notices 58185
previous compliance with NAFO 648.86, 648.87, 648.91, 648.92, and copies of the information collection
bycatch, reporting, and other provisions, 648.94), while transiting the U.S. instrument and instructions should be
as outlined in the NAFO CEM, before exclusive economic zone with directed to Kate Spidalieri
agreeing to accept a transfer. Any multispecies and/or monkfish on board (Kate.Spidalieri@noaa.gov; 240–533–
fishing quota or other harvesting the vessel, or landing multispecies and/ 0679).
opportunities received via this type of or monkfish in U.S. ports that were SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
transfer are subject to all U.S and NAFO caught while fishing in the NAFO
rules as detailed below. Regulatory Area. These exemptions are I. Abstract
For more details on NAFO conditional on the following This request is for a revision and
requirements for chartering and requirements: The vessel operator has a extension of a currently approved
transferring NAFO allocations, contact letter of authorization issued by the information collection.
Patrick Moran (see ADDRESSES). Regional Administrator on board the Section 315 of the National Marine
vessel; for the duration of the trip, the Sanctuaries Act (NMSA) (16 U.S.C.
Fishing in the NAFO Regulatory Area vessel fishes, except for transiting 1445a) allows the Secretary of
U.S. applicant vessels must be in purposes, exclusively in the NAFO Commerce to establish one or more
possession of, or obtain, a valid HSFCA Regulatory Area and does not harvest advisory councils to provide advice to
permit, which is available from the fish in, or possess fish harvested in, or the Secretary regarding the designation
NMFS Greater Atlantic Regional from, the U.S. EEZ; when transiting the and management of national marine
Fisheries Office. All permitted vessels U.S. EEZ, all gear is properly stowed sanctuaries. Executive Order 13178
must comply with any conditions of this and not available for immediate use as similarly established a Coral Reef
permit and all applicable provisions of defined under § 648.2; and the vessel Ecosystem Reserve Council pursuant to
the Convention on Future Multilateral operator complies with the provisions, the NMSA for the Northwestern
Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic conditions, and restrictions specified on Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem
Fisheries and the CEM. We reserve the the HSFCA permit and all NAFO CEM Reserve. Councils are individually
right to impose additional permit while fishing in the NAFO Regulatory chartered for each site to meet its
conditions that ensure compliance with Area. specific needs. Once an advisory
the NAFO Convention and the CEM, the Dated: December 6, 2017. council has been chartered, a sanctuary
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery John H. Henderschedt, superintendent starts a process to
Conservation and Management Act and Director, NOAA Fisheries Office of recruit members for that council by
any other applicable law. International Affairs and Seafood Inspection. providing notice to the public and
The CEM provisions include, but are requesting interested parties to apply for
[FR Doc. 2017–26665 Filed 12–8–17; 8:45 am]
not limited to: the available seat(s) (e.g., Research,
• Maintaining a fishing logbook with BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
Education) and position(s) (i.e., council
NAFO-designated entries (Annex II.A member or alternate). The information
and Article 28); obtained through this application
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• Adhering to NAFO hail system process will be used to determine the
requirements (Annexes II.D and II.F; National Oceanic and Atmospheric qualifications of the applicant for
Article 28; Article 30 part B); Administration membership on the advisory council.
• Carrying an approved onboard Two application forms are currently
observer for each trip consistent with Proposed Information Collection; associated with this information
requirements of Article 30 part A; Comment Request; Application Forms collection: (a) National Marine
• Maintaining and using a for Membership on a National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council
functioning, autonomous vessel Sanctuary Advisory Council Application form; and (b) National
monitoring system authorized by Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council
issuance of the HSFCA permit as AGENCY: National Oceanic and
Youth Seat Application form. These
required by Articles 29 and 30; and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
application forms are currently being
• Complying with all relevant NAFO Commerce.
revised to ensure consistency between
CEM requirements, including minimum ACTION: Notice. forms, as well as clarify the information
fish sizes, gear, bycatch retention, and and supplemental materials to be
SUMMARY: The Department of
per-tow move on provisions for submitted by applicants. Application
Commerce, as part of its continuing
exceeding bycatch limits in any one form instructions will specify
effort to reduce paperwork and
haul/set. requirements imposed upon the agency
Further details regarding U.S. and respondent burden, invites the general
public and other Federal agencies to when reviewing applicants as potential
NAFO requirements are available from council members or alternates,
the NMFS Greater Atlantic Regional take this opportunity to comment on
proposed and/or continuing information including the need to assess potential
Fisheries Office, and can also be found conflicts of interest (or other issues) and
in the 2018 NAFO CEM on the Internet collections, as required by the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. the applicant’s status as a federally
(https://www.nafo.int/Fisheries/ registered lobbyist. Specific questions
Conservation). DATES: Written comments must be
posed to applicants will be reordered,
Vessels issued valid HSFCA permits submitted on or before February 9, 2018.
reworded and, at times, condensed to
under 50 CFR part 300 are exempt from ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments improve the organization of applicant
certain domestic fisheries regulations to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental responses and, thereby, simplify the
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
governing fisheries in the Northeast Paperwork Clearance Officer, applicant review process.
United States found in 50 CFR 648. Department of Commerce, Room 6616,
Specifically, vessels are exempt from 14th and Constitution Avenue NW., II. Method of Collection
the Northeast multispecies and Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Complete applications may be
monkfish permit, mesh size, effort- Internet at pracomments@doc.gov). submitted electronically via email (with
control, and possession limit FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: attachments), by mail, or by facsimile
restrictions (§§ 648.4, 648.80, 648.82, Requests for additional information or transmission.
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Document Created: 2017-12-09 01:49:32
Document Modified: 2017-12-09 01:49:32
| 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 | Notification of U.S. fishing opportunities. | |
| Dates | Valid from January 1, 2018, through December 31, 2018. Expressions of interest regarding fishing opportunities in NAFO will be accepted through December 26, 2017. | |
| Contact | Shannah Jaburek, (978) 282-8456. | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 58181 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XF83 |
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