83 FR 15792 - 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 83, Issue 71 (April 12, 2018)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 71 (April 12, 2018)
| Page Range | 15792-15793 | |
| FR Document | 2018-07596 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 71 (Thursday, April 12, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 15792-15793] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-07596] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648-XG152 Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary determination that an exempted fishing permit application submitted by the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen's Alliance contains all of the required information and warrants further consideration. This exempted fishing permit would require participants to use electronic monitoring systems on 100 percent of sector trips for catch accounting in the groundfish fishery. Additionally, vessels would be authorized to access portions of groundfish closed areas. 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 April 27, 2018. ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by either of the following methods:Email: [email protected]. Include in the subject line ``100 PERCENT EM EFP.'' Mail: Michael Pentony, Regional Administrator, NMFS, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope ``100 PERCENT EM EFP.'' FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Claire Fitz-Gerald, Fishery Management Specialist, 978-281-9255. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Groundfish sectors are required to implement and fund an at-sea monitoring (ASM) program. Sectors may use electronic monitoring (EM) to satisfy this monitoring requirement, provided that NMFS deems the technology sufficient for catch monitoring. NMFS has yet to approve EM as a suitable alternative to ASM. However, NMFS is working with industry and other stakeholders to test the operational feasibility of EM and resolve outstanding barriers to implementation. Project partners include the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen's Alliance, The Nature Conservancy, the Maine Coast Fishermen's Association, the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, and fishermen from the Northeast Fishery Sectors V & XI, the GB Cod Fixed Gear Sector, the Sustainable Harvest Sector, and the Maine Coast Community Sector. In fishing year 2017, NMFS issued an exempted fishing permit (EFP) to these project partners to develop an audit-model EM program for the groundfish fishery. The EFP required vessels to use EM systems on 100 percent of groundfish sector trips to verify regulated groundfish discards. EM was used in lieu of human observers to meet their sector ASM requirements. Thirteen vessels using a variety of gear types (e.g. hook, benthic longline, sink gillnet, bottom trawl) participated in the [[Page 15793]] project. A total of 81 trips were completed in fishing year 2017. The project partners have submitted a renewal request for fishing year 2018. The proposed participant list includes 14 vessels, 13 of which participated in this EFP in fishing year 2017. Together, these vessels are expected to take an estimated 400 trips. The project partners expect up to 10 additional vessels may join the project in fishing year 2018. Vessels participating in this EFP would be required to use EM on 100 percent of groundfish trips. Camera systems would be used in lieu of human at-sea monitors, and in addition to Northeast Fishery Observer Program (NEFOP) observers. Vessels would adhere to a vessel-specific monitoring plan detailing at-sea catch handling protocols. Vessels would submit haul-level electronic vessel trip reports (eVTR) with count and weight estimates for all groundfish discards. The discard estimates provided in the eVTR would be used for catch accounting, and all catch of allocated groundfish would be deducted from the appropriate sector's allocation. The EM service provider would review the video footage and produce an EM summary report identifying, counting, and generating weight estimates for all groundfish discards. The provider would submit this report to NMFS. NMFS would compare the eVTR and EM summary file to ensure the submissions match within an established tolerance. If the trips do not match, the eVTR would not be used for catch accounting for that trip. For trips that carry a NEFOP observer, the NEFOP data would be used for catch accounting. The EM service provider would review 100 percent of the video footage at the outset of the fishing year, but may reduce the review percentage mid- year as part of audit-model testing, if approved by NMFS. Because participating vessels would be fully monitored, project partners requested access to closed areas to incentivize participation and create additional fishing opportunities for healthy stocks. Vessels would be allowed to use hook gear and sink gillnets in Closed Area II from May 1 through February 15, hook gear in Western Gulf of Maine Closure Area, and jig gear in Cashes Ledge Closure Area. 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: April 9, 2018. Jennifer M. Wallace, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2018-07596 Filed 4-11-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![15792 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 71 / Thursday, April 12, 2018 / Notices
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kyle species like cod, the use of a vessel further consideration. This exempted
Molton, Fishery Management Specialist, monitoring system and 100-percent fishing permit would require
978–281–9236, Kyle.Molton@noaa.gov. monitoring would be required for all participants to use electronic
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Two vessels. A research technician or at-sea monitoring systems on 100 percent of
commercial fishermen and a groundfish monitor would accompany all trips that sector trips for catch accounting in the
sector submitted complete applications occur under these EFPs to measure and groundfish fishery. Additionally, vessels
to renew exempted fishing permits document fish caught and document would be authorized to access portions
(EFPs) on February 16, 2018, to conduct fishing gear, bait, location, and fishing of groundfish closed areas. Regulations
commercial fishing activities that the conditions to evaluate gear performance. under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
regulations would otherwise restrict. The vessel captains would also Conservation and Management Act
These EFPs would authorize five document fishing practices used to require publication of this notification
commercial fishing vessels to fish a avoid bycatch of non-target species. to provide interested parties the
combined total of 150 trips in the Undersized fish would be discarded as opportunity to comment on applications
Western Gulf of Maine (WGOM) and quickly as possible after sampling. All for proposed exempted fishing permits.
Cashes Ledge Closure Areas, excluding Northeast multispecies of legal size DATES: Comments must be received on
the Cashes Ledge Habitat Management would be landed, and all catch would or before April 27, 2018.
Area (HMA), with hook gear, and to be attributed to the vessel’s sector
ADDRESSES: You may submit written
temporarily retain undersized catch for annual catch entitlement. The
comments by either of the following
measurement and data collection. applicants will also document ex-vessel
methods:
Within the Cashes Ledge Closure Area, price for all sold catch for comparison
with other harvest methods and • Email: nmfs.gar.efp@noaa.gov.
access would be permitted in the Include in the subject line ‘‘100
Fippennies Ledge HMA, but not in the markets. The participating vessels
would not be exempt from any sector PERCENT EM EFP.’’
Cashes Ledge or Ammen Rock HMAs. • Mail: Michael Pentony, Regional
These HMAs were developed as part of monitoring or reporting requirements.
If approved, the applicants may Administrator, NMFS, Greater Atlantic
the New England Fisheries Management Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great
Council’s Omnibus Essential Fish request minor modifications and
extensions to the EFPs throughout the Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930.
Habitat Amendment 2, and approved by Mark the outside of the envelope ‘‘100
NMFS on January 3, 2018. year. EFP modifications and extensions
may be granted without further notice if PERCENT EM EFP.’’
The EFPs would authorize the
applicants to use hook gear to they are deemed essential to facilitate FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
selectively target pollock and haddock completion of the proposed research Claire Fitz-Gerald, Fishery Management
while maintaining minimal bycatch. In and have minimal impacts that do not Specialist, 978–281–9255.
addition, the applicants would also change the scope or impact of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
explore and develop premium markets initially approved EFP request. Groundfish sectors are required to
to increase the value of the catch. This Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. implement and fund an at-sea
study would be conducted in the Dated: April 9, 2018.
monitoring (ASM) program. Sectors may
WGOM and Cashes Ledge Closure use electronic monitoring (EM) to satisfy
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Areas. The applicants have requested this monitoring requirement, provided
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable that NMFS deems the technology
access to these areas based on reports,
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
and experimental fishing, which suggest sufficient for catch monitoring. NMFS
[FR Doc. 2018–07597 Filed 4–11–18; 8:45 am]
that there are high concentrations of the has yet to approve EM as a suitable
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P alternative to ASM. However, NMFS is
target species located in these areas. The
exemptions are necessary to conduct working with industry and other
this study because vessels on stakeholders to test the operational
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE feasibility of EM and resolve
commercial groundfish trips are
prohibited from fishing for groundfish National Oceanic and Atmospheric outstanding barriers to implementation.
in these closed areas and from retaining Administration Project partners include the Cape Cod
undersized groundfish. EFP trips would Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance, The
occur year-round, excluding existing RIN 0648–XG152 Nature Conservancy, the Maine Coast
seasonal closures. Fishermen’s Association, the Gulf of
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Maine Research Institute, and fishermen
Participating vessels would take a
General Provisions for Domestic from the Northeast Fishery Sectors V &
combined total of 150 trips to closed
Fisheries; Application for Exempted XI, the GB Cod Fixed Gear Sector, the
areas. Trips would be roughly 24 hours
Fishing Permits Sustainable Harvest Sector, and the
or less in length. Vessels would use
automated jigging machines, handline, AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Maine Coast Community Sector.
and rod and reel gears only. Based on Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and In fishing year 2017, NMFS issued an
preliminary 2017 data, estimated catch Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), exempted fishing permit (EFP) to these
on these trips is between 1,000 and Commerce. project partners to develop an audit-
2,000 lb (453.5 to 907.2 kg) of pollock ACTION: Notice; request for comments. model EM program for the groundfish
and haddock, combined, per trip. 2017 fishery. The EFP required vessels to use
data indicate that catch of non-target SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional EM systems on 100 percent of
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
species is small; cod represented less Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, groundfish sector trips to verify
than 10 percent of catch overall, and Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has regulated groundfish discards. EM was
other species were encountered only made a preliminary determination that used in lieu of human observers to meet
sporadically or in low numbers. an exempted fishing permit application their sector ASM requirements. Thirteen
Because these vessels would be submitted by the Cape Cod Commercial vessels using a variety of gear types (e.g.
fishing in closed areas, and must Fishermen’s Alliance contains all of the hook, benthic longline, sink gillnet,
minimize interactions with non-target required information and warrants bottom trawl) participated in the
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![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 71 / Thursday, April 12, 2018 / Notices 15793
project. A total of 81 trips were change the scope or impact of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
completed in fishing year 2017. initially approved EFP request. Any Groundfish sectors are required to
The project partners have submitted a fishing activity conducted outside the implement and fund an at-sea
renewal request for fishing year 2018. scope of the exempted fishing activity monitoring (ASM) program. A sector is
The proposed participant list includes would be prohibited. allowed to use electronic monitoring
14 vessels, 13 of which participated in Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. (EM) to satisfy this monitoring
this EFP in fishing year 2017. Together, requirement, provided that NMFS
these vessels are expected to take an Dated: April 9, 2018. deems the technology sufficient for
estimated 400 trips. The project partners Jennifer M. Wallace, catch monitoring. NMFS has yet to
expect up to 10 additional vessels may Acting Director, Office of Sustainable approve EM as an alternative to ASM,
join the project in fishing year 2018. Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. but is working with industry and other
Vessels participating in this EFP [FR Doc. 2018–07596 Filed 4–11–18; 8:45 am] stakeholders to develop EM for catch
would be required to use EM on 100 BILLING CODE 3510–22–P monitoring in the groundfish fishery.
percent of groundfish trips. Camera For the groundfish fishery, the program
systems would be used in lieu of human designs currently being considered are
at-sea monitors, and in addition to DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE the ‘‘audit model’’ and the ‘‘maximized
Northeast Fishery Observer Program retention model.’’ The audit model
(NEFOP) observers. Vessels would National Oceanic and Atmospheric would use EM to verify discards
adhere to a vessel-specific monitoring Administration reported by a captain on a vessel trip
plan detailing at-sea catch handling RIN 0648–XG150 report. Under the maximized retention
protocols. Vessels would submit haul- electronic monitoring (MREM) model,
level electronic vessel trip reports Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; vessels would be required to retain most
(eVTR) with count and weight estimates General Provisions for Domestic fish species (e.g., allocated groundfish
for all groundfish discards. Fisheries; Application for Exempted stocks), and EM would be used to
The discard estimates provided in the Fishing Permits ensure compliance with discarding
eVTR would be used for catch regulations.
accounting, and all catch of allocated AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries GMRI submitted an exempted fishing
groundfish would be deducted from the Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and permit (EFP) application to test a
appropriate sector’s allocation. The EM Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), maximized retention electronic
service provider would review the video Commerce. monitoring (MREM) model and an
footage and produce an EM summary ACTION: Notice; request for comments. accompanying dockside monitoring
report identifying, counting, and (DSM) program to monitor high-volume
generating weight estimates for all SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional
bottom-trawl vessels in the groundfish
groundfish discards. The provider Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries,
fleet. Vessels would be outfitted with
would submit this report to NMFS. Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has
EM systems (cameras and gear sensors),
NMFS would compare the eVTR and made a preliminary determination that
and the cameras would be on for 100
EM summary file to ensure the an exempted fishing permit application
percent of groundfish trips. The EFP
submissions match within an submitted by the Gulf of Maine
would require participating vessels to
established tolerance. If the trips do not Research Institute contains all of the
retain and land all catch of allocated
match, the eVTR would not be used for required information and warrants
groundfish, including undersized fish
catch accounting for that trip. For trips further consideration. The exempted
that they would normally be required to
that carry a NEFOP observer, the NEFOP fishing permit would allow the use of
discard. All other species would be
data would be used for catch electronic monitoring to support testing
handled per normal commercial fishing
accounting. The EM service provider a maximized retention model in the operations. An EM service provider
would review 100 percent of the video groundfish fishery. would review 100 percent of the video
footage at the outset of the fishing year, Regulations under the Magnuson-
footage to verify that the vessels did not
but may reduce the review percentage Stevens Fishery Conservation and
discard allocated groundfish. NMFS
mid-year as part of audit-model testing, Management Act require publication of
Northeast Fisheries Science Center staff
if approved by NMFS. this notification to provide interested
would conduct a secondary review of
Because participating vessels would parties the opportunity to comment on
100 percent of the video footage for all
be fully monitored, project partners applications for proposed Exempted
trips.
requested access to closed areas to Fishing Permits. All catch would be assessed shoreside
incentivize participation and create DATES: Comments must be received on via an accompanying DSM program.
additional fishing opportunities for or before April 27, 2018. The DSM program would have three
healthy stocks. Vessels would be ADDRESSES: You may submit written primary objectives: (1) Biological
allowed to use hook gear and sink comments by either of the following sampling; (2) verification of dealer-
gillnets in Closed Area II from May 1 methods: reported landings, and; (3) fish hold
through February 15, hook gear in • Email: nmfs.gar.efp@noaa.gov. inspections. Vessels would be
Western Gulf of Maine Closure Area, Include in the subject line ‘‘GMRI authorized to sell catch, including
and jig gear in Cashes Ledge Closure MREM EFP.’’ undersized fish, to a limited number of
Area. • Mail: Michael Pentony, Regional dealers. The vessel and dealer would
If approved, the applicant may Administrator, NMFS, Greater Atlantic
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
work with the Center to ensure that a
request minor modifications and Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great Federal employee or contract staff is
extensions to the EFP throughout the Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. present to observe 100 percent of
year. EFP modifications and extensions Mark the outside of the envelope ‘‘GMRI offloads for this project. The sampler
may be granted without further notice if MREM EFP.’’ would verify dealer landings and collect
they are deemed essential to facilitate FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: biosamples, including length-frequency
completion of the proposed research Claire Fitz-Gerald, Fishery Management data on a subset of fish in each market
and have minimal impacts that do not Specialist, 978–281–9255. category. The Northeast Region Office of
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Document Created: 2018-11-02 08:15:24
Document Modified: 2018-11-02 08:15:24
| 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 April 27, 2018. | |
| Contact | Claire Fitz-Gerald, Fishery Management Specialist, 978-281-9255. | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 15792 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XG15 |
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