83_FR_16417 83 FR 16344 - Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits

83 FR 16344 - 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 73 (April 16, 2018)

Page Range16344-16345
FR Document2018-07870

The Acting Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary determination that Exempted Fishing Permits, to facilitate the use of fishing year 2018 monkfish research set-aside days-at-sea, warrants further consideration. This notice provides interested parties the opportunity to comment on the proposed Exempted Fishing Permits.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 73 (Monday, April 16, 2018) 
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 73 (Monday, April 16, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16344-16345]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-07870]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG129


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

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Acting Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable 
Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary 
determination that Exempted Fishing Permits, to facilitate the use of 
fishing year 2018 monkfish research set-aside days-at-sea, warrants 
further consideration. This notice provides interested parties the 
opportunity to comment on the proposed Exempted Fishing Permits.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 1, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by any of the following 
methods:
     Email: [email protected]. Include in the subject line 
``Comments on 2018 Monkfish RSA EFP.''
     Mail: Michael Pentony, Regional Administrator, NMFS, 
Greater Atlantic Regional Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, 
MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope ``Comments on 2018 Monkfish 
RSA EFP.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cynthia Hanson, Fishery Management 
Specialist, 978-281-9180, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Exempted Fishing Permits (EFPs) that waive monkfish landing limits 
have been routinely approved since 2007 to increase operational 
efficiency and optimize research funds generated from the Monkfish 
Research Set-Aside (RSA) Program. These EFPs would facilitate 
compensation fishing in support of the projects funded under the 2018 
monkfish RSA competition. Project proposals for this year are currently 
under review, with selection expected in late April, just prior to the 
May 1 start of the 2018 fishing year. Consistent with previous years of 
the monkfish RSA program, these RSA compensation fishing EFPs would 
authorize an exemption for participating vessels from days-at-sea (DAS) 
landing limit restrictions in the Monkfish Northern and Southern 
Fishery DAS would be allowed to harvest monkfish in excess of the usual 
landing limits associated with their Federal permits.
    The monkfish RSA program is allocated 500 monkfish RSA DAS 
annually, as established by the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery 
Management Councils in Amendment 2 to the Monkfish FMP (70 FR 21929; 
April 28, 2005). Each year, these monkfish RSA DAS may be divided 
between research award recipients and sold to fishermen to fund 
approved monkfish research projects. Award recipients receive an 
allocation of RSA DAS and a maximum amount that may be landed under 
available DAS. Projects are constrained to the total DAS, maximum 
available landing weight, or award timetable, whichever is reached 
first. To calculate a maximum weight allocation that is similar to the 
Councils' original intent to be harvested under the allocated 500 RSA 
DAS, NMFS uses twice the landing limit for Permit Category A and C 
monkfish vessel fishing in the Southern Fishery Management Area (4,074 
lb (2 mt) whole weight) for each RSA DAS. This means that annually, a 
maximum of 2,037,000 lb (924 mt) of whole weight may be harvested 
across all Monkfish RSA projects. Allowing vessels an exemption from 
monkfish landing limits provides an incentive for vessels to purchase 
and fish under RSA DAS to catch more monkfish per trip, while 
constraining each project to a maximum available harvest limit ensures 
that the overall monkfish RSA catch will not be an excessive burden on 
the fishery as a whole.
    If approved, the applicants 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 of the initially approved 
EFP request. Any fishing activity conducted outside the scope of

[[Page 16345]]

the exempted fishing activity would be prohibited.

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: April 11, 2018.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-07870 Filed 4-13-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

16344 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 73 / Monday, April 16, 2018 / Notices Permits and Conservation Division, at Concurrent with the publication of Program. These EFPs would facilitate the address listed above. Comments may this notice in the Federal Register, compensation fishing in support of the also be submitted by facsimile to (301) NMFS is forwarding copies of this projects funded under the 2018 713–0376, or by email to application to the Marine Mammal monkfish RSA competition. Project NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Please Commission and its Committee of proposals for this year are currently include the File No. in the subject line Scientific Advisors. under review, with selection expected of the email comment. Dated: April 11, 2018. in late April, just prior to the May 1 start Those individuals requesting a public Julia Harrison, of the 2018 fishing year. Consistent with hearing should submit a written request previous years of the monkfish RSA Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, to the Chief, Permits and Conservation Office of Protected Resources, National program, these RSA compensation Division at the address listed above. The Marine Fisheries Service. fishing EFPs would authorize an request should set forth the specific [FR Doc. 2018–07834 Filed 4–13–18; 8:45 am] exemption for participating vessels from reasons why a hearing on this days-at-sea (DAS) landing limit BILLING CODE 3510–22–P application would be appropriate. restrictions in the Monkfish Northern FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sara and Southern Fishery DAS would be Young or Carrie Hubard, (301) 427– DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE allowed to harvest monkfish in excess of 8401. the usual landing limits associated with National Oceanic and Atmospheric their Federal permits. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Administration The monkfish RSA program is subject amendment to Permit No. allocated 500 monkfish RSA DAS 21158–01 is requested under the RIN 0648–XG129 annually, as established by the New authority of the Marine Mammal Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 General Provisions for Domestic Management Councils in Amendment 2 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) and the regulations Fisheries; Application for Exempted to the Monkfish FMP (70 FR 21929; governing the taking and importing of Fishing Permits April 28, 2005). Each year, these marine mammals (50 CFR part 216). monkfish RSA DAS may be divided Permit No. 21158, issued on AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries between research award recipients and September 25, 2017 (82 FR 48985; Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and sold to fishermen to fund approved October 23, 2017), authorizes the permit Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), monkfish research projects. Award holder to continue long-term studies of Commerce. recipients receive an allocation of RSA the Erebus Bay, Antarctica, Weddell seal ACTION: Notice; request for comments. DAS and a maximum amount that may (Leptonychotes weddellii) population to be landed under available DAS. Projects evaluate how temporal variation in the SUMMARY: The Acting Assistant Regional are constrained to the total DAS, marine environment affects individual Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, maximum available landing weight, or life histories and the population Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has award timetable, whichever is reached dynamics of long-lived mammal. The made a preliminary determination that first. To calculate a maximum weight permit holder is requesting the permit Exempted Fishing Permits, to facilitate allocation that is similar to the Councils’ be amended to increase take numbers the use of fishing year 2018 monkfish original intent to be harvested under the for Weddell seals due to a population research set-aside days-at-sea, warrants allocated 500 RSA DAS, NMFS uses boom observed by their long-term further consideration. This notice twice the landing limit for Permit research. We issued a major amendment provides interested parties the Category A and C monkfish vessel on (83 FR 7166; February 20, 2018) to opportunity to comment on the fishing in the Southern Fishery increase take for the 2017–18 field proposed Exempted Fishing Permits. Management Area (4,074 lb (2 mt) season to allow researchers to continue DATES: Comments must be received on whole weight) for each RSA DAS. This their work, increasing take of pups from or before May 1, 2018. means that annually, a maximum of 675 to 1,000 for one field season only. ADDRESSES: You may submit written 2,037,000 lb (924 mt) of whole weight However, due to the population boom, comments by any of the following may be harvested across all Monkfish the permit holder is requesting an methods: RSA projects. Allowing vessels an increase of take by 35 percent to all life • Email: NMFS.GAR.EFP@noaa.gov. exemption from monkfish landing limits stages. The amendment would increase: Include in the subject line ‘‘Comments provides an incentive for vessels to Pups tagged from 515 to 800, pups on 2018 Monkfish RSA EFP.’’ purchase and fish under RSA DAS to retagged due to lost tags from 10 to 20, • Mail: Michael Pentony, Regional catch more monkfish per trip, while tagging adults from 285 to 385, adults Administrator, NMFS, Greater Atlantic constraining each project to a maximum harassed for tag reading from 1325 to Regional Office, 55 Great Republic available harvest limit ensures that the 1800, and number of pups harassed Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the overall monkfish RSA catch will not be from tag reading from 675 to 910, outside of the envelope ‘‘Comments on an excessive burden on the fishery as a annually. The permit holder would also 2018 Monkfish RSA EFP.’’ whole. like to increase the number of carcasses FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If approved, the applicants may salvaged from 10 to 35. The permit Cynthia Hanson, Fishery Management request minor modifications and expires on September 30, 2022. Specialist, 978–281–9180, extensions to the EFP throughout the In compliance with the National Cynthia.Hanson@noaa.gov. year. EFP modifications and extensions srobinson on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: may be granted without further notice if U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial Exempted Fishing Permits (EFPs) that they are deemed essential to facilitate determination has been made that the waive monkfish landing limits have completion of the proposed research activity proposed is categorically been routinely approved since 2007 to and have minimal impacts that do not excluded from the requirement to increase operational efficiency and change the scope of the initially prepare an environmental assessment or optimize research funds generated from approved EFP request. Any fishing environmental impact statement. the Monkfish Research Set-Aside (RSA) activity conducted outside the scope of VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:42 Apr 13, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00060 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\16APN1.SGM 16APN1

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 73 / Monday, April 16, 2018 / Notices 16345 the exempted fishing activity would be Magnuson-Stevens Act). The list has DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE prohibited. been published and appears in 50 CFR Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. part 600.725(v). Any person wishing to Department of the Air Force use gear not on the list, or engage in a Dated: April 11, 2018. Board of Visitors (BoV) of the U.S. Air fishery not on the list, must provide the Jennifer M. Wallace, Force Academy Notice of Meeting appropriate Council or the Secretary, in Acting Director, Office of Sustainable the case of Atlantic highly migratory AGENCY: U.S. Air Force Academy Board Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. species, with 90 days of advance notice. of Visitors. [FR Doc. 2018–07870 Filed 4–13–18; 8:45 am] If the Secretary takes no action to ACTION: Meeting notice. BILLING CODE 3510–22–P prohibit such a fishery or use of such a gear, the person may proceed. SUMMARY: Due to circumstances beyond the control of the Department of Defense DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE II. Method of Collection (DoD) and the Designated Federal Officer, the Board of Visitors of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric The respondent provides written Air Force Academy was unable to Administration notice. No form is used. provide public notification concerning Proposed Information Collection; III. Data the meeting on Wednesday, April 25, Comment Request; List of Gear by 2018, of the Board of Visitors of the U.S. Fisheries and Fishery Management OMB Number: 0648–0346. Air Force Academy. Accordingly, the Council Form Number: None. Advisory Committee Management Officer for the Department of Defense, AGENCY: National Oceanic and Type of Review: Regular submission. waives the 15-calendar day notification Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Affected Public: Business or other for- requirement. The U.S. Air Force Commerce. profit organizations. Academy (USAFA) Board of Visitors ACTION: Notice. Estimated Number of Respondents: 6. (BoV) will hold a meeting at the United States Air Force Academy Eisenhower SUMMARY: The Department of Estimated Time per Response: 90 Golf Course, Building 3162, Colorado Commerce, as part of its continuing minutes. Springs, CO, on Wednesday, 25 April effort to reduce paperwork and Estimated Total Annual Burden 2018. The open portion of the meeting respondent burden, invites the general Hours: 15. is scheduled for 8:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m. public and other Federal agencies to (Mountain Time) and the closed portion take this opportunity to comment on Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $30.00 in recordkeeping/ of the meeting is scheduled for 2:00 proposed and/or continuing information p.m.–4:30 p.m.; the public audience will collections, as required by the reporting costs. be dismissed at 2:00 p.m. The purpose Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. IV. Request for Comments of this meeting is to review morale and DATES: Written comments must be discipline, social climate, athletics, submitted on or before June 15, 2018. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether diversity, curriculum and other matters ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments the proposed collection of information relating to the Academy; these topics to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental is necessary for the proper performance will fall under a Superintendent’s Paperwork Clearance Officer, of the functions of the agency, including update, a Commandant’s update and a Department of Commerce, Room 6616, whether the information shall have Dean’s update. One session of this 14th and Constitution Avenue NW, practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the meeting shall be closed to the public. Washington, DC 20230 (or via the agency’s estimate of the burden SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public internet at pracomments@doc.gov). (including hours and cost) of the Accessibility to the Meeting: Pursuant to FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: proposed collection of information; (c) 5 U.S.C. 552b, as amended, and 41 CFR Requests for additional information or ways to enhance the quality, utility, and 102–3.140 through 102–3.165, and copies of the information collection clarity of the information to be subject to the availability of space, this instrument and instructions should be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the meeting is open to the public. directed to Chris Wright, (301) 427– burden of the collection of information Registration of members of the public 8570 or Chris.Wright@noaa.gov. on respondents, including through the who wish to attend the meeting will SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: use of automated collection techniques begin upon publication of this meeting or other forms of information notice and end three business days (20 I. Abstract April) prior to the start of the meeting. technology. This request is for an extension of a All members of the public must contact Comments submitted in response to Capt Campos at the phone number or currently approved information collection. this notice will be summarized and/or email listed in the FOR FURTHER Under the provisions of the included in the request for OMB INFORMATION CONTACT. Seating is limited Magnuson-Stevens Fishery and approval of this information collection; and is on a first-to-arrive basis. Conservation and Management Act they also will become a matter of public Attendees will be asked to provide their (Magnuson-Stevens Act) [16 U.S.C. 1801 record. name, title, affiliation, and contact et seq.], as amended by the Sustainable Dated: April 11, 2018. information to include email address srobinson on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES Fisheries Act [Pub. L. 104–297], the Sarah Brabson, and daytime telephone number to the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) is POC listed in the FOR FURTHER NOAA PRA Clearance Officer. required to publish a list of all fisheries INFORMATION CONTACT section. Any [FR Doc. 2018–07886 Filed 4–13–18; 8:45 am] under authority of each Regional interested person may attend the Fishery Management Council (Council) BILLING CODE 3510–22–P meeting, file written comments or and all such fishing gear used in such statements with the committee, or make fisheries (see section 305(a) of the verbal comments from the floor during VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:42 Apr 13, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00061 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\16APN1.SGM 16APN1


Document Created: 2018-04-14 02:19:37
Document Modified: 2018-04-14 02:19:37
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice; request for comments.
DatesComments must be received on or before May 1, 2018.
ContactCynthia Hanson, Fishery Management Specialist, 978-281-9180, [email protected]
FR Citation83 FR 16344 
RIN Number0648-XG12
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