83_FR_19613 83 FR 19527 - Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits

83 FR 19527 - Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management 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 86 (May 3, 2018)

Page Range19527-19527
FR Document2018-09385

The Acting Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit Application from the Atlantic Offshore Lobsterman's Association and Maine Department of Marine Resources contains all the required information and warrants further consideration. Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act require publication of this notice to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for proposed Exempted Fishing Permits.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 86 (Thursday, May 3, 2018) 
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 86 (Thursday, May 3, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 19527]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-09385]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG203


Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management 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 an Exempted Fishing Permit Application from the 
Atlantic Offshore Lobsterman's Association and Maine Department of 
Marine Resources contains all the required information and warrants 
further consideration. Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act and the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries 
Cooperative Management Act require publication of this notice to 
provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications 
for proposed Exempted Fishing Permits.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 18, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by any of the following 
methods:
     Email: [email protected]. Include in the subject line 
``Comments on AOLA Lobster 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 ``Comments on 
AOLA Lobster EFP.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Hansen, NOAA Affiliate, (978) 
281-9225.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Atlantic Offshore Lobstermen's 
Association (AOLA) and Maine Department of Marine Resources (ME DMR) 
submitted a complete application for an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) 
on April 10, 2018, to conduct fishing activities that the regulations 
would otherwise restrict. The EFP would authorize one commercial 
fishing vessel to conduct a lobster tagging study using experimental 
traps to track movements and migrations of American lobster in the Gulf 
of Maine/Georges Bank stock. This EFP proposes to use 300 experimental 
traps in Lobster Conservation Management Area (LCMA) 3 in statistical 
area 515. Maps depicting this area is available on request.
    AOLA and ME DMR are requesting exemptions from the following 
Federal lobster regulations:
    1. Gear specification requirements to allow for the use of traps 
with escape vents compliant with LCMA 1, but not LCMA 3 (50 CFR 
697.21(c)(4));
    2. Trap limit requirements to allow for trap limits to be exceeded 
(Sec.  697.19(a) for LCMA 1);
    3. Trap tag requirements to allow for alternatively-tagged traps 
(Sec.  697.19(i)); and
    4. LCMA designation requirements to allow fishing with experimental 
traps in LCMA 3 without an LCMA 3 designation on a Federal permit 
(Sec.  697.4(a)(7)(i)).
    The purpose of this lobster study is to track migration in the Gulf 
of Maine/Georges Bank stock area, estimate growth rates via imaging 
technology and direct measurements, and characterize catch-per-unit-
effort and spatial distribution of egg-bearing females. This study will 
expand on data collected in 2015 from a New Hampshire Fish and Game and 
ALOA's fishery dependent lobster survey, which gathered some 
information on the spatial and temporal distribution of mature lobsters 
in the Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank area.
    Trawls will be compliant with the Atlantic Large Whale Take 
Reduction Plan and consistent with LCMA 1 trap standards. Sampling will 
occur from June to July. Trawls will be hauled no more than 8 times 
over the 40-day study period. Researchers have selected four primary 
research sites and one alternate site. Trawls will be initially 
deployed by the vessel's crew alone, but all hauling activities will be 
supervised by ME DMR staff. All lobsters caught will be measured, 
tagged, and returned to the water. All other species will be 
immediately returned to the sea. No catch from the study will be landed 
for sale.
    If approved, the applicant may request minor modifications and 
extensions to the EFP throughout the year. We may grant 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. The EFP would prohibit 
any fishing activity conducted outside the scope of the exempted 
fishing activities.

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

    Dated: April 30, 2018.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-09385 Filed 5-2-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 86 / Thursday, May 3, 2018 / Notices 19527 Dated: April 30, 2018. on April 10, 2018, to conduct fishing proposed research and have minimal Tracey L. Thompson, activities that the regulations would impacts that do not change the scope or Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable otherwise restrict. The EFP would impact of the initially approved EFP Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. authorize one commercial fishing vessel request. The EFP would prohibit any [FR Doc. 2018–09393 Filed 5–2–18; 8:45 am] to conduct a lobster tagging study using fishing activity conducted outside the BILLING CODE 3510–22–P experimental traps to track movements scope of the exempted fishing activities. and migrations of American lobster in the Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank stock. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE This EFP proposes to use 300 Dated: April 30, 2018. experimental traps in Lobster Alan D. Risenhoover, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Conservation Management Area (LCMA) Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, Administration 3 in statistical area 515. Maps depicting National Marine Fisheries Service. RIN 0648–XG203 this area is available on request. [FR Doc. 2018–09385 Filed 5–2–18; 8:45 am] AOLA and ME DMR are requesting exemptions from the following Federal BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act Provisions; General lobster regulations: Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; 1. Gear specification requirements to allow for the use of traps with escape DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Application for Exempted Fishing Permits vents compliant with LCMA 1, but not LCMA 3 (50 CFR 697.21(c)(4)); National Oceanic and Atmospheric AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 2. Trap limit requirements to allow for Administration Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and trap limits to be exceeded (§ 697.19(a) Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), for LCMA 1); RIN 0648–XG198 Commerce. 3. Trap tag requirements to allow for ACTION: Notice; request for comments. alternatively-tagged traps (§ 697.19(i)); North Pacific Fishery Management and Council; Public Meeting SUMMARY: The Acting Assistant Regional 4. LCMA designation requirements to Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, allow fishing with experimental traps in AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has LCMA 3 without an LCMA 3 Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and made a preliminary determination that designation on a Federal permit Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), an Exempted Fishing Permit (§ 697.4(a)(7)(i)). Commerce. Application from the Atlantic Offshore The purpose of this lobster study is to Lobsterman’s Association and Maine track migration in the Gulf of Maine/ ACTION: Notice of a public meeting. Department of Marine Resources Georges Bank stock area, estimate contains all the required information growth rates via imaging technology and SUMMARY: The North Pacific Fishery and warrants further consideration. direct measurements, and characterize Management Council will host a Regulations under the Magnuson- catch-per-unit-effort and spatial meeting of the Council Coordination Stevens Fishery Conservation and distribution of egg-bearing females. This Committee (CCC), consisting of the Management Act and the Atlantic study will expand on data collected in Regional Fishery Management Council Coastal Fisheries Cooperative 2015 from a New Hampshire Fish and chairs, vice chairs, and executive Management Act require publication of Game and ALOA’s fishery dependent directors on May 22 through May 24, this notice to provide interested parties lobster survey, which gathered some 2018. the opportunity to comment on information on the spatial and temporal applications for proposed Exempted distribution of mature lobsters in the DATES: The CCC will begin at 1 p.m. on Fishing Permits. Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank area. Tuesday, May 22, 2018, recess at 4:30 DATES: Comments must be received on Trawls will be compliant with the p.m.; and reconvene at 8:30 a.m. on or before May 18, 2018. Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Wednesday, May 23, 2018, recess at Plan and consistent with LCMA 1 trap 4:30 p.m.; and reconvene at 8:30 a.m. ADDRESSES: You may submit written standards. Sampling will occur from Thursday, May 24, 2018 and adjourn at comments by any of the following June to July. Trawls will be hauled no methods: 5 p.m. or when business is complete. more than 8 times over the 40-day study The Council Communications Group • Email: NMFS.GAR.EFP@noaa.gov. period. Researchers have selected four Include in the subject line ‘‘Comments (CCG) will meet Tuesday, May 22, 2018 primary research sites and one alternate at 8:30 a.m., recess at 5 p.m.; and on AOLA Lobster EFP.’’ site. Trawls will be initially deployed by • Mail: Michael Pentony, Regional the vessel’s crew alone, but all hauling reconvene at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Administrator, NMFS, Greater Atlantic May 23, 2018, adjourn at 5 p.m. activities will be supervised by ME Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great DMR staff. All lobsters caught will be ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. measured, tagged, and returned to the Harrigan Centennial Hall, 330 Harbor Mark the outside of the envelope water. All other species will be Drive, Sitka, AK; Westmark Hotel, 330 ‘‘Comments on AOLA Lobster EFP.’’ immediately returned to the sea. No Seward Street, Sitka, AK. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: catch from the study will be landed for Laura Hansen, NOAA Affiliate, (978) Council address: North Pacific sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES sale. Fishery Management Council, 605 W. 281–9225. If approved, the applicant may 4th Avenue, Suite 306, Anchorage, AK SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The request minor modifications and 99501–2252. Atlantic Offshore Lobstermen’s extensions to the EFP throughout the Association (AOLA) and Maine year. We may grant EFP modifications FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Department of Marine Resources (ME and extensions may be granted without David Witherell, at (907) 271–2809. DMR) submitted a complete application further notice if they are deemed SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: for an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) essential to facilitate completion of the VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:29 May 02, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\03MYN1.SGM 03MYN1


Document Created: 2018-05-02 23:48:23
Document Modified: 2018-05-02 23:48:23
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 18, 2018.
ContactLaura Hansen, NOAA Affiliate, (978) 281-9225.
FR Citation83 FR 19527 
RIN Number0648-XG20
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