83 FR 33923 - 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 138 (July 18, 2018)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 138 (July 18, 2018)
| Page Range | 33923-33924 | |
| FR Document | 2018-15342 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 138 (Wednesday, July 18, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 33923-33924] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-15342] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648-XG257 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 Regional Administrator, West Coast Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary determination that an application for an Exempted Fishing Permit warrants further consideration. The application, submitted by the California Wetfish Producers Association, requests an exemption from the prohibition of primary directed fishing for Pacific sardine for the 2018-2019 fishing year to collect Pacific sardine as part of an industry-based scientific survey. NMFS requests public comment on the application. DATES: Comments must be received by August 2, 2018. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2018-0072, by any of the following methods:Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2018-0072, click the ``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments. The EFP application will be available under Relevant Documents through the same link. Mail: Submit written comments to Joshua Lindsay, West Coast Region, NMFS, 501 W. Ocean Blvd., Ste. 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4250. Instructions: Comments must be submitted by one of the above methods to ensure that the comments are received, documented, and considered by NMFS. 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. All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying information (e.g., name, address, etc.) submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business information, or [[Page 33924]] otherwise sensitive or protected information. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joshua Lindsay, West Coast Region, NMFS, (562) 980-4034, joshua.lindsay@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 25, 2018, NMFS published a final rule (83 FR 29461) to implement Pacific sardine harvest specifications for the 2018-2019 fishing year off the U.S. West Coast, which began on July 1. This final rule imposed a 7,000 metric ton (mt) annual catch limit (ACL) and a prohibition on primary directed fishing for Pacific sardine off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California. This prohibition against ``primary directed fishing'' covers any targeting of Pacific sardine, except very small-scale artisanal harvests, live bait harvests, and harvests by the Quinault Indian Nation. At the April 2018 Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) meeting, the Council voted in support of two exempted fishing permit (EFP) proposals requesting an exemption from the prohibition on primary directed fishing for Pacific sardine. The Council structured the 2018-2019 Pacific sardine harvest specifications so that up to 610 mt (the combined total of the anticipated harvests under the two EFP proposals the Council reviewed) of the ACL could be harvested under EFPs. The California Wetfish Producers Association (CWPA) requested an EFP to directly harvest up to 600 mt of Pacific sardine for its Coastal Pelagic Species Near-shore Cooperative Survey (CPS-NCS). Since 2012 the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, in partnership with the CWPA, has been conducting aerial surveys to estimate the biomass and distribution of sardine and certain other CPS species in nearshore waters in the Southern California Bight, and in the Monterey-San Francisco area since the summer of 2017. Currently, there is uncertainty in the biomass estimates from aerial spotter pilots. The CPS-NCS survey under the proposed EFP is part of a research project designed to quantify that level of uncertainty by capturing CPS schools identified by aerial spotter pilots and validating the biomass and species composition of the schools. A portion of each point set (i.e. an individual haul of fish captured with a purse seine net) will be retained for biological sampling, and the remainder will be sold by the participating fishermen and processors to offset research costs and avoid unnecessary discard. This research is part of a broader effort to understand the biomass of CPS located in shallower, nearshore areas that NOAA's CPS offshore acoustic trawl survey is unable to access. If NMFS issues this EFP, the CPS-NCS will survey nearshore waters of the Southern California Bight for 7 days in late August 2018. Any harvest under this EFP would count against the ACL for Pacific sardine. If NMFS does not issue this EFP, then the 600 mt that might have been harvested under this EFP would still be available for harvest under the ACL. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: July 13, 2018. Margo B. Schulze-Haugen, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2018-15342 Filed 7-17-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 138 / Wednesday, July 18, 2018 / Notices 33923
in the near-term (1 to 2 years), mid-term contacting Nicole Capps at DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
(3 to 5 years) and/or long-term (more Nicole.Capps@noaa.gov or 831–647–
than 5 years). More specifically, 6451 at least one working day in National Oceanic and Atmospheric
a. Specific solutions available to advance of the meeting. Administration
address the needs of working groups/
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: RIN 0648–XG257
communities of practice;
b. Specific solutions available to Charles M. Wahle, Ph.D., Designated
Federal Officer, MPA FAC, National Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions;
address the more immediate needs of
General Provisions for Domestic
individual practitioners and Marine Protected Areas Center, 99
Fisheries; Application for Exempted
management; Pacific St., Suite 100–F, Monterey, CA
c. How information is best Fishing Permits
93940. (Phone: 831–647–6460; Fax:
disseminated to the leadership and staff 831–647–1732; email: charles.wahle@ AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
of organizations within a network, and noaa.gov; or visit the National MPA Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
whether this would be applicable for the Center website at http:// Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
integrated MEP National Network; marineprotectedareas.noaa.gov/fac). Commerce.
(3) Cultural and technical barriers that
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
need to be addressed by any system(s) SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
of knowledge management; Committee, composed of external, SUMMARY: The Regional Administrator,
(4) Complementary services, knowledgeable representatives of West Coast Region, NMFS, has made a
including information services, that are stakeholder groups, was established by preliminary determination that an
and/or will be needed by NIST MEP and the Department of Commerce (DOC) to application for an Exempted Fishing
the MEP Centers to take full advantage provide advice to the Secretaries of Permit warrants further consideration.
of any knowledge management system Commerce and the Interior on The application, submitted by the
and culture; implementation of Section 4 of California Wetfish Producers
(5) Any other critical issues that NIST
Executive Order 13158, on marine Association, requests an exemption
MEP should consider in its strategic
protected areas (MPAs). The MPA FAC from the prohibition of primary directed
planning for investments in this area
was continued via Presidential fishing for Pacific sardine for the 2018–
that are not covered by the first four
Executive Order on September 29, 2017. 2019 fishing year to collect Pacific
issues. Further information on the MEP
The meeting is open to the public, and sardine as part of an industry-based
program is available at: https://
public comment will be accepted from scientific survey. NMFS requests public
www.nist.gov/mep.
12:15 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. Pacific Time on comment on the application.
Authority: 15 U.S.C. 278k.
Wednesday, September 19, 2018. In DATES: Comments must be received by
Kevin A. Kimball, general, each individual or group will August 2, 2018.
Chief of Staff. be limited to a total time of three (3) ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
[FR Doc. 2018–15265 Filed 7–17–18; 8:45 am] minutes. If members of the public wish on this document, identified by NOAA–
BILLING CODE 3510–13–P to submit written statements, they NMFS–2018–0072, by any of the
should be submitted to the Designated following methods:
Federal Officer by Friday, September 14, • Electronic Submissions: Submit all
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 2018. electronic public comments via the
Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Matters to be Considered: This
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;
Administration meeting will focus on: (i) Approving the D=NOAA-NMFS-2018-0072, click the
Committee’s final findings and ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, complete the
Marine Protected Areas Federal recommendations on Sustaining MPA required fields, and enter or attach your
Advisory Committee; Public Meeting Benefits in a Changing Ocean; and, (ii) comments. The EFP application will be
AGENCY: Office of National Marine approving updates to the Cultural available under Relevant Documents
Sanctuaries (ONMS), National Ocean Resources Toolkit developed previously through the same link.
Service (NOS), National Oceanic and by the Committee and published on the • Mail: Submit written comments to
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), MPA Center website (https:// Joshua Lindsay, West Coast Region,
Department of Commerce (DOC). marineprotectedareas.noaa.gov/toolkit/ NMFS, 501 W. Ocean Blvd., Ste. 4200,
ACTION: Notice of open meeting. ). The agenda is subject to change. The Long Beach, CA 90802–4250.
latest version will be posted at http:// • Instructions: Comments must be
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of a marineprotectedareas.noaa.gov/fac. submitted by one of the above methods
virtual meeting of the Marine Protected to ensure that the comments are
Areas Federal Advisory Committee Dated: June 14, 2018.
received, documented, and considered
(MPA FAC) via teleconference. John A. Armor,
by NMFS. Comments sent by any other
DATES: The meeting will be held on Director, Office of National Marine method, to any other address or
Wednesday, September 19, 2018, from Sanctuaries, National Ocean Service, individual, or received after the end of
11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Pacific Time National Oceanic and Atmospheric the comment period, may not be
(2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time). Administration.
considered. All comments received are
These times and the agenda topics [FR Doc. 2018–15340 Filed 7–17–18; 8:45 am] a part of the public record and will
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1
described below are subject to change. BILLING CODE 3510–NK–P generally be posted for public viewing
Please refer to the Committee’s webpage on www.regulations.gov without change.
for the most up-to-date meeting agenda. All personal identifying information
http://marineprotectedareas.noaa.gov/ (e.g., name, address, etc.) submitted
fac. voluntarily by the sender will be
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held publicly accessible. Do not submit
virtually via teleconference. Register by confidential business information, or
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![33924 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 138 / Wednesday, July 18, 2018 / Notices
otherwise sensitive or protected research costs and avoid unnecessary Written comments on this application
information. NMFS will accept discard. This research is part of a should be submitted to the Chief,
anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/A’’ in broader effort to understand the biomass Permits and Conservation Division, at
the required fields if you wish to remain of CPS located in shallower, nearshore the address listed above. Comments may
anonymous). areas that NOAA’s CPS offshore also be submitted by facsimile to (301)
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: acoustic trawl survey is unable to 713–0376, or by email to
Joshua Lindsay, West Coast Region, access. NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Please
NMFS, (562) 980–4034, joshua.lindsay@ If NMFS issues this EFP, the CPS– include the File No. 22272 in the subject
noaa.gov. NCS will survey nearshore waters of the line of the email comment.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June
Southern California Bight for 7 days in Those individuals requesting a public
25, 2018, NMFS published a final rule late August 2018. Any harvest under hearing should submit a written request
(83 FR 29461) to implement Pacific this EFP would count against the ACL to the Chief, Permits and Conservation
sardine harvest specifications for the for Pacific sardine. If NMFS does not Division at the address listed above. The
2018–2019 fishing year off the U.S. West issue this EFP, then the 600 mt that request should set forth the specific
Coast, which began on July 1. This final might have been harvested under this reasons why a hearing on this
rule imposed a 7,000 metric ton (mt) EFP would still be available for harvest application would be appropriate.
annual catch limit (ACL) and a under the ACL.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
prohibition on primary directed fishing Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Shasta McClenahan or Jennifer
for Pacific sardine off the coasts of Dated: July 13, 2018. Skidmore, (301) 427–8401.
Washington, Oregon, and California. Margo B. Schulze-Haugen,
This prohibition against ‘‘primary SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable subject permit is requested under the
directed fishing’’ covers any targeting of Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
Pacific sardine, except very small-scale authority of the Marine Mammal
[FR Doc. 2018–15342 Filed 7–17–18; 8:45 am] Protection Act of 1972, as amended
artisanal harvests, live bait harvests, and
harvests by the Quinault Indian Nation.
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the
At the April 2018 Pacific Fishery regulations governing the taking and
Management Council (Council) meeting, importing of marine mammals (50 CFR
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE part 216), the Endangered Species Act of
the Council voted in support of two
exempted fishing permit (EFP) National Oceanic and Atmospheric 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531
proposals requesting an exemption from Administration et seq.), the regulations governing the
the prohibition on primary directed taking, importing, and exporting of
fishing for Pacific sardine. The Council RIN 0648–XG343 endangered and threatened species (50
structured the 2018–2019 Pacific CFR parts 222–226), and the Fur Seal
Marine Mammals; File No. 22272 Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151
sardine harvest specifications so that up
to 610 mt (the combined total of the AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries et seq.).
anticipated harvests under the two EFP Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and The applicant proposes to receive,
proposals the Council reviewed) of the Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), import, and export biological samples
ACL could be harvested under EFPs. Commerce. for scientific research from up to 700
The California Wetfish Producers ACTION: Notice; receipt of application.
individual cetaceans and pinnipeds
Association (CWPA) requested an EFP (excluding walrus) annually for a multi-
to directly harvest up to 600 mt of SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that year international study to measure the
Pacific sardine for its Coastal Pelagic the Shaw Institute, 55 Main Street, Blue combined stress of man-made pollutants
Species Near-shore Cooperative Survey Hill, ME 04614 (Responsible Party: and climate change on marine sentinel
(CPS–NCS). Susan Shaw), has applied in due form species. The requested duration of the
Since 2012 the California Department for a permit receive, import, and export permit is 5 years.
of Fish and Wildlife, in partnership marine mammal parts for scientific In compliance with the National
with the CWPA, has been conducting research. Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42
aerial surveys to estimate the biomass U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial
and distribution of sardine and certain DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email
determination has been made that the
other CPS species in nearshore waters in comments must be received on or before
activity proposed is categorically
the Southern California Bight, and in August 17, 2018.
excluded from the requirement to
the Monterey-San Francisco area since ADDRESSES: The application and related prepare an environmental assessment or
the summer of 2017. Currently, there is documents are available for review by environmental impact statement.
uncertainty in the biomass estimates selecting ‘‘Records Open for Public
Concurrent with the publication of
from aerial spotter pilots. The CPS–NCS Comment’’ from the ‘‘Features’’ box on
this notice in the Federal Register,
survey under the proposed EFP is part the Applications and Permits for
NMFS is forwarding copies of the
of a research project designed to Protected Species (APPS) home page,
application to the Marine Mammal
quantify that level of uncertainty by https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then
Commission and its Committee of
capturing CPS schools identified by selecting File No. 22272 from the list of
Scientific Advisors.
aerial spotter pilots and validating the available applications.
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biomass and species composition of the These documents are also available Dated: July 13, 2018.
schools. A portion of each point set (i.e. upon written request or by appointment Julia Marie Harrison,
an individual haul of fish captured with in the Permits and Conservation Chief, Permits and Conservation Division,
a purse seine net) will be retained for Division, Office of Protected Resources, Office of Protected Resources, National
biological sampling, and the remainder NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room Marine Fisheries Service.
will be sold by the participating 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone [FR Doc. 2018–15345 Filed 7–17–18; 8:45 am]
fishermen and processors to offset (301) 427–8401; fax (301) 713–0376. BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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Document Created: 2018-11-06 10:24:29
Document Modified: 2018-11-06 10:24:29
| 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 by August 2, 2018. | |
| Contact | Joshua Lindsay, West Coast Region, NMFS, (562) 980-4034, [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 33923 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XG25 |
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