83 FR 48294 - 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 185 (September 24, 2018)

Page Range		48294-48294
FR Document		2018-20711

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 University of Maryland 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 185 (Monday, September 24, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 185 (Monday, September 24, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 48294]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-20711]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG488


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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 
University of Maryland 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 October 9, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by any of the following 
methods:
     Email: NMFS.GAR.EFP@noaa.gov. Include in the subject line 
``Comments on UMD Jonah crab 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 
UMD Jonah Crab EFP.''

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The University of Maryland (UMD) submitted a 
complete application for an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) on September 
5, 2018, to conduct fishing activities that the regulations would 
otherwise restrict. This project is intended to gain a better 
understanding of Jonah crab male size at maturity. This study is funded 
through the NOAA Educational Partnership Program's Living Marine 
Resources Cooperative Science Center. UMD is requesting exemptions from 
the following Federal lobster regulation:
    1. Gear specification requirements in 50 CFR 697.21(c) to allow for 
closed escape vents;
    If the EFP is approved, this study would take place from November 
2018 through November 2019. The participating vessel would deploy no 
more than eight ventless traps at one time in Lobster Conservation 
Management Area (LCMA) 2. Maps depicting these areas are available on 
request. Researchers will deploy traps in trawls, compliant with the 
Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan. Modifications to a standard 
lobster trap would include a closed escape vent, a smaller wire mesh 
size, and a smaller entrance head. Each experimental trap will have the 
participating fisherman's identification attached. Investigators intend 
to collect up to 150 crabs. Jonah crab retrieved from the modified 
traps would be collected and sent to the UMD lab for analysis. The 
exemption is needed to ensure investigators obtain a broad size 
distribution of Jonah crabs.
    Currently, there are no Federal regulations for Jonah crab. We are 
preparing a proposed rule to establish Federal regulations for the 
Jonah crab fishery which will likely include a minimum size. We 
anticipate that final rulemaking will occur before this project is 
complete. To ensure that there is no disruption to research activities, 
we intend to modify the exemptions granted to this study to include 
exemption from the minimum size so that crabs smaller than the minimum 
size can be analyzed. We would solicit comment on this additional 
exemption in the Jonah Crab Fishery Management Plan.
    If approved, the applicant may request minor modifications and 
extensions to the EFP throughout the year. We may grant EFP 
modifications and extensions 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: September 19, 2018.
Margo B. Schulze-Haugen,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-20711 Filed 9-21-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

48294 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 185 / Monday, September 24, 2018 / Notices

reducing discards that meet the NAFO SUMMARY: The Acting Assistant Regional identification attached. Investigators
size standards but are below the Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, intend to collect up to 150 crabs. Jonah
domestic minimum size. Landing the Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has crab retrieved from the modified traps
dressed fish, even at sizes less than the made a preliminary determination that would be collected and sent to the UMD
domestic minimum size, therefore, an Exempted Fishing Permit lab for analysis. The exemption is
would not appear to put the applicant Application from the University of needed to ensure investigators obtain a
at a competitive advantage over Maryland contains all the required broad size distribution of Jonah crabs.
domestic fishers because its processed information and warrants further Currently, there are no Federal
fish are largely intended for the frozen consideration. Regulations under the regulations for Jonah crab. We are
market currently dominated by foreign Magnuson-Stevens Fishery preparing a proposed rule to establish
interests. This EFP, if granted, would Conservation and Management Act and Federal regulations for the Jonah crab
help validate these expectations. This the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries fishery which will likely include a
EFP is necessary to allow the vessel to Cooperative Management Act require minimum size. We anticipate that final
land headed and gutted fish caught publication of this notice to provide rulemaking will occur before this
within the NAFO Regulatory Area that interested parties the opportunity to project is complete. To ensure that there
are below the domestic minimum size comment on applications for proposed is no disruption to research activities,
due to the dressed condition of the fish. Exempted Fishing Permits. we intend to modify the exemptions
Each trip taken under this EFP are DATES: Comments must be received on granted to this study to include
subject to the requirements outlined in or before October 9, 2018. exemption from the minimum size so
this notice and any other condition ADDRESSES: You may submit written
that crabs smaller than the minimum
specified by the National Marine comments by any of the following size can be analyzed. We would solicit
Fisheries Service. If this EFP request is methods: comment on this additional exemption
approved, it would be available to the • Email: NMFS.GAR.EFP@noaa.gov. in the Jonah Crab Fishery Management
other vessel authorized to participate in Include in the subject line ‘‘Comments Plan.
the NAFO yellowtail flounder fishery, if on UMD Jonah crab EFP.’’ If approved, the applicant may
the other vessel owner makes such a • Mail: Michael Pentony, Regional request minor modifications and
request and it is approved. Administrator, NMFS, Greater Atlantic extensions to the EFP throughout the
If approved, the applicant may Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great year. We may grant EFP modifications
request minor modifications and Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. and extensions without further notice if
extensions to the EFP throughout the Mark the outside of the envelope they are deemed essential to facilitate
year. EFP modifications and extensions ‘‘Comments on UMD Jonah Crab EFP.’’ completion of the proposed research
may be granted without further notice if and have minimal impacts that do not
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
they are deemed essential to facilitate change the scope or impact of the
Laura Hansen, NOAA Affiliate, (978)
completion of the proposed research initially approved EFP request. The EFP
281–9225.
and have minimal impacts that do not would prohibit any fishing activity
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
change the scope or impact of the conducted outside the scope of the
University of Maryland (UMD) exempted fishing activities.
initially approved EFP request. Any submitted a complete application for an
fishing activity conducted outside the Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) on Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
scope of the exempted fishing activity September 5, 2018, to conduct fishing Dated: September 19, 2018.
would be prohibited. activities that the regulations would Margo B. Schulze-Haugen,
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. otherwise restrict. This project is Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Dated: September 19, 2018. intended to gain a better understanding Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
of Jonah crab male size at maturity. This [FR Doc. 2018–20711 Filed 9–21–18; 8:45 am]
Margo B. Schulze-Haugen,
study is funded through the NOAA BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Educational Partnership Program’s
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
Living Marine Resources Cooperative
[FR Doc. 2018–20718 Filed 9–21–18; 8:45 am]
Science Center. UMD is requesting DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
exemptions from the following Federal
lobster regulation: National Oceanic and Atmospheric
1. Gear specification requirements in
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 50 CFR 697.21(c) to allow for closed Administration Membership of the
escape vents; National Oceanic and Atmospheric
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Performance Review
Administration If the EFP is approved, this study
would take place from November 2018 Board
through November 2019. The AGENCY: National Oceanic and
RIN 0648–XG488 participating vessel would deploy no Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
more than eight ventless traps at one Department of Commerce (DOC).
Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative
time in Lobster Conservation ACTION: Notice of membership of the
Management Act Provisions; General
Management Area (LCMA) 2. Maps NOAA performance review board.
Provisions for Domestic Fisheries;
depicting these areas are available on
Application for Exempted Fishing
request. Researchers will deploy traps in SUMMARY: NOAA announces the
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1

Permits
trawls, compliant with the Atlantic appointment of members who will serve
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Large Whale Take Reduction Plan. on the NOAA Performance Review
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Modifications to a standard lobster trap Board (PRB). The NOAA PRB is
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), would include a closed escape vent, a responsible for reviewing performance
Commerce. smaller wire mesh size, and a smaller appraisals and ratings of Senior
entrance head. Each experimental trap Executive Service (SES), Senior Level
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
will have the participating fisherman’s (SL), and Scientific and Professional

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Document Created: 2018-09-22 00:32:56
Document Modified: 2018-09-22 00:32:56

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 October 9, 2018.
Contact		Laura Hansen, NOAA Affiliate, (978) 281-9225.
FR Citation		83 FR 48294
RIN Number		0648-XG48

83 FR 48294 - Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 185 (September 24, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration