83 FR 5061 - Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Shark Management Measures; 2018 Research Fishery

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 24 (February 5, 2018)

Page Range		5061-5062
FR Document		2018-02236

On November 3, 2017, NMFS published a notice inviting qualified commercial shark permit holders to submit applications to participate in the 2018 shark research fishery. The shark research fishery allows for the collection of fishery-dependent data for future stock assessments and cooperative research with commercial fishermen to meet the shark research objectives of the Agency. Every year, the permit terms and permitted activities (e.g., number of hooks and retention limits) specifically authorized for selected participants in the shark research fishery are designated depending on the scientific and research needs of the Agency, as well as the number of NMFS- approved observers available. In order to inform selected participants of this year's specific permit requirements and ensure all terms and conditions of the permit are met, NMFS is holding a mandatory permit holder meeting (via conference call) for selected participants. The date and time of that meeting is announced in this notice.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 24 (Monday, February 5, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 24 (Monday, February 5, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5061-5062]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-02236]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF967


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Shark Management 
Measures; 2018 Research Fishery

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: On November 3, 2017, NMFS published a notice inviting 
qualified commercial shark permit holders to submit applications to 
participate in the 2018 shark research fishery. The shark research 
fishery allows for the collection of fishery-dependent data for future 
stock assessments and cooperative research with commercial fishermen to 
meet the shark research objectives of the Agency. Every year, the 
permit terms and permitted activities (e.g., number of hooks and 
retention limits) specifically authorized for selected participants in 
the shark research fishery are designated depending on the scientific 
and research needs of the Agency, as well as the number of NMFS-
approved observers available. In order to inform selected participants 
of this year's specific permit requirements and ensure all terms and 
conditions of the permit are met, NMFS is holding a mandatory permit 
holder meeting (via conference call) for selected participants. The 
date and time of that meeting is announced in this notice.

DATES: A conference call will be held on February 16, 2018.

ADDRESSES: A conference call will be conducted. See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION for information on how to access the conference call.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karyl Brewster-Geisz or Guy DuBeck at 
(301) 427-8503 or Delisse Ortiz at (240) 681-9037.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Atlantic shark fisheries are managed 
under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). The 2006 Consolidated Highly 
Migratory species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) is implemented by 
regulations at 50 CFR part 635.
    The final rule for Amendment 2 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP (73 
FR 35778, June 24, 2008, corrected at 73 FR 40658, July 15, 2008) 
established, among other things, a shark research fishery to maintain 
time-series data for stock assessments and to meet NMFS' research 
objectives. The shark research fishery gathers important scientific 
data and allows selected commercial fishermen the opportunity to earn 
more revenue from selling the sharks caught, including sandbar sharks. 
Only the commercial shark fishermen selected to participate in the 
shark research fishery are authorized to land/harvest sandbar sharks 
subject to the sandbar quota available each year. The 2018 sandbar 
shark quota is 90.7 mt dw per year. The selected shark research fishery 
participants also have access to the research large coastal shark, 
small coastal shark, and pelagic shark quotas subject to retention 
limits and quotas per Sec. Sec.  635.24 and 635.27, respectively.
    On November 3, 2017 (82 FR 51218), NMFS published a notice inviting 
qualified commercial shark directed and

[[Page 5062]]

incidental permit holders to submit an application to participate in 
the 2018 shark research fishery. NMFS received six applications, of 
which all six applicants were determined to meet all the 
qualifications. NMFS selected all six qualified participants after 
considering how to meet research objectives in particular regions. NMFS 
expects to invite qualified commercial shark permit holders to submit 
an application for the 2019 shark research fishery later in 2018.
    As with past years, the 2018 permit terms and permitted activities 
(e.g., number of hooks and retention limits) specifically authorized 
for selected participants in the shark research fishery were designated 
depending on the scientific and research needs of the Agency, as well 
as the number of NMFS-approved observers available. In order to inform 
selected participants of this year's specific permit requirements and 
ensure all terms and conditions of the permit are met, per the 
requirements of Sec.  635.32 (f)(4), NMFS is holding a mandatory permit 
holder meeting via conference call.

Conference Call Date, Time, and Dial-in Number

    The conference call will be held on February 16, 2018, from 1:30 to 
3:30 p.m. (EST). Participants and interested parties should call 1-888-
942-9261 and use the passcode 8567825. Selected participants who do not 
attend will not be allowed to participate in the shark research 
fishery. While the conference call is mandatory for selected 
participants, other interested parties may call in and listen to the 
discussion.
    Selected participants are encouraged to invite their captain, crew, 
or anyone else who may assist them in meeting the terms and conditions 
of the shark research fishery permit.

    Dated: January 31, 2018.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-02236 Filed 2-2-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 24 / Monday, February 5, 2018 / Notices 5061

regulations and terms of an APO is a socioeconomic information on ocean stock assessments and cooperative
violation which is subject to sanction. recreation businesses. The type of data research with commercial fishermen to
targeted for this collection has not been meet the shark research objectives of the
Notification to Interested Parties
updated since 2008 and there are no Agency. Every year, the permit terms
This notice is issued and published in source so information that detail and permitted activities (e.g., number of
accordance with sections 751(a)(1) and operators’ perceptions and attitudes hooks and retention limits) specifically
777(i)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as towards the industry and sanctuary. authorized for selected participants in
amended, and 19 CFR 351.213(d)(4). Thus, current information on the the shark research fishery are designated
Dated: January 30, 2018. importance of marine wildlife to the depending on the scientific and research
James Maeder, local tourism industry and operators is needs of the Agency, as well as the
required. The primary focus for the number of NMFS-approved observers
Senior Director performing the duties of
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping survey will be to gather data on the non- available. In order to inform selected
and Countervailing Duty Operations. consumptive, person-days of marine participants of this year’s specific
[FR Doc. 2018–02210 Filed 2–2–18; 8:45 am] wildlife viewing and operators’ permit requirements and ensure all
perceptions and attitudes. Specifically, terms and conditions of the permit are
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
researchers will collect data to help met, NMFS is holding a mandatory
determine the contribution of marine permit holder meeting (via conference
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE wildlife watching operations to the call) for selected participants. The date
economy in the Stellwagen Bank region. and time of that meeting is announced
National Oceanic and Atmospheric The number of person-days of wildlife in this notice.
Administration viewing is necessary to estimate the DATES: A conference call will be held on
economic value that the industry makes February 16, 2018.
Submission for OMB Review; to the region. ADDRESSES: A conference call will be
Comment Request Affected Public: Business or other for- conducted. See SUPPLEMENTARY
The Department of Commerce will profit organizations. INFORMATION for information on how to
submit to the Office of Management and Frequency: Once. access the conference call.
Budget (OMB) for clearance the Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
following proposal for collection of This information collection request Karyl Brewster-Geisz or Guy DuBeck at
information under the provisions of the may be viewed at reginfo.gov. Follow (301) 427–8503 or Delisse Ortiz at (240)
Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. the instructions to view Department of 681–9037.
Chapter 35). Commerce collections currently under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Agency: National Oceanic and review by OMB. Atlantic shark fisheries are managed
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Written comments and under the authority of the Magnuson-
Title: Socioeconomics of Guided recommendations for the proposed Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Whale-Watching Operations in the information collection should be sent Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens
Stellwagon Bank National Marine within 30 days of publication of this Act). The 2006 Consolidated Highly
Sanctuary. notice to OIRA_Submission@ Migratory species (HMS) Fishery
OMB Control Number: 0648–xxxx. omb.eop.gov or fax to (202) 395–5806. Management Plan (FMP) is
Form Number(s): None. Dated: January 30, 2018. implemented by regulations at 50 CFR
Type of Request: Regular (request for Sarah Brabson, part 635.
a new information collection). NOAA PRA Clearance Officer. The final rule for Amendment 2 to the
Number of Respondents: 30. [FR Doc. 2018–02166 Filed 2–2–18; 8:45 am] 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP (73 FR
Average Hours per Response: One 35778, June 24, 2008, corrected at 73 FR
BILLING CODE 3510–NK–P
hour and 45 minutes. 40658, July 15, 2008) established,
Burden Hours: 53. among other things, a shark research
Needs and Uses: This request is for a DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE fishery to maintain time-series data for
new information collection to benefit stock assessments and to meet NMFS’
natural resource managers in Stellwagen National Oceanic and Atmospheric research objectives. The shark research
Bank National Marine Sanctuary Administration fishery gathers important scientific data
(SBNMS). and allows selected commercial
The National Ocean Service (NOS) RIN 0648–XF967
fishermen the opportunity to earn more
proposes to collect information from revenue from selling the sharks caught,
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species;
wildlife watching operations to including sandbar sharks. Only the
Atlantic Shark Management Measures;
ascertain the market value of marine commercial shark fishermen selected to
2018 Research Fishery
wildlife via the ocean recreational participate in the shark research fishery
industry in the Stellwagen Bank/Gulf of AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries are authorized to land/harvest sandbar
Maine region. Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and sharks subject to the sandbar quota
Up-to-date socioeconomic data is Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), available each year. The 2018 sandbar
needed to support the conservation and Commerce. shark quota is 90.7 mt dw per year. The
management goals of SBNMS to ACTION: Notice of public meeting. selected shark research fishery
strengthen and improve conservation of
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

participants also have access to the
marine wildlife, including whales, SUMMARY: On November 3, 2017, NMFS research large coastal shark, small
pinnipeds, seals, and seabirds within published a notice inviting qualified coastal shark, and pelagic shark quotas
the jurisdiction of the sanctuary and to commercial shark permit holders to subject to retention limits and quotas
satisfy legal mandates. submit applications to participate in the per §§ 635.24 and 635.27, respectively.
SBNMS is currently in the process of 2018 shark research fishery. The shark On November 3, 2017 (82 FR 51218),
updating the 2010 Management Plan, research fishery allows for the collection NMFS published a notice inviting
and has identified a lack of baseline of fishery-dependent data for future qualified commercial shark directed and

VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:08 Feb 02, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\05FEN1.SGM 05FEN1

Document Created: 2018-02-03 01:24:38
Document Modified: 2018-02-03 01:24:38

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 of public meeting.
Dates		A conference call will be held on February 16, 2018.
Contact		Karyl Brewster-Geisz or Guy DuBeck at (301) 427-8503 or Delisse Ortiz at (240) 681-9037.
FR Citation		83 FR 5061
RIN Number		0648-XF96

83 FR 5061 - Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Shark Management Measures; 2018 Research Fishery

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 24 (February 5, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration