83 FR 60408 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Application for an Exempted Fishing Permit
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 227 (November 26, 2018)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 227 (November 26, 2018)
| Page Range | 60408-60410 | |
| FR Document | 2018-25416 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 227 (Monday, November 26, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 60408-60410] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-25416] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648-XG557 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Application for an Exempted Fishing Permit AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for exempted fishing permit. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt of an exempted fishing permit (EFP) application from Mr. Cory Lescher and Dr. Bradley Harris, Alaska Pacific University. If granted, this EFP would allow up to five Amendment 80 vessels in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) management area yellowfin and rock sole fisheries to retain red king crab (RKC; Paralithodes camtschaticus) bycatch on board for periods of no more than 72 hours during the 2019 BSAI flatfish fisheries' ``A'' season. Two concurrent studies would be conducted under this EFP. A whole-haul RKC census study would provide a comparison of whole-haul census of RKC to haul-level estimates of RKC generated from NMFS- certified observer (observer) sampling to determine the ability of current prohibited species catch (PSC) rate estimations to accurately account for RKC PSC in these fisheries. Then, an at-sea viability study would examine factors that influence RKC PSC mortality and survival. The objective of the EFP application is to provide improved understanding of RKC PSC mortality, such as shell crushing, and variables that affect it. This proposed project has the potential to promote the objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. DATES: Comments on this EFP application must be submitted to NMFS on or before December 11, 2018. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will consider the application at its meeting from December 3, 2018, through December 11, 2018, in Anchorage, AK. ADDRESSES: The Council meeting will be held at the Anchorage Hilton Hotel, 500 W 3rd Ave., Anchorage, AK 99501. The agenda for the Council meeting is available at http://www.npfmc.org. In addition to submitting comments at the Council meeting, you may submit comments on this document, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2018-0120, by any of the following methods:Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2018-0120, click the ``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments. Mail: Submit written comments to Glenn Merrill, Assistant Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region NMFS, Attn: Ellen Sebastian. Mail comments to P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668. Instructions: 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) submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous). Electronic copies of the EFP application and the basis for a categorical exclusion under the National [[Page 60409]] Environmental Policy Act are available from the Alaska Region, NMFS website at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bridget Mansfield, 907-586-7228. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the domestic groundfish fisheries in the BSAI under the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the BSAI Management Area (FMP), which the Council prepared under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Regulations governing the BSAI groundfish fisheries appear at 50 CFR parts 600 and 679. The FMP and the EFP implementing regulations at Sec. 600.745(b) and Sec. 679.6 allow the NMFS Regional Administrator to authorize, for limited experimental purposes, fishing that would otherwise be prohibited. Procedures for issuing EFPs are contained in the implementing regulations. Background PSC in the North Pacific groundfish trawl gear fisheries is managed under limits that can trigger closures of management areas or target fisheries. Catch, including non-target species and PSC, is estimated in part by extrapolating fishery observer samples from individual hauls up to the trip level. Non-pollock fisheries--that is, vessels not engaged in directed pollock fishing--managed under fishing cooperatives use estimates derived from observer sampling to account for PSC, by number rather than weight for crab species or by weight only for other PSC, such as halibut or salmon. Amendment 80, implemented in 2008, allocates BSAI yellowfin sole, flathead sole, rock sole, Atka mackerel, and Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch to the head and gut trawl catcher processor sector, and allows qualified vessels to form cooperatives. Amendment 80 cooperatives track individual vessel catch against cooperative-determined, vessel-specific limits. Cooperatives are ultimately responsible for ensuring that the bycatch allowances they administer, but set by NMFS, are not exceeded. Individual accountability is enforced by cooperatives at the vessel and company level through legal contracts and bycatch agreements among members. In this context, understanding the degree to which current observer sampling practices provide accurate data for accounting of actual bycatch quantities for a fishing haul or trip can help improve cooperative management and support conservation and fishery management objectives overall. Fishing under this EFP would provide data to investigate the accuracy of current PSC estimation methods for individual hauls, including the degree to which high catch-per-unit-effort groundfish fishing impacts RKC PSC rates. Data from this EFP would also help industry collaborators understand and improve vessel-specific bycatch performance tracking. Exempted Fishing Permit On September 20, 2018, Mr. Cory Lescher submitted an application for an EFP to conduct two concurrent studies on incidentally caught RKC on select Amendment 80 trawl vessels targeting yellowfin and rock sole in the BSAI in 2019. The first study (whole-haul census study) would be conducted on up to five vessels and would consist of a series of whole- haul censuses of RKC (census of all RKC in an entire haul) in conjunction with observer sub-sampling of the same haul. Biological samples would also be collected from the RKC, with a handling time of one to two minutes per RKC, before the RKC is released back to the sea. The objectives of this study under the proposed EFP are to: Assess the accuracy of current sampling methods, collect basic biological data from RKC PSC to resolve data gaps in key characteristics associated with RKC encountered in the yellowfin and rock sole fisheries in the first part of the year, and examine how RKC PSC rates are influenced by haul characteristics and environmental variables. The second study (viability study) conducted under this proposed EFP would require two vessels to hold up to a total of 384 RKC for up to 72 hours each in on-deck, saltwater flow-through tanks to monitor survival of deck-sorted RKC compared to factory-sorted RKC. This study has three objectives under the proposed EFP: First, to examine factors affecting RKC PSC mortality and survival; second, the ability to predict discard mortality using vitality assessments, and third, to assess the feasibility of collecting data on such vitality metrics. Whole-Haul Census Study The applicant proposes to conduct the whole-haul census study on up to five vessels in the Amendment 80 yellowfin and rock sole trawl fishery in the Bering Sea from January 20 through April 15, 2019. The participating vessels would be selected on a voluntary basis and would carry an observer as required by regulation. All stages of the whole- haul sampling process would be conducted by a trained ``sea sampler'' on each participating EFP vessel, who would be required to be a NMFS- certified observer, but who would not act as a NMFS observer during an EFP trip. The sea sampler data collection duties would be separate from those duties of the vessel's NMFS observer and their work would not interfere with or constrain the work of the NMFS observer. The applicant's proposed sampling for the whole-haul census would consist of the following protocols. Sea samplers would conduct a whole- haul count for RKC for every haul during a trip. To achieve this, for each haul the sea sampler would instruct designated crew to remove all RKC from the sorting belt downstream of the observer sampling station. The designated crew would place such RKC in a designated tote labeled with the vessel haul number, keeping all haul-specific RKC together. The EFP sampling would occur after observer sampling and would not interfere with the observer's sampling duties or vessel operations. The sea sampler would sort the RKC from the tote, returning all non-RKC to the discard belt for immediate discard, and would collect and record RKC-specific biological data from each RKC and return it immediately to the discard belt for immediate discard to the sea. Biological data collected would include sex, carapace length, shell condition, externally visible physical injuries, vitality metrics, and for females, clutch fullness and egg condition. Vitality metrics include presence and absence of pre-determined injuries, and reflex and behavior responses, including leg flare, leg retraction, chela closure, eye retraction, and mouth closure. The sampling process would be expected to require less than 2 minutes and would have no impact on the probability of survival of the sampled RKC. The sampling protocol outlined above follow established Donaldson and Byersdorfer methods as described in the EFP application (see ADDRESSES). Viability Study The applicant proposes to conduct the RKC viability study on two vessels in the Amendment 80 yellowfin and rock sole trawl fisheries in the Bering Sea from January 20 through April 15, 2019. As with the whole-haul study proposed under this EFP application, the participating vessels in the RKC viability study would be selected on a voluntary basis and would carry a NMFS-certified fishery observer as required by regulation. The applicant's proposed sampling for the RKC viability study would [[Page 60410]] consist of the following general protocols. For further details, please consult the EFP application available at (see ADDRESSES). The viability study would commence at the beginning of a fishing trip. During a predetermined haul, up to 32 incidentally caught RKC would be selected from the catch on deck or in the factory. The on-deck RKC collection would coincide with halibut deck sorting authorized under the halibut deck sorting EFP #2018-01 to allow the assessment of RKC collected from both on-deck and the factory point of discard without impeding fishing operations. On-deck collection would be conducted independent of, and would not impact, halibut deck sorting activities or observer data collections under the halibut deck sorting EFP. RKC collected on deck would be removed from the catch prior to observer sampling. The RKC EFP sea sampler would collect RKC counts and weights from pre-sorted RKC from selected hauls and provide that data to the vessel's NMFS observer. RKC collected in the factory for this viability study would be removed from the conveyor belt downstream of the observer sampling station following the protocols described for the whole-haul study. A vitality test, as described above under the heading Whole-Haul Census Study, would be used to select only live RKC, including RKCs with a range of initial impairments and levels of vitality for the holding trials. Each RKC would be labeled with a uniquely numbered tag. Carapace length, sex shell condition, and vitality would be collected and recorded for each RKC at the time of collection. Each assessment would last approximately 1 to 2 minutes per RKC, after which they would immediately be placed in one of several flow-through seawater tanks on deck. Each tank would be divided into four separate sections that would hold two RKC each. The sea sampler would record water temperature and dissolved oxygen from each of the seawater tanks daily and continue monitoring individual RKC vitality every 2, 4, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours. RKC would be monitored following methods described in the EFP application (see ADDRESSES). Details of any mortality would be recorded, and dead RKC would be removed and discarded. Live RKC would be released 72 hours after collection. Once all RKC are released, the tank would be flushed with seawater and refilled with eight new RKC from a subsequent tow. The 72-hour period for holding RKC would provide a short window to observe for discard mortality, yet allow for adequate sample size. Metrics that may be used to predict RKC mortality would be collected for future analysis. Such metrics include, but are not limited to, fishing effort information (e.g., length of tow, tow depth, bottom temperature, and total catch size), and RKC time out of water. Exemptions RKC is a prohibited species in the groundfish fishery, requiring immediate return to the sea with a minimum of injury. This proposed action would exempt the participating vessel, for RKC only, from the requirement, at Sec. 679.21(b)(2)(ii), to return all prohibited species, or parts thereof, to the sea immediately, with a minimum of injury, regardless of its condition. Because some RKC would be pre- sorted before observer sampling under this proposed action, permit holders, vessel owners, and operators fishing under this permit would be exempt from Sec. 679.7(g)(2) that otherwise prohibits biasing the observer's sampling procedure by pre-sorting RKC catch. The participating vessels would be allowed to account for the number of RKC caught through sampling methods described above. All other Sec. 679.7(g)(2) provisions would continue to apply to all other fishing during an EFP trip. Sorting of PSC species other than RKC before observers sample the catch onboard the vessels would continue to be prohibited. Further, owners and operators of Amendment 80 vessels participating in this EFP are exempt from the requirement at Sec. 679.93(c)(1), which requires that (1) all catch by vessels participating in the Amendment 80 program are weighed on a NMFS-approved scale, (2) each haul must be weighed separately, (3) all catch must be made available for sampling by a NMFS-certified observer, and (4) no sorting of catch may take place prior to weighing. Owners and operators of all other vessels participating in this EFP are exempt from regulations at Sec. 679.28(b) that require that all catch of RKC must be weighed on a NMFS- approved scale and made available at a single location. This exemption is necessary to allow sea samplers to account for RKC sorted on deck and transferred to tanks on deck for the viability study prior to observer sampling. Permit Conditions, Review, and Effects Under the EFP, participating vessels would be limited to the Amendment 80 groundfish allocations under the 2019 harvest specifications (available from the Alaska Region, NMFS website at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/). No additional target or PSC amounts beyond those authorized through regulation would be needed for this EFP; all groundfish catch will accrue against the Amendment 80 sector's yellowfin and rock sole catch and PSC allowances. EFP-authorized fishing activities would not be expected to change the nature or duration of the flatfish trawl fishery or the amount or species of fish caught by the participating vessels. In 2019, Mr. Lescher would be required to submit to NMFS a report of the EFP results after EFP experimental fishing has ended in 2019. For each study, the report would include: Sampling design and methods, number of RKC sampled, fishing and environmental variables collected, RKC handling and mortalities, analytical results, and the total catch of each groundfish species and RKC in metric tons. The report would be made available to the public. The fieldwork that would be conducted under this EFP is not expected to have a significant impact on the human environment as detailed in the categorical exclusion prepared for this action (see ADDRESSES). In accordance with Sec. 679.6, NMFS has determined that the application warrants further consideration and has forwarded the application to the Council to initiate consultation. The Council is scheduled to consider the EFP application during its December 2018 meeting, which will be held at the Hilton Hotel, Anchorage, AK. The EFP application will also be provided to the Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee for review at the December Council meeting. The applicant has been invited to appear in support of the application. Public Comments Interested persons may comment on the application at the December 2018 Council meeting during public testimony or until December 11, 2018. Information regarding the meeting is available at the Council's website at http://www.npfmc.org. Copies of the application and categorical exclusion are available for review from NMFS (see ADDRESSES). Comments also may be submitted directly to NMFS (see ADDRESSES) by the end of the comment period (see DATES). Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: November 16, 2018. Karen H. Abrams, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2018-25416 Filed 11-23-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![60408 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 227 / Monday, November 26, 2018 / Notices
December 31, 2018 for shrimp and The final rule to lift the stay on under this EFP. A whole-haul RKC
abalone. shrimp and abalone contains a census study would provide a
NMFS had stayed requirements for collection-of-information requirement comparison of whole-haul census of
abalone and shrimp because gaps subject to review and approval by OMB RKC to haul-level estimates of RKC
existed in the collection of traceability under the Paperwork Reduction Act generated from NMFS-certified observer
information for domestic aquaculture- (PRA). OMB had previously approved (observer) sampling to determine the
raised shrimp and abalone, which is the information collection requirements ability of current prohibited species
currently largely regulated at the state for the Seafood Traceability Program catch (PSC) rate estimations to
level. During development of the under Control Number 0648–0739, but accurately account for RKC PSC in these
Seafood Traceability Program, NMFS the burden estimates did not include the fisheries. Then, an at-sea viability study
explored the possibility of working with requirements for shrimp and abalone would examine factors that influence
its state partners to establish reporting given the stay. The requirements for RKC PSC mortality and survival. The
and recordkeeping requirements for permitting, reporting and recordkeeping objective of the EFP application is to
aquaculture traceability information that for imports of shrimp and abalone will provide improved understanding of
could be shared with NMFS. However, be submitted to OMB for approval. RKC PSC mortality, such as shell
this did not prove to be a viable Affected Public: Business or other for- crushing, and variables that affect it.
approach. See 81 FR at 88977–78. In the profit organizations. This proposed project has the potential
Seafood Import Monitoring Program Frequency: One time and on occasion. to promote the objectives of the
final rule, NMFS explained that ‘‘[A]t Respondent’s Obligation: Mandatory. Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
such time that the domestic reporting This information collection request Conservation and Management Act.
and recordkeeping gaps have been may be viewed at reginfo.gov. Follow DATES: Comments on this EFP
closed, NMFS will then publish an the instructions to view Department of application must be submitted to NMFS
action in the Federal Register to lift the Commerce collections currently under on or before December 11, 2018. The
stay of the effective date for review by OMB. North Pacific Fishery Management
§ 300.324(a)(3) of the rule pertaining to Written comments and Council (Council) will consider the
shrimp and abalone. Adequate advance recommendations for the proposed application at its meeting from
notice to the trade community would be information collection should be sent December 3, 2018, through December
provided’’ to ensure all affected parties within 30 days of publication of this 11, 2018, in Anchorage, AK.
have sufficient time to come into notice to OIRA_Submission@ ADDRESSES: The Council meeting will be
compliance. omb.eop.gov or fax to (202) 395–5806. held at the Anchorage Hilton Hotel, 500
On March 23, 2018, the Consolidated Dated: November 19, 2018. W 3rd Ave., Anchorage, AK 99501. The
Appropriations Act of 2018 (Pub. L. Sarah Brabson, agenda for the Council meeting is
115–141) was signed by the President NOAA PRA Clearance Officer. available at http://www.npfmc.org. In
and became law. Section 539 of Division addition to submitting comments at the
[FR Doc. 2018–25613 Filed 11–23–18; 8:45 am]
B of the Act directed the Secretary of Council meeting, you may submit
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
Commerce to, within 30 days, ‘‘lift the comments on this document, identified
stay on the effective date of the final by NOAA–NMFS–2018–0120, by any of
rule for the Seafood Traceability DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE the following methods:
Program published by the Secretary on • Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to
December 9, 2016, (81 FR 88975 et seq.) National Oceanic and Atmospheric www.regulations.gov/
for the species described in Administration #!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2018-
§ 300.324(a)(3) of title 50, Code of 0120, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon,
Federal Regulations: provided that the RIN 0648–XG557
complete the required fields, and enter
compliance date for the species or attach your comments.
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
described in § 300.324(a)(3) of title 50,
Zone Off Alaska; Application for an • Mail: Submit written comments to
Code of Federal Regulations, shall occur Glenn Merrill, Assistant Regional
Exempted Fishing Permit
not later than December 31, 2018.’’ A Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries
final rule was issued to implement the AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Division, Alaska Region NMFS, Attn:
Act (83 FR 17762, April 24, 2018) and Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Ellen Sebastian. Mail comments to P.O.
provides that shrimp and abalone will Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802–1668.
be subject to the requirements of the Commerce. Instructions: Comments sent by any
Seafood Traceability Program under 50 ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for other method, to any other address or
CFR 300.324(a)(3), with a compliance exempted fishing permit. individual, or received after the end of
date December 31, 2018. the comment period, may not be
The Program consists of two SUMMARY: This notice announces receipt considered. All comments received are
components: (1) Reporting of harvest of an exempted fishing permit (EFP) a part of the public record and will
events at the time of entry; and (2) application from Mr. Cory Lescher and generally be posted for public viewing
permitting and recordkeeping Dr. Bradley Harris, Alaska Pacific on www.regulations.gov without change.
requirements with respect to both University. If granted, this EFP would All personal identifying information
harvest events and chain of custody allow up to five Amendment 80 vessels (e.g., name, address) submitted
information. See 50 CFR 300.324 and id. in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands voluntarily by the sender will be
§§ 300.320–300.323 and 300.325. (BSAI) management area yellowfin and publicly accessible. NMFS will accept
Application of the program’s reporting rock sole fisheries to retain red king crab anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/A’’ in
and recordkeeping requirements to (RKC; Paralithodes camtschaticus) the required fields if you wish to remain
shrimp and abalone will enable audits bycatch on board for periods of no more anonymous).
of imports to be conducted to determine than 72 hours during the 2019 BSAI Electronic copies of the EFP
the origin of the products and confirm flatfish fisheries’ ‘‘A’’ season. Two application and the basis for a
that they were lawfully acquired. concurrent studies would be conducted categorical exclusion under the National
VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:28 Nov 23, 2018 Jkt 247001 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\26NON1.SGM 26NON1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/83_FR_60635/page/1.svg)
![60410 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 227 / Monday, November 26, 2018 / Notices
consist of the following general size. Metrics that may be used to predict beyond those authorized through
protocols. For further details, please RKC mortality would be collected for regulation would be needed for this
consult the EFP application available at future analysis. Such metrics include, EFP; all groundfish catch will accrue
(see ADDRESSES). The viability study but are not limited to, fishing effort against the Amendment 80 sector’s
would commence at the beginning of a information (e.g., length of tow, tow yellowfin and rock sole catch and PSC
fishing trip. During a predetermined depth, bottom temperature, and total allowances. EFP-authorized fishing
haul, up to 32 incidentally caught RKC catch size), and RKC time out of water. activities would not be expected to
would be selected from the catch on Exemptions change the nature or duration of the
deck or in the factory. The on-deck RKC flatfish trawl fishery or the amount or
collection would coincide with halibut RKC is a prohibited species in the species of fish caught by the
deck sorting authorized under the groundfish fishery, requiring immediate participating vessels.
halibut deck sorting EFP #2018–01 to return to the sea with a minimum of In 2019, Mr. Lescher would be
allow the assessment of RKC collected injury. This proposed action would required to submit to NMFS a report of
from both on-deck and the factory point exempt the participating vessel, for RKC the EFP results after EFP experimental
of discard without impeding fishing only, from the requirement, at fishing has ended in 2019. For each
operations. On-deck collection would be § 679.21(b)(2)(ii), to return all prohibited study, the report would include:
conducted independent of, and would species, or parts thereof, to the sea Sampling design and methods, number
not impact, halibut deck sorting immediately, with a minimum of injury, of RKC sampled, fishing and
activities or observer data collections regardless of its condition. Because environmental variables collected, RKC
under the halibut deck sorting EFP. RKC some RKC would be pre-sorted before handling and mortalities, analytical
collected on deck would be removed observer sampling under this proposed results, and the total catch of each
from the catch prior to observer action, permit holders, vessel owners,
groundfish species and RKC in metric
sampling. The RKC EFP sea sampler and operators fishing under this permit
tons. The report would be made
would collect RKC counts and weights would be exempt from § 679.7(g)(2) that
available to the public.
from pre-sorted RKC from selected hauls otherwise prohibits biasing the
observer’s sampling procedure by pre- The fieldwork that would be
and provide that data to the vessel’s conducted under this EFP is not
NMFS observer. RKC collected in the sorting RKC catch. The participating
vessels would be allowed to account for expected to have a significant impact on
factory for this viability study would be the human environment as detailed in
removed from the conveyor belt the number of RKC caught through
sampling methods described above. All the categorical exclusion prepared for
downstream of the observer sampling this action (see ADDRESSES).
station following the protocols other § 679.7(g)(2) provisions would
continue to apply to all other fishing In accordance with § 679.6, NMFS has
described for the whole-haul study. determined that the application
during an EFP trip.
A vitality test, as described above Sorting of PSC species other than RKC warrants further consideration and has
under the heading Whole-Haul Census before observers sample the catch forwarded the application to the
Study, would be used to select only live onboard the vessels would continue to Council to initiate consultation. The
RKC, including RKCs with a range of be prohibited. Council is scheduled to consider the
initial impairments and levels of vitality Further, owners and operators of EFP application during its December
for the holding trials. Each RKC would Amendment 80 vessels participating in 2018 meeting, which will be held at the
be labeled with a uniquely numbered this EFP are exempt from the Hilton Hotel, Anchorage, AK. The EFP
tag. Carapace length, sex shell requirement at § 679.93(c)(1), which application will also be provided to the
condition, and vitality would be requires that (1) all catch by vessels Council’s Scientific and Statistical
collected and recorded for each RKC at participating in the Amendment 80 Committee for review at the December
the time of collection. Each assessment program are weighed on a NMFS- Council meeting. The applicant has
would last approximately 1 to 2 minutes approved scale, (2) each haul must be been invited to appear in support of the
per RKC, after which they would weighed separately, (3) all catch must be application.
immediately be placed in one of several made available for sampling by a NMFS- Public Comments
flow-through seawater tanks on deck. certified observer, and (4) no sorting of
Each tank would be divided into four catch may take place prior to weighing. Interested persons may comment on
separate sections that would hold two Owners and operators of all other the application at the December 2018
RKC each. The sea sampler would vessels participating in this EFP are Council meeting during public
record water temperature and dissolved exempt from regulations at § 679.28(b) testimony or until December 11, 2018.
oxygen from each of the seawater tanks that require that all catch of RKC must Information regarding the meeting is
daily and continue monitoring be weighed on a NMFS-approved scale available at the Council’s website at
individual RKC vitality every 2, 4, 6, 12, and made available at a single location. http://www.npfmc.org. Copies of the
24, 48, and 72 hours. RKC would be This exemption is necessary to allow application and categorical exclusion
monitored following methods described sea samplers to account for RKC sorted are available for review from NMFS (see
in the EFP application (see ADDRESSES). on deck and transferred to tanks on deck ADDRESSES).
Details of any mortality would be for the viability study prior to observer Comments also may be submitted
recorded, and dead RKC would be sampling. directly to NMFS (see ADDRESSES) by the
removed and discarded. Live RKC end of the comment period (see DATES).
would be released 72 hours after Permit Conditions, Review, and Effects
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
collection. Once all RKC are released, Under the EFP, participating vessels
the tank would be flushed with seawater would be limited to the Amendment 80 Dated: November 16, 2018.
and refilled with eight new RKC from a groundfish allocations under the 2019 Karen H. Abrams,
subsequent tow. The 72-hour period for harvest specifications (available from Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
holding RKC would provide a short the Alaska Region, NMFS website at Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
window to observe for discard http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/). No [FR Doc. 2018–25416 Filed 11–23–18; 8:45 am]
mortality, yet allow for adequate sample additional target or PSC amounts BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:28 Nov 23, 2018 Jkt 247001 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\26NON1.SGM 26NON1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/83_FR_60635/page/3.svg)
Document Created: 2018-11-24 00:51:43
Document Modified: 2018-11-24 00:51:43
| 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; receipt of application for exempted fishing permit. | |
| Dates | Comments on this EFP application must be submitted to NMFS on or before December 11, 2018. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will consider the application at its meeting from December 3, 2018, through December 11, 2018, in Anchorage, AK. | |
| Contact | Bridget Mansfield, 907-586-7228. | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 60408 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XG55 |
2025 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR