Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Shark Management Measures; 2015 Research Fishery, 2916-2918 [2015-00808]
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 13 / Wednesday, January 21, 2015 / Notices
high spatial precision (2.5nm resolution
for the FIB beam), as well as cutting
cross-sectional trenches into samples for
characterization of the internal
structure. Justification for Duty-Free
Entry: There are no instruments of the
same general category manufactured in
the United States. Application accepted
by Commissioner of Customs: January 5,
2015.
Dated: January 13, 2015.
Gregory W. Campbell,
Director of Subsidies Enforcement,
Enforcement and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2015–00936 Filed 1–20–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Proposed Information Collection;
Comment Request; STORMREADY®,
STORMREADY/TSUNAMIREADYTM,
AND STORMREADY® SUPPORTER
Application Forms
National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Department of
Commerce, as part of its continuing
effort to reduce paperwork and
respondent burden, invites the general
public and other Federal agencies to
take this opportunity to comment on
proposed and/or continuing information
collections, as required by the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
DATES: Written comments must be
submitted on or before March 23, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments
to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental
Paperwork Clearance Officer,
Department of Commerce, Room 6616,
14th and Constitution Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20230 (or via the
Internet at JJessup@doc.gov).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection
instrument and instructions should be
directed to Donna Franklin, (301) 427–
9305 or chris.maier@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
I. Abstract
StormReady and TsunamiReady are
voluntary programs offered as a means
of providing guidance and incentive to
officials interested in improving their
respective hazardous weather
operations. The StormReady
Application Form, Tsunami-Ready
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:50 Jan 20, 2015
Jkt 235001
Application Form and TsunamiReady/
StormReady Application Form are used
by localities to apply for initial
StormReady or TsunamiReady and
StormReady recognition and renewal of
that recognition every six years. The
government will use the information
collected to determine whether a
community has met all of the criteria to
receive StormReady and/or
TsunamiReady recognition. In addition,
businesses, schools, non-profit
organizations and other nongovernmental entities often establish
severe weather safety plans and actively
promote severe weather safety
awareness activities but may not have
the resources necessary to fulfill all the
eligibility requirements to achieve the
full StormReady recognition. These
entities may apply through the
StormReady Supporter program for
recognition.
II. Method of Collection
Applications may be faxed, mailed or
emailed.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648–0419.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Review: Regular submission
(extension of a currently approved
information collection).
Affected Public: Business or other forprofit organizations; not for profit
institutions; state, local and tribal
governments.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
265.
Estimated Time per Response: Initial
applications, 2 hours; renewal
applications, 1 hour.
Estimated Total Annual Burden
Hours: 505.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to
Public: $130 in recordkeeping/reporting
costs.
IV. Request for Comments
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether
the proposed collection of information
is necessary for the proper performance
of the functions of the agency, including
whether the information shall have
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of the burden
(including hours and cost) of the
proposed collection of information; (c)
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on respondents, including through the
use of automated collection techniques
or other forms of information
technology.
Comments submitted in response to
this notice will be summarized and/or
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
included in the request for OMB
approval of this information collection;
they also will become a matter of public
record.
Dated: January 15, 2015.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief
Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015–00888 Filed 1–20–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–KE–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XD457
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species;
Atlantic Shark Management Measures;
2015 Research Fishery
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of intent; request for
applications.
AGENCY:
NMFS announces its second
request for applications for the 2015
shark research fishery from commercial
shark fishermen with directed or
incidental shark limited access permits.
In this second request, NMFS is
specifically requesting applications only
from commercial shark fishermen who
are fishing or plan to fish in the Gulf of
Mexico fishing region. The shark
research fishery allows for the collection
of fishery-dependent and biological data
for future stock assessments to meet the
shark research objectives of the Agency.
The only commercial vessels authorized
to land sandbar sharks are those
participating in the shark research
fishery. Shark research fishery
permittees may also land other large
coastal sharks (LCS), small coastal
sharks (SCS), and pelagic sharks.
Commercial shark fishermen who are
interested in participating in the shark
research fishery need to submit a
completed Shark Research Fishery
Permit Application in order to be
considered.
DATES: Shark Research Fishery
Applications must be received no later
than 5 p.m., local time, on February 5,
2015.
ADDRESSES: Please submit completed
applications to the HMS Management
Division at:
´
• Mail: Attn: Guy DuBeck, HMS
Management Division (F/SF1), NMFS,
1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring,
MD 20910.
• Fax: (301) 713–1917.
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\21JAN1.SGM
21JAN1
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 13 / Wednesday, January 21, 2015 / Notices
For copies of the Shark Research
Fishery Permit Application, please write
to the HMS Management Division at the
address listed above, call (301) 427–
8503 (phone), or fax a request to (301)
713–1917. Copies of the Shark Research
Fishery Application are also available at
the HMS Web site at https://
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/index.htm.
Additionally, please be advised that
your application may be released under
the Freedom of Information Act.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Karyl Brewster-Geisz, Delisse Ortiz, or
´
Guy DuBeck, at (301) 427–8503 (phone)
or (301) 713–1917 (fax).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Atlantic shark fisheries are managed
under the authority of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens
Act). The 2006 Consolidated HMS
Fishery Management Plan (FMP) is
implemented by regulations at 50 CFR
part 635.
The shark research fishery was
established, in part, to maintain time
series data for stock assessments and to
meet NMFS’ research objectives. Since
the shark research fishery was
established in 2008, the research fishery
has allowed for: The collection of
fishery dependent data for current and
future stock assessments; the operation
of cooperative research to meet NMFS’
ongoing research objectives; the
collection of updated life-history
information used in the sandbar shark
(and other species) stock assessment;
the collection of data on habitat
preferences that might help reduce
fishery interactions through bycatch
mitigation; and the evaluation of the
utility of the mid-Atlantic closed area
on the recovery of dusky sharks and
collection of hook-timer and pop-up
satellite archival tag (PSAT) information
to determine at-vessel and post-release
mortality of dusky sharks.
On October 31, 2014 (79 FR 64750),
NMFS published a notice requesting
applications for participation in the
2015 shark research fishery from
commercial shark fishermen. NMFS
received a total of seven applications,
six of which were qualified participants
distributed among four fishing regions:
North Carolina, the east coast of Florida,
the Florida Keys, and the South
Atlantic. All six qualified applicants
were selected to participate in the 2015
shark research fishery. However, none
of the qualified applicants were located
in the Gulf of Mexico fishing region.
Given the need to collect information
that will both aid future stock
assessments and management measures
in the Gulf of Mexico fishing region,
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:58 Jan 20, 2015
Jkt 235001
NMFS is providing a second notice
requesting applications from
commercial shark fishermen who fish or
plan to fish in the Gulf of Mexico region
for participation in the 2015 shark
research fishery. The October 2014
notice contains the relevant information
about the shark research fishery
application process, research objectives,
selection criteria, and available quota,
which remain applicable and are
incorporated except as modified herein.
The application deadline is being
adjusted as specified in this notice to
allow for additional applications. This
notice also provides additional
information about meetings and
procedures for applicants selected
through this second call for
applications. For other background
details, applicants should refer to the
October 2014 notice.
The shark research fishery permit(s)
issued to the fisherman fishing in the
Gulf of Mexico region will have the
same permit conditions as those issued
in the other fishing regions. Those
conditions will be discussed in a
Captain’s Meeting to be held in early
January 2015 and announced in another
notice.
In order to participate in the shark
research fishery, commercial shark
fishermen need to submit a completed
Shark Research Fishery Application by
the deadline noted above (see DATES)
showing that the vessel and owner(s)
meet the specific criteria outlined
below.
Research Objectives
The shark research fishery objectives
were specified in the October 31, 2014
(79 FR 64750) notice requesting
applications for participation in the
2015 shark research fishery from
commercial shark fishermen and
continue to apply.
Selection Criteria
The shark research fishery selection
criteria were specified in the October
31, 2014 (79 FR 64750) notice
requesting applications for participation
in the 2015 shark research fishery from
commercial shark fishermen and
continue to apply, except that
applications are requested only from
commercial fishermen who fish or plan
to fish in the Gulf of Mexico fishing
region.
Selection Process
The shark research fishery selection
process was specified in the October 31,
2014 (79 FR 64750) notice requesting
applications for participation in the
2015 shark research fishery from
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
2917
commercial shark fishermen and applies
here except as specified herein.
Once the selection process is
complete, NMFS will notify the selected
applicants and issue the shark research
fishery permits. The shark research
fishery permits will be valid only in
calendar year 2015. NMFS held
mandatory permit holders’ meetings
before observers were placed on vessels
in both 2013 (78 FR 14515; March 6,
2013) and 2014 (79 FR 12155; March 4,
2014). NMFS intends to hold another
such meeting again in January 2015 for
commercial fishermen who have already
been selected and issued a 2015 shark
research fishery permit. Applicants
selected for the Gulf of Mexico fishing
region through this notice are
encouraged to call in and listen to the
discussion. Once the selected
participant(s) from the Gulf of Mexico
region has been issued a 2015 shark
research fishery permit, NMFS will
contact them to discuss the research
objectives and protocols of the 2015
shark research fishery to minimize any
delays in collecting information in the
Gulf of Mexico fishing region and to
update them with information from
permit holders’ meeting as appropriate.
Once the fishery starts, the shark
research fishery permit holders must
contact the NMFS observer coordinator
to arrange the placement of a NMFSapproved observer for each shark
research trip.
A shark research fishery permit will
only be valid for the vessel and owner(s)
and terms and conditions listed on the
permit, and, thus, cannot be transferred
to another vessel or owner(s). Issuance
of a shark research permit does not
guarantee that the permit holder will be
assigned a NMFS-approved observer on
any particular trip. Rather, issuance
indicates that a vessel may be issued a
NMFS-approved observer for a
particular trip, and on such trips, may
be allowed to harvest Atlantic sharks,
including sandbar sharks, in excess of
the retention limits described in 50 CFR
635.24(a). These retention limits will be
based on available quota, number of
vessels participating in the 2015 shark
research fishery, the research objectives
set forth by the shark board, the extent
of other restrictions placed on the
vessel, and may vary by vessel and/or
location. When not operating under the
auspices of the shark research fishery,
the vessel would still be able to land
LCS, SCS, and pelagic sharks subject to
existing retention limits on trips
without a NMFS-approved observer.
NMFS annually invites commercial
shark permit holders (directed and
incidental) to submit an application to
participate in the shark research fishery.
E:\FR\FM\21JAN1.SGM
21JAN1
2918
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 13 / Wednesday, January 21, 2015 / Notices
Permit applications can be found on the
HMS Management Division’s Web site
at https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/
index.htm or by calling (301) 427–8503.
Final decisions on the issuance of a
shark research fishery permit will
depend on the submission of all
required information by the deadline
(see DATES), and NMFS’ review of
applicant information as outlined above.
The 2015 shark research fishery will
start after the opening of the shark
fishery and under available quotas as
published in a separate Federal Register
final rule.
Dated: January 14, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–00808 Filed 1–20–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed
Forces Code Committee; Meeting
Notice of Public Meeting.
This notice announces the
forthcoming public meeting of the Code
Committee.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
William A. DeCicco, Clerk of Court,
United States Court of Appeals for the
Armed Forces, 450 E Street NW.,
Washington, DC 20442–0001, telephone
(202) 761–1448.
The Code
Committee was established by Article
146(a), Uniform Code of Military Justice,
10 U.S.C. 946(a), to be held at the
Courthouse of the United States Court of
Appeals for the Armed Forces, 450 E
Street NW., Washington, DC 20442–
0001, at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March
3, 2015. The agenda for this meeting
will include consideration of proposed
changes to the Uniform Code of Military
Justice and the Manual for CourtsMartial, United States, and other matters
relating to the operation of the Uniform
Code of Military Justice throughout the
Armed Forces.
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
[FR Doc. 2015–00829 Filed 1–20–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001–06–P
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:58 Jan 20, 2015
Jkt 235001
Privacy Act of 1974; System of
Records
Defense Contract Audit
Agency, DoD.
ACTION: Notice to amend a System of
Records.
AGENCY:
The Defense Contract Audit
Agency is amending system of records
notice, RDCAA 590.8, entitled ‘‘DCAA
Management Information System
(DMIS)’’ in its existing inventory of
record systems subject to the Privacy
Act of 1974, as amended. This system is
used to provide managers, supervisors,
and team members with timely, on-line
information regarding audit
requirements, programs, and
performance.
SUMMARY:
Dated: January 15, 2015.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison
Officer, Department of Defense.
RDCAA 590.8
SYSTEM NAME:
DCAA Management Information
System (DMIS) (March 5, 2013, 78 FR
14284).
CHANGES:
*
*
*
*
*
SYSTEM LOCATION:
You may submit comments,
identified by docket number and title,
by any of the following methods:
• Federal Rulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
• Mail: Federal Docket Management
System Office, 4800 Mark Center Drive,
East Tower, 2nd Floor, Suite 02G09,
Alexandria, VA 22350–3100.
Instructions: All submissions received
must include the agency name and
docket number for this Federal Register
document. The general policy for
comments and other submissions from
members of the public is to make these
submissions available for public
viewing on the Internet at https://
www.regulations.gov as they are
received without change, including any
personal identifiers or contact
information.
Delete entry and replace with ‘‘Chief,
Information Technology Division,
Defense Contract Audit Agency, 8725
John J. Kingman Road, Suite 2135, Fort
Belvoir, VA 22060–6219.’’
ADDRESSES:
SUMMARY:
Dated: January 14, 2015.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison
Officer, Department of Defense.
[Docket ID DoD–2015–OS–0003]
the Defense Privacy and Civil Liberties
Division Web site at https://
dpcld.defense.gov/. The proposed
changes to the record systems being
amended are set forth below. The
proposed amendments are not within
the purview of subsection (r) of the
Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as
amended, which requires the
submission of a new or altered system
report.
Comments will be accepted on or
before February 20, 2015. This proposed
action will be effective on the date
following the end of the comment
period unless comments are received
which result in a contrary
determination.
Office of the Secretary
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Office of the Secretary
DATES:
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
ACTION:
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Mr.
Keith Mastromichalis, DCAA FOIA/
Privacy Act Management Analyst, 8725
John J. Kingman Road, Suite 2135, Fort
Belvoir, VA 22060–6219, Telephone
number: (703) 767–1022
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Defense Contract Audit Agency systems
of records notices subject to the Privacy
Act of 1974, as amended, have been
published in the Federal Register and
are available from the address in FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT or from
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Delete entry and replace with
‘‘Defense Contract Audit Agency, 8725
John J. Kingman Road, Suite 2135, Fort
Belvoir, VA 22060–6219.’’
*
*
*
*
*
SYSTEM MANAGER(S) AND ADDRESS:
NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES:
Delete entry and replace with
‘‘Individuals seeking to determine
whether information about themselves
is contained in this system should
address written inquiries to the Chief,
Information Technology Division,
System Design and Development
Branch, Defense Contract Audit Agency,
8725 John J. Kingman Road, Suite 2135,
Fort Belvoir, VA 22060–6219.
Individuals must furnish name, Social
Security Number, approximate date of
record, and geographic area in which
consideration was requested for record
to be located and identified.
Official mailing addresses are
published as an appendix to the DCAA’s
compilation of systems notices.’’
RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURES:
Delete entry and replace with
‘‘Individuals seeking access to
information about themselves contained
in this system should address written
inquiries to the Chief, Information
Technology Division, Defense Contract
Audit Agency, 8725 John J. Kingman
Road, Suite 2135, Fort Belvoir, VA
22060–6219.
E:\FR\FM\21JAN1.SGM
21JAN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 13 (Wednesday, January 21, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2916-2918]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-00808]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XD457
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Shark Management
Measures; 2015 Research Fishery
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of intent; request for applications.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS announces its second request for applications for the
2015 shark research fishery from commercial shark fishermen with
directed or incidental shark limited access permits. In this second
request, NMFS is specifically requesting applications only from
commercial shark fishermen who are fishing or plan to fish in the Gulf
of Mexico fishing region. The shark research fishery allows for the
collection of fishery-dependent and biological data for future stock
assessments to meet the shark research objectives of the Agency. The
only commercial vessels authorized to land sandbar sharks are those
participating in the shark research fishery. Shark research fishery
permittees may also land other large coastal sharks (LCS), small
coastal sharks (SCS), and pelagic sharks. Commercial shark fishermen
who are interested in participating in the shark research fishery need
to submit a completed Shark Research Fishery Permit Application in
order to be considered.
DATES: Shark Research Fishery Applications must be received no later
than 5 p.m., local time, on February 5, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Please submit completed applications to the HMS Management
Division at:
Mail: Attn: Gu[yacute] DuBeck, HMS Management Division (F/
SF1), NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
Fax: (301) 713-1917.
[[Page 2917]]
For copies of the Shark Research Fishery Permit Application, please
write to the HMS Management Division at the address listed above, call
(301) 427-8503 (phone), or fax a request to (301) 713-1917. Copies of
the Shark Research Fishery Application are also available at the HMS
Web site at https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/index.htm. Additionally,
please be advised that your application may be released under the
Freedom of Information Act.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karyl Brewster-Geisz, Delisse Ortiz,
or Gu[yacute] DuBeck, at (301) 427-8503 (phone) or (301) 713-1917
(fax).
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 HMS
Fishery Management Plan (FMP) is implemented by regulations at 50 CFR
part 635.
The shark research fishery was established, in part, to maintain
time series data for stock assessments and to meet NMFS' research
objectives. Since the shark research fishery was established in 2008,
the research fishery has allowed for: The collection of fishery
dependent data for current and future stock assessments; the operation
of cooperative research to meet NMFS' ongoing research objectives; the
collection of updated life-history information used in the sandbar
shark (and other species) stock assessment; the collection of data on
habitat preferences that might help reduce fishery interactions through
bycatch mitigation; and the evaluation of the utility of the mid-
Atlantic closed area on the recovery of dusky sharks and collection of
hook-timer and pop-up satellite archival tag (PSAT) information to
determine at-vessel and post-release mortality of dusky sharks.
On October 31, 2014 (79 FR 64750), NMFS published a notice
requesting applications for participation in the 2015 shark research
fishery from commercial shark fishermen. NMFS received a total of seven
applications, six of which were qualified participants distributed
among four fishing regions: North Carolina, the east coast of Florida,
the Florida Keys, and the South Atlantic. All six qualified applicants
were selected to participate in the 2015 shark research fishery.
However, none of the qualified applicants were located in the Gulf of
Mexico fishing region. Given the need to collect information that will
both aid future stock assessments and management measures in the Gulf
of Mexico fishing region, NMFS is providing a second notice requesting
applications from commercial shark fishermen who fish or plan to fish
in the Gulf of Mexico region for participation in the 2015 shark
research fishery. The October 2014 notice contains the relevant
information about the shark research fishery application process,
research objectives, selection criteria, and available quota, which
remain applicable and are incorporated except as modified herein. The
application deadline is being adjusted as specified in this notice to
allow for additional applications. This notice also provides additional
information about meetings and procedures for applicants selected
through this second call for applications. For other background
details, applicants should refer to the October 2014 notice.
The shark research fishery permit(s) issued to the fisherman
fishing in the Gulf of Mexico region will have the same permit
conditions as those issued in the other fishing regions. Those
conditions will be discussed in a Captain's Meeting to be held in early
January 2015 and announced in another notice.
In order to participate in the shark research fishery, commercial
shark fishermen need to submit a completed Shark Research Fishery
Application by the deadline noted above (see DATES) showing that the
vessel and owner(s) meet the specific criteria outlined below.
Research Objectives
The shark research fishery objectives were specified in the October
31, 2014 (79 FR 64750) notice requesting applications for participation
in the 2015 shark research fishery from commercial shark fishermen and
continue to apply.
Selection Criteria
The shark research fishery selection criteria were specified in the
October 31, 2014 (79 FR 64750) notice requesting applications for
participation in the 2015 shark research fishery from commercial shark
fishermen and continue to apply, except that applications are requested
only from commercial fishermen who fish or plan to fish in the Gulf of
Mexico fishing region.
Selection Process
The shark research fishery selection process was specified in the
October 31, 2014 (79 FR 64750) notice requesting applications for
participation in the 2015 shark research fishery from commercial shark
fishermen and applies here except as specified herein.
Once the selection process is complete, NMFS will notify the
selected applicants and issue the shark research fishery permits. The
shark research fishery permits will be valid only in calendar year
2015. NMFS held mandatory permit holders' meetings before observers
were placed on vessels in both 2013 (78 FR 14515; March 6, 2013) and
2014 (79 FR 12155; March 4, 2014). NMFS intends to hold another such
meeting again in January 2015 for commercial fishermen who have already
been selected and issued a 2015 shark research fishery permit.
Applicants selected for the Gulf of Mexico fishing region through this
notice are encouraged to call in and listen to the discussion. Once the
selected participant(s) from the Gulf of Mexico region has been issued
a 2015 shark research fishery permit, NMFS will contact them to discuss
the research objectives and protocols of the 2015 shark research
fishery to minimize any delays in collecting information in the Gulf of
Mexico fishing region and to update them with information from permit
holders' meeting as appropriate. Once the fishery starts, the shark
research fishery permit holders must contact the NMFS observer
coordinator to arrange the placement of a NMFS-approved observer for
each shark research trip.
A shark research fishery permit will only be valid for the vessel
and owner(s) and terms and conditions listed on the permit, and, thus,
cannot be transferred to another vessel or owner(s). Issuance of a
shark research permit does not guarantee that the permit holder will be
assigned a NMFS-approved observer on any particular trip. Rather,
issuance indicates that a vessel may be issued a NMFS-approved observer
for a particular trip, and on such trips, may be allowed to harvest
Atlantic sharks, including sandbar sharks, in excess of the retention
limits described in 50 CFR 635.24(a). These retention limits will be
based on available quota, number of vessels participating in the 2015
shark research fishery, the research objectives set forth by the shark
board, the extent of other restrictions placed on the vessel, and may
vary by vessel and/or location. When not operating under the auspices
of the shark research fishery, the vessel would still be able to land
LCS, SCS, and pelagic sharks subject to existing retention limits on
trips without a NMFS-approved observer.
NMFS annually invites commercial shark permit holders (directed and
incidental) to submit an application to participate in the shark
research fishery.
[[Page 2918]]
Permit applications can be found on the HMS Management Division's Web
site at https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/index.htm or by calling (301)
427-8503. Final decisions on the issuance of a shark research fishery
permit will depend on the submission of all required information by the
deadline (see DATES), and NMFS' review of applicant information as
outlined above. The 2015 shark research fishery will start after the
opening of the shark fishery and under available quotas as published in
a separate Federal Register final rule.
Dated: January 14, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-00808 Filed 1-20-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
