Notification of U.S. Fish Quotas and an Effort Allocation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Regulatory Area, 76221-76222 [E6-21741]
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 244 / Wednesday, December 20, 2006 / Rules and Regulations
Management and Budget (OMB)
approved the information collection
requirements contained in §§ 11.15,
11.21, 11.35, 11.51, 11.52, 11.55, and
11.61 pursuant to OMB Control No.
3060–0207. Accordingly, the
information collection requirements
contained in these rules became
effective on February 21, 2006.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6–21770 Filed 12–19–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 300
[I.D. 120406B]
Notification of U.S. Fish Quotas and an
Effort Allocation in the Northwest
Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO)
Regulatory Area
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule; notification of U.S.
fish quotas and an effort allocation.
AGENCY:
NMFS announces that fish
quotas and an effort allocation are
available for harvest by U.S. fishermen
in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries
Organization (NAFO) Regulatory Area.
This action is necessary to make
available to U.S. fishermen a fishing
privilege on an equitable basis.
DATES: All fish quotas and the effort
allocation are effective January 1, 2007,
through December 31, 2007. Expressions
of interest regarding U.S. fish quota
allocations for all species except 3L
shrimp will be accepted throughout
2007. Expressions of interest regarding
the U.S. 3L shrimp quota allocation and
the 3M shrimp effort allocation will be
accepted through January 4, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Expressions of interest
regarding the U.S. effort allocation and
quota allocations should be made in
writing to Patrick E. Moran in the NMFS
Office of International Affairs, at 1315
East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD
20910 (phone: 301–713–2276, fax: 301–
713–2313, e-mail:
pat.moran@noaa.gov).
Information relating to NAFO fish
quotas, NAFO Conservation and
Enforcement Measures, and the High
Seas Fishing Compliance Act (HSFC)
Permit is available from Allison
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with RULES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:07 Dec 19, 2006
Jkt 211001
McHale, at the NMFS Northeast
Regional Office at One Blackburn Drive,
Gloucester,MA 01930 (phone: 978–281–
9103, fax: 978–281–9135, e-mail:
allison.mchale@noaa.gov) and from
NAFO on the World Wide Web at https://
www.nafo.int.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Patrick E. Moran, 301–713–2276.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
NAFO has established and maintains
conservation measures in its Regulatory
Area that include one effort limitation
fishery as well as fisheries with total
allowable catches (TACs) and member
nation quota allocations. The principal
species managed are cod, flounder,
redfish, American plaice, halibut,
capelin, shrimp, and squid. At the 2006
NAFO Annual Meeting, the United
States received fish quota allocations for
three NAFO stocks and an effort
allocation for one NAFO stock to be
fished during 2007. The species,
location, and allocation (in metric tons
or effort) of these U.S. fishing
opportunities, as found in Annexes I.A,
I.B, and I.C of the 2007 NAFO
Conservation and Enforcement
Measures, are as follows:
(1) Redfish
(2) Squid
(Illex)
(3) Shrimp
(4) Shrimp
NAFO
3M
NAFO
3&4
NAFO
3L
NAFO
3M
Division
69 mt
Subareas
453 mt
Division
245 mt
Division
1 vessel/
100 days
Additionally, U.S. vessels may be
authorized to fish any available portion
of the 627 mt allocation of oceanic
redfish in NAFO Subarea 2 and
Divisions 1F and 3K allocated to NAFO
members that are not also members of
the Northeast Atlantic Fisheries
Commission. Fishing opportunities may
also be authorized for U.S. fishermen in
the ‘‘Others’’ category for: Division
3LNO yellowtail flounder (76 mt);
Division 3NO white hake (500 mt);
Division 3LNO skates (500 mt); and
Division 3O redfish (100 mt).
Procedures for obtaining NMFS
authorization are specified here.
U.S. Fish Quota Allocations
Expressions of interest to fish for any
or all of the U.S. fish quota allocations
and ‘‘Others’’ category allocations in
NAFO will be considered from U.S.
vessels in possession of a valid High
Seas Fishing Compliance (HSFC)
permit, which is available from the
NMFS Northeast Regional Office (see
PO 00000
Frm 00111
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
76221
ADDRESSES).
All expressions of interest
should be directed in writing to Patrick
E. Moran (see ADDRESSES). Letters of
interest from U.S. vessel owners should
include the name, registration, and
home port of the applicant vessel as
required by NAFO in advance of fishing
operations. In addition, any available
information on intended target species
and dates of fishing operations should
be included. To ensure equitable access
by U.S. vessel owners, NMFS may
promulgate regulations designed to
choose one or more U.S. applicants from
among expressions of interest.
Note that vessels issued valid HSFC
permits under 50 CFR part 300 are
exempt from multispecies permit, mesh
size, effort-control, and possession limit
restrictions, specified in 50 CFR 648.4,
648.80, 648.82 and 648.86, respectively,
while transiting the U.S. exclusive
economic zone (EEZ) with multispecies
on board the vessel, or landing
multispecies in U.S. ports that were
caught while fishing in the NAFO
Regulatory Area, provided:
(1) The vessel operator has a letter of
authorization issued by the Regional
Administrator on board the vessel;
(2) For the duration of the trip, the
vessel fishes, except for transiting
purposes, exclusively in the NAFO
Regulatory Area and does not harvest
fish in, or possess fish harvested in, or
from, the U.S. EEZ;
(3) When transiting the U.S. EEZ, all
gear is properly stowed in accordance
with one of the applicable methods
specified in 50 CFR 648.23(b); and
(4) The vessel operator complies with
the HSFC permit and all NAFO
conservation and enforcement measures
while fishing in the NAFO Regulatory
Area.
U.S. 3M Effort Allocation
Expressions of interest in harvesting
the U.S. portion of the 2007 NAFO 3M
shrimp effort allocation (1 vessel/100
days) will be considered from owners of
U.S. vessels in possession of a valid
HSFC permit. All expressions of interest
should be directed in writing to Patrick
E. Moran (see ADDRESSES).
Letters of interest from U.S. vessel
owners should include the name,
registration and home port of the
applicant vessel as required by NAFO in
advance of fishing operations. In the
event that multiple expressions of
interest are made by U.S. vessel owners,
NMFS may promulgate regulations
designed to choose one U.S. applicant
from among expressions of interest.
E:\FR\FM\20DER1.SGM
20DER1
76222
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 244 / Wednesday, December 20, 2006 / Rules and Regulations
NAFO Conservation and Management
Measures
Relevant NAFO Conservation and
Enforcement Measures include, but are
not limited to, maintenance of a fishing
logbook with NAFO-designated entries;
adherence to NAFO hail system
requirements; presence of an on-board
observer; deployment of a functioning,
autonomous vessel monitoring system;
and adherence to all relevant minimum
size, gear, bycatch, and other
requirements. Further details regarding
these requirements are available from
the NMFS Northeast Regional Office,
and can also be found in the current
NAFO Conservation and Enforcement
Measures on the Internet (see
ADDRESSES).
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with RULES
Chartering Arrangements
In the event that no adequate
expressions of interest in harvesting the
U.S. portion of the 2007 NAFO 3L
shrimp quota allocation and/or 3M
shrimp effort allocation are made on
behalf of U.S. vessels, expressions of
interest will be considered from U.S.
fishing interests intending to make use
of vessels of other NAFO Parties under
chartering arrangements to fish the 2007
U.S. quota allocation for 3L shrimp and/
or the effort allocation for 3M shrimp.
Under NAFO rules in effect through
2007, a vessel registered to another
NAFO Contracting Party may be
chartered to fish the U.S. effort
allocation provided that written consent
for the charter is obtained from the
vessel’s flag state and the U.S. allocation
is transferred to that flag state. NAFO
Parties must be notified of such a
chartering operation through a mail
notification process.
A NAFO Contracting Party wishing to
enter into a chartering arrangement with
the United States must be in full current
compliance with the requirements
outlined in the NAFO Convention and
Conservation and Enforcement
Measures including, but not limited to,
submission of the following reports to
the NAFO Executive Secretary:
provisional monthly catches within 30
days following the calendar month in
which the catches were made;
provisional daily catches of shrimp
taken from Division 3L; provisional
monthly fishing days in Division 3M
within 30 days following the calendar
month in which the catches were made;
observer reports within 30 days
following the completion of a fishing
trip; and an annual statement of actions
taken in order to comply with the NAFO
Convention. Furthermore, the United
States may also consider a Contracting
Party’s previous compliance with the
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:07 Dec 19, 2006
Jkt 211001
NAFO incidental catch limits, as
outlined in the NAFO Conservation and
Enforcement Measures, before entering
into a chartering arrangement.
Expressions of interest from U.S.
fishing interests intending to make use
of vessels from another NAFO
Contracting Party under chartering
arrangements should include
information required by NAFO
regarding the proposed chartering
operation, including: the name,
registration and flag of the intended
vessel; a copy of the charter; the fishing
opportunities granted; a letter of consent
from the vessel’s flag state; the date from
which the vessel is authorized to
commence fishing on these
opportunities; and the duration of the
charter (not to exceed six months). More
details on NAFO requirements for
chartering operations are available from
NMFS (see ADDRESSES). In addition,
expressions of interest for chartering
operations should be accompanied by a
detailed description of anticipated
benefits to the United States. Such
benefits might include, but are not
limited to, the use of U.S. processing
facilities/personnel; the use of U.S.
fishing personnel; other specific
positive effects on U.S. employment;
evidence that fishing by the chartered
vessel actually would take place; and
documentation of the physical
characteristics and economics of the
fishery for future use by the U.S. fishing
industry.
In the event that multiple expressions
of interest are made by U.S. fishing
interests proposing the use of chartering
operations, the information submitted
regarding benefits to the United States
will be used in making a selection. In
the event that applications by U.S.
fishing interests proposing the use of
chartering operations are considered, all
applicants will be made aware of the
allocation decision as soon as possible.
Once the allocation has been awarded
for use in a chartering operation, NMFS
will immediately take appropriate steps
to notify NAFO and transfer the U.S. 3L
shrimp quota allocation and/or the 3M
shrimp effort allocation to the
appropriate Contracting Party.
After reviewing all requests for
allocations submitted, NMFS may
decide not to grant any allocations if it
is determined that no requests meet the
criteria described in this notice. All
individuals/companies submitting
expressions of interest to NMFS will be
contacted if an allocation has been
awarded. Please note that if the U.S.
portion of the 2007 NAFO 3L shrimp
quota allocation and/or 3M shrimp
effort allocation is awarded to a U.S.
vessel or a specified chartering
PO 00000
Frm 00112
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
operation, it may not be transferred
without the express, written consent of
NMFS.
Dated: December 14, 2006.
Rebecca Lent,
Director, Office of International Affairs,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6–21741 Filed 12–19–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[Docket No. 060418103–6181–02 ; I.D.
121306B]
Fisheries of the Northeastern United
States; Spiny Dogfish Fishery;
Commercial Period 2 Quota Harvested
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Closure of spiny dogfish
fishery.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the
spiny dogfish commercial quota
available to the coastal states from
Maine through Florida for the semiannual quota period, November 1, 2006
– April 30 , 2007, has been harvested.
Therefore, effective 0001 hours,
December 19, 2006, federally permitted
commercial vessels may not fish for,
possess, transfer, or land spiny dogfish
until May 1, 2007, when the 2007
Period 1 quota becomes available.
Regulations governing the spiny dogfish
fishery require publication of this
notification to advise the coastal states
from Maine through Florida that the
quota has been harvested and to advise
vessel permit holders and dealer permit
holders that no Federal commercial
quota is available for landing spiny
dogfish in these states. This action is
necessary to prevent the fishery from
exceeding its Period 2 quota and to
allow for effective management of this
stock.
Quota Period 2 for the spiny
dogfish fishery is closed effective at
0001 hr local time, December 19, 2006,
through 2400 hr local time April 30,
2007. Effective December 19, 2006,
federally permitted dealers are also
advised that they may not purchase
spiny dogfish from federally permitted
spiny dogfish vessels.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Don
Frei, Fisheries Management Specialist,
DATES:
E:\FR\FM\20DER1.SGM
20DER1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 244 (Wednesday, December 20, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 76221-76222]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-21741]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 300
[I.D. 120406B]
Notification of U.S. Fish Quotas and an Effort Allocation in the
Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Regulatory Area
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule; notification of U.S. fish quotas and an effort
allocation.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS announces that fish quotas and an effort allocation are
available for harvest by U.S. fishermen in the Northwest Atlantic
Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Regulatory Area. This action is necessary
to make available to U.S. fishermen a fishing privilege on an equitable
basis.
DATES: All fish quotas and the effort allocation are effective January
1, 2007, through December 31, 2007. Expressions of interest regarding
U.S. fish quota allocations for all species except 3L shrimp will be
accepted throughout 2007. Expressions of interest regarding the U.S. 3L
shrimp quota allocation and the 3M shrimp effort allocation will be
accepted through January 4, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Expressions of interest regarding the U.S. effort allocation
and quota allocations should be made in writing to Patrick E. Moran in
the NMFS Office of International Affairs, at 1315 East-West Highway,
Silver Spring, MD 20910 (phone: 301-713-2276, fax: 301-713-2313, e-
mail: pat.moran@noaa.gov).
Information relating to NAFO fish quotas, NAFO Conservation and
Enforcement Measures, and the High Seas Fishing Compliance Act (HSFC)
Permit is available from Allison McHale, at the NMFS Northeast Regional
Office at One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester,MA 01930 (phone: 978-281-
9103, fax: 978-281-9135, e-mail: allison.mchale@noaa.gov) and from NAFO
on the World Wide Web at https://www.nafo.int.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patrick E. Moran, 301-713-2276.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
NAFO has established and maintains conservation measures in its
Regulatory Area that include one effort limitation fishery as well as
fisheries with total allowable catches (TACs) and member nation quota
allocations. The principal species managed are cod, flounder, redfish,
American plaice, halibut, capelin, shrimp, and squid. At the 2006 NAFO
Annual Meeting, the United States received fish quota allocations for
three NAFO stocks and an effort allocation for one NAFO stock to be
fished during 2007. The species, location, and allocation (in metric
tons or effort) of these U.S. fishing opportunities, as found in
Annexes I.A, I.B, and I.C of the 2007 NAFO Conservation and Enforcement
Measures, are as follows:
(1) Redfish NAFO Division 3M 69 mt
(2) Squid (Illex) NAFO Subareas 3 & 4 453 mt
(3) Shrimp NAFO Division 3L 245 mt
(4) Shrimp NAFO Division 3M 1 vessel/100
days
Additionally, U.S. vessels may be authorized to fish any available
portion of the 627 mt allocation of oceanic redfish in NAFO Subarea 2
and Divisions 1F and 3K allocated to NAFO members that are not also
members of the Northeast Atlantic Fisheries Commission. Fishing
opportunities may also be authorized for U.S. fishermen in the
``Others'' category for: Division 3LNO yellowtail flounder (76 mt);
Division 3NO white hake (500 mt); Division 3LNO skates (500 mt); and
Division 3O redfish (100 mt). Procedures for obtaining NMFS
authorization are specified here.
U.S. Fish Quota Allocations
Expressions of interest to fish for any or all of the U.S. fish
quota allocations and ``Others'' category allocations in NAFO will be
considered from U.S. vessels in possession of a valid High Seas Fishing
Compliance (HSFC) permit, which is available from the NMFS Northeast
Regional Office (see ADDRESSES). All expressions of interest should be
directed in writing to Patrick E. Moran (see ADDRESSES). Letters of
interest from U.S. vessel owners should include the name, registration,
and home port of the applicant vessel as required by NAFO in advance of
fishing operations. In addition, any available information on intended
target species and dates of fishing operations should be included. To
ensure equitable access by U.S. vessel owners, NMFS may promulgate
regulations designed to choose one or more U.S. applicants from among
expressions of interest.
Note that vessels issued valid HSFC permits under 50 CFR part 300
are exempt from multispecies permit, mesh size, effort-control, and
possession limit restrictions, specified in 50 CFR 648.4, 648.80,
648.82 and 648.86, respectively, while transiting the U.S. exclusive
economic zone (EEZ) with multispecies on board the vessel, or landing
multispecies in U.S. ports that were caught while fishing in the NAFO
Regulatory Area, provided:
(1) The vessel operator has a letter of authorization issued by the
Regional Administrator on board the vessel;
(2) For the duration of the trip, the vessel fishes, except for
transiting purposes, exclusively in the NAFO Regulatory Area and does
not harvest fish in, or possess fish harvested in, or from, the U.S.
EEZ;
(3) When transiting the U.S. EEZ, all gear is properly stowed in
accordance with one of the applicable methods specified in 50 CFR
648.23(b); and
(4) The vessel operator complies with the HSFC permit and all NAFO
conservation and enforcement measures while fishing in the NAFO
Regulatory Area.
U.S. 3M Effort Allocation
Expressions of interest in harvesting the U.S. portion of the 2007
NAFO 3M shrimp effort allocation (1 vessel/100 days) will be considered
from owners of U.S. vessels in possession of a valid HSFC permit. All
expressions of interest should be directed in writing to Patrick E.
Moran (see ADDRESSES).
Letters of interest from U.S. vessel owners should include the
name, registration and home port of the applicant vessel as required by
NAFO in advance of fishing operations. In the event that multiple
expressions of interest are made by U.S. vessel owners, NMFS may
promulgate regulations designed to choose one U.S. applicant from among
expressions of interest.
[[Page 76222]]
NAFO Conservation and Management Measures
Relevant NAFO Conservation and Enforcement Measures include, but
are not limited to, maintenance of a fishing logbook with NAFO-
designated entries; adherence to NAFO hail system requirements;
presence of an on-board observer; deployment of a functioning,
autonomous vessel monitoring system; and adherence to all relevant
minimum size, gear, bycatch, and other requirements. Further details
regarding these requirements are available from the NMFS Northeast
Regional Office, and can also be found in the current NAFO Conservation
and Enforcement Measures on the Internet (see ADDRESSES).
Chartering Arrangements
In the event that no adequate expressions of interest in harvesting
the U.S. portion of the 2007 NAFO 3L shrimp quota allocation and/or 3M
shrimp effort allocation are made on behalf of U.S. vessels,
expressions of interest will be considered from U.S. fishing interests
intending to make use of vessels of other NAFO Parties under chartering
arrangements to fish the 2007 U.S. quota allocation for 3L shrimp and/
or the effort allocation for 3M shrimp. Under NAFO rules in effect
through 2007, a vessel registered to another NAFO Contracting Party may
be chartered to fish the U.S. effort allocation provided that written
consent for the charter is obtained from the vessel's flag state and
the U.S. allocation is transferred to that flag state. NAFO Parties
must be notified of such a chartering operation through a mail
notification process.
A NAFO Contracting Party wishing to enter into a chartering
arrangement with the United States must be in full current compliance
with the requirements outlined in the NAFO Convention and Conservation
and Enforcement Measures including, but not limited to, submission of
the following reports to the NAFO Executive Secretary: provisional
monthly catches within 30 days following the calendar month in which
the catches were made; provisional daily catches of shrimp taken from
Division 3L; provisional monthly fishing days in Division 3M within 30
days following the calendar month in which the catches were made;
observer reports within 30 days following the completion of a fishing
trip; and an annual statement of actions taken in order to comply with
the NAFO Convention. Furthermore, the United States may also consider a
Contracting Party's previous compliance with the NAFO incidental catch
limits, as outlined in the NAFO Conservation and Enforcement Measures,
before entering into a chartering arrangement.
Expressions of interest from U.S. fishing interests intending to
make use of vessels from another NAFO Contracting Party under
chartering arrangements should include information required by NAFO
regarding the proposed chartering operation, including: the name,
registration and flag of the intended vessel; a copy of the charter;
the fishing opportunities granted; a letter of consent from the
vessel's flag state; the date from which the vessel is authorized to
commence fishing on these opportunities; and the duration of the
charter (not to exceed six months). More details on NAFO requirements
for chartering operations are available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES). In
addition, expressions of interest for chartering operations should be
accompanied by a detailed description of anticipated benefits to the
United States. Such benefits might include, but are not limited to, the
use of U.S. processing facilities/personnel; the use of U.S. fishing
personnel; other specific positive effects on U.S. employment; evidence
that fishing by the chartered vessel actually would take place; and
documentation of the physical characteristics and economics of the
fishery for future use by the U.S. fishing industry.
In the event that multiple expressions of interest are made by U.S.
fishing interests proposing the use of chartering operations, the
information submitted regarding benefits to the United States will be
used in making a selection. In the event that applications by U.S.
fishing interests proposing the use of chartering operations are
considered, all applicants will be made aware of the allocation
decision as soon as possible. Once the allocation has been awarded for
use in a chartering operation, NMFS will immediately take appropriate
steps to notify NAFO and transfer the U.S. 3L shrimp quota allocation
and/or the 3M shrimp effort allocation to the appropriate Contracting
Party.
After reviewing all requests for allocations submitted, NMFS may
decide not to grant any allocations if it is determined that no
requests meet the criteria described in this notice. All individuals/
companies submitting expressions of interest to NMFS will be contacted
if an allocation has been awarded. Please note that if the U.S. portion
of the 2007 NAFO 3L shrimp quota allocation and/or 3M shrimp effort
allocation is awarded to a U.S. vessel or a specified chartering
operation, it may not be transferred without the express, written
consent of NMFS.
Dated: December 14, 2006.
Rebecca Lent,
Director, Office of International Affairs, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. E6-21741 Filed 12-19-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
