Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Prohibited Species Donation Program, 40336-40338 [2011-17203]
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40336
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 131 / Friday, July 8, 2011 / Notices
dividing this amount by the total
entered value of the sales to each
importer (or customer). See 19 CFR
351.212(b)(1). Where an importer (or
customer)-specific ad valorem rate is
greater than de minimis, we will apply
the assessment rate to the entered value
of the importers’/customers’ entries
during the POR. See 19 CFR
351.212(b)(1).
Where we do not have entered values
for all U.S. sales, we calculated a perunit assessment rate by aggregating the
antidumping duties due for all U.S.
sales to each importer (or customer) and
dividing this amount by the total
quantity sold to that importer (or
customer). See 19 CFR 351.212(b)(1). To
determine whether the duty assessment
rates are de minimis, in accordance with
the requirement set forth in 19 CFR
351.106(c)(2), we calculated importer
(or customer)-specific ad valorem ratios
based on the estimated entered value.
Where an importer (or customer)specific ad valorem rate is zero or de
minimis, we will instruct CBP to
liquidate appropriate entries without
regard to antidumping duties. See 19
CFR 351.106(c)(2).
For the companies receiving a
separate rate that were not selected for
individual review, the assessment rate
will be based on the rate listed above.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Cash Deposit Requirements
The following cash deposit
requirements will be effective upon
publication of the final results of this
administrative review for all shipments
of the subject merchandise entered, or
withdrawn from warehouse, for
consumption on or after the publication
date, as provided for by section
751(a)(2)(C) of the Act: (1) For the
separate rate companies listed above,
the cash deposit rate will be established
in the final results of this review
(except, if the rate is zero or de minimis,
i.e., less than 0.5 percent, no cash
deposit will be required for that
company); (2) for previously
investigated or reviewed PRC and nonPRC exporters not listed above that have
separate rates, the cash deposit rate will
continue to be the exporter-specific rate
published for the most recent period;
(3) for all PRC exporters of subject
merchandise which have not been
found to be entitled to a separate rate,
the cash deposit rate will be the PRCwide rate of 44.3 percent; and (4) for all
non-PRC exporters of subject
merchandise which have not received
their own rate, the cash deposit rate will
be the rate applicable to the PRC
exporters that supplied that non-PRC
exporter. These deposit requirements,
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17:52 Jul 07, 2011
Jkt 223001
when imposed, shall remain in effect
until further notice.
Notification to Importers
This notice also serves as a
preliminary reminder to importers of
their responsibility under 19 CFR
351.402(f)(2) to file a certificate
regarding the reimbursement of
antidumping duties prior to liquidation
of the relevant entries during this
review period. Failure to comply with
this requirement could result in the
Secretary’s presumption that
reimbursement of antidumping duties
occurred and the subsequent assessment
of double antidumping duties.
This determination is issued and
published in accordance with sections
751(a)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the Act and 19
CFR 351.221(b)(4).
Dated: June 30, 2011.
Ronald K. Lorentzen,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import
Administration.
which they are applying; community
and professional affiliations; philosophy
regarding the protection and
management of marine resources; and
possibly the length of residence in the
area affected by the sanctuary.
Applicants who are chosen as members
should expect to serve 3-year terms,
pursuant to the council’s Charter.
DATES: Applications are due by August
5, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Application kits may be
obtained from Lilli Ferguson, Florida
Keys National Marine Sanctuary, 33
East Quay Rd., Key West, FL, 33040.
Completed applications should be sent
to the same address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lilli
Ferguson, Florida Keys National Marine
Sanctuary, 33 East Quay Rd., Key West,
FL 33040; (305) 292–0311 x245;
Lilli.Ferguson@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
[FR Doc. 2011–17207 Filed 7–7–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Availability of Seats for the Florida
Keys National Marine Sanctuary
Advisory Council
Office of National Marine
Sanctuaries (ONMS), National Ocean
Service (NOS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Department of Commerce (DOC).
ACTION: Notice and request for
applications.
AGENCY:
The ONMS is seeking
applications for the following vacant
positions on the Florida Keys National
Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council:
Boating Industry (alternate), Citizen at
Large—Lower Keys (member), Citizen at
Large—Lower Keys (alternate),
Conservation and Environment [1 of 2]
(member), Conservation and
Environment [1 of 2] (alternate),
Diving—Lower Keys (member),
Diving—Lower Keys (alternate),
Fishing—Commercial—Marine/Tropical
(member), Fishing—Commercial—
Marine/Tropical (alternate), Fishing—
Charter Fishing F1ats Guide (member),
Fishing—Charter Fishing Flats Guide
(alternate), South Florida Ecosystem
Restoration (member), and South
Florida Ecosystem Restoration
(alternate). Applicants are chosen based
upon their particular expertise and
experience in relation to the seat for
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Per the
council’s Charter, if necessary, terms of
appointment may be changed to provide
for staggered expiration dates or
member resignation mid term.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1431, et seq.
(Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog
Number 11.429 Marine Sanctuary Program)
Dated: June 8, 2011.
Daniel J. Basta,
Director, Office of National Marine
Sanctuaries, National Ocean Service,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2011–17195 Filed 7–7–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–NK–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XA434
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Prohibited Species
Donation Program
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; selection of an
authorized distributor.
AGENCY:
NMFS announces the renewal
of permits to SeaShare authorizing this
organization to distribute Pacific salmon
and Pacific halibut to economically
disadvantaged individuals under the
prohibited species donation (PSD)
program. Salmon and halibut are caught
incidentally during directed fishing for
groundfish with trawl gear off Alaska.
This action is necessary to comply with
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\08JYN1.SGM
08JYN1
40337
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 131 / Friday, July 8, 2011 / Notices
provisions of the PSD program and is
intended to promote the goals and
objectives of the North Pacific Fishery
Management Council.
DATES: The permits are effective from
July 8, 2011 through July 8, 2014.
ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the PSD
permits for salmon and halibut prepared
for this action may be obtained from the
Alaska Region Web site at https://
www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sarah Ellgen, 907–586–7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Background
Fishing for groundfish by U.S. vessels
in the exclusive economic zone of the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
management area (BSAI) and Gulf of
Alaska (GOA) is managed by NMFS in
accordance with the Fishery
Management Plan for Groundfish of the
BSAI and the Fishery Management Plan
for Groundfish of the GOA (FMPs).
These FMPs were prepared by the North
Pacific Fishery Management Council
under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act, 16
U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Regulations
governing the Alaska groundfish
fisheries and implementing the FMPs
appear at 50 CFR parts 600 and 679.
Fishing for halibut in waters in and off
Alaska is governed by the Convention
between the United States and Canada
for the Preservation of the Halibut
Fishery of the North Pacific Ocean and
Bering Sea (Convention). The
International Pacific Halibut
Commission (IPHC) promulgates
regulations pursuant to the Convention.
The IPHC’s regulations are subject to
approval by the Secretary of State with
concurrence from the Secretary of
Commerce. After approval by the
Secretary of State and the Secretary of
Commerce, the IPHC regulations are
published in the Federal Register as
annual management measures pursuant
to 50 CFR 300.62.
Amendments 26 and 29 to the BSAI
and GOA FMPs, respectively, authorize
a salmon donation program and were
approved by NMFS on July 10, 1996; a
final rule implementing this program
was published in the Federal Register
on July 24, 1996 (61 FR 38358). The
salmon donation program was expanded
to include halibut as part of the PSD
program under Amendments 50 and 50
to the FMPs that were approved by
NMFS on May 6, 1998. A final rule
implementing Amendments 50 and 50
was published in the Federal Register
on June 12, 1998 (63 FR 32144).
Although that final rule contained a
sunset provision for the halibut PSD
program of December 31, 2000, the
halibut PSD program was permanently
extended under a final rule published in
the Federal Register on December 14,
2000 (65 FR 78119). A full description
of, and background information on, the
PSD program may be found in the
preambles to the proposed rules for
Amendments 26 and 29, and
Amendments 50 and 50 (61 FR 24750,
May 16, 1996, and 63 FR 10583, March
4, 1998, respectively).
Regulations at § 679.26 authorize the
voluntary distribution of salmon and
halibut taken incidentally in the
groundfish trawl fisheries off Alaska to
economically disadvantaged individuals
by tax-exempt organizations through an
authorized distributor. The
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS
(Regional Administrator), may select
one or more tax-exempt organizations to
be authorized distributors, as defined by
§ 679.2, based on the information
submitted by applicants under § 679.26.
After review of qualified applicants,
NMFS must announce the selection
each authorized distributor in the
Federal Register and issue one or more
PSD permits to each selected
distributor.
Currently, SeaShare, a tax-exempt
organization, is the sole authorized
distributor of salmon and halibut taken
incidentally in the groundfish trawl
fisheries off Alaska. The salmon and
halibut PSD permits became effective
August 15, 2008 and authorize SeaShare
to participate in the PSD program
through August 15, 2011 (73 FR 35659,
June 24, 2008).
On May 9, 2011, the Regional
Administrator received two applications
from SeaShare to renew its salmon and
halibut PSD permits. Revisions to the
applications were received on May 10,
2011. The Regional Administrator
reviewed the applications and
determined that they are complete and
that SeaShare continues to meet the
requirements for an authorized
distributor under the PSD program. As
required by § 679.26(b)(2), the Regional
Administrator based his selection on the
following criteria:
1. The number and qualifications of
applicants for PSD permits. Seashare is
the only applicant for PSD permits at
this time. NMFS has previously
approved applications submitted by
SeaShare. As of the date of this notice,
no other applications have been
approved by NMFS. SeaShare has been
coordinating the distribution of salmon
taken incidentally in trawl fisheries
since 1993, and of halibut taken
incidentally in trawl fisheries since
1998, under exempted fishing permits
from 1993 to 1996, and under the PSD
program since 1996. SeaShare employs
independent seafood quality control
experts to ensure product quality is
maintained by cold storage facilities and
common carriers servicing the areas
where salmon and halibut donations
will take place.
2. The number of harvesters and the
quantity of fish that applicants can
effectively administer. Five shoreside
processors and 87 catcher vessels
delivering to shoreside processors, 17
catcher/processors, and two
motherships and 11 catcher vessels
delivering to motherships currently
participate in the salmon donation
program administered by SeaShare. Five
shoreside processors and 87 catcher
vessels participate in the halibut
donation program administered by
SeaShare. SeaShare has the capacity to
receive and distribute salmon and
halibut from up to 40 processors and the
associated catcher vessels. Therefore, it
is anticipated that SeaShare has more
than adequate capacity for any
foreseeable expansion of donations.
In 2008, 2009, and 2010, SeaShare
recovered and donated 72,237 pounds,
59,233 pounds, and 52,262 pounds,
respectively, of steaked salmon to food
bank organizations. During these same
years, SeaShare recovered and donated
17,716 pounds, 23,911 pounds, and
10,360 pounds, respectively, of steaked
halibut to food bank organizations. The
donations came from the BSAI trawl
fisheries. NMFS does not have
information to convert accurately the
net weights of salmon and halibut to
numbers of salmon and numbers of
halibut.
3. The anticipated level of salmon
and halibut incidental catch based on
salmon and halibut incidental catch
from previous years. The incidental
catch of salmon and incidental catch
mortality of halibut in the GOA and
BSAI trawl fisheries are shown in the
following table:
Area fishery
2009
BSAI Trawl Chinook Salmon Incidental Catch ..................................................................................................
BSAI Trawl Other Salmon Incidental Catch ......................................................................................................
GOA Trawl Chinook Salmon Incidental Catch ..................................................................................................
12,415 fish ........
47,497 fish ........
7,898 fish ..........
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17:52 Jul 07, 2011
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PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
E:\FR\FM\08JYN1.SGM
08JYN1
2010
9,734 fish.
14,965 fish.
54,178 fish.
40338
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 131 / Friday, July 8, 2011 / Notices
Area fishery
2009
GOA Trawl Other Salmon Incidental Catch ......................................................................................................
BSAI Trawl Halibut Mortality ..............................................................................................................................
GOA Trawl Halibut Mortality ..............................................................................................................................
2,355 fish ..........
2,802 mt ...........
1,818 mt ...........
2010
1,857 fish.
2,736 mt.
1,637 mt.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
mt = metric tons.
Halibut incidental catch amounts are
constrained by an annual prohibited
species catch limit in the BSAI and
GOA. Future halibut incidental catch
levels likely will be similar to those
experienced in 2009 and 2010. Chinook
salmon prohibited species catch (PSC)
limits are established for the BS pollock
fisheries that when attained, result in
the closure of pollock fishing. The
Chinook salmon PSC limits for the
Bering Sea pollock fishery were
established by Amendment 91 to the
FMP for Groundfish of the BSAI FMP
(75 FR 53026, August 30, 2010). Salmon
incidental catch limits are not yet
established for the GOA. In general,
salmon incidental catch amounts tend
to be variable between years, making
accurate prediction of future incidental
take amounts difficult.
4. Number of vessels and processors
participating in the PSD program. For
the 2011 permit renewal, participation
in the PSD program is being expanded
beyond the BSAI to include GOA
processors and vessels. Shoreside
processors will increase from 5 to 15,
and vessels delivering to shoreside
processors will increase from 87 vessels
to 166, with 31 of the 166 vessels
participating in both the BSAI and GOA.
Catcher processors participating in the
PSD program for salmon will drop
slightly from 17 to 16 under the 2011
permit renewal. Catcher vessels
delivering to motherships will remain at
11 vessels.
NMFS issues PSD permits to SeaShare
for a 3-year period unless the permits
are suspended or revoked under
§ 679.26. The permits may not be
transferred; however, they may be
renewed following the application
procedures in § 679.26.
If the authorized distributor modifies
the list of participants in the PSD
program or delivery locations, the
authorized distributor must submit a
modified list of participants or a
modified list of delivery locations to the
Regional Administrator.
These permits may be suspended,
modified, or revoked under 15 CFR part
904 for violation of § 679.26 or other
regulations in 50 CFR part 679.
Classification
This action is taken under § 679.26.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.; 1801 et
seq.; 3631 et seq.; Pub. L. 108–447.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:52 Jul 07, 2011
Jkt 223001
Dated: July 1, 2011.
Margo Schulze-Haugen,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011–17203 Filed 7–7–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RIN 0648–XA545]
Marine Mammals; Photography Permit
No. 16360
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit.
AGENCY:
Notice is hereby given that a
permit has been issued to Oceanic
Nature Film Productions (Responsible
Party: Dieter Paulmann), P.O. Box 301
722, Albany 0752, Auckland, New
Zealand to conduct commercial/
educational photography of cetaceans
off Hawaii.
ADDRESSES: The permit and related
documents are available for review
upon written request or by appointment
in the following offices:
Permits, Conservation and Education
Division, Office of Protected
Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West
Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring,
MD 20910; phone (301) 427–8401; fax
(301) 713–0376; and
Pacific Islands Region, NMFS, 1601
Kapiolani Blvd., Rm 1110, Honolulu,
HI 96814–4700; phone (808) 944–
2200; fax (808) 973–2941.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Carrie Hubard or Laura Morse, (301)
427–8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May
11, 2011, notice was published in the
Federal Register (76 FR 27307) that a
request for a permit to conduct
commercial/educational photography
on 12 cetacean species had been
submitted by the above-named
applicant. The requested permit has
been issued under the authority of the
Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972,
as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) and
the regulations governing the taking and
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00017
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
importing of marine mammals (50 CFR
part 216). Section 104(c)(6) provides for
photography for educational or
commercial purposes involving nonendangered and non-threatened marine
mammals in the wild.
Oceanic Nature Film Productions is
authorized to film cetaceans in the
waters off Kona, Hawaii. Using one or
two sailing catamarans as a base,
filmmakers can conduct surface and
underwater photography. Additionally,
a passive acoustic array may be towed
to obtain marine mammal vocalizations.
Twelve species of cetaceans may be
approached for filming. The permit does
not authorize approaches of species
listed as threatened or endangered. Up
to 50 animals from each species may be
harassed as a result of filming. Footage
will be used in a feature film intended
to educate the public about marine
mammal conservation issues, as well as
the importance of the Pacific Islands to
the oceans. The permit expires on
October 31, 2011.
In compliance with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a final
determination has been made that the
activity proposed is categorically
excluded from the requirement to
prepare an environmental assessment or
environmental impact statement.
Dated: July 1, 2011.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education
Division, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011–17194 Filed 7–7–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
National Estuarine Research Reserve
System
Estuarine Reserves Division,
Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource
Management, National Ocean Service,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of Approval and
Availability for Revised Management
Plans for ACE Basin, SC National
Estuarine Research Reserve and Old
AGENCY:
E:\FR\FM\08JYN1.SGM
08JYN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 131 (Friday, July 8, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40336-40338]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-17203]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XA434
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Prohibited
Species Donation Program
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; selection of an authorized distributor.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS announces the renewal of permits to SeaShare authorizing
this organization to distribute Pacific salmon and Pacific halibut to
economically disadvantaged individuals under the prohibited species
donation (PSD) program. Salmon and halibut are caught incidentally
during directed fishing for groundfish with trawl gear off Alaska. This
action is necessary to comply with
[[Page 40337]]
provisions of the PSD program and is intended to promote the goals and
objectives of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council.
DATES: The permits are effective from July 8, 2011 through July 8,
2014.
ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the PSD permits for salmon and halibut
prepared for this action may be obtained from the Alaska Region Web
site at https://www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarah Ellgen, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Fishing for groundfish by U.S. vessels in the exclusive economic
zone of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) and
Gulf of Alaska (GOA) is managed by NMFS in accordance with the Fishery
Management Plan for Groundfish of the BSAI and the Fishery Management
Plan for Groundfish of the GOA (FMPs). These FMPs were prepared by the
North Pacific Fishery Management Council under the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Regulations governing the Alaska groundfish fisheries and implementing
the FMPs appear at 50 CFR parts 600 and 679. Fishing for halibut in
waters in and off Alaska is governed by the Convention between the
United States and Canada for the Preservation of the Halibut Fishery of
the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea (Convention). The International
Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) promulgates regulations pursuant to
the Convention. The IPHC's regulations are subject to approval by the
Secretary of State with concurrence from the Secretary of Commerce.
After approval by the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Commerce,
the IPHC regulations are published in the Federal Register as annual
management measures pursuant to 50 CFR 300.62.
Amendments 26 and 29 to the BSAI and GOA FMPs, respectively,
authorize a salmon donation program and were approved by NMFS on July
10, 1996; a final rule implementing this program was published in the
Federal Register on July 24, 1996 (61 FR 38358). The salmon donation
program was expanded to include halibut as part of the PSD program
under Amendments 50 and 50 to the FMPs that were approved by NMFS on
May 6, 1998. A final rule implementing Amendments 50 and 50 was
published in the Federal Register on June 12, 1998 (63 FR 32144).
Although that final rule contained a sunset provision for the halibut
PSD program of December 31, 2000, the halibut PSD program was
permanently extended under a final rule published in the Federal
Register on December 14, 2000 (65 FR 78119). A full description of, and
background information on, the PSD program may be found in the
preambles to the proposed rules for Amendments 26 and 29, and
Amendments 50 and 50 (61 FR 24750, May 16, 1996, and 63 FR 10583, March
4, 1998, respectively).
Regulations at Sec. 679.26 authorize the voluntary distribution of
salmon and halibut taken incidentally in the groundfish trawl fisheries
off Alaska to economically disadvantaged individuals by tax-exempt
organizations through an authorized distributor. The Administrator,
Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), may select one or more
tax-exempt organizations to be authorized distributors, as defined by
Sec. 679.2, based on the information submitted by applicants under
Sec. 679.26. After review of qualified applicants, NMFS must announce
the selection each authorized distributor in the Federal Register and
issue one or more PSD permits to each selected distributor.
Currently, SeaShare, a tax-exempt organization, is the sole
authorized distributor of salmon and halibut taken incidentally in the
groundfish trawl fisheries off Alaska. The salmon and halibut PSD
permits became effective August 15, 2008 and authorize SeaShare to
participate in the PSD program through August 15, 2011 (73 FR 35659,
June 24, 2008).
On May 9, 2011, the Regional Administrator received two
applications from SeaShare to renew its salmon and halibut PSD permits.
Revisions to the applications were received on May 10, 2011. The
Regional Administrator reviewed the applications and determined that
they are complete and that SeaShare continues to meet the requirements
for an authorized distributor under the PSD program. As required by
Sec. 679.26(b)(2), the Regional Administrator based his selection on
the following criteria:
1. The number and qualifications of applicants for PSD permits.
Seashare is the only applicant for PSD permits at this time. NMFS has
previously approved applications submitted by SeaShare. As of the date
of this notice, no other applications have been approved by NMFS.
SeaShare has been coordinating the distribution of salmon taken
incidentally in trawl fisheries since 1993, and of halibut taken
incidentally in trawl fisheries since 1998, under exempted fishing
permits from 1993 to 1996, and under the PSD program since 1996.
SeaShare employs independent seafood quality control experts to ensure
product quality is maintained by cold storage facilities and common
carriers servicing the areas where salmon and halibut donations will
take place.
2. The number of harvesters and the quantity of fish that
applicants can effectively administer. Five shoreside processors and 87
catcher vessels delivering to shoreside processors, 17 catcher/
processors, and two motherships and 11 catcher vessels delivering to
motherships currently participate in the salmon donation program
administered by SeaShare. Five shoreside processors and 87 catcher
vessels participate in the halibut donation program administered by
SeaShare. SeaShare has the capacity to receive and distribute salmon
and halibut from up to 40 processors and the associated catcher
vessels. Therefore, it is anticipated that SeaShare has more than
adequate capacity for any foreseeable expansion of donations.
In 2008, 2009, and 2010, SeaShare recovered and donated 72,237
pounds, 59,233 pounds, and 52,262 pounds, respectively, of steaked
salmon to food bank organizations. During these same years, SeaShare
recovered and donated 17,716 pounds, 23,911 pounds, and 10,360 pounds,
respectively, of steaked halibut to food bank organizations. The
donations came from the BSAI trawl fisheries. NMFS does not have
information to convert accurately the net weights of salmon and halibut
to numbers of salmon and numbers of halibut.
3. The anticipated level of salmon and halibut incidental catch
based on salmon and halibut incidental catch from previous years. The
incidental catch of salmon and incidental catch mortality of halibut in
the GOA and BSAI trawl fisheries are shown in the following table:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Area fishery 2009 2010
------------------------------------------------------------------------
BSAI Trawl Chinook Salmon 12,415 fish......... 9,734 fish.
Incidental Catch.
BSAI Trawl Other Salmon 47,497 fish......... 14,965 fish.
Incidental Catch.
GOA Trawl Chinook Salmon 7,898 fish.......... 54,178 fish.
Incidental Catch.
[[Page 40338]]
GOA Trawl Other Salmon 2,355 fish.......... 1,857 fish.
Incidental Catch.
BSAI Trawl Halibut Mortality 2,802 mt............ 2,736 mt.
GOA Trawl Halibut Mortality. 1,818 mt............ 1,637 mt.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
mt = metric tons.
Halibut incidental catch amounts are constrained by an annual
prohibited species catch limit in the BSAI and GOA. Future halibut
incidental catch levels likely will be similar to those experienced in
2009 and 2010. Chinook salmon prohibited species catch (PSC) limits are
established for the BS pollock fisheries that when attained, result in
the closure of pollock fishing. The Chinook salmon PSC limits for the
Bering Sea pollock fishery were established by Amendment 91 to the FMP
for Groundfish of the BSAI FMP (75 FR 53026, August 30, 2010). Salmon
incidental catch limits are not yet established for the GOA. In
general, salmon incidental catch amounts tend to be variable between
years, making accurate prediction of future incidental take amounts
difficult.
4. Number of vessels and processors participating in the PSD
program. For the 2011 permit renewal, participation in the PSD program
is being expanded beyond the BSAI to include GOA processors and
vessels. Shoreside processors will increase from 5 to 15, and vessels
delivering to shoreside processors will increase from 87 vessels to
166, with 31 of the 166 vessels participating in both the BSAI and GOA.
Catcher processors participating in the PSD program for salmon will
drop slightly from 17 to 16 under the 2011 permit renewal. Catcher
vessels delivering to motherships will remain at 11 vessels.
NMFS issues PSD permits to SeaShare for a 3-year period unless the
permits are suspended or revoked under Sec. 679.26. The permits may
not be transferred; however, they may be renewed following the
application procedures in Sec. 679.26.
If the authorized distributor modifies the list of participants in
the PSD program or delivery locations, the authorized distributor must
submit a modified list of participants or a modified list of delivery
locations to the Regional Administrator.
These permits may be suspended, modified, or revoked under 15 CFR
part 904 for violation of Sec. 679.26 or other regulations in 50 CFR
part 679.
Classification
This action is taken under Sec. 679.26.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.; 1801 et seq.; 3631 et seq.;
Pub. L. 108-447.
Dated: July 1, 2011.
Margo Schulze-Haugen,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-17203 Filed 7-7-11; 8:45 am]
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