Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fisheries; 2012 Cage Tags, 65697-65698 [2011-27477]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 205 / Monday, October 24, 2011 / Notices also should represent a cross-section of small, medium, and large firms. U.S. members will receive no compensation for their participation in Forum-related activities. Individual members will be responsible for all travel and related expenses associated with their participation in the Forum, including attendance at Committee and Section meetings. Only appointed members may participate in official Forum meetings; substitutes and alternates will not be designated. U.S. members will normally serve for two year terms, but may be reappointed. To be considered for membership, please submit the following information as instructed in the ADDRESSES and DATES captions above: Name(s) and title(s) of the individual(s) requesting consideration; name and address of company’s headquarters; location for incorporation; size of the company; size of company’s export trade, investment, and nature of operations or interest in Brazil; an affirmative statement that the applicant is not a federally-registered lobbyist, and that the applicant understands that if appointed, the applicant will not be allowed to continue to serve as a member of the U.S. Section of the Forum if the applicant becomes a federally registered lobbyist; and a brief statement of why the candidate should be considered, including information about the candidate’s ability to initiate and be responsible for activities in which the Forum will be active. Applications will be considered as they are received. All candidates will be notified of whether they have been selected. Dated: October 14, 2011. Anne Driscoll, Director for the Office of South America. [FR Doc. 2011–27115 Filed 10–21–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DS–M DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XA772 Marine Mammals; File No. 16685 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; receipt of application. tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES AGENCY: Notice is hereby given that Thomas A. Jefferson, PhD, Clymene Enterprises, 5495 Camino Playa Malaga, San Diego, CA 92124, has applied in due form for a permit to conduct SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:34 Oct 21, 2011 Jkt 226001 research on nine cetacean species off the California coast. DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail comments must be received on or before November 23, 2011. ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for review by selecting ‘‘Records Open for Public Comment’’ from the Features box on the Applications and Permits for Protected Species (APPS) home page, https:// apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File No. 16685 from the list of available applications. These documents are also available upon written request or by appointment in the following offices: Permits and Conservation 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 Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802–4213; phone (562) 980–4001; fax (562) 980–4018. Written comments on this application should be submitted to the Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, at the address listed above. Comments may also be submitted by facsimile to (301) 713–0376, or by email to NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Please include the File No. in the subject line of the e-mail comment. Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a written request to the Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division at the address listed above. The request should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing on this application would be appropriate. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Morse or Carrie Hubard, (301) 427–8401. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), and the regulations governing the taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216). The proposed permit would authorize research on the population biology and the impacts of Navy training operations on California stocks of nine cetacean species including bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus), Risso’s (Grampus griseus), short-beaked common (Delphinus delphis), long-beaked common (D. capensis), Pacific white-sided (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens), and northern right whale dolphins (Lissodelphis borealis); killer whale (Orcinus orca, excluding Southern resident stock); Dall’s porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli) and harbor PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 65697 porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). The study would also examine impacts of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in coastal bottlenose dolphins along the California coast. Research would occur primarily in the waters of the Southern California Bight (San Diego area), Monterey Bay, and San Francisco Bay areas. For each stock, up to 2,400 individuals may be approached annually for photo-identification and behavioral studies and up to 60 individuals may be biopsy sampled over the life of the permit. The permit would be valid for a period of five years. In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial determination has been made that the activity proposed is categorically excluded from the requirement to prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement. Concurrent with the publication of this notice in the Federal Register, NMFS is forwarding copies of the application to the Marine Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors. Dated: October 19, 2011. P. Michael Payne, Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2011–27472 Filed 10–21–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XA765 Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fisheries; 2012 Cage Tags National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of vendor to provide fishing year 2012 cage tags. AGENCY: NMFS informs surfclam and ocean quahog individual transferable quota (ITQ) allocation holders that they will be required to purchase their fishing year 2012 (January 1, 2012– December 31, 2012) cage tags from the National Band and Tag Company. The intent of this notice is to comply with regulations for the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries and to promote efficient distribution of cage tags. ADDRESSES: Written inquiries may be sent to: Regional Administrator, SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\24OCN1.SGM 24OCN1 65698 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 205 / Monday, October 24, 2011 / Notices National Marine Fisheries Service, Northeast Regional Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930– 2298. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anna Macan, Fishery Management Specialist, (978) 282–8483; fax (978) 281–9135. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fishery regulations at 50 CFR 648.75(b) authorize the Regional Administrator of the Northeast Region, NMFS, to specify in the Federal Register a vendor from whom cage tags, required under the Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fishery Management Plan (FMP), shall be purchased. Notice is hereby given that National Band and Tag Company of Newport, KY, is the authorized vendor of cage tags required for the fishing year 2012 Federal surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries. Detailed instructions for purchasing these cage tags will be provided in a letter to ITQ allocation holders in these fisheries from NMFS within the next several weeks. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: October 19, 2011. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2011–27477 Filed 10–21–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XA730 Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permit National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce. ACTION: Notice; request for comments. AGENCY: NMFS is soliciting public comment on an exempted fishing permit application that would exempt one commercial fishing vessel from the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog Georges Bank Closure Area to continue testing the safety and efficacy of harvesting Atlantic surfclams and ocean quahogs from the closure area. This would be a continuation of a research project that has been ongoing since 2006. NMS has made a preliminary determination that the exempted fishing permit application contains all of the tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:34 Oct 21, 2011 Jkt 226001 required information and warrants further consideration. DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 8, 2011. ADDRESSES: Comments on this notice may be submitted by e-mail. The mailbox address for providing e-mail comments is NERO.EFP@noaa.gov. Include in the subject line of the e-mail comment the following document identifier: ‘‘Comments on 2012 GB PSP Closed Area Exemption.’’ Written comments should be sent to Patricia A. Kurkul, Regional Administrator, NMFS, Northeast Regional Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope ‘‘Comments on 2012 GB PSP Closed Area Exemption.’’ Comments may also be sent via facsimile (fax) to (978) 281–9135. Copies of supporting documents referenced in this notice are available from NMFS, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930, and are available via the Internet at https:// www.nero.noaa.gov/sfd/clams. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jason Berthiaume, Fishery Management Specialist, phone 978–281–9177. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The applicant, Wallace & Associates, of Cambridge, MD, requests on behalf of Truex Enterprises a renewal of their current EFP, which is due to expire on December 31, 2011, to allow the catch and retention for sale of Atlantic surfclams and ocean quahog from within the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog Georges Bank (GB) Closure Area. The GB Closed Area is located east of 69°00’ W. long. and south of 42°20’ N. lat and has been closed since May 25, 1990, due to the presence of a toxin (saxotoxins) that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). Due, in part, to the inability to test and monitor this area for the presence of PSP, this closure was made permanent through Amendment 12 to the Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fishery Management Plan in 1999. The primary goal of the proposed study is to test the efficacy of a sampling protocol that was developed by state and Federal regulatory agencies to test for presence of saxotoxins in shellfish, and thus has been in a trial period through previous EFPs since 2006. This protocol would facilitate the harvest of shellfish from waters susceptible to harmful algal blooms, which produce the saxotoxins, but that are not currently under rigorous water quality monitoring programs by either state or Federal management agencies. A copy of the sampling protocol is available from the PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 NMFS Northeast Region Web site: https://www.nero.noaa.gov/sfd/clams. This project is a pilot program with the goal of determining if the shellfish harvested from the GB Closure Area are safe for human consumption under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) International Shellfish Sanitation Conference (ISSC) guidelines and requirements. The protocol in this pilot program will be presented to the ISSC meeting in October 2011 to adopt the protocol into the National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP) and change it from a pilot program to a permanent part of the U.S. FDA ISSC Shellfish Sanitation Program. If adopted, additional vessel participants would be required to obtain an EFP to participate in this or similar projects. The proposed project would continue to conduct a trial for the sampling protocol in an exemption zone within the larger 1990 GB Closure Area with one fishing vessel. The exemption zone would not include any Northeast multispecies or essential fish habitat year-round closure areas. This proposed exempted fishing activity would occur during the 2012 calendar year, using surfclam quota allocated to Truex Enterprises under the Federal individual transferable quota program. The applicant has estimated a harvest of 250,000 bushels (8,809,768 L) of surfclams from the exemption area. The exemption area has been tested in cooperation with the FDA from 2006 to the present. It is expected that harvesting under an EFP would occur on approximately 60– 70 days during 2012. Species to be harvested are surfclams and ocean quahogs, utilizing a 170-inch (4.3 m) hydraulic clam dredge. Approximately 30 tows per day would be made for 10 minutes each, at a speed of about 2.5 knots. There are no discards or known interactions with protected species. Harvesting under an EFP is not expected to exceed two trips per week. Harvested clams would be delivered to Sea Watch International in New Bedford, MA. Harvests would be predominantly surfclams from the area known as Cultivator Shoals. The U.S. FDA would receive samples from each trip for their information and independent analyses in addition to the onboard screening and the dockside testing. Onboard screening is conducted on five samples taken from each corner and the center of each lot to be harvested (not more than 3-square miles (4.8 square kilometers)) by Jellett Rapid Test Kits and Abraxis Kits. Dockside testing would be conducted by the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries laboratory in Gloucester, MA. E:\FR\FM\24OCN1.SGM 24OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 205 (Monday, October 24, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65697-65698]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-27477]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA765


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Surfclam 
and Ocean Quahog Fisheries; 2012 Cage Tags

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

ACTION: Notice of vendor to provide fishing year 2012 cage tags.

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SUMMARY: NMFS informs surfclam and ocean quahog individual transferable 
quota (ITQ) allocation holders that they will be required to purchase 
their fishing year 2012 (January 1, 2012-December 31, 2012) cage tags 
from the National Band and Tag Company. The intent of this notice is to 
comply with regulations for the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog 
fisheries and to promote efficient distribution of cage tags.

ADDRESSES: Written inquiries may be sent to: Regional Administrator,

[[Page 65698]]

National Marine Fisheries Service, Northeast Regional Office, 55 Great 
Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-2298.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anna Macan, Fishery Management 
Specialist, (978) 282-8483; fax (978) 281-9135.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Atlantic surfclam and ocean 
quahog fishery regulations at 50 CFR 648.75(b) authorize the Regional 
Administrator of the Northeast Region, NMFS, to specify in the Federal 
Register a vendor from whom cage tags, required under the Atlantic 
Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fishery Management Plan (FMP), shall be 
purchased. Notice is hereby given that National Band and Tag Company of 
Newport, KY, is the authorized vendor of cage tags required for the 
fishing year 2012 Federal surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries. Detailed 
instructions for purchasing these cage tags will be provided in a 
letter to ITQ allocation holders in these fisheries from NMFS within 
the next several weeks.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: October 19, 2011.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-27477 Filed 10-21-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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