International Affairs; U.S. Fishing Opportunities in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization Regulatory Area, 3571-3573 [2014-01084]
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 14 / Wednesday, January 22, 2014 / Notices
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: January 15, 2014.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014–01101 Filed 1–21–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, National Climate
Assessment and Development
Advisory Committee; Meeting
Office of Oceanic and
Atmospheric Research (OAR), National
Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), Department of
Commerce (DOC).
ACTION: Notice of open meeting.
AGENCY:
The National Climate
Assessment and Development Advisory
Committee (NCADAC) was established
by the Secretary of Commerce under the
authority of the Global Change Research
Act of 1990 to synthesize and
summarize the science and information
pertaining to current and future impacts
of climate.
Time and Date: The meeting will be
held February 20, 2014 from 9 a.m. to
5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time and
February 21, 2014 from 9 a.m. to 1:30
p.m. Eastern Standard Time. These
times are subject to change. Please refer
to the Web page https://
www.nesdis.noaa.gov/NCADAC/
index.html for changes and for the most
up-to-date meeting agenda.
Place: The meeting will be held at the
Four Points by Sheraton located at 1201
K Street, NW Washington DC 20005.
Please check the Web site https://
www.nesdis.noaa.gov/NCADAC/
index.html for confirmation of the
venue and for directions.
Status: Seating will be available on a
first come, first serve basis. Members of
the public must RSVP in order to attend
all or a portion of the meeting by
contacting the NCADAC DFO
(Cynthia.Decker@noaa.gov) by February
14, 2014. The meeting will be open to
public participation with a public
comment period on February 20, 2014
from 4:30 p.m. to 4:55 p.m. (check Web
site to confirm time). The NCADAC
expects that public statements presented
at its meetings will not be repetitive of
previously submitted verbal or written
statements. In general, each individual
or group making a verbal presentation
will be limited to a total time of five (5)
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SUMMARY:
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minutes. Individuals or groups planning
to make a verbal presentation should
contact the NCADAC DFO
(Cynthia.Decker@noaa.gov) by February
14, 2014 to schedule their presentation.
Written comments should be received in
the NCADAC DFO’s Office by February
14, 2014 to provide sufficient time for
NCADAC review. Written comments
received by the NCADAC DFO after
February 14, 2014 will be distributed to
the NCADAC, but may not be reviewed
prior to the meeting date.
Special Accommodations: These
meetings are physically accessible to
people with disabilities. Requests for
sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed to Dr.
Cynthia Decker (301–563–6162,
Cynthia.decker@noaa.gov) by February
14, 2014.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.
Cynthia Decker, Designated Federal
Official, National Climate Assessment
and Development Advisory Committee,
NOAA OAR, R/SAB, 1315 East-West
Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland
20910. (Phone: 301–734–1156, Fax:
301–713–1459, Email: Cynthia.Decker@
noaa.gov; or visit the NCADAC Web site
at https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/
NCADAC/.
Dated: January 14, 2014.
Jason Donaldson,
Chief Financial Officer/Chief Administrative
Officer, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric
Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2014–01160 Filed 1–21–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–KD–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XD076
International Affairs; U.S. Fishing
Opportunities in the Northwest Atlantic
Fisheries Organization Regulatory
Area
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notification of U.S. fishing
opportunities.
AGENCY:
NMFS announces fishing
opportunities in the Northwest Atlantic
Fisheries Organization (NAFO)
Regulatory Area. This action is
necessary to make fishing privileges
available on an equitable basis.
DATES: Effective January 1, 2014,
through December 31, 2014. Expressions
SUMMARY:
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3571
of interest regarding fishing
opportunities in NAFO will be accepted
through February 6, 2014.
ADDRESSES: Expressions of interest
regarding U.S. fishing opportunities in
NAFO should be made in writing to
Douglas W. Christel in the NMFS
Northeast Regional Office, at 55 Great
Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930
(phone: 978–281–9141, email:
Douglas.Christel@noaa.gov).
Information relating to chartering
vessels of another NAFO Contracting
Party, or transferring NAFO fishing
opportunities to or from another NAFO
Contracting Party is available from
Patrick E. Moran in the NMFS Office of
International Affairs at 1315 East-West
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910
(phone: 301–427–8370, fax: 301–713–
2313, email: Pat.Moran@noaa.gov).
Information relating to NAFO fishing
opportunities, NAFO Conservation and
Enforcement Measures, and the High
Seas Fishing Compliance Act (HSFCA)
Permit is available from Douglas
Christel, at the NMFS Northeast
Regional Office at 55 Great Republic
Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930 (phone:
978–281–9141, fax: 978–281–9135,
email: douglas.christel@noaa.gov) and
from NAFO on the World Wide Web at
https://www.nafo.int.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Douglas W. Christel, 978–281–9141.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
What fishing opportunities are
available?
The principal species managed by
NAFO are cod, flounder, redfish,
American plaice, halibut, hake, capelin,
shrimp, skates and Illex squid. NAFO
maintains conservation measures for
fishery resources in its Regulatory Area
that are managed by total allowable
catches (TACs) and allocated among
NAFO Contracting Parties. At the 2013
NAFO Annual Meeting, the United
States received national quota
allocations for three NAFO stocks to be
fished during 2014. However, only
redfish and squid will be made available
to U.S. fishing interests during 2014, as
further described below. The species,
location, and allocation (in metric tons
(mt)) of these 2014 U.S. fishing
opportunities, as found in Annexes I.A,
I.B, and I.C of the 2014 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, 48 mt.
Additionally, the United States may
be transferred up to 1,000 mt of NAFO
Division 3LNO yellowtail flounder from
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 14 / Wednesday, January 22, 2014 / Notices
Canada’s quota allocation if requested
before January 1 of each year, or any
succeeding year through 2018, based
upon a bilateral arrangement with
Canada. The United States has already
requested this 1,000 mt of Division
3LNO yellowtail flounder from Canada
for 2014. The arrangement with Canada
also states that up to 500 mt of
additional Division 3LNO yellowtail
flounder could be made available on the
condition that the United States
transfers its Division 3L shrimp
allocation (48 mt in 2014) to Canada.
However, the United States will not be
requesting such an additional transfer
during 2014 due to the poor status of the
Division 3L shrimp stock. More
information on this situation is
provided below. The arrangement for
the transfer of Canadian yellowtail
flounder quota would enable U.S.
vessels to harvest American plaice as
bycatch in the yellowtail flounder
fishery in an amount equal to 15 percent
of the total yellowtail flounder quota
transferred to the United States.
Additional quota for these and other
stocks managed within the NAFO
Regulatory Area may be available to
U.S. vessels through industry-initiated
chartering arrangements or transfers of
quota from other NAFO Contracting
Parties.
As noted above, the United States
received a Division 3L shrimp allocation
of 48mt for 2014. However, at the 2013
NAFO Annual Meeting, the NAFO
Scientific Council recommended
closure of the 3L shrimp fishery due to
on-going decline in this shrimp stock.
Following contentious discussion and a
closed-session vote on the issue, NAFO
adopted a 50-percent reduction in the
2014 TAC for 3L shrimp. This decision
to act in contravention to the best
available scientific advice was not
supported by the United States (and a
number of other NAFO Parties). Thus,
the United States will not make its 2014
allocation of Division 3L shrimp
available for harvest, charter or trade
this year.
U.S. fishermen may also access stocks
in which the United States has not
received a national quota (also known as
the ‘‘Others’’ allocation), including:
Division 3M cod (58 mt); Division 3LN
redfish (42 mt); Division 3O redfish (100
mt); Division 3NO white hake (59 mt);
and Division 3LNO skates (258 mt).
Note that the United States shares these
allocations with other NAFO
Contracting Parties, and access to such
stocks is on a first-come-first-served
basis. Fishing is halted by NAFO when
the ‘‘Others’’ allocation for a particular
stock has been fully harvested.
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U.S. fishermen interested in
harvesting species not currently
regulated by NAFO, but occurring
within the NAFO Regulatory Area,
should contact the NMFS Northeast
Regional Office for information
regarding permitting and other
requirements.
Who can apply for these fishing
opportunities?
Expressions of interest to fish for any
or all of the 2014 U.S. fishing
opportunities in NAFO described above
will be considered from all U.S. fishing
interests (e.g., vessel owners, processors,
agents, others). Applicants are urged to
carefully review and thoroughly address
the application requirements and
selection criteria as detailed below.
Expressions of interest should be
directed in writing to Douglas W.
Christel (see ADDRESSES).
What information is required in an
application letter?
Expressions of interest should include
a detailed description of anticipated
fishing operations in 2014. This
includes, but is not limited to, the
following elements: intended target
species; proposed dates of fishing
operations; vessels to be used to harvest
fish, including the name, registration,
and home port of the intended
harvesting vessel, as appropriate; the
number of fishing personnel involved in
vessel operations; intended landing
port; for landing ports outside of the
United States, whether or not the
product will be shipped to the United
States for processing; processing
facilities to be employed; target market
for harvested fish; and evidence
demonstrating the ability of the
applicant to successfully prosecute
fishing operations in the NAFO
Regulatory Area. Note that U.S.
applicant vessels must be in possession
of, or eligible for, a valid HSFCA permit,
which is available from the NMFS
Northeast Regional Office. Information
regarding other requirements for fishing
in the NAFO Regulatory Area is detailed
below and is also available from the
NMFS Northeast Regional Office (see
ADDRESSES). U.S. applicants wishing to
harvest U.S. allocations using a vessel
from another NAFO Contracting Party,
or hoping to transfer U.S. allocations to
another NAFO Contracting Party,
should see below for details on U.S. and
NAFO requirements for such activities.
If you have further questions regarding
what information is required in an
expression of interest, please contact
Douglas W. Christel (see ADDRESSES).
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What criteria will be used in identifying
successful applicants?
Applicants demonstrating the greatest
benefits to the United States through
their intended operations will be most
successful. Such benefits might include
(but are not limited to): the use of U.S
vessels; detailed, positive impacts on
U.S. employment; use of U.S. processing
facilities; transport, marketing and sales
of product within the United States;
other benefits to U.S. businesses; and
documentation of the physical
characteristics and economics of the
fishery for future use by the U.S. fishing
industry. A documented history of
successful fishing operations in NAFO
or other similar fisheries will also be
considered. After reviewing all requests
for allocations submitted, NMFS may
decide not to grant any allocations if it
is determined that no requests
adequately meet the criteria described
in this notice. To ensure equitable
access by U.S. fishing interests, NMFS
may provide additional guidance or
procedures, or may promulgate
regulations designed to allocate fishing
interests to one or more U.S. applicants
from among qualified applicants.
All applicants will be notified of the
allocation decision as soon as possible.
Once allocations have been awarded,
NMFS will immediately take
appropriate steps to notify NAFO and
other appropriate actions to facilitate
operations by U.S. fishing interests.
What if I want to charter a vessel to fish
available U.S. allocations?
Under the bilateral arrangement with
Canada, the United States may enter
into a chartering (or other) arrangement
with a Canadian vessel to harvest the
transferred yellowtail flounder. For
other NAFO-regulated stocks, the
United States may enter into a
chartering arrangement with a vessel
from any other NAFO Contracting Party.
Prior notification to the NAFO
Executive Secretary is necessary in
either case. Expressions of interest
intending to make use of another NAFO
Contracting Party vessel under
chartering arrangements should provide
the following information: the name and
registration number of the intended
vessel; a copy of the charter agreement;
a detailed fishing plan; a written letter
of consent from the applicable NAFO
Contracting Party; the date from which
the vessel is authorized to commence
fishing; and the duration of the charter
(not to exceed six months). Note that
expressions of interest using another
NAFO Contracting Party vessel under
charter should be accompanied by a
detailed description of anticipated
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 14 / Wednesday, January 22, 2014 / Notices
benefits to the United States, as
described above.
Any vessel 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. These requirements include,
but are not limited to, submission of the
following reports to the NAFO
Executive Secretary: notification that
the vessel is authorized by its flag state
to fish within the NAFO Regulatory
Area during 2014; provisional monthly
catch reports for all vessels of that
NAFO Contracting Party operating in
the NAFO Regulatory Area; daily catch
reports for each day fished by the
subject vessel within the Regulatory
Area; observer reports within 30 days
following the completion of a fishing
trip; and an annual statement of actions
taken by its flag state to comply with the
NAFO Convention. The United States
may also consider the vessel’s previous
compliance with NAFO bycatch,
reporting and other provisions, as
outlined in the NAFO Conservation and
Enforcement Measures, before entering
into a chartering arrangement. More
details on NAFO requirements for
chartering operations are available from
Patrick E. Moran (see ADDRESSES).
What if I want to arrange to receive a
transfer of NAFO quota allocations
from another NAFO party?
Under NAFO rules in effect for 2014,
the United States may receive transfers
of additional fishing opportunities from
other NAFO Contracting Parties. The
United States is required to provide a
letter of consent to this transfer and
prior notification to the NAFO
Executive Secretary. In the event that an
applicant is able to arrange for the
transfer of additional fishing
opportunities from a fishing company of
another NAFO Contracting Party, the
United States may agree to facilitate
such a transfer insofar as fulfilling the
NAFO requirements for such transfers
after soliciting additional public input
on such transfers as appropriate. As in
the case of chartering operations, the
United States may also consider a
NAFO Contracting Party’s previous
compliance with NAFO bycatch,
reporting and other provisions, as
outlined in the NAFO Conservation and
Enforcement Measures, before agreeing
to accept a transfer. Any fishing quota
or other harvesting opportunities
received via this type of transfer are
subject to all U.S and NAFO rules as
detailed below. For more details on
NAFO requirements for transferring
NAFO allocations, contact Patrick E.
Moran (see ADDRESSES).
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
What if I want to arrange for a transfer
of U.S. quota allocations to another
NAFO party?
What rules must I follow while fishing?
Under NAFO rules in effect for 2014,
the United States may transfer fishing
opportunities with the consent of the
receiving NAFO Contracting Party and
with prior notification to the NAFO
Executive Secretary. An applicant may
request to arrange for any of the above
U.S. opportunities to be transferred to
another NAFO party, although such
applications will likely to be given
lesser priority than those that involve
more direct harvesting or processing by
U.S. entities. Applications to arrange for
a transfer of U.S. fishing opportunities
should contain a letter of consent from
the receiving NAFO Contracting Party,
and should also be accompanied by a
detailed description of anticipated
benefits to the United States. As in the
case of chartering operations, the United
States may also consider a NAFO
Contracting Party’s previous compliance
with NAFO bycatch, reporting and other
provisions, as outlined in the NAFO
Conservation and Enforcement
Measures, before entering agreeing to a
transfer. More details on NAFO
requirements for transferring NAFO
allocations are available from Patrick E.
Moran (see ADDRESSES).
U.S. applicant vessels must be in
possession of, or obtain, a valid HSFCA
permit, which is available from the
NMFS Northeast Regional Office. Note
that vessels issued valid HSFCA permits
under 50 CFR part 300 are exempt from
the Northeast multispecies and
monkfish permit, mesh size, effortcontrol, and possession limit
restrictions, specified in 50 CFR 648.4,
648.80, 648.82, 648.86, 648.87, 648.91,
648.92, and 648.94, respectively, while
transiting the U.S. exclusive economic
zone (EEZ) with multispecies and/or
monkfish on board the vessel, or
landing multispecies and/or monkfish
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
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3573
with one of the applicable methods
specified in 50 CFR 648.23(b); and
4. The vessel operator complies with
the provisions/conditions specified on
the HSFCA permit and all NAFO
conservation and enforcement measures
while fishing in the NAFO Regulatory
Area.
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
authorized by issuance of the HSFCA
permit; and adherence to all relevant
minimum size, gear, bycatch, and other
requirements. Further details regarding
U.S. and NAFO requirements are
available from the NMFS Northeast
Regional Office, and can also be found
in the 2014 NAFO Conservation and
Enforcement Measures on the Internet
(see ADDRESSES).
Dated: January 15, 2014.
Rodney R. McInnis,
Acting Director, Office of International
Affairs, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014–01084 Filed 1–21–14; 8:45 am]
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Announcement of Consumer Product
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Consumer Product Safety
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ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
To raise awareness of recalls
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Bethesda, MD 20814; telephone (301)
504–7648; spalosky@cpsc.gov.
SUMMARY:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 14 (Wednesday, January 22, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3571-3573]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-01084]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XD076
International Affairs; U.S. Fishing Opportunities in the
Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization Regulatory Area
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notification of U.S. fishing opportunities.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS announces fishing opportunities in the Northwest Atlantic
Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Regulatory Area. This action is necessary
to make fishing privileges available on an equitable basis.
DATES: Effective January 1, 2014, through December 31, 2014.
Expressions of interest regarding fishing opportunities in NAFO will be
accepted through February 6, 2014.
ADDRESSES: Expressions of interest regarding U.S. fishing opportunities
in NAFO should be made in writing to Douglas W. Christel in the NMFS
Northeast Regional Office, at 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA
01930 (phone: 978-281-9141, email: Douglas.Christel@noaa.gov).
Information relating to chartering vessels of another NAFO
Contracting Party, or transferring NAFO fishing opportunities to or
from another NAFO Contracting Party is available from Patrick E. Moran
in the NMFS Office of International Affairs at 1315 East-West Highway,
Silver Spring, MD 20910 (phone: 301-427-8370, fax: 301-713-2313, email:
Pat.Moran@noaa.gov). Information relating to NAFO fishing
opportunities, NAFO Conservation and Enforcement Measures, and the High
Seas Fishing Compliance Act (HSFCA) Permit is available from Douglas
Christel, at the NMFS Northeast Regional Office at 55 Great Republic
Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930 (phone: 978-281-9141, fax: 978-281-9135,
email: douglas.christel@noaa.gov) and from NAFO on the World Wide Web
at https://www.nafo.int.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Douglas W. Christel, 978-281-9141.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
What fishing opportunities are available?
The principal species managed by NAFO are cod, flounder, redfish,
American plaice, halibut, hake, capelin, shrimp, skates and Illex
squid. NAFO maintains conservation measures for fishery resources in
its Regulatory Area that are managed by total allowable catches (TACs)
and allocated among NAFO Contracting Parties. At the 2013 NAFO Annual
Meeting, the United States received national quota allocations for
three NAFO stocks to be fished during 2014. However, only redfish and
squid will be made available to U.S. fishing interests during 2014, as
further described below. The species, location, and allocation (in
metric tons (mt)) of these 2014 U.S. fishing opportunities, as found in
Annexes I.A, I.B, and I.C of the 2014 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, 48 mt.
Additionally, the United States may be transferred up to 1,000 mt
of NAFO Division 3LNO yellowtail flounder from
[[Page 3572]]
Canada's quota allocation if requested before January 1 of each year,
or any succeeding year through 2018, based upon a bilateral arrangement
with Canada. The United States has already requested this 1,000 mt of
Division 3LNO yellowtail flounder from Canada for 2014. The arrangement
with Canada also states that up to 500 mt of additional Division 3LNO
yellowtail flounder could be made available on the condition that the
United States transfers its Division 3L shrimp allocation (48 mt in
2014) to Canada. However, the United States will not be requesting such
an additional transfer during 2014 due to the poor status of the
Division 3L shrimp stock. More information on this situation is
provided below. The arrangement for the transfer of Canadian yellowtail
flounder quota would enable U.S. vessels to harvest American plaice as
bycatch in the yellowtail flounder fishery in an amount equal to 15
percent of the total yellowtail flounder quota transferred to the
United States. Additional quota for these and other stocks managed
within the NAFO Regulatory Area may be available to U.S. vessels
through industry-initiated chartering arrangements or transfers of
quota from other NAFO Contracting Parties.
As noted above, the United States received a Division 3L shrimp
allocation of 48mt for 2014. However, at the 2013 NAFO Annual Meeting,
the NAFO Scientific Council recommended closure of the 3L shrimp
fishery due to on-going decline in this shrimp stock. Following
contentious discussion and a closed-session vote on the issue, NAFO
adopted a 50-percent reduction in the 2014 TAC for 3L shrimp. This
decision to act in contravention to the best available scientific
advice was not supported by the United States (and a number of other
NAFO Parties). Thus, the United States will not make its 2014
allocation of Division 3L shrimp available for harvest, charter or
trade this year.
U.S. fishermen may also access stocks in which the United States
has not received a national quota (also known as the ``Others''
allocation), including: Division 3M cod (58 mt); Division 3LN redfish
(42 mt); Division 3O redfish (100 mt); Division 3NO white hake (59 mt);
and Division 3LNO skates (258 mt). Note that the United States shares
these allocations with other NAFO Contracting Parties, and access to
such stocks is on a first-come-first-served basis. Fishing is halted by
NAFO when the ``Others'' allocation for a particular stock has been
fully harvested.
U.S. fishermen interested in harvesting species not currently
regulated by NAFO, but occurring within the NAFO Regulatory Area,
should contact the NMFS Northeast Regional Office for information
regarding permitting and other requirements.
Who can apply for these fishing opportunities?
Expressions of interest to fish for any or all of the 2014 U.S.
fishing opportunities in NAFO described above will be considered from
all U.S. fishing interests (e.g., vessel owners, processors, agents,
others). Applicants are urged to carefully review and thoroughly
address the application requirements and selection criteria as detailed
below. Expressions of interest should be directed in writing to Douglas
W. Christel (see ADDRESSES).
What information is required in an application letter?
Expressions of interest should include a detailed description of
anticipated fishing operations in 2014. This includes, but is not
limited to, the following elements: intended target species; proposed
dates of fishing operations; vessels to be used to harvest fish,
including the name, registration, and home port of the intended
harvesting vessel, as appropriate; the number of fishing personnel
involved in vessel operations; intended landing port; for landing ports
outside of the United States, whether or not the product will be
shipped to the United States for processing; processing facilities to
be employed; target market for harvested fish; and evidence
demonstrating the ability of the applicant to successfully prosecute
fishing operations in the NAFO Regulatory Area. Note that U.S.
applicant vessels must be in possession of, or eligible for, a valid
HSFCA permit, which is available from the NMFS Northeast Regional
Office. Information regarding other requirements for fishing in the
NAFO Regulatory Area is detailed below and is also available from the
NMFS Northeast Regional Office (see ADDRESSES). U.S. applicants wishing
to harvest U.S. allocations using a vessel from another NAFO
Contracting Party, or hoping to transfer U.S. allocations to another
NAFO Contracting Party, should see below for details on U.S. and NAFO
requirements for such activities. If you have further questions
regarding what information is required in an expression of interest,
please contact Douglas W. Christel (see ADDRESSES).
What criteria will be used in identifying successful applicants?
Applicants demonstrating the greatest benefits to the United States
through their intended operations will be most successful. Such
benefits might include (but are not limited to): the use of U.S
vessels; detailed, positive impacts on U.S. employment; use of U.S.
processing facilities; transport, marketing and sales of product within
the United States; other benefits to U.S. businesses; and documentation
of the physical characteristics and economics of the fishery for future
use by the U.S. fishing industry. A documented history of successful
fishing operations in NAFO or other similar fisheries will also be
considered. After reviewing all requests for allocations submitted,
NMFS may decide not to grant any allocations if it is determined that
no requests adequately meet the criteria described in this notice. To
ensure equitable access by U.S. fishing interests, NMFS may provide
additional guidance or procedures, or may promulgate regulations
designed to allocate fishing interests to one or more U.S. applicants
from among qualified applicants.
All applicants will be notified of the allocation decision as soon
as possible. Once allocations have been awarded, NMFS will immediately
take appropriate steps to notify NAFO and other appropriate actions to
facilitate operations by U.S. fishing interests.
What if I want to charter a vessel to fish available U.S. allocations?
Under the bilateral arrangement with Canada, the United States may
enter into a chartering (or other) arrangement with a Canadian vessel
to harvest the transferred yellowtail flounder. For other NAFO-
regulated stocks, the United States may enter into a chartering
arrangement with a vessel from any other NAFO Contracting Party. Prior
notification to the NAFO Executive Secretary is necessary in either
case. Expressions of interest intending to make use of another NAFO
Contracting Party vessel under chartering arrangements should provide
the following information: the name and registration number of the
intended vessel; a copy of the charter agreement; a detailed fishing
plan; a written letter of consent from the applicable NAFO Contracting
Party; the date from which the vessel is authorized to commence
fishing; and the duration of the charter (not to exceed six months).
Note that expressions of interest using another NAFO Contracting Party
vessel under charter should be accompanied by a detailed description of
anticipated
[[Page 3573]]
benefits to the United States, as described above.
Any vessel 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. These requirements include, but are not limited to,
submission of the following reports to the NAFO Executive Secretary:
notification that the vessel is authorized by its flag state to fish
within the NAFO Regulatory Area during 2014; provisional monthly catch
reports for all vessels of that NAFO Contracting Party operating in the
NAFO Regulatory Area; daily catch reports for each day fished by the
subject vessel within the Regulatory Area; observer reports within 30
days following the completion of a fishing trip; and an annual
statement of actions taken by its flag state to comply with the NAFO
Convention. The United States may also consider the vessel's previous
compliance with NAFO bycatch, reporting and other provisions, as
outlined in the NAFO Conservation and Enforcement Measures, before
entering into a chartering arrangement. More details on NAFO
requirements for chartering operations are available from Patrick E.
Moran (see ADDRESSES).
What if I want to arrange for a transfer of U.S. quota allocations to
another NAFO party?
Under NAFO rules in effect for 2014, the United States may transfer
fishing opportunities with the consent of the receiving NAFO
Contracting Party and with prior notification to the NAFO Executive
Secretary. An applicant may request to arrange for any of the above
U.S. opportunities to be transferred to another NAFO party, although
such applications will likely to be given lesser priority than those
that involve more direct harvesting or processing by U.S. entities.
Applications to arrange for a transfer of U.S. fishing opportunities
should contain a letter of consent from the receiving NAFO Contracting
Party, and should also be accompanied by a detailed description of
anticipated benefits to the United States. As in the case of chartering
operations, the United States may also consider a NAFO Contracting
Party's previous compliance with NAFO bycatch, reporting and other
provisions, as outlined in the NAFO Conservation and Enforcement
Measures, before entering agreeing to a transfer. More details on NAFO
requirements for transferring NAFO allocations are available from
Patrick E. Moran (see ADDRESSES).
What if I want to arrange to receive a transfer of NAFO quota
allocations from another NAFO party?
Under NAFO rules in effect for 2014, the United States may receive
transfers of additional fishing opportunities from other NAFO
Contracting Parties. The United States is required to provide a letter
of consent to this transfer and prior notification to the NAFO
Executive Secretary. In the event that an applicant is able to arrange
for the transfer of additional fishing opportunities from a fishing
company of another NAFO Contracting Party, the United States may agree
to facilitate such a transfer insofar as fulfilling the NAFO
requirements for such transfers after soliciting additional public
input on such transfers as appropriate. As in the case of chartering
operations, the United States may also consider a NAFO Contracting
Party's previous compliance with NAFO bycatch, reporting and other
provisions, as outlined in the NAFO Conservation and Enforcement
Measures, before agreeing to accept a transfer. Any fishing quota or
other harvesting opportunities received via this type of transfer are
subject to all U.S and NAFO rules as detailed below. For more details
on NAFO requirements for transferring NAFO allocations, contact Patrick
E. Moran (see ADDRESSES).
What rules must I follow while fishing?
U.S. applicant vessels must be in possession of, or obtain, a valid
HSFCA permit, which is available from the NMFS Northeast Regional
Office. Note that vessels issued valid HSFCA permits under 50 CFR part
300 are exempt from the Northeast multispecies and monkfish permit,
mesh size, effort-control, and possession limit restrictions, specified
in 50 CFR 648.4, 648.80, 648.82, 648.86, 648.87, 648.91, 648.92, and
648.94, respectively, while transiting the U.S. exclusive economic zone
(EEZ) with multispecies and/or monkfish on board the vessel, or landing
multispecies and/or monkfish 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 provisions/conditions
specified on the HSFCA permit and all NAFO conservation and enforcement
measures while fishing in the NAFO Regulatory Area.
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 authorized by issuance of the HSFCA
permit; and adherence to all relevant minimum size, gear, bycatch, and
other requirements. Further details regarding U.S. and NAFO
requirements are available from the NMFS Northeast Regional Office, and
can also be found in the 2014 NAFO Conservation and Enforcement
Measures on the Internet (see ADDRESSES).
Dated: January 15, 2014.
Rodney R. McInnis,
Acting Director, Office of International Affairs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-01084 Filed 1-21-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
