New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting, 83205-83206 [2016-27974]
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 224 / Monday, November 21, 2016 / Notices
24, 2011 (76 FR 68719, November 7,
2011) authorized Dr. Stewart to
continue a long term study on
pinnipeds in California. California sea
lions (Zalophus californianus), northern
elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris),
and harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) may be
captured and sampled at several sites:
San Nicolas Island, San Miguel Island,
Santa Rosa Island, Santa Cruz Island,
Piedras Blancas, Cape San Martin, and
Gorda. The minor amendment (No.
16553–01) extends the duration of the
permit through October 31, 2017, but
does not change any other terms or
conditions of the permit.
Permit No. 20532: The requested
permit (81 FR 59190, August 29, 2016)
authorizes receipt, import, and export of
biological samples from museum
holdings and stranded animals
worldwide for scientific research to
chronologically profile anthropogenic
and physiological data including
hormones and pesticides to record
exposure and stress. Samples will be
from blue (Balaenoptera musculus),
gray (Eschrichtius robustus), fin (B.
physalus), minke (B. acutorostrata),
bowhead (Balaena mysticetus),
humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae),
and sperm whales (Physeter
macrocephalus). Samples may also be
obtained from subsistence hunted
bowhead whales in Alaska. The permit
is valid through November 1, 2021.
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
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
activities proposed are categorically
excluded from the requirement to
prepare an environmental assessment or
environmental impact statement.
As required by the ESA, as applicable,
issuance of these permits was based on
a finding that such permits: (1) Were
applied for in good faith; (2) will not
operate to the disadvantage of such
endangered species; and (3) are
consistent with the purposes and
policies set forth in section 2 of the
ESA.
Dated: November 15, 2016.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division,
Office of Protected Resources, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016–27860 Filed 11–18–16; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XF050
New England Fishery Management
Council; Public Meeting
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; public meeting.
AGENCY:
The New England Fishery
Management Council (Council), Atlantic
Herring Committee, Atlantic Herring
Advisory Panel and Atlantic Herring
Plan Development Team is scheduling a
public workshop on the Atlantic
Herring Acceptable Biological Catch
Control Rule Management Strategy
Evaluation to consider actions affecting
New England fisheries in the exclusive
economic zone (EEZ).
Recommendations from this group will
be brought to the full Council for formal
consideration and action, if appropriate.
DATES: This workshop will be held on
Wednesday, December 7, 2016 at 9 a.m.
and Thursday, December 8, 2016 at 8:30
a.m.
ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held
at the Sheraton Harborside Hotel, 250
Market Street, Portsmouth, ME 03801;
phone: (888) 627–7138; fax: (603) 431–
7805.
Council address: New England
Fishery Management Council, 50 Water
Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director,
New England Fishery Management
Council; telephone: (978) 465–0492.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
Introduction
The New England Fishery
Management Council is currently
developing Amendment 8 to the
Atlantic Herring Fishery Management
Plan. Through Amendment 8, the
Council expects to establish a long-term
control rule for the acceptable biological
catch (ABC) of Atlantic herring that may
explicitly account for herring’s role in
the ecosystem and address the
biological and ecological requirements
of the Atlantic herring resource. A
control rule is a method for establishing
an annual catch limit or target fishing
level based on scientific information. A
long-term control rule is needed to
provide guidance on setting an annual
ABC to account for scientific
uncertainty, stock status, and the
Council’s risk tolerance to maintain a
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83205
sustainable Atlantic herring stock that
includes consideration of herring as a
forage species.
In January 2016, the Council
approved conducting a Management
Strategy Evaluation (MSE) to support
the development of alternatives for an
ABC control rule. MSE is a collaborative
decision-making process involving more
public input and technical analysis than
the normal amendment development
process. The MSE will help determine
how a range of control rules may
perform relative to potential objectives.
The Council held an initial public
workshop in May 2016 to develop
recommendations for a range of
potential objectives of the ABC control
rule, how progress towards these
objectives may be measured, and the
control rules to test. In June 2016, after
reviewing the workshop
recommendations and additional input
from the Herring Plan Development
Team, Advisory Panel, and Committee,
the Council approved moving forward
with the MSE. Technical work has been
underway ever since.
Workshop Purpose
The purpose of this workshop is to
provide continued opportunities for
public input on the Management
Strategy Evaluation of Atlantic herring
ABC control rules.
Workshop Goals
The Council is holding this workshop
to: Develop a common understanding of
the outcomes of the MSE technical
simulations, which tested the
performance of a range of ABC control
rules relative to potential objectives,
identified at the May 2016 public
workshop and approved by the Council
in June. The workshop also aims to get
input from stakeholders on: Identifying
acceptable ranges of performance for
various metrics, so that tradeoffs in
achieving objectives may be identified;
narrowing the range of Atlantic herring
ABC control rule alternatives to
consider in more detail; and what, if
any, additional (minor) MSE simulation
work would be helpful for establishing
a long-term ABC control rule. Finally,
the workshop will provide a chance for
stakeholders of the Atlantic herring
fishery to have greater input than
typically possible at Council meetings,
through constructive and open dialogue
among resource users, scientists, fishery
managers, and members of the public.
Special Accommodations
This meeting is physically accessible
to people with disabilities. Requests for
sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed to
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83206
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 224 / Monday, November 21, 2016 / Notices
Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, at
(978) 465–0492, at least 5 days prior to
the meeting date.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: November 16, 2016.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016–27974 Filed 11–18–16; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XE931
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species;
Atlantic Shark Management Measures;
2017 Research Fishery
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of intent; request for
applications.
AGENCY:
NMFS announces its request
for applications for the 2017 shark
research fishery from commercial shark
fishermen with directed or incidental
shark limited access permits. The shark
research fishery allows for the collection
of fishery-dependent and biological data
for future stock assessments and to meet
the research objectives of the Agency.
The only commercial vessels authorized
to land sandbar sharks are those
participating in the shark research
fishery. Shark research fishery
permittees may also land other large
coastal sharks (LCS), small coastal
sharks (SCS), smoothhound sharks, and
pelagic sharks. Commercial shark
fishermen who are interested in
participating in the shark research
fishery need to submit a completed
Shark Research Fishery Permit
Application in order to be considered.
DATES: Shark Research Fishery
Applications must be received no later
December 21, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Please submit completed
applications to the HMS Management
Division at:
´
• Mail: Attn: Guy DuBeck, HMS
Management Division (F/SF1), NMFS,
1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring,
MD 20910.
• Fax: (301) 713–1917.
• Email: NMFS.Research.Fishery@
noaa.gov.
For copies of the Shark Research
Fishery Permit Application, please write
to the HMS Management Division at the
address listed above, call (301) 427–
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
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8503 (phone), or fax a request to (301)
713–1917. Copies of the Shark Research
Fishery Application are also available at
the HMS Web site at https://
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/
compliance/efp/.
Additionally, please be advised that
your application may be released under
the Freedom of Information Act.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
´
Karyl Brewster-Geisz, Guy DuBeck,
Larry Redd, at (301) 427–8503 (phone)
or (301) 713–1917 (fax), or Delisse Ortiz
at 240–681–9037 (phone).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Atlantic shark fisheries are managed
under the authority of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens
Act). The Consolidated HMS Fishery
Management Plan (FMP) is
implemented by regulations at 50 CFR
part 635.
The shark research fishery was
established, in part, to maintain time
series data for stock assessments and to
meet NMFS’ research objectives. Since
the shark research fishery was
established in 2008, the research fishery
has allowed for: The collection of
fishery-dependent data for current and
future stock assessments; the operation
of cooperative research to meet NMFS’
ongoing research objectives; the
collection of updated life-history
information used in the sandbar shark
(and other species) stock assessment;
the collection of data on habitat
preferences that might help reduce
fishery interactions through bycatch
mitigation; evaluation of the utility of
the mid-Atlantic closed area on the
recovery of dusky sharks and collection
of hook-timer and pop-up satellite
archival tag (PSAT) information to
determine at-vessel and post-release
mortality of dusky sharks; and
collection of sharks to determine the
weight conversion factor from dressed
weight to whole weight.
The shark research fishery allows
selected commercial fishermen the
opportunity to earn revenue from selling
additional sharks, including sandbar
sharks. Only the commercial shark
fishermen selected to participate in the
shark research fishery are authorized to
land sandbar sharks subject to the
sandbar quota available each year. The
base quota is 90.7 metric tons (mt)
dressed weight (dw) per year, although
this number may be reduced in the
event of overharvests, if any. The
selected shark research fishery
permittees will also be allowed to land
other LCS, SCS, smoothhound sharks,
and pelagic sharks per any restrictions
established on their shark research
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fishery permit. Generally, the shark
research fishery permits are valid only
for the calendar year for which they are
issued.
The specific 2017 trip limits and
number of trips per month will depend
on the availability of funding, number of
selected vessels, the availability of
observers, the available quota, and the
objectives of the research fishery, and
will be included in the permit terms at
time of issuance. The number of
participants in the research fishery
changes each year. In 2016, five
fishermen were chosen to participate.
From 2008 through 2016, there has been
an average of seven participants each
year with the range from five to eleven.
The trip limits and the number of trips
taken per month have changed each
year the research fishery has been
active. Participants may also be limited
on the amount of gear they can deploy
on a given set (e.g., number of hooks
and sets, soak times, length of longline).
In the 2016 fishing season, NMFS
split the sandbar and LCS research
fishery quotas equally among selected
participants, with each vessel allocated
14.5 mt dw of sandbar shark research
fishery quota and 8.0 mt dw of other
LCS research fishery quota. NMFS also
established a regional dusky bycatch
limit where once three or more dusky
sharks were brought to the vessel dead
in any of five regions across the Gulf of
Mexico and Atlantic through the entire
year, any shark research fishery permit
holder in that region was not able to
soak their gear for longer than 3 hours.
If, after the change in soak time, there
were three or more additional dusky
shark interactions (alive or dead)
observed, shark research fishery permit
holders were not able to make a trip in
that region for the remainder of the year,
unless otherwise permitted by NMFS.
There were slightly different measures
established for shark research fishery
participants in the mid-Atlantic shark
closed area in order to allow NMFS
observers to place satellite archival tags
on dusky sharks and collect other
scientific information on dusky sharks
while also minimizing any dusky shark
mortality.
Participants were also required to
keep any dead sharks, unless they were
a prohibited species, in which case they
were required to release them. If the
regional non-blacknose SCS, blacknose,
smoothhound and/or pelagic shark
management group quotas were closed,
then the shark research fishery permit
holder fishing in the closed region had
to discard all of the species from the
closed management groups regardless of
condition. Any sharks, except
prohibited species or closed
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 224 (Monday, November 21, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 83205-83206]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-27974]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XF050
New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; public meeting.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council), Atlantic
Herring Committee, Atlantic Herring Advisory Panel and Atlantic Herring
Plan Development Team is scheduling a public workshop on the Atlantic
Herring Acceptable Biological Catch Control Rule Management Strategy
Evaluation to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the
exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from this group will be
brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if
appropriate.
DATES: This workshop will be held on Wednesday, December 7, 2016 at 9
a.m. and Thursday, December 8, 2016 at 8:30 a.m.
ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held at the Sheraton Harborside Hotel,
250 Market Street, Portsmouth, ME 03801; phone: (888) 627-7138; fax:
(603) 431-7805.
Council address: New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water
Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director,
New England Fishery Management Council; telephone: (978) 465-0492.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
The New England Fishery Management Council is currently developing
Amendment 8 to the Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan. Through
Amendment 8, the Council expects to establish a long-term control rule
for the acceptable biological catch (ABC) of Atlantic herring that may
explicitly account for herring's role in the ecosystem and address the
biological and ecological requirements of the Atlantic herring
resource. A control rule is a method for establishing an annual catch
limit or target fishing level based on scientific information. A long-
term control rule is needed to provide guidance on setting an annual
ABC to account for scientific uncertainty, stock status, and the
Council's risk tolerance to maintain a sustainable Atlantic herring
stock that includes consideration of herring as a forage species.
In January 2016, the Council approved conducting a Management
Strategy Evaluation (MSE) to support the development of alternatives
for an ABC control rule. MSE is a collaborative decision-making process
involving more public input and technical analysis than the normal
amendment development process. The MSE will help determine how a range
of control rules may perform relative to potential objectives.
The Council held an initial public workshop in May 2016 to develop
recommendations for a range of potential objectives of the ABC control
rule, how progress towards these objectives may be measured, and the
control rules to test. In June 2016, after reviewing the workshop
recommendations and additional input from the Herring Plan Development
Team, Advisory Panel, and Committee, the Council approved moving
forward with the MSE. Technical work has been underway ever since.
Workshop Purpose
The purpose of this workshop is to provide continued opportunities
for public input on the Management Strategy Evaluation of Atlantic
herring ABC control rules.
Workshop Goals
The Council is holding this workshop to: Develop a common
understanding of the outcomes of the MSE technical simulations, which
tested the performance of a range of ABC control rules relative to
potential objectives, identified at the May 2016 public workshop and
approved by the Council in June. The workshop also aims to get input
from stakeholders on: Identifying acceptable ranges of performance for
various metrics, so that tradeoffs in achieving objectives may be
identified; narrowing the range of Atlantic herring ABC control rule
alternatives to consider in more detail; and what, if any, additional
(minor) MSE simulation work would be helpful for establishing a long-
term ABC control rule. Finally, the workshop will provide a chance for
stakeholders of the Atlantic herring fishery to have greater input than
typically possible at Council meetings, through constructive and open
dialogue among resource users, scientists, fishery managers, and
members of the public.
Special Accommodations
This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities.
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids
should be directed to
[[Page 83206]]
Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, at (978) 465-0492, at least 5 days
prior to the meeting date.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: November 16, 2016.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-27974 Filed 11-18-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
