Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Multispecies Fishery; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement; Scoping Process; Request for Comments, 11011-11013 [2017-03236]
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 32 / Friday, February 17, 2017 / Notices
project site and most animals are
expected to return soon after helicopter
activities cease for that day. By
clustering helicopter arrival/departures
within a short time period, we expect
animals present to show less response to
subsequent landings. NMFS anticipates
no impact on the population size or
breeding stock of Steller sea lions,
California sea lions, Pacific harbor seals,
or Northern fur seals.
In summary, NMFS anticipates that
impacts to hauled-out pinnipeds during
the Society’s helicopter operations and
restoration/maintenance activities
would be behavioral harassment of
limited duration (i.e., less than three
days a month) and limited intensity (i.e.,
temporary flushing at most). NMFS does
not expect stampeding, and therefore
injury or mortality to occur (see
Mitigation Measures for more details).
Based on the analysis contained herein
of the likely effects of the specified
activity on marine mammals and their
habitat, and taking into consideration
the implementation of the monitoring
and mitigation measures, NMFS finds
that the total marine mammal take from
the Society’s activities will have a
negligible impact on the affected marine
mammal species or stocks.
Small Numbers
As mentioned previously, NMFS
estimates that the Society’s planned
activities could potentially affect, by
Level B harassment only, four species of
marine mammals under our jurisdiction.
For each species, these estimates are
small numbers (less than one percent of
the affected stocks of California sea
lions, Pacific harbor seals, and Northern
fur seals, and less than five percent of
the stock of Steller sea lions) relative to
the population size (Table 3).
Based on the analysis contained in
this notice of the likely effects of the
specified activity on marine mammals
and their habitat, and taking into
consideration the implementation of the
mitigation and monitoring measures,
NMFS finds that the Society’s activities
would take small numbers of marine
mammals relative to the populations of
the affected species or stocks.
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
Impact on Availability of Affected
Species or Stock for Taking for
Subsistence Uses
There are no relevant subsistence uses
of marine mammals implicated by this
action. Therefore, NMFS has
determined that the total taking of
affected species or stocks would not
have an unmitigable adverse impact on
the availability of such species or stocks
for taking for subsistence purposes.
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17:38 Feb 16, 2017
Jkt 241001
Endangered Species Act (ESA)
NMFS does not expect that the
Society’s helicopter operations and
restoration/maintenance activities
would affect any species listed under
the ESA. Therefore, NMFS has
determined that a Section 7 consultation
under the ESA is not required.
National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA)
NMFS prepared an Environmental
Assessment (EA) and analyzed the
potential impacts to marine mammals
that would result from the Society’s
activities. A Finding of No Significant
Impact (FONSI) was signed in February
2017. A copy of the EA and FONSI is
available on our Web site at https://
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/
incidental/research.html.
Authorization
NMFS has issued an IHA to the
Society for the potential harassment of
small numbers of four marine mammal
species incidental to the aircraft
operations and lighthouse restoration
and maintenance activities on NWSR, in
Del Norte County, CA, provided the
previously mentioned mitigation.
Dated: February 13, 2017.
Donna S. Wieting,
Director, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
11011
Pacific Council’s Web site in advance of
the meeting.
Council address: Pacific Fishery
Management Council, 7700 NE
Ambassador Place, Suite 101, Portland,
OR 97220–1384.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kerry Griffin, Pacific Council;
telephone: (503) 820–2409.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
purpose of the meeting is to consider
and discuss ecosystem-related agenda
items on the March Pacific Council
meeting agenda, and consider
developing supplemental CPSAS
reports.
Special Accommodations
This meeting is physically accessible
to people with disabilities. Requests for
sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed to Mr.
Kris Kleinschmidt at (503) 820–2280 at
least 10 days prior to the meeting date.
Dated: February 14, 2017.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–03198 Filed 2–16–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[FR Doc. 2017–03233 Filed 2–16–17; 8:45 am]
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
RIN 0648–XF222
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XF231
Fisheries of the Northeastern United
States; Northeast Multispecies
Fishery; Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement;
Scoping Process; Request for
Comments
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement and
initiate scoping process; request for
comments.
AGENCY:
Pacific Fishery Management Council;
Public Meeting
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting
(webinar).
AGENCY:
The Pacific Fishery
Management Council’s (Pacific Council)
Coastal Pelagic Species Advisory
Subpanel (CPSAS) will hold a meeting
via webinar that is open to the public.
DATES: The CPSAS webinar will be held
Friday March 3, 2017, from 10 a.m. to
12 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be via
webinar; a public listening will be held
at the Pacific Council offices. Webinar
access information will be posted to the
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
The New England Fishery
Management Council (Council)
announces its intention to prepare, in
cooperation with NFMS, an
environmental impact statement (EIS) in
accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act. An
environmental impact statement may be
necessary to provide analytic support
for Amendment 23 to the Northeast
Multispecies Fishery Management Plan
(FMP). Amendment 23 would revise the
monitoring and reporting system for the
multispecies (groundfish) fishery. The
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\17FEN1.SGM
17FEN1
11012
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 32 / Friday, February 17, 2017 / Notices
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
purpose of this notice is to announce a
public process for determining the
scope of issues to be addressed, and to
alert the interested public of the scoping
process, the potential development of a
draft environmental impact statement,
and the opportunity for participation in
that process.
DATES: Written and electronic scoping
comments must be received on or before
April 3, 2017.
ADDRESSES: Written scoping comments
on Amendment 23 may be sent by any
of the following methods:
• Email to the following address:
comments@nefmc.org;
• Mail to Thomas A. Nies, Executive
Director, New England Fishery
Management Council, 50 Water Street,
Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950; or Fax
to (978) 465–3116.
The scoping document is accessible
electronically online at www.nefmc.org/
library/amendment-23.
Requests for copies of the
Amendment 23 scoping document and
other information should be directed to
Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director,
New England Fishery Management
Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2,
Newburyport, MA 01950, telephone,
(978) 465–0492.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Thomas A.
Nies, Executive Director, New England
Fishery Management Council, (978)
465–0492.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Northeast multispecies fishery
targets 13 species comprising 20 stocks
along the east coast from Maine to Cape
Hatteras, NC, although most fishing
activity takes place between Maine and
New Jersey. Management measures were
first adopted in 1977, but there have
been several major revisions to the
management program over the following
decades.
The most recent major change
occurred in 2010, when most of the
fishery shifted to a system that controls
total catches through explicit limits on
catches by organized cooperative groups
of fishermen, referred to as sectors. Each
sector comprises a group of fishing
permits, each with its own landings
history that contributes to the allocation
for all of the groundfish stocks. The sum
of the allocation histories from all of the
permits in the sector represents the
sector’s annual quota. A sector is not
subject to effort controls such as trip
limits, and may choose how to manage
its collective quota among its members.
However, in exchange for this increased
business flexibility, sectors are
responsible for increased monitoring
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:38 Feb 16, 2017
Jkt 241001
requirements to comply with catch
limits. About 95 percent of the catch is
taken by vessels in sectors, while the
remainder is harvested by vessels in the
common pool. In contrast to sectors,
common pool vessels operate
independently and are subject to effort
controls that include trip limits, limits
on days fishing, and closed areas.
Successful management of the
Northeast multispecies fishery depends
on accurate and timely reports of catch.
The term ‘‘catch’’ refers to fish that are
landed, as well as those that may not be
landed but are discarded at sea for any
reason. Catch data is used to ensure
compliance with catch limits and are
also a key component of scientific
assessments of the status of the stocks.
These assessments are the basis for
determining how much fish can be
sustainably caught in future years. Catch
is a key element of data commonly
referred to as ‘‘fishery dependent
data’’—that is, data collected as a result
of fishing operations. At present, there
are three primary sources of catch data:
(1) self-reported data from fishing
vessels and fish dealers; (2) data
collected by third-party at-sea observers;
and (3) vessel position data.
The self-reported data from fishing
vessels and dealers is recorded on
Vessel Trip Reports (VTRs) and dealer
reports. Fishermen use VTRs to report
information on trip-level fishing
activity. In these reports, vessel
operators submit information on trip
start and end times, species landed,
species discarded, locations of fishing
activity, gear used, disposition of
species landed, and similar activity.
Fishermen may complete VTRs on
paper or using electronic, computerbased programs. Fish are sold to a
licensed dealer who submits
information via dealer reports that detail
the species and amount purchased, sale
prices, selling vessel, and market
category, and which are filed
electronically.
While VTRs and dealer reports are
generally used to determine landing
amounts, estimates of fish discarded at
sea are provided by at-sea observers.
There are currently two types of at-sea
observers employed in this fishery:
Northeast Fishery Observer Program
(NEFOP) observers, and at-sea monitors.
Although both programs collect similar
information (trip activity, species
landed, discarded, gear used, etc.),
NEFOP observers are funded by the
Federal government and implement
Federal programs (Standardized Bycatch
Reporting Methodology (SBRM), Marine
Mammal Protection Act, Endangered
Species Act) across fisheries. At-sea
monitors (ASM), specific to sector
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
monitoring, are partly funded by
fishermen and will be fully funded by
fishermen in 2017.
At-sea observers are not present on all
trips. Coverage levels for both programs
are set annually by the National Marine
Fisheries Service. NEFOP coverage
levels are determined using the
Standardized Bycatch Reporting
Methodology (see www.nefsc.noaa.gov/
femad/fsb/SBRM/). ASM levels are
determined consistent with procedures
established by the FMP. This action will
not modify the SBRM, but could modify
how coverage levels are determined for
the at-sea monitoring program. They
could also modify or remove the at-sea
monitoring program as part of a holistic
monitoring and reporting program for
the groundfish fishery.
Framework Adjustment 55 (FW 55)
clarified that the primary goal of the
groundfish sector at-sea monitoring
program is to verify area fished, catch,
and discards by species, by gear type,
and that this primary goal should be met
in the most cost-effective manner
practicable. All other goals and
objectives of groundfish monitoring
programs are considered equallyweighted, secondary goals. These goals
include to (1) improve the
documentation of catch, (2) reduce cost
of monitoring, (3) incentivize reducing
discards, (4) provide additional data
streams for stock assessments, (5)
enhance safety of monitoring program,
and (6) perform periodic review of
monitoring program effectiveness.
Specific objectives are described in
detail in FW 55. The Council may
change the goals and/or objectives of the
at-sea monitoring program in this
action.
Lastly, vessel position data is
provided through a Vessel Monitoring
System. This data stream provides
vessel positions about once each hour
using a satellite-based tracking system
and can be used to report fishing
activity (such as changing a trip type)
while at sea and to enforce compliance
with time and area closures.
The Council will consider changes to
the monitoring and reporting system to
ensure it is providing accurate catch
information necessary to manage the
fishery efficiently. This could include a
wide range of alternatives to tracking
sector/vessel specific discards, such as
setting total allowable landings and
monitoring fishery-wide discards
through the observer program. In recent
years, most Council discussions have
focused on at-sea observer coverage
because it provides the highest quality
data, but it is expensive, and given the
current low quotas in the fishery, the
high cost of at-sea monitoring is difficult
E:\FR\FM\17FEN1.SGM
17FEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 32 / Friday, February 17, 2017 / Notices
for many fishermen to afford. There are
also questions about the accurate
representation of the information, since
there is evidence that fishing behavior
may be different on observed and
unobserved trips. For these reasons, the
Council may explore alternatives to atsea observers, such as using cameras to
monitor fishing activity, which is
usually referred to as Electronic
Monitoring, or EM. The Council also
may consider changes to the way
landings information is provided by
both dealers and vessel operators and
how it is assigned to stock areas. When
developing this amendment, the
Council will take into account other
regional projects to improve catch
monitoring, such as the Fishery
Dependent Data Visioning project that
NMFS is pursuing. In summary, the
Council may consider changes to any
part of the system used to collect and
report commercial catch information in
the Northeast multispecies fishery.
At its September 2016 meeting, the
Council identified that the purpose of
this amendment will be to adjust the
groundfish monitoring program to
improve reliability and accountability.
The Council’s Groundfish Oversight
Committee and the Council will identify
the goal and objectives of the
amendment following the scoping
period and will then develop
alternatives to achieve the goal and
objectives. Following input from the
Committee and the public, the Council
will select a range of alternatives to
improve the monitoring and reporting
system.
Public Comment
All persons affected by or otherwise
interested in Northeast multispecies
management are invited to participate in
commenting on the scope and
Date and time
Portsmouth, NH, Tuesday, March 21, 2017, 2:00 p.m.–
4:00 p.m.
Gloucester, MA, Tuesday, March 21, 2017, 6:00 p.m.–
8:00 p.m.
Plymouth, MA, Wednesday, March 22, 2017, 6:00 p.m.–
8:00 p.m.
Groton, CT, Thursday, March 23, 2017, 6:00 p.m.–8:00
p.m.
Special Accommodations
The meetings are accessible to people
with physical disabilities. Requests for
sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed to
Thomas A. Nies (see ADDRESSES) at least
five days prior to this meeting date.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: February 14, 2017.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–03236 Filed 2–16–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XF152
Council Coordination Committee
Meeting; Addendum
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
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17:38 Feb 16, 2017
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significance of issues to be analyzed by
submitting written comments (see
ADDRESSES) or by attending one of the
six scoping meetings, including one
webinar, for this amendment. Scoping
consists of identifying the range of
actions, alternatives, and possible
impacts to be considered. At this time,
the Council believes that it may
consider changing any aspect of the
existing groundfish monitoring and
reporting system. After the scoping
process is completed, the Council will
begin development of Amendment 23
and will prepare an EIS to analyze the
impacts of the range of alternatives for
changing the monitoring and reporting
system. The Council will hold public
hearings to receive comments on the
draft amendment and on the analysis of
its impacts presented in the Draft EIS.
The Council will take and discuss
scoping comments on this amendment
at the following public meetings:
Location
Rockland, ME, Friday, March 3, 2017, 9:00 a.m.–11:00
a.m.
Via Webinar, Tuesday, March 14, 2017, 6:00 p.m.–8:00
p.m.
AGENCY:
11013
Samoset Resort, 220 Warrenton Street, Rockport, ME 04856.
Webinar Hearing, Register to participate: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/
4567763108442151939 Call in info: Toll: +1 (415) 930–5321 Access Code: 702–
360–151.
Portsmouth Library, 175 Parrott Avenue, Portsmouth, NH 03801.
NOAA Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930.
Hilton Garden Inn, 4 Home Depot Drive, Plymouth, MA 02360.
Hilton Garden Inn, 224 Gold Star Highway, Groton, CT. 06340.
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
Notice of a public meeting;
additional information regarding agenda
and webinar.
ACTION:
NMFS will host a meeting of
the Council Coordination Committee
(CCC), consisting of the Regional
Fishery Management Council chairs,
vice chairs, and executive directors on
February 28–March 1, 2017. The intent
of this meeting is to discuss issues of
relevance to the Councils and NMFS,
including issues related to the
implementation of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Reauthorization Act.
Agenda items include discussions on
budget allocations for FY2017 and
budget planning for FY2018; an update
on current joint science initiatives,
including Ecosystem Based Fisheries
Management; the FY2017 legislative
outlook; updates on planning for the
CCC Scientific Coordination Committee
meeting, NMFS bycatch reduction
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
strategy, the NMFS National Standard 1
guidance and implementation, Marine
Recreational Information Program
updates, stock assessment improvement
plan; and other topics related to
implementation of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Reauthorization Act. All
sessions are open to the public.
DATES: The meeting and webinar will
begin at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February
28, 2017, recess at 5:00 p.m. or when
business is complete; and reconvene at
8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 1, 2017,
and adjourn by 3:30 p.m. or when
business is complete.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
the Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City, 1250
South Hayes Street; Arlington, VA
22202; Telephone: (703) 415–5000. The
meeting presentations will also be
available via WebEx webinar/conference
call.
On Tuesday, February 28, 2017, the
conference call information is phone
number 888–455–5378; Participant
Code 8262839; and the webinar event
E:\FR\FM\17FEN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 32 (Friday, February 17, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11011-11013]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-03236]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XF222
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast
Multispecies Fishery; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement; Scoping Process; Request for Comments
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; intent to prepare an environmental impact statement and
initiate scoping process; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) announces
its intention to prepare, in cooperation with NFMS, an environmental
impact statement (EIS) in accordance with the National Environmental
Policy Act. An environmental impact statement may be necessary to
provide analytic support for Amendment 23 to the Northeast Multispecies
Fishery Management Plan (FMP). Amendment 23 would revise the monitoring
and reporting system for the multispecies (groundfish) fishery. The
[[Page 11012]]
purpose of this notice is to announce a public process for determining
the scope of issues to be addressed, and to alert the interested public
of the scoping process, the potential development of a draft
environmental impact statement, and the opportunity for participation
in that process.
DATES: Written and electronic scoping comments must be received on or
before April 3, 2017.
ADDRESSES: Written scoping comments on Amendment 23 may be sent by any
of the following methods:
Email to the following address: comments@nefmc.org;
Mail to Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, New England
Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA
01950; or Fax to (978) 465-3116.
The scoping document is accessible electronically online at
www.nefmc.org/library/amendment-23.
Requests for copies of the Amendment 23 scoping document and other
information should be directed to Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director,
New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2,
Newburyport, MA 01950, telephone, (978) 465-0492.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, New
England Fishery Management Council, (978) 465-0492.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Northeast multispecies fishery targets 13 species comprising 20
stocks along the east coast from Maine to Cape Hatteras, NC, although
most fishing activity takes place between Maine and New Jersey.
Management measures were first adopted in 1977, but there have been
several major revisions to the management program over the following
decades.
The most recent major change occurred in 2010, when most of the
fishery shifted to a system that controls total catches through
explicit limits on catches by organized cooperative groups of
fishermen, referred to as sectors. Each sector comprises a group of
fishing permits, each with its own landings history that contributes to
the allocation for all of the groundfish stocks. The sum of the
allocation histories from all of the permits in the sector represents
the sector's annual quota. A sector is not subject to effort controls
such as trip limits, and may choose how to manage its collective quota
among its members. However, in exchange for this increased business
flexibility, sectors are responsible for increased monitoring
requirements to comply with catch limits. About 95 percent of the catch
is taken by vessels in sectors, while the remainder is harvested by
vessels in the common pool. In contrast to sectors, common pool vessels
operate independently and are subject to effort controls that include
trip limits, limits on days fishing, and closed areas.
Successful management of the Northeast multispecies fishery depends
on accurate and timely reports of catch. The term ``catch'' refers to
fish that are landed, as well as those that may not be landed but are
discarded at sea for any reason. Catch data is used to ensure
compliance with catch limits and are also a key component of scientific
assessments of the status of the stocks. These assessments are the
basis for determining how much fish can be sustainably caught in future
years. Catch is a key element of data commonly referred to as ``fishery
dependent data''--that is, data collected as a result of fishing
operations. At present, there are three primary sources of catch data:
(1) self-reported data from fishing vessels and fish dealers; (2) data
collected by third-party at-sea observers; and (3) vessel position
data.
The self-reported data from fishing vessels and dealers is recorded
on Vessel Trip Reports (VTRs) and dealer reports. Fishermen use VTRs to
report information on trip-level fishing activity. In these reports,
vessel operators submit information on trip start and end times,
species landed, species discarded, locations of fishing activity, gear
used, disposition of species landed, and similar activity. Fishermen
may complete VTRs on paper or using electronic, computer-based
programs. Fish are sold to a licensed dealer who submits information
via dealer reports that detail the species and amount purchased, sale
prices, selling vessel, and market category, and which are filed
electronically.
While VTRs and dealer reports are generally used to determine
landing amounts, estimates of fish discarded at sea are provided by at-
sea observers. There are currently two types of at-sea observers
employed in this fishery: Northeast Fishery Observer Program (NEFOP)
observers, and at-sea monitors. Although both programs collect similar
information (trip activity, species landed, discarded, gear used,
etc.), NEFOP observers are funded by the Federal government and
implement Federal programs (Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology
(SBRM), Marine Mammal Protection Act, Endangered Species Act) across
fisheries. At-sea monitors (ASM), specific to sector monitoring, are
partly funded by fishermen and will be fully funded by fishermen in
2017.
At-sea observers are not present on all trips. Coverage levels for
both programs are set annually by the National Marine Fisheries
Service. NEFOP coverage levels are determined using the Standardized
Bycatch Reporting Methodology (see www.nefsc.noaa.gov/femad/fsb/SBRM/).
ASM levels are determined consistent with procedures established by the
FMP. This action will not modify the SBRM, but could modify how
coverage levels are determined for the at-sea monitoring program. They
could also modify or remove the at-sea monitoring program as part of a
holistic monitoring and reporting program for the groundfish fishery.
Framework Adjustment 55 (FW 55) clarified that the primary goal of
the groundfish sector at-sea monitoring program is to verify area
fished, catch, and discards by species, by gear type, and that this
primary goal should be met in the most cost-effective manner
practicable. All other goals and objectives of groundfish monitoring
programs are considered equally-weighted, secondary goals. These goals
include to (1) improve the documentation of catch, (2) reduce cost of
monitoring, (3) incentivize reducing discards, (4) provide additional
data streams for stock assessments, (5) enhance safety of monitoring
program, and (6) perform periodic review of monitoring program
effectiveness. Specific objectives are described in detail in FW 55.
The Council may change the goals and/or objectives of the at-sea
monitoring program in this action.
Lastly, vessel position data is provided through a Vessel
Monitoring System. This data stream provides vessel positions about
once each hour using a satellite-based tracking system and can be used
to report fishing activity (such as changing a trip type) while at sea
and to enforce compliance with time and area closures.
The Council will consider changes to the monitoring and reporting
system to ensure it is providing accurate catch information necessary
to manage the fishery efficiently. This could include a wide range of
alternatives to tracking sector/vessel specific discards, such as
setting total allowable landings and monitoring fishery-wide discards
through the observer program. In recent years, most Council discussions
have focused on at-sea observer coverage because it provides the
highest quality data, but it is expensive, and given the current low
quotas in the fishery, the high cost of at-sea monitoring is difficult
[[Page 11013]]
for many fishermen to afford. There are also questions about the
accurate representation of the information, since there is evidence
that fishing behavior may be different on observed and unobserved
trips. For these reasons, the Council may explore alternatives to at-
sea observers, such as using cameras to monitor fishing activity, which
is usually referred to as Electronic Monitoring, or EM. The Council
also may consider changes to the way landings information is provided
by both dealers and vessel operators and how it is assigned to stock
areas. When developing this amendment, the Council will take into
account other regional projects to improve catch monitoring, such as
the Fishery Dependent Data Visioning project that NMFS is pursuing. In
summary, the Council may consider changes to any part of the system
used to collect and report commercial catch information in the
Northeast multispecies fishery.
At its September 2016 meeting, the Council identified that the
purpose of this amendment will be to adjust the groundfish monitoring
program to improve reliability and accountability. The Council's
Groundfish Oversight Committee and the Council will identify the goal
and objectives of the amendment following the scoping period and will
then develop alternatives to achieve the goal and objectives. Following
input from the Committee and the public, the Council will select a
range of alternatives to improve the monitoring and reporting system.
Public Comment
All persons affected by or otherwise interested in Northeast
multispecies management are invited to participate in commenting on the
scope and significance of issues to be analyzed by submitting written
comments (see ADDRESSES) or by attending one of the six scoping
meetings, including one webinar, for this amendment. Scoping consists
of identifying the range of actions, alternatives, and possible impacts
to be considered. At this time, the Council believes that it may
consider changing any aspect of the existing groundfish monitoring and
reporting system. After the scoping process is completed, the Council
will begin development of Amendment 23 and will prepare an EIS to
analyze the impacts of the range of alternatives for changing the
monitoring and reporting system. The Council will hold public hearings
to receive comments on the draft amendment and on the analysis of its
impacts presented in the Draft EIS.
The Council will take and discuss scoping comments on this
amendment at the following public meetings:
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Date and time Location
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Rockland, ME, Friday, March 3, Samoset Resort, 220 Warrenton
2017, 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Street, Rockport, ME 04856.
Via Webinar, Tuesday, March 14, Webinar Hearing, Register to
2017, 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. participate: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4567763108442151939 4567763108442151939 Call in info:
Toll: +1 (415) 930-5321 Access
Code: 702-360-151.
Portsmouth, NH, Tuesday, March 21, Portsmouth Library, 175 Parrott
2017, 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. Avenue, Portsmouth, NH 03801.
Gloucester, MA, Tuesday, March 21, NOAA Greater Atlantic Regional
2017, 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic
Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930.
Plymouth, MA, Wednesday, March 22, Hilton Garden Inn, 4 Home Depot
2017, 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. Drive, Plymouth, MA 02360.
Groton, CT, Thursday, March 23, Hilton Garden Inn, 224 Gold Star
2017, 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. Highway, Groton, CT. 06340.
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Special Accommodations
The meetings are accessible to people with physical disabilities.
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids
should be directed to Thomas A. Nies (see ADDRESSES) at least five days
prior to this meeting date.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: February 14, 2017.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-03236 Filed 2-16-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
