Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits, 22515-22516 [2017-09879]
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 93 / Tuesday, May 16, 2017 / Notices
the holder fails to abide by the
conditions prescribed herein, or if
NMFS determines the authorized taking
is having more than a negligible impact
on the species or stock of affected
marine mammals.
Request for Public Comments
We request comment on our analyses,
the draft authorization, and any other
aspect of this Notice of Proposed IHA
for the proposed taking of marine
mammals incidental to seabird and
pinniped research activities in central
California. Please include with your
comments any supporting data or
literature citations to help inform our
final decision on the request for MMPA
authorization.
Dated: May 11, 2017.
Donna S. Wieting,
Director, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–09864 Filed 5–15–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XF415
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions;
General Provisions for Domestic
Fisheries; Application for Exempted
Fishing Permits
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
AGENCY:
The Assistant Regional
Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries,
Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has
made a preliminary determination that
these Exempted Fishing Permit
applications contain all of the required
information and warrant further
consideration. These Exempted Fishing
Permits would authorize three
commercial fishing vessels to conduct
independent projects testing the
economic viability of using hook gear to
selectively target healthy pollock and
haddock stocks in the Western Gulf of
Maine and Cashes Ledge Closure Areas
(excluding Cashes Ledge Habitat Closed
Area), and to temporarily retain
undersized catch for measurement and
data collection.
Regulations under the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act require publication of
this notification to provide interested
parties the opportunity to comment on
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:42 May 15, 2017
Jkt 241001
applications for proposed Exempted
Fishing Permits.
DATES: Comments must be received on
or before May 31, 2017.
ADDRESSES: You may submit written
comments by any of the following
methods:
• Email: NMFS.GAR.EFP@noaa.gov.
Include in the subject line ‘‘Comments
on Hook Gear Access to WGOM and
Cashes Ledge Closure Areas EFP.’’
• Mail: John K. Bullard, Regional
Administrator, NMFS, NE Regional
Office, 55 Great Republic Drive,
Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside
of the envelope ‘‘Comments on Hook
Gear in WGOM and Cashes Ledge EFP.’’
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Claire Fitz-Gerald, Fishery Management
Specialist, 978–281–9255, claire.fitzgerald@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Three
commercial fishermen submitted
separate and complete applications
requesting an Exempted Fishing Permit
(EFP) to conduct commercial fishing
activities that the regulations would
otherwise restrict. In total, these EFPs
would authorize three commercial
fishing vessels to fish a combined total
of 200 trips in the Western Gulf of
Maine (WGOM) and Cashes Ledge
Closure Areas (excluding the Cashes
Ledge Habitat Closed Area) with hook
gear and to temporarily retain
undersized catch for measurement and
data collection.
This EFP would authorize the
applicants to use hook gear to
selectively target pollock and haddock
while maintaining minimal bycatch. In
addition, the applicants propose to
leverage these exemptions to explore
and develop premium markets to
increase the value of the catch. This
study would be conducted in the
WGOM and Cashes Ledge Closure Areas
(excluding habitat closed areas); the
applicants have requested access to
these areas based on reports that there
is a high concentration of the target
species located in these areas. The
exemptions are necessary to conduct
this study because vessels on
commercial groundfish trips are
prohibited from fishing for groundfish
in these closed areas and from retaining
undersized groundfish. EFP trips would
occur year-round (excluding seasonal
closures), although the majority of trips
would occur in the summer and fall
months. Participating vessels would
take a combined total of 200 trips to
closed areas. Trips would be roughly 24
hours or less in length. Estimated
average catch would be between 1,000
and 2,000 lb (453.5 to 907.2 kg) of
pollock and haddock, combined, per
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Frm 00039
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
22515
trip. Bycatch is expected to be minimal;
applicants estimate 50 to 100 lb (22.7 to
45.4 kg) of cod and 10 to 25 lb (4.5 to
11.3 kg) of redfish and cusk per trip.
Participating vessels would use a
combination of automated jigging
machines and handlines to target
pollock and haddock; one vessel would
use two jigging machines and three
rods; another would use four rods only;
the final vessel would use three jigging
machines only.
Because these vessels would be
fishing in closed areas, the agency
would monitor their catch closely to
ensure minimal interactions with Gulf
of Maine cod. Cod catch would be
restricted to 5 percent of the total
expected catch, to be applied
cumulatively across each project. In the
event that an applicant exceeds the
vessel’s cap, that EFP authorization
would end. One-hundred-percent
monitoring would be required for this
EFP. A vessel may carry a Northeast
Fishery Observer Program (NEFOP) or
At-Sea Monitoring (ASM) observer
assigned to the trip through the Pre-Trip
Notification System (PTNS). In the
event of a waiver, the applicant must
secure data collection services from a
third party ASM provider, at the vessel’s
expense. All observers would record
lengths of kept and discarded fish, gear
characteristics, and fishing location.
Undersized fish would be sampled and
returned to the water as quickly as
possible. All legal-sized Northeast
multispecies would be landed, and all
catch would be attributed to the vessel’s
sector annual catch entitlement in
accordance with standard catch
accounting procedures. All proceeds
from the sale of catch would be retained
by the vessel. The applicant would
maintain a record of all ex-vessel price
information to inform the questions
about the ability this gear to establish a
premium market for the target species.
If approved, the applicant may
request minor modifications and
extensions to the EFP throughout the
year. EFP modifications and extensions
may be granted without further notice if
they are deemed essential to facilitate
completion of the proposed research
and have minimal impacts that do not
change the scope or impact of the
initially approved EFP request. Any
fishing activity conducted outside the
scope of the exempted fishing activity
would be prohibited.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
E:\FR\FM\16MYN1.SGM
16MYN1
22516
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 93 / Tuesday, May 16, 2017 / Notices
Dated: May 11, 2017.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–09879 Filed 5–15–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XF350
Marine Mammals; File No. 21045
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of applications.
AGENCY:
Notice is hereby given that
the Matson Laboratory [Carolyn Nistler,
Responsible Party], 135 Wooden Shoe
Lane, Manhattan, MT 59741, has
applied in due form for a permit to
import, export, and receive marine
mammal parts for scientific research.
DATES: Written, telefaxed, or email
comments must be received on or before
June 15, 2017.
ADDRESSES: The applications 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. 21045 from the list of
available applications.
These documents are also available
upon written request or by appointment
in the 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.
Written comments on either of these
applications should be submitted to the
Chief, Permits and Conservation
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. 21045 in the
subject line of the email comment.
Those individuals requesting a public
hearing should submit a written request
to the Chief, Permits and Conservation
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:
Shasta McClenahan or Jennifer
Skidmore, (301) 427–8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
subject permit is requested under the
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:42 May 15, 2017
Jkt 241001
authority of the Marine Mammal
Protection Act of 1972, as amended
(MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the
regulations governing the taking and
importing of marine mammals (50 CFR
part 216), the Endangered Species Act of
1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531
et seq.), the regulations governing the
taking, importing, and exporting of
endangered and threatened species (50
CFR 222–226), and the Fur Seal Act of
1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151 et
seq.).
The applicant proposes to receive,
import, and export teeth from pinnipeds
to perform age analysis. Teeth may be
received 500 individual harbor seals
(Phoca vitulina), 1,000 individuals of
each species of bearded (Erignathus
barbatus) or spotted (P. largha) seals,
2,000 ringed seals (P. hispida) and up to
500 additional pinnipeds of any other
species, excluding walrus, annually.
The requested duration of the permit is
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
activities proposed are 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
applications to the Marine Mammal
Commission and its Committee of
Scientific Advisors.
Dated: May 11, 2017.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division,
Office of Protected Resources, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–09849 Filed 5–15–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XF394
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) is
scheduling a public meeting of its
Scallop Committee to consider actions
affecting New England fisheries in the
exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00040
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Recommendations from this group will
be brought to the full Council for formal
consideration and action, if appropriate.
DATES: This meeting will be held on
Thursday, June 1, 2017 at 9:30 a.m.
ADDRESSES: Meeting address: The
meeting will be held at the Courtyard by
Marriott Boston Logan Airport, 225
William McClennan Highway, Boston,
MA 02128; phone: (617) 569–5250.
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:
Agenda
The Scallop Committee will review
the general workload for 2017 based on
Council priorities and a draft action
plan for Scallop Framework 29 (FW29)
and potentially identify
recommendations for prioritizing work
items in upcoming actions. They will
also review progress on potential
management measures that may be
included in FW29, including: (1)
Flatfish accountability measures; (2)
Modifications to the management of the
Northern Gulf of Maine area; (3)
Measures to modify scallop access areas
consistent with potential changes to
habitat and groundfish mortality closed
areas. The committee will also discuss
the establishment of a control date that
may limit the ability of Limited Access
General Category (LAGC) permit holders
to move between permit categories.
They will provide research
recommendations for the 2018/19
Scallop Research Set-Aside (RSA)
federal funding announcement. Other
business may be discussed as necessary.
Although non-emergency issues not
contained in this agenda may come
before this group for discussion, those
issues may not be the subject of formal
action during this meeting. Action will
be restricted to those issues specifically
listed in this notice and any issues
arising after publication of this notice
that require emergency action under
section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens
Act, provided the public has been
notified of the Council’s intent to take
final action to address the emergency.
Special Accommodations
This meeting is physically accessible
to people with disabilities. Requests for
sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed to
Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, at
(978) 465–0492, at least 5 days prior to
the meeting date. Consistent with 16
E:\FR\FM\16MYN1.SGM
16MYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 93 (Tuesday, May 16, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22515-22516]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-09879]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XF415
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic
Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable
Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary
determination that these Exempted Fishing Permit applications contain
all of the required information and warrant further consideration.
These Exempted Fishing Permits would authorize three commercial fishing
vessels to conduct independent projects testing the economic viability
of using hook gear to selectively target healthy pollock and haddock
stocks in the Western Gulf of Maine and Cashes Ledge Closure Areas
(excluding Cashes Ledge Habitat Closed Area), and to temporarily retain
undersized catch for measurement and data collection.
Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act require publication of this notification to provide
interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for
proposed Exempted Fishing Permits.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 31, 2017.
ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by any of the following
methods:
Email: NMFS.GAR.EFP@noaa.gov. Include in the subject line
``Comments on Hook Gear Access to WGOM and Cashes Ledge Closure Areas
EFP.''
Mail: John K. Bullard, Regional Administrator, NMFS, NE
Regional Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark
the outside of the envelope ``Comments on Hook Gear in WGOM and Cashes
Ledge EFP.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Claire Fitz-Gerald, Fishery Management
Specialist, 978-281-9255, claire.fitz-gerald@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Three commercial fishermen submitted
separate and complete applications requesting an Exempted Fishing
Permit (EFP) to conduct commercial fishing activities that the
regulations would otherwise restrict. In total, these EFPs would
authorize three commercial fishing vessels to fish a combined total of
200 trips in the Western Gulf of Maine (WGOM) and Cashes Ledge Closure
Areas (excluding the Cashes Ledge Habitat Closed Area) with hook gear
and to temporarily retain undersized catch for measurement and data
collection.
This EFP would authorize the applicants to use hook gear to
selectively target pollock and haddock while maintaining minimal
bycatch. In addition, the applicants propose to leverage these
exemptions to explore and develop premium markets to increase the value
of the catch. This study would be conducted in the WGOM and Cashes
Ledge Closure Areas (excluding habitat closed areas); the applicants
have requested access to these areas based on reports that there is a
high concentration of the target species located in these areas. The
exemptions are necessary to conduct this study because vessels on
commercial groundfish trips are prohibited from fishing for groundfish
in these closed areas and from retaining undersized groundfish. EFP
trips would occur year-round (excluding seasonal closures), although
the majority of trips would occur in the summer and fall months.
Participating vessels would take a combined total of 200 trips to
closed areas. Trips would be roughly 24 hours or less in length.
Estimated average catch would be between 1,000 and 2,000 lb (453.5 to
907.2 kg) of pollock and haddock, combined, per trip. Bycatch is
expected to be minimal; applicants estimate 50 to 100 lb (22.7 to 45.4
kg) of cod and 10 to 25 lb (4.5 to 11.3 kg) of redfish and cusk per
trip. Participating vessels would use a combination of automated
jigging machines and handlines to target pollock and haddock; one
vessel would use two jigging machines and three rods; another would use
four rods only; the final vessel would use three jigging machines only.
Because these vessels would be fishing in closed areas, the agency
would monitor their catch closely to ensure minimal interactions with
Gulf of Maine cod. Cod catch would be restricted to 5 percent of the
total expected catch, to be applied cumulatively across each project.
In the event that an applicant exceeds the vessel's cap, that EFP
authorization would end. One-hundred-percent monitoring would be
required for this EFP. A vessel may carry a Northeast Fishery Observer
Program (NEFOP) or At-Sea Monitoring (ASM) observer assigned to the
trip through the Pre-Trip Notification System (PTNS). In the event of a
waiver, the applicant must secure data collection services from a third
party ASM provider, at the vessel's expense. All observers would record
lengths of kept and discarded fish, gear characteristics, and fishing
location. Undersized fish would be sampled and returned to the water as
quickly as possible. All legal-sized Northeast multispecies would be
landed, and all catch would be attributed to the vessel's sector annual
catch entitlement in accordance with standard catch accounting
procedures. All proceeds from the sale of catch would be retained by
the vessel. The applicant would maintain a record of all ex-vessel
price information to inform the questions about the ability this gear
to establish a premium market for the target species.
If approved, the applicant may request minor modifications and
extensions to the EFP throughout the year. EFP modifications and
extensions may be granted without further notice if they are deemed
essential to facilitate completion of the proposed research and have
minimal impacts that do not change the scope or impact of the initially
approved EFP request. Any fishing activity conducted outside the scope
of the exempted fishing activity would be prohibited.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
[[Page 22516]]
Dated: May 11, 2017.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-09879 Filed 5-15-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
