Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Exempted Fishing, Scientific Research, Display, and Shark Research Fishery; Letters of Acknowledgment, 49596-49598 [2017-23312]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
ethrower on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
49596
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 206 / Thursday, October 26, 2017 / Notices
exceptional circumstances exist. It is
imperative that the Judges Panel will
meet on Sunday, November 5, 2017
through Thursday, November 9, 2017,
from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Eastern
Time each day to accommodate the
scheduling priorities of the key
participants, who must maintain a strict
schedule to review recommendations
from site visits, and recommend 2017
Malcolm Baldrige National Quality
Award recipients. The Judges Panel is
composed of twelve members,
appointed by the Secretary of
Commerce, with balanced
representation from U.S. service,
manufacturing, nonprofit, education,
and health care industries. Members are
selected for their familiarity with
quality improvement operations and
competitiveness issues of manufacturing
companies, service companies, small
businesses, health care providers, and
educational institutions. Members are
also chosen who have broad experience
in for-profit and nonprofit areas. The
purpose of this meeting is to review
recommendations from site visits and
recommend 2017 Malcolm Baldrige
National Quality Award (Award)
recipients. The meeting is closed to the
public in order to protect the
proprietary data to be examined and
discussed at the meeting.
The Chief Financial Officer and
Assistant Secretary for Administration,
with the concurrence of the Assistant
General Counsel for Administration and
Transactions, formally determined on
March 21, 2017, pursuant to Section
10(d) of the Federal Advisory
Committee Act, in accordance with
Section 5(c) of the Government in
Sunshine Act, Public Law 94–409, that
the meeting of the Judges Panel may be
closed to the public in accordance with
5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(4), because the meeting
is likely to disclose trade secrets and
commercial or financial information
obtained from a person which is
privileged or confidential; and 5 U.S.C.
552b(c)(9)(B) because the meeting is
likely to disclose information the
premature disclosure of which would,
in the case of any agency, be likely to
significantly frustrate implementation of
a proposed agency action. The meeting,
which involves examination of current
Award applicant data from U.S.
organizations and a discussion of these
data as compared to the Award criteria
in order to recommend Award
recipients, will be closed to the public.
Kevin Kimball,
NIST Chief of Staff.
[FR Doc. 2017–23273 Filed 10–25–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–13–P
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:29 Oct 25, 2017
Jkt 244001
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XF750
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species;
Exempted Fishing, Scientific Research,
Display, and Shark Research Fishery;
Letters of Acknowledgment
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of intent; request for
comments.
AGENCY:
NMFS announces its intent to
issue exempted fishing permits (EFPs),
scientific research permits (SRPs),
display permits, letters of
acknowledgment (LOAs), and shark
research fishery permits for Atlantic
highly migratory species (HMS) in 2018.
EFPs and related permits would
authorize collection of a limited number
of tunas, swordfish, billfishes, and
sharks (collectively known as HMS)
from Federal waters in the Atlantic
Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of
Mexico for the purposes of scientific
data collection, bycatch research, public
display, and to evaluate the efficacy of
environmental clean-up efforts, among
other things. Letters of
acknowledgement acknowledge that
scientific research activity aboard a
scientific research vessel is being
conducted. Generally, EFPs and related
permits would be valid from the date of
issuance through December 31, 2018,
unless otherwise specified, subject to
the terms and conditions of individual
permits.
DATES: Written comments on these
activities received in response to this
notice will be considered by NMFS
when issuing EFPs and related permits
and must be received on or before
November 27, 2017.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be
submitted by any of the following
methods:
• Email: nmfs.hms.efp2018@
noaa.gov. Include in the subject line the
following identifier: 0648–XF750
• Mail: Craig Cockrell, Highly
Migratory Species Management Division
(F/SF1), NMFS, 1315 East-West
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Craig Cockrell, phone: (301) 427–8503
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Issuance
of EFPs and related permits are
necessary because HMS regulations
(e.g., fishing seasons, prohibited species,
authorized gear, closed areas, and
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
minimum sizes) may otherwise prohibit
the collection of live animals and/or
biological samples for data collection
and public display purposes or may
otherwise prohibit certain fishing
activity. Pursuant to 50 CFR 600 and
635, a NMFS Regional Administrator or
Director may authorize, for limited
testing, public display, data collection,
exploratory fishing, compensation
fishing, conservation engineering,
health and safety surveys,
environmental cleanup, and/or hazard
removal purposes, the target or
incidental harvest of species managed
under an FMP or fishery regulations that
would otherwise be prohibited. These
permits exempt permit holders from the
specific portions of the regulations (e.g.,
fishing seasons, prohibited species,
authorized gear, closed areas, and
minimum sizes) that may otherwise
prohibit the collection of HMS for
public education, public display, or
scientific research. Permit holders are
not exempted from the regulations in
entirety. Collection of HMS under EFPs,
SRPs, LOAs, display, and shark research
fishery permits represents a small
portion of the overall fishing mortality
for HMS, and this mortality is counted
against the quota of the species
harvested, as appropriate and
applicable. The terms and conditions of
individual permits are unique; however,
all permits will include reporting
requirements, limit the number and/or
species of HMS to be collected, and only
authorize collection in Federal waters of
the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and
Caribbean Sea.
EFPs and related permits are issued
under the authority of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Reauthorization Act
(Magnuson-Stevens Act) (16 U.S.C. 1801
et seq.) and/or the Atlantic Tunas
Convention Act (ATCA) (16 U.S.C. 971
et seq.). Regulations at 50 CFR 600.745
and 635.32 govern scientific research
activity, exempted fishing, and
exempted public display and
educational activities with respect to
Atlantic HMS. Before issuing LOAs,
EFPs, or SRPs, NMFS requests, among
other things, copies of scientific
research plans. Because the MagnusonStevens Act states that scientific
research activity which is conducted on
a scientific research vessel is not
fishing, NMFS issues LOAs and not
EFPs for bona fide research activities
(e.g., scientific research being conducted
from a research vessel and not a
commercial or recreational fishing
vessel) involving species that are only
regulated under the Magnuson-Stevens
Act (e.g., most species of sharks) and not
E:\FR\FM\26OCN1.SGM
26OCN1
ethrower on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 206 / Thursday, October 26, 2017 / Notices
under ATCA. NMFS generally does not
consider recreational or commercial
vessels to be bona fide research vessels.
However, if the vessels have been
contracted only to conduct research and
not participate in any commercial or
recreational fishing activities during
that research, NMFS may consider those
vessels as bona fide research platforms
while conducting the specified research.
For example, in the past, NMFS has
determined that commercial pelagic
longline vessels assisting with
population surveys for sharks may be
considered ‘‘bona fide research vessels’’
while engaged only in the specified
research. NMFS acknowledges that the
proposed activity meets the definition of
scientific research under the MagnusonStevens Act and not ATCA by issuing
an LOA to researchers. Examples of
research conducted under LOAs include
tagging and releasing of sharks during
bottom longline surveys to understand
the distribution and seasonal abundance
of different shark species, and collecting
and sampling sharks caught during
trawl surveys for life history and
bycatch studies.
While scientific research is exempt
under MSA, scientific research is not
exempt from regulation under ATCA.
Therefore, NMFS issues SRPs that
authorize researchers to collect HMS
from bona fide research vessels for
collection of species managed under
this statute (e.g., tunas, swordfish,
billfish, and some species of sharks).
One example of research conducted
under SRPs consists of scientific
surveys of HMS conducted from NOAA
research vessels.
EFPs are issued to researchers
collecting ATCA and Magnuson-Stevens
Act-managed species while conducting
research from commercial or
recreational fishing vessels. Examples of
research conducted under EFPs include
collection of young-of-the-year bluefin
tuna for genetic research; conducting
billfish larval tows from private vessels
to determine billfish habitat use, life
history, and population structure;
determining catch rates and gear
characteristics of the swordfish buoy
gear fishery and the green-stick tuna
fishery; and tagging sharks caught on
commercial or recreational fishing gear
to determining post-release mortality
rates.
NMFS is also seeking public comment
on its intent to issue display permits for
the collection of sharks and other HMS
for public display in 2017. Collection of
sharks and other HMS sought for public
display in aquaria often involves
collection when the commercial fishing
seasons are closed, collection of
otherwise prohibited species (e.g., sand
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:29 Oct 25, 2017
Jkt 244001
tiger sharks), and collection of fish
below the regulatory minimum size.
Under Amendment 2 to the 2006
Consolidated Atlantic HMS Fishery
Management Plan, NMFS determined
that dusky sharks cannot be collected
for public display.
The majority of EFPs and related
permits described in this annual notice
relate to scientific sampling and tagging
of Atlantic HMS within existing quotas
and the impacts of the activities have
been previously analyzed in various
environmental assessments and
environmental impact statements for
Atlantic HMS. NMFS intends to issue
these permits without additional
opportunity for public comment beyond
what is provided in this notice.
Occasionally, NMFS receives
applications for research activities that
were not anticipated, or for research that
is outside the scope of general scientific
sampling and tagging of Atlantic HMS,
or rarely, for research that is particularly
controversial. Should NMFS receive
such applications, NMFS will provide
additional opportunity for public
comment, consistent with the
regulations at 50 CFR part 600.745.
During the comment period for the
November 2016 notice of intent to issue
EFPs (81 FR 80646), NMFS received
numerous comments regarding previous
years’ white shark research in Federal
waters, focusing primarily on concerns
about the need for coordination among
researchers regarding the potential
effects of one project on another. The
volume of these comments indicated
that any EFPs or SRP applications
involving white sharks in 2017 should
be considered ‘‘controversial’’ and
warranted additional opportunity for
public comment. Subsequently, NMFS
published a notice in the Federal
Register (March 1, 2017, 82 FR 12340)
requesting public comment on
applications for exempted fishing
permits and related permits for white
shark research, particularly on two
applications involving white shark
research that had been received at that
time.
During the comment period, NMFS
received 722 comments related to white
shark research and the applications
described in the notice. The majority of
the comments were in support of
continuing white shark research. Other
comments that were received
commented on a range of issues related
to white shark research including
concern regarding the proper handling
of white sharks and the type of gear
being used for research and concern
regarding tagging operations on charter
and private vessels due to long fight
times on light tackle rods and reels.
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
49597
Some of the comments also stated that
NMFS should approve EFP applications
for white shark research on a case-bycase basis or that NMFS should stop
issuing EFPs or related permits for
research on sharks. After reviewing
these comments, NMFS decided to issue
EFPs and related permits for white
shark research as appropriate in 2017.
During 2018, NMFS anticipates permits
for white shark research would be
undertaken with substantially the same
terms and conditions and scope as last
year, with no additional anticipated
effects. Comments are invited
specifically on these issues related to
issuance of white shark permits this
year.
In addition, Amendment 2 to the 2006
Consolidated HMS Fishery Management
Plan (FMP) implemented a shark
research fishery. This research fishery is
conducted under the auspices of the
exempted fishing permit program. Shark
research fishery permit holders assist
NMFS in collecting valuable shark life
history and other scientific data
required in shark stock assessments.
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; the evaluation of the utility
of the mid-Atlantic closed area on the
recovery of dusky sharks; and the
collection of hook-timer and pop-up
satellite archival tag information to
determine at-vessel and post-release
mortality of dusky sharks. Fishermen
who wish to participate must fill out an
application for a shark research permit
under the exempted fishing program.
Shark research fishery participants are
subject to 100-percent observer
coverage. All non-prohibited shark
species brought back to the vessel dead
must be retained and will count against
the appropriate quotas of the shark
research fishery participant. During the
2017 shark research fishery, all
participants were limited to a very small
number of dusky shark mortalities on a
regional basis. Once the number of
mortalities occurs in a specific region all
shark research fishery activities must
stop within that region. Also,
participants are limited to two sets per
trip with, one set limited to 150 hooks
and the second set limited to 300 hooks.
E:\FR\FM\26OCN1.SGM
26OCN1
49598
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 206 / Thursday, October 26, 2017 / Notices
All participants are also limited to a
maximum of 500 hooks onboard the
vessel with on a shark research fishery
trip. A Federal Register notice
describing the specific objectives for the
shark research fishery in 2018 and
requesting applications from interested
and eligible shark fishermen is expected
to publish in the near future. NMFS
requests public comment regarding
NMFS’ intent to issue shark research
fishery permits in 2018 during the
comment period of this notice.
The authorized number of species for
2017, as well as the number of
specimens collected in 2016, is
summarized in Table 1. The number of
specimens collected in 2017 will be
available when all 2017 interim and
annual reports are submitted to NMFS.
In 2016, the number of specimens
collected was less than the number of
authorized specimens for all permit
types, other than SRPs issued for shark
research.
In all cases, mortality associated with
an EFPs, SRPs, or display permits
(except for larvae) is counted against the
appropriate quota. NMFS issued a total
of 39 EFPs, SRPs, display permits, and
LOAs in 2016 for the collection of HMS
and a total of 5 shark research fishery
permits. As of October 3, 2017, NMFS
has issued a total of 33 EFPs, SRPs,
display permits, and LOAs and a total
of 5 shark research fishery permits.
TABLE 1—SUMMARY OF HMS EXEMPTED FISHING PERMITS ISSUED IN 2016 AND 2017, OTHER THAN SHARK RESEARCH
FISHERY PERMITS
[‘‘HMS’’ refers to multiple species being collected under a given permit type.]
2016
Permit type
Permits
issued**
2017
Authorized
larvae
(num)
Authorized fish
(num)
Fish kept/discarded dead
(num)
Larvae kept
(num)
Permits
issued**
Authorized fish
(Num)**
EFP
HMS ......................
Shark .....................
Tuna ......................
SRP
HMS ......................
Shark .....................
Tuna ......................
Display
HMS ......................
Shark .....................
4
12
4
247
721
530
0
0
0
17
85
0
0
0
0
4
4
2
357
57
350
1
5
1
42
1,165
60
0
0
0
0
310
0
0
0
0
3
1
0
260
720
0
0
3
0
109
0
0
0
26
0
0
2
5
88
109
Total ...............
LOA*
Shark .....................
30
2,874
0
0
21
1,941
9
2,906
0
0
12
2,275
618
ethrower on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
*LOAs are issued for bona fide scientific research activities involving non-ATCA managed species (e.g., most species of sharks). Collections
made under an LOA are not authorized; rather this estimated harvest for research is acknowledged by NMFS. Permittees are encouraged to report all fishing activities in a timely manner.
**Atlantic HMS larvae were authorized for collection but no limit on the number of larvae were set.
Final decisions on the issuance of any
EFPs, SRPs, display permits, and shark
research fishery permits will depend on
the submission of all required
information about the proposed
activities, NMFS’ review of public
comments received on this notice, an
applicant’s reporting history on past
permits, if vessels or applicants were
issued any prior violations of marine
resource laws administered by NOAA,
consistency with relevant NEPA
documents, and any consultations with
appropriate Regional Fishery
Management Councils, states, or Federal
agencies. NMFS does not anticipate any
significant environmental impacts from
the issuance of these EFPs as assessed
in the 1999 FMP, the 2006 Consolidated
HMS FMP and its amendments, the
Environmental Assessment for the 2012
Swordfish Specifications, and the
Environmental Assessment for the 2015
Final Bluefin Tuna Quota and Atlantic
Tuna Fisheries Management Measures.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:29 Oct 25, 2017
Jkt 244001
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and 16
U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
DATES:
Dated: October 23, 2017.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
[FR Doc. 2017–23312 Filed 10–25–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Air Force
Names of Members of the Performance
Review Board for the Department of
the Air Force
AGENCY:
Department of the Air Force,
DOD.
ACTION:
Notice.
Notice is given of the names
of members of the 2017 Performance
Review Board for the Department of the
Air Force.
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
These appointments are effective
as of November 13, 2017.
Pursuant
to 5 U.S.C. 4314(c) (1–5), the
Department of the Air Force (AF)
announces the appointment of members
to the AF’s Senior Executive Service
(SES) Performance Review Board (PRB).
Appointments are made by the
authorizing official. Each board member
shall review and evaluate performance
scores provided by the SES’ immediate
supervisor. Performance standards must
be applied consistently across the AF.
The board will make final
recommendations to the authorizing
official relative to the performance of
the executive.
The members of the 2017 Performance
Review Board for the Air Force are:
1. Board President—Gen Ellen M.
Pawlikowski, Commander, Air
Force Material Command
2. Honorable Matthew P. Donovan,
Under Secretary of the Air Force
E:\FR\FM\26OCN1.SGM
26OCN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 206 (Thursday, October 26, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49596-49598]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-23312]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XF750
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Exempted Fishing, Scientific
Research, Display, and Shark Research Fishery; Letters of
Acknowledgment
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of intent; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS announces its intent to issue exempted fishing permits
(EFPs), scientific research permits (SRPs), display permits, letters of
acknowledgment (LOAs), and shark research fishery permits for Atlantic
highly migratory species (HMS) in 2018. EFPs and related permits would
authorize collection of a limited number of tunas, swordfish,
billfishes, and sharks (collectively known as HMS) from Federal waters
in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico for the
purposes of scientific data collection, bycatch research, public
display, and to evaluate the efficacy of environmental clean-up
efforts, among other things. Letters of acknowledgement acknowledge
that scientific research activity aboard a scientific research vessel
is being conducted. Generally, EFPs and related permits would be valid
from the date of issuance through December 31, 2018, unless otherwise
specified, subject to the terms and conditions of individual permits.
DATES: Written comments on these activities received in response to
this notice will be considered by NMFS when issuing EFPs and related
permits and must be received on or before November 27, 2017.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:
Email: [email protected]. Include in the subject
line the following identifier: 0648-XF750
Mail: Craig Cockrell, Highly Migratory Species Management
Division (F/SF1), NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD
20910.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Craig Cockrell, phone: (301) 427-8503
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Issuance of EFPs and related permits are
necessary because HMS regulations (e.g., fishing seasons, prohibited
species, authorized gear, closed areas, and minimum sizes) may
otherwise prohibit the collection of live animals and/or biological
samples for data collection and public display purposes or may
otherwise prohibit certain fishing activity. Pursuant to 50 CFR 600 and
635, a NMFS Regional Administrator or Director may authorize, for
limited testing, public display, data collection, exploratory fishing,
compensation fishing, conservation engineering, health and safety
surveys, environmental cleanup, and/or hazard removal purposes, the
target or incidental harvest of species managed under an FMP or fishery
regulations that would otherwise be prohibited. These permits exempt
permit holders from the specific portions of the regulations (e.g.,
fishing seasons, prohibited species, authorized gear, closed areas, and
minimum sizes) that may otherwise prohibit the collection of HMS for
public education, public display, or scientific research. Permit
holders are not exempted from the regulations in entirety. Collection
of HMS under EFPs, SRPs, LOAs, display, and shark research fishery
permits represents a small portion of the overall fishing mortality for
HMS, and this mortality is counted against the quota of the species
harvested, as appropriate and applicable. The terms and conditions of
individual permits are unique; however, all permits will include
reporting requirements, limit the number and/or species of HMS to be
collected, and only authorize collection in Federal waters of the
Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea.
EFPs and related permits are issued under the authority of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization
Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) and/or the Atlantic
Tunas Convention Act (ATCA) (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.). Regulations at 50
CFR 600.745 and 635.32 govern scientific research activity, exempted
fishing, and exempted public display and educational activities with
respect to Atlantic HMS. Before issuing LOAs, EFPs, or SRPs, NMFS
requests, among other things, copies of scientific research plans.
Because the Magnuson-Stevens Act states that scientific research
activity which is conducted on a scientific research vessel is not
fishing, NMFS issues LOAs and not EFPs for bona fide research
activities (e.g., scientific research being conducted from a research
vessel and not a commercial or recreational fishing vessel) involving
species that are only regulated under the Magnuson-Stevens Act (e.g.,
most species of sharks) and not
[[Page 49597]]
under ATCA. NMFS generally does not consider recreational or commercial
vessels to be bona fide research vessels. However, if the vessels have
been contracted only to conduct research and not participate in any
commercial or recreational fishing activities during that research,
NMFS may consider those vessels as bona fide research platforms while
conducting the specified research. For example, in the past, NMFS has
determined that commercial pelagic longline vessels assisting with
population surveys for sharks may be considered ``bona fide research
vessels'' while engaged only in the specified research. NMFS
acknowledges that the proposed activity meets the definition of
scientific research under the Magnuson-Stevens Act and not ATCA by
issuing an LOA to researchers. Examples of research conducted under
LOAs include tagging and releasing of sharks during bottom longline
surveys to understand the distribution and seasonal abundance of
different shark species, and collecting and sampling sharks caught
during trawl surveys for life history and bycatch studies.
While scientific research is exempt under MSA, scientific research
is not exempt from regulation under ATCA. Therefore, NMFS issues SRPs
that authorize researchers to collect HMS from bona fide research
vessels for collection of species managed under this statute (e.g.,
tunas, swordfish, billfish, and some species of sharks). One example of
research conducted under SRPs consists of scientific surveys of HMS
conducted from NOAA research vessels.
EFPs are issued to researchers collecting ATCA and Magnuson-Stevens
Act-managed species while conducting research from commercial or
recreational fishing vessels. Examples of research conducted under EFPs
include collection of young-of-the-year bluefin tuna for genetic
research; conducting billfish larval tows from private vessels to
determine billfish habitat use, life history, and population structure;
determining catch rates and gear characteristics of the swordfish buoy
gear fishery and the green-stick tuna fishery; and tagging sharks
caught on commercial or recreational fishing gear to determining post-
release mortality rates.
NMFS is also seeking public comment on its intent to issue display
permits for the collection of sharks and other HMS for public display
in 2017. Collection of sharks and other HMS sought for public display
in aquaria often involves collection when the commercial fishing
seasons are closed, collection of otherwise prohibited species (e.g.,
sand tiger sharks), and collection of fish below the regulatory minimum
size. Under Amendment 2 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic HMS Fishery
Management Plan, NMFS determined that dusky sharks cannot be collected
for public display.
The majority of EFPs and related permits described in this annual
notice relate to scientific sampling and tagging of Atlantic HMS within
existing quotas and the impacts of the activities have been previously
analyzed in various environmental assessments and environmental impact
statements for Atlantic HMS. NMFS intends to issue these permits
without additional opportunity for public comment beyond what is
provided in this notice. Occasionally, NMFS receives applications for
research activities that were not anticipated, or for research that is
outside the scope of general scientific sampling and tagging of
Atlantic HMS, or rarely, for research that is particularly
controversial. Should NMFS receive such applications, NMFS will provide
additional opportunity for public comment, consistent with the
regulations at 50 CFR part 600.745.
During the comment period for the November 2016 notice of intent to
issue EFPs (81 FR 80646), NMFS received numerous comments regarding
previous years' white shark research in Federal waters, focusing
primarily on concerns about the need for coordination among researchers
regarding the potential effects of one project on another. The volume
of these comments indicated that any EFPs or SRP applications involving
white sharks in 2017 should be considered ``controversial'' and
warranted additional opportunity for public comment. Subsequently, NMFS
published a notice in the Federal Register (March 1, 2017, 82 FR 12340)
requesting public comment on applications for exempted fishing permits
and related permits for white shark research, particularly on two
applications involving white shark research that had been received at
that time.
During the comment period, NMFS received 722 comments related to
white shark research and the applications described in the notice. The
majority of the comments were in support of continuing white shark
research. Other comments that were received commented on a range of
issues related to white shark research including concern regarding the
proper handling of white sharks and the type of gear being used for
research and concern regarding tagging operations on charter and
private vessels due to long fight times on light tackle rods and reels.
Some of the comments also stated that NMFS should approve EFP
applications for white shark research on a case-by-case basis or that
NMFS should stop issuing EFPs or related permits for research on
sharks. After reviewing these comments, NMFS decided to issue EFPs and
related permits for white shark research as appropriate in 2017. During
2018, NMFS anticipates permits for white shark research would be
undertaken with substantially the same terms and conditions and scope
as last year, with no additional anticipated effects. Comments are
invited specifically on these issues related to issuance of white shark
permits this year.
In addition, Amendment 2 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS Fishery
Management Plan (FMP) implemented a shark research fishery. This
research fishery is conducted under the auspices of the exempted
fishing permit program. Shark research fishery permit holders assist
NMFS in collecting valuable shark life history and other scientific
data required in shark stock assessments. 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; the
evaluation of the utility of the mid-Atlantic closed area on the
recovery of dusky sharks; and the collection of hook-timer and pop-up
satellite archival tag information to determine at-vessel and post-
release mortality of dusky sharks. Fishermen who wish to participate
must fill out an application for a shark research permit under the
exempted fishing program. Shark research fishery participants are
subject to 100-percent observer coverage. All non-prohibited shark
species brought back to the vessel dead must be retained and will count
against the appropriate quotas of the shark research fishery
participant. During the 2017 shark research fishery, all participants
were limited to a very small number of dusky shark mortalities on a
regional basis. Once the number of mortalities occurs in a specific
region all shark research fishery activities must stop within that
region. Also, participants are limited to two sets per trip with, one
set limited to 150 hooks and the second set limited to 300 hooks.
[[Page 49598]]
All participants are also limited to a maximum of 500 hooks onboard the
vessel with on a shark research fishery trip. A Federal Register notice
describing the specific objectives for the shark research fishery in
2018 and requesting applications from interested and eligible shark
fishermen is expected to publish in the near future. NMFS requests
public comment regarding NMFS' intent to issue shark research fishery
permits in 2018 during the comment period of this notice.
The authorized number of species for 2017, as well as the number of
specimens collected in 2016, is summarized in Table 1. The number of
specimens collected in 2017 will be available when all 2017 interim and
annual reports are submitted to NMFS. In 2016, the number of specimens
collected was less than the number of authorized specimens for all
permit types, other than SRPs issued for shark research.
In all cases, mortality associated with an EFPs, SRPs, or display
permits (except for larvae) is counted against the appropriate quota.
NMFS issued a total of 39 EFPs, SRPs, display permits, and LOAs in 2016
for the collection of HMS and a total of 5 shark research fishery
permits. As of October 3, 2017, NMFS has issued a total of 33 EFPs,
SRPs, display permits, and LOAs and a total of 5 shark research fishery
permits.
Table 1--Summary of HMS Exempted Fishing Permits Issued in 2016 and 2017, Other Than Shark Research Fishery Permits
[``HMS'' refers to multiple species being collected under a given permit type.]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2016 2017
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Permit type Fish kept/
Permits Authorized Authorized discarded dead Larvae kept Permits Authorized
issued** fish (num) larvae (num) (num) (num) issued** fish (Num)**
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EFP
HMS................................. 4 247 0 17 0 4 357
Shark............................... 12 721 0 85 0 4 57
Tuna................................ 4 530 0 0 0 2 350
SRP
HMS................................. 1 42 0 0 0 3 260
Shark............................... 5 1,165 0 310 0 1 720
Tuna................................ 1 60 0 0 0 0 0
Display
HMS................................. 0 0 0 0 0 2 88
Shark............................... 3 109 0 26 0 5 109
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total........................... 30 2,874 0 .............. 0 21 1,941
LOA*
Shark............................... 9 2,906 0 618 0 12 2,275
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*LOAs are issued for bona fide scientific research activities involving non-ATCA managed species (e.g., most species of sharks). Collections made under
an LOA are not authorized; rather this estimated harvest for research is acknowledged by NMFS. Permittees are encouraged to report all fishing
activities in a timely manner.
**Atlantic HMS larvae were authorized for collection but no limit on the number of larvae were set.
Final decisions on the issuance of any EFPs, SRPs, display permits,
and shark research fishery permits will depend on the submission of all
required information about the proposed activities, NMFS' review of
public comments received on this notice, an applicant's reporting
history on past permits, if vessels or applicants were issued any prior
violations of marine resource laws administered by NOAA, consistency
with relevant NEPA documents, and any consultations with appropriate
Regional Fishery Management Councils, states, or Federal agencies. NMFS
does not anticipate any significant environmental impacts from the
issuance of these EFPs as assessed in the 1999 FMP, the 2006
Consolidated HMS FMP and its amendments, the Environmental Assessment
for the 2012 Swordfish Specifications, and the Environmental Assessment
for the 2015 Final Bluefin Tuna Quota and Atlantic Tuna Fisheries
Management Measures.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: October 23, 2017.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-23312 Filed 10-25-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
