Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits, 17653-17655 [2018-08390]
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 78 / Monday, April 23, 2018 / Notices
number of participants, and a list of the
issues to be discussed. If a request for
a hearing is made, Commerce intends to
hold the hearing at the U.S. Department
of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue
NW, Washington, DC 20230, at a time
and date to be determined. Parties
should confirm by telephone the date,
time, and location of the hearing two
days before the scheduled date.
International Trade Commission
Notification
In accordance with section 703(f) of
the Act, Commerce will notify the
International Trade Commission (ITC) of
its determination. If the final
determination is affirmative, the ITC
will determine before the later of 120
days after the date of this preliminary
determination or 45 days after the final
determination.
Notification to Interested Parties
This determination is issued and
published pursuant to sections 703(f)
and 777(i) of the Act and 19 CFR
351.205(c).
Dated: April 16, 2018.
Gary Taverman,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping
and Countervailing Duty Operations,
performing the non-exclusive functions and
duties of the Assistant Secretary for
Enforcement and Compliance.
amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES
Appendix I
Scope of the Investigation
The merchandise covered by the
investigation is aluminum common alloy
sheet (common alloy sheet), which is a flatrolled aluminum product having a thickness
of 6.3 mm or less, but greater than 0.2 mm,
in coils or cut-to-length, regardless of width.
Common alloy sheet within the scope of the
investigation includes both not clad
aluminum sheet, as well as multi-alloy, clad
aluminum sheet. With respect to not clad
aluminum sheet, common alloy sheet is
manufactured from a 1XXX-, 3XXX-, or
5XXX-series alloy as designated by the
Aluminum Association. With respect to
multi-alloy, clad aluminum sheet, common
alloy sheet is produced from a 3XXX-series
core, to which cladding layers are applied to
either one or both sides of the core.
Common alloy sheet may be made to
ASTM specification B209–14, but can also be
made to other specifications. Regardless of
specification, however, all common alloy
sheet meeting the scope description is
included in the scope. Subject merchandise
includes common alloy sheet that has been
further processed in a third country,
including but not limited to annealing,
tempering, painting, varnishing, trimming,
cutting, punching, and/or slitting, or any
other processing that would not otherwise
remove the merchandise from the scope of
the investigation if performed in the country
of manufacture of the common alloy sheet.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:09 Apr 20, 2018
Jkt 244001
Excluded from the scope of the
investigation is aluminum can stock, which
is suitable for use in the manufacture of
aluminum beverage cans, lids of such cans,
or tabs used to open such cans. Aluminum
can stock is produced to gauges that range
from 0.200 mm to 0.292 mm, and has an H–
19, H–41, H–48, or H–391 temper. In
addition, aluminum can stock has a lubricant
applied to the flat surfaces of the can stock
to facilitate its movement through machines
used in the manufacture of beverage cans.
Aluminum can stock is properly classified
under Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the
United States (HTSUS) subheadings
7606.12.3045 and 7606.12.3055.
Where the nominal and actual
measurements vary, a product is within the
scope if application of either the nominal or
actual measurement would place it within
the scope based on the definitions set for the
above.
Common alloy sheet is currently
classifiable under HTSUS subheadings
7606.11.3060, 7606.11.6000, 7606.12.3090,
7606.12.6000, 7606.91.3090, 7606.91.6080,
7606.92.3090, and 7606.92.6080. Further,
merchandise that falls within the scope of
these investigation may also be entered into
the United States under HTSUS subheadings
7606.11.3030, 7606.12.3030, 7606.91.3060,
7606.91.6040, 7606.92.3060, 7606.92.6040,
7607.11.9090. Although the HTSUS
subheadings are provided for convenience
and customs purposes, the written
description of the scope of this investigation
is dispositive.
Appendix II
List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary
Decision Memorandum
I. Summary
II. Background
III. Scope Comments
IV. Scope of the Investigation
V. Injury Test
VI. Preliminary Determination of Critical
Circumstances
VII. Application of the CVD Law to Imports
From China
VIII. Subsidies Valuation
IX. Benchmarks and Interest Rates
X. Use of Facts Otherwise Available and
Adverse Inferences
XI. Analysis of Programs
XII. ITC Notification
XIII. Disclosure and Public Comment
XIV. Verification
XV. Conclusion
[FR Doc. 2018–08391 Filed 4–20–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
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17653
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XG165
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
an Exempted Fishing Permit application
contains all of the required information
and warrants further consideration. This
Exempted Fishing Permit would exempt
one commercial fishing vessel from the
Northeast multispecies minimum mesh
size and minimum fish size regulations
in support of gear research to target
healthy haddock and redfish stocks.
Regulations under the MagnusonStevens 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 8, 2018.
ADDRESSES: You may submit written
comments by any of the following
methods:
• Email: nmfs.gar.efp@noaa.gov.
Include in the subject line ‘‘GMRI Offbottom Trawl EFP.’’
• Mail: Michael Pentony, Regional
Administrator, NMFS, Greater Atlantic
Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great
Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930.
Mark the outside of the envelope ‘‘GMRI
Off-bottom Trawl EFP.’’
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Spencer Talmage, Fishery Management
Specialist, 978–281–9232.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gulf
of Maine Research Institute (GMRI)
submitted a complete application for an
Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) on
March 20, 2018, in support of a 2016
Saltonstall-Kennedy Program project
titled ‘‘Complementary testing of offbottom trawls to target Georges Bank
haddock.’’ The EFP would exempt one
fishing vessel from minimum mesh size
requirements at 50 CFR 648.80(a)(3)(ii)
and temporarily exempt the vessel from
minimum fish size requirements in 50
CFR part 648, subparts B and D through
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\23APN1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 78 / Monday, April 23, 2018 / Notices
O, for biological sampling purposes
only. An EFP for this project was issued
during the 2017 fishing year; however,
no activity was conducted under the
EFP.
The project would test the efficacy of
an off-bottom trawl fitted with a smallmesh codend to access healthy haddock
and redfish stocks while avoiding other
groundfish stocks. Additional project
objectives include the development of a
fuel-efficient trawl that also reduces
disruption to benthic habitat. One
vessel, the F/V Teresa Marie IV, would
conduct a three-phase research plan to
test the off-bottom trawl with two
different codends: A 4.5-inch (11.43-cm)
diamond mesh when targeting redfish;
and a 5.1-inch (12.954-cm) square mesh
when targeting haddock. The proposed
EFP trips for each phase of this project
are summarized in Table 1. The
proposed off-bottom trawl would
require an exemption from the
Northeast multispecies minimum mesh
size requirements because the codend
and extension mesh size would be less
than the minimum regulated mesh.
The 4.5-inch (11.43-cm) diamond
mesh codend was previously authorized
for use in the redfish exempted fishery,
through a regulatory exemption to
sectors, based on the results of previous
redfish selectivity research (REDNET).
This exemption has been modified a
number of times in order to balance the
conservation requirements, and
economic goals of the fishery. In fishing
year 2017, a 5.5-inch (14.0-cm) mesh
was authorized within the redfish
exemption area. During the REDNET
study, substantial catches of redfish
with low levels of incidental catch or
bycatch of regulated species were
observed when using a 4.5-inch (11.43cm) mesh codend. Under this EFP,
testing of the net outfitted with the 4.5inch (11.43-cm) mesh codend would
only occur in the Redfish Exemption
Area.
The square-mesh 5.1-inch (13.0-cm)
codend was selected based on the
Canadian haddock fishery, which uses a
5-inch (12.7-cm) square-mesh codend.
The Canadian Department of Fisheries
and Oceans has also conducted studies
on the selectivity of various mesh sizes.
This codend mesh size has been
approved for use in a previous EFP
issued to Atlantic Trawlers Fishing, Inc.
Only a small number of trips were taken
under that EFP, which limited the
ability to produce statistically reliable
results.
During Phase 1, the captain and crew
of the F/V Teresa Marie IV would
familiarize themselves with the
operation of the off-bottom trawl.
Testing would include how to deploy
the trawl to a desired operating depth,
maintain depth, adjust depth, and haul
back. Tow duration could be as short as
30 minutes or as long as 3 to 4 hours,
depending on the outcome of the gear
testing. A GMRI research technician
would be on board to conduct catch
sampling and collect data on the
performance of the net. Catch is likely
to be minimal in this phase; many tows
will be conducted in areas where
limited catch is expected, as the
purpose of this phase to optimize gear
performance, not demonstrate catch
composition. However, any legal-size
groundfish catch would be retained for
sale, consistent with the Northeast
Multispecies Fishery Management Plan
(FMP), and all catch would be attributed
against the applicable sector Annual
Catch Entitlement (ACE).
In Phase 2, the off-bottom trawl would
be evaluated during a 5-day controlled
study on-board the F/V Teresa Marie IV
conducted in August or September
2017. The off-bottom trawl would be
tested at two towing speeds (three and
four kts) while actively fishing in order
to represent normal working conditions.
Underwater cameras would be used to
film the off-bottom trawl in operation.
Catch would be retained for sale and
attributed against the applicable sector
ACE. Phase 3 would test the off-bottom
trawl using both codends under a wide
range of commercial conditions to
broadly characterize the fishing
performance of the net. Phase 3 would
include ten 8-day trips occurring from
August through December 2017. For
Phase 2 and 3, catch would be retained
for sale and attributed against the
applicable sector ACE.
TABLE 1—PROPOSED EFP TRIPS
Phase
Number of
trips
DAS
per trip
Location
(statistical areas)
Season
1 .....................
1
5
August/September ............................
2 .....................
1
5
August/September ............................
3 .....................
10
8
August–October ...............................
amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES
October–December ..........................
Catch from the F/V Teresa Marie IV
using a haddock separator trawl in
fishing year 2016 was used to estimate
anticipated catch using the off-bottom
trawl for this project. The average catch
of haddock per trip was 5,500 lb (2,495
kg) in the Gulf of Maine, 6,400 lb (2,903
kg) in the Eastern U.S./Canada
management area of Georges Bank, and
22,300 lb (10,115 kg) in Georges Bank
West. The average catch of redfish in the
Gulf of Maine was 2,000 lb (907 kg) per
trip. The average catch of cod per trip
was 180 lb (82 kg) in the Gulf of Maine,
70 lb (32 kg) in the Eastern U.S./Canada
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:09 Apr 20, 2018
Jkt 244001
512,
521,
512,
521,
521,
512,
512,
521,
management area of Georges Bank, and
530 lb (240 kg) in Georges Bank West.
The off-bottom trawl is expected to
catch at least as much haddock as a
bottom trawl, with substantial
reductions in cod catch, and the
complete elimination of flatfish catch. If
these ratios are not realized, GMRI
indicated that the off-bottom trawl
would be deemed unsuccessful, and the
project may be abandoned.
All trips would carry a GMRI sampler,
an assigned at-sea observer, or an
independently contracted data
collection technician. In Phases 1 and 2,
a GMRI sampler would be onboard to
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513, 515 (3 days) .....................
522 (2 days) .............................
513, 515 (3 days) .....................
522 (2 days) .............................
522 (5 days) .............................
513, 515 (3 days) .....................
513, 515 (5 days) .....................
522 (5 days) .............................
Target species
Redfish.
Haddock.
Redfish.
Haddock.
Haddock.
Redfish.
Redfish.
Haddock.
document the operational performance
of the off-bottom trawl, and sample
catch. In Phase 3, a GMRI sampler
would be onboard the F/V Teresa Marie
IV during at least two fishing trips. An
assigned at-sea observer or independent
contracted data collection technician
would collect data during remaining
trips with the off-bottom trawl. The
volume of the catch is anticipated to be
large, so sub-sampling protocols have
been developed. A sub-sample of the
total catch would be taken from the
checker pens to estimate total catch,
including cod and other non-target
E:\FR\FM\23APN1.SGM
23APN1
17655
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 78 / Monday, April 23, 2018 / Notices
species by weight. All fish in the subsample would be weighed, and length
measurements would be taken for cod
and other non-target catch. All bycatch
would be returned to the sea as soon as
practicable following data collection.
Exemption from minimum sizes would
support catch sampling activities and
ensure the vessel is not in conflict with
possession regulations while collecting
catch data. All trips would otherwise be
conducted in a manner consistent with
normal commercial fishing conditions
and catch consistent with the Northeast
Multispecies FMP would be retained for
sale. Trips not accompanied by GMRI
researchers would be required to carry
an At-Sea Monitor (ASM), Northeast
Fishery Observer Program (NEFOP)
observer, or privately contracted data
collection technician. On trips assigned
to carry an ASM or observer by NEFOP,
normal sampling protocols would be
carried out. The vessel is responsible for
notifying its monitoring provider of
upcoming research trips and ensuring a
research technician is present on all EFP
trips not selected for observer coverage
through Pre-Trip Notification System.
GMRI needs this exemption to allow
them to conduct testing of a net
configuration that is prohibited by the
current regulations. 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.
Dated: April 18, 2018.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
been issued to the following entities
under the Marine Mammal Protection
Act (MMPA) and the Endangered
Species Act (ESA), as applicable.
The permits and related
documents are available for review
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.
ADDRESSES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jennifer Skidmore (Permit No. 21339),
Erin Markin (Permit Nos. 21169 and
21301), Amy Hapeman (Permit No.
21367); Courtney Smith (Permit Nos.
16479–04 and 21059), Carrie Hubard
(Permit Nos. 19655–01, 19703, and
20993), and Shasta McClenahan (Permit
No. 21966) at (301) 427–8401.
[FR Doc. 2018–08390 Filed 4–20–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Notices
were published in the Federal Register
on the dates listed below that requests
for a permit or permit amendment had
been submitted by the below-named
applicants. To locate the Federal
Register notice that announced our
receipt of the application and a
complete description of the research, go
to www.federalregister.gov and search
on the permit number provided in the
table below.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Marine Mammals and Endangered
Species
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; issuance of permits and
permit amendments.
AGENCY:
Notice is hereby given that
permits or permit amendments have
SUMMARY:
RIN
Applicant
Previous Federal Register
notice
Permit or
Amendment
issuance date
16479–04
0648–XA84 ..
March 28, 2018.
0648–XF085
82 FR 3727; January 12, 2017
March 30, 2018.
19703 ......
0648–XF154
82 FR 4860; January 17, 2017
March 30, 2018.
20993 ......
0648–XF154
82 FR 29053; June 27, 2017 ..
March 12, 2018.
21059 ......
0648–XF378
82 FR 32328; July 13, 2017 ....
March 30, 2018.
21169 ......
0648–XF619
0648–XF528
82 FR 42984; September 12,
2017.
82 FR 41001; August 29, 2017
March 9, 2018.
21301 ......
21367 ......
0648–XF862
21339 ......
0648–XF871
21966 ......
0645–XG026
Pacific Whale Foundation (Responsible Party: Jens Curie,
M.Sc.), 300 Maalaea Road, Suite 211, Wailuku, HI 96793.
Adam Pack, Ph.D., University of Hawaii at Hilo, 200 West
Kawili Street, Hilo, HI 96720.
Fred Sharpe, Ph.D., Alaska Whale Foundation, 4739 University Way NE, No. 1230, Seattle, WA 98105.
Christopher Cilfone, Be Blue, 2569 Douglas Highway, Unit 1,
Juneau, AK 99801.
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve (Responsible Party:
Philip N. Hooge, Ph.D.), P.O. Box 140, Gustavus, AK 99826.
Inwater Research Group, Inc. (Responsible Party: Michael
Bresette), 4160 NE Hyline Drive, Jensen Beach, FL 34957.
Kara Dodge, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, MS#33,
Redfield 256, Woods Hole, MA 02543.
Christopher Marshall, Ph.D., Texas A&M University at Galveston, 200 Seawolf Parkway, Galveston, TX 77553.
Kerri Smith, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Ave., El Paso, TX 79968.
Mystic Aquarium (Responsible Party: Katie Cubina), 55
Coogan Boulevard, Mystic, CT 06355.
82 FR 29053; June 27, 2017 ..
19655–01
amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES
Permit No.
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.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:09 Apr 20, 2018
Jkt 244001
82 FR 60588; December 21,
2017.
82 FR 57730; December 7,
2017.
83 FR 8437; February 27,
2018.
As required by the ESA, as applicable,
issuance of these permit 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
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
March 9, 2018.
March 16, 2018.
March 15, 2018.
March 30, 2018.
policies set forth in Section 2 of the
ESA.
Authority: The requested permits have
been issued under the Marine Mammal
Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16
U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the regulations
governing the taking and importing of marine
mammals (50 CFR part 216), the Endangered
E:\FR\FM\23APN1.SGM
23APN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 78 (Monday, April 23, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17653-17655]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-08390]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XG165
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 an Exempted Fishing Permit application contains all
of the required information and warrants further consideration. This
Exempted Fishing Permit would exempt one commercial fishing vessel from
the Northeast multispecies minimum mesh size and minimum fish size
regulations in support of gear research to target healthy haddock and
redfish stocks.
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 8, 2018.
ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by any of the following
methods:
Email: [email protected]. Include in the subject line
``GMRI Off-bottom Trawl EFP.''
Mail: Michael Pentony, Regional Administrator, NMFS,
Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic Drive,
Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope ``GMRI Off-
bottom Trawl EFP.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Spencer Talmage, Fishery Management
Specialist, 978-281-9232.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI)
submitted a complete application for an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP)
on March 20, 2018, in support of a 2016 Saltonstall-Kennedy Program
project titled ``Complementary testing of off-bottom trawls to target
Georges Bank haddock.'' The EFP would exempt one fishing vessel from
minimum mesh size requirements at 50 CFR 648.80(a)(3)(ii) and
temporarily exempt the vessel from minimum fish size requirements in 50
CFR part 648, subparts B and D through
[[Page 17654]]
O, for biological sampling purposes only. An EFP for this project was
issued during the 2017 fishing year; however, no activity was conducted
under the EFP.
The project would test the efficacy of an off-bottom trawl fitted
with a small-mesh codend to access healthy haddock and redfish stocks
while avoiding other groundfish stocks. Additional project objectives
include the development of a fuel-efficient trawl that also reduces
disruption to benthic habitat. One vessel, the F/V Teresa Marie IV,
would conduct a three-phase research plan to test the off-bottom trawl
with two different codends: A 4.5-inch (11.43-cm) diamond mesh when
targeting redfish; and a 5.1-inch (12.954-cm) square mesh when
targeting haddock. The proposed EFP trips for each phase of this
project are summarized in Table 1. The proposed off-bottom trawl would
require an exemption from the Northeast multispecies minimum mesh size
requirements because the codend and extension mesh size would be less
than the minimum regulated mesh.
The 4.5-inch (11.43-cm) diamond mesh codend was previously
authorized for use in the redfish exempted fishery, through a
regulatory exemption to sectors, based on the results of previous
redfish selectivity research (REDNET). This exemption has been modified
a number of times in order to balance the conservation requirements,
and economic goals of the fishery. In fishing year 2017, a 5.5-inch
(14.0-cm) mesh was authorized within the redfish exemption area. During
the REDNET study, substantial catches of redfish with low levels of
incidental catch or bycatch of regulated species were observed when
using a 4.5-inch (11.43-cm) mesh codend. Under this EFP, testing of the
net outfitted with the 4.5-inch (11.43-cm) mesh codend would only occur
in the Redfish Exemption Area.
The square-mesh 5.1-inch (13.0-cm) codend was selected based on the
Canadian haddock fishery, which uses a 5-inch (12.7-cm) square-mesh
codend. The Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans has also
conducted studies on the selectivity of various mesh sizes. This codend
mesh size has been approved for use in a previous EFP issued to
Atlantic Trawlers Fishing, Inc. Only a small number of trips were taken
under that EFP, which limited the ability to produce statistically
reliable results.
During Phase 1, the captain and crew of the F/V Teresa Marie IV
would familiarize themselves with the operation of the off-bottom
trawl. Testing would include how to deploy the trawl to a desired
operating depth, maintain depth, adjust depth, and haul back. Tow
duration could be as short as 30 minutes or as long as 3 to 4 hours,
depending on the outcome of the gear testing. A GMRI research
technician would be on board to conduct catch sampling and collect data
on the performance of the net. Catch is likely to be minimal in this
phase; many tows will be conducted in areas where limited catch is
expected, as the purpose of this phase to optimize gear performance,
not demonstrate catch composition. However, any legal-size groundfish
catch would be retained for sale, consistent with the Northeast
Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP), and all catch would be
attributed against the applicable sector Annual Catch Entitlement
(ACE).
In Phase 2, the off-bottom trawl would be evaluated during a 5-day
controlled study on-board the F/V Teresa Marie IV conducted in August
or September 2017. The off-bottom trawl would be tested at two towing
speeds (three and four kts) while actively fishing in order to
represent normal working conditions. Underwater cameras would be used
to film the off-bottom trawl in operation. Catch would be retained for
sale and attributed against the applicable sector ACE. Phase 3 would
test the off-bottom trawl using both codends under a wide range of
commercial conditions to broadly characterize the fishing performance
of the net. Phase 3 would include ten 8-day trips occurring from August
through December 2017. For Phase 2 and 3, catch would be retained for
sale and attributed against the applicable sector ACE.
Table 1--Proposed EFP Trips
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Location
Phase Number of DAS per trip Season (statistical Target species
trips areas)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1................... 1 5 August/September. 512, 513, 515 (3 Redfish.
days).
521, 522 (2 days) Haddock.
2................... 1 5 August/September. 512, 513, 515 (3 Redfish.
days).
521, 522 (2 days) Haddock.
3................... 10 8 August-October... 521, 522 (5 days) Haddock.
512, 513, 515 (3 Redfish.
days).
October-December. 512, 513, 515 (5 Redfish.
days).
521, 522 (5 days) Haddock.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Catch from the F/V Teresa Marie IV using a haddock separator trawl
in fishing year 2016 was used to estimate anticipated catch using the
off-bottom trawl for this project. The average catch of haddock per
trip was 5,500 lb (2,495 kg) in the Gulf of Maine, 6,400 lb (2,903 kg)
in the Eastern U.S./Canada management area of Georges Bank, and 22,300
lb (10,115 kg) in Georges Bank West. The average catch of redfish in
the Gulf of Maine was 2,000 lb (907 kg) per trip. The average catch of
cod per trip was 180 lb (82 kg) in the Gulf of Maine, 70 lb (32 kg) in
the Eastern U.S./Canada management area of Georges Bank, and 530 lb
(240 kg) in Georges Bank West. The off-bottom trawl is expected to
catch at least as much haddock as a bottom trawl, with substantial
reductions in cod catch, and the complete elimination of flatfish
catch. If these ratios are not realized, GMRI indicated that the off-
bottom trawl would be deemed unsuccessful, and the project may be
abandoned.
All trips would carry a GMRI sampler, an assigned at-sea observer,
or an independently contracted data collection technician. In Phases 1
and 2, a GMRI sampler would be onboard to document the operational
performance of the off-bottom trawl, and sample catch. In Phase 3, a
GMRI sampler would be onboard the F/V Teresa Marie IV during at least
two fishing trips. An assigned at-sea observer or independent
contracted data collection technician would collect data during
remaining trips with the off-bottom trawl. The volume of the catch is
anticipated to be large, so sub-sampling protocols have been developed.
A sub-sample of the total catch would be taken from the checker pens to
estimate total catch, including cod and other non-target
[[Page 17655]]
species by weight. All fish in the sub-sample would be weighed, and
length measurements would be taken for cod and other non-target catch.
All bycatch would be returned to the sea as soon as practicable
following data collection. Exemption from minimum sizes would support
catch sampling activities and ensure the vessel is not in conflict with
possession regulations while collecting catch data. All trips would
otherwise be conducted in a manner consistent with normal commercial
fishing conditions and catch consistent with the Northeast Multispecies
FMP would be retained for sale. Trips not accompanied by GMRI
researchers would be required to carry an At-Sea Monitor (ASM),
Northeast Fishery Observer Program (NEFOP) observer, or privately
contracted data collection technician. On trips assigned to carry an
ASM or observer by NEFOP, normal sampling protocols would be carried
out. The vessel is responsible for notifying its monitoring provider of
upcoming research trips and ensuring a research technician is present
on all EFP trips not selected for observer coverage through Pre-Trip
Notification System.
GMRI needs this exemption to allow them to conduct testing of a net
configuration that is prohibited by the current regulations. 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.
Dated: April 18, 2018.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-08390 Filed 4-20-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
