Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish Fishery of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands; Exempted Fishing Permit, 26966-26968 [2018-12420]
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26966
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 112 / Monday, June 11, 2018 / Notices
These amended final determinations
and antidumping duty orders are
published in accordance with sections
735(e) and 736(a) of the Act and 19 CFR
351.224(e) and 351.211(b).
Dated: June 6, 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.
Appendix
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Scope of the Orders
The products covered by these orders are
cold-drawn mechanical tubing of carbon and
alloy steel (cold-drawn mechanical tubing) of
circular cross-section, 304.8 mm or more in
length, in actual outside diameters less than
331mm, and regardless of wall thickness,
surface finish, end finish or industry
specification. The subject cold-drawn
mechanical tubing is a tubular product with
a circular cross-sectional shape that has been
cold-drawn or otherwise cold-finished after
the initial tube formation in a manner that
involves a change in the diameter or wall
thickness of the tubing, or both. The subject
cold-drawn mechanical tubing may be
produced from either welded (e.g., electric
resistance welded, continuous welded, etc.)
or seamless (e.g., pierced, pilgered or
extruded, etc.) carbon or alloy steel tubular
products. It may also be heat treated after
cold working. Such heat treatments may
include, but are not limited to, annealing,
normalizing, quenching and tempering, stress
relieving or finish annealing. Typical colddrawing methods for subject merchandise
include, but are not limited to, drawing over
mandrel, rod drawing, plug drawing, sink
drawing and similar processes that involve
reducing the outside diameter of the tubing
with a die or similar device, whether or not
controlling the inside diameter of the tubing
with an internal support device such as a
mandrel, rod, plug or similar device. Other
cold-finishing operations that may be used to
produce subject merchandise include coldrolling and cold-sizing the tubing.
Subject cold-drawn mechanical tubing is
typically certified to meet industry
respect to those countries include only a column for
the weighted-average margin determined in those
investigations.
33 In the China Prelim, Commerce found that
Zhangjiagang Huacheng Import & Export Co., Ltd.,
Jiangsu Huacheng Industry Pipe Making
Corporation, and Zhangjiagang Salem Fine Tubing
Co., Ltd. are a single entity and, because there were
no changes to the facts which supported that
decision since that determination was made, we
continue to find that these companies are part of a
single entity for this order; see China Final.
34 Commerce notes that Hongyi Steel Pipe Co.,
Ltd. is a part of the China-wide entity.
35 In the Germany Prelim, Commerce found that
BENTELER Steel/Tube GmbH and BENTELER
Distribution International GmbH are a single entity
and, because there were no changes to the facts
which supported that decision since that
determination was made, we continue to find that
these companies are part of a single entity for this
order; see Germany Final.
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specifications for cold-drawn tubing
including but not limited to:
(1) American Society for Testing and
Materials (ASTM) or American Society of
Mechanical Engineers (ASME) specifications
ASTM A–512, ASTM A–513 Type 3 (ASME
SA513 Type 3), ASTM A–513 Type 4 (ASME
SA513 Type 4), ASTM A–513 Type 5 (ASME
SA513 Type 5), ASTM A–513 Type 6 (ASME
SA513 Type 6), ASTM A–519 (cold-finished);
(2) SAE International (Society of
Automotive Engineers) specifications SAE
J524, SAE J525, SAE J2833, SAE J2614, SAE
J2467, SAE J2435, SAE J2613;
(3) Aerospace Material Specification (AMS)
AMS T–6736 (AMS 6736), AMS 6371, AMS
5050, AMS 5075, AMS 5062, AMS 6360,
AMS 6361, AMS 6362, AMS 6371, AMS
6372, AMS 6374, AMS 6381, AMS 6415;
(4) United States Military Standards (MIL)
MIL–T–5066 and MIL–T–6736;
(5) foreign standards equivalent to one of
the previously listed ASTM, ASME, SAE,
AMS or MIL specifications including but not
limited to:
(a) German Institute for Standardization
(DIN) specifications DIN
2391–2, DIN 2393–2, DIN 2394–2);
(b) European Standards (EN) EN 10305–1,
EN 10305–2, EN 10305–4, EN 10305–6 and
European national variations on those
standards (e.g., British Standard (BS EN),
Irish Standard (IS EN) and German Standard
(DIN EN) variations, etc.);
(c) Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) JIS G
3441 and JIS G 3445; and
(6) proprietary standards that are based on
one of the above-listed standards.
The subject cold-drawn mechanical tubing
may also be dual or multiple certified to
more than one standard. Pipe that is multiple
certified as cold-drawn mechanical tubing
and to other specifications not covered by
this scope, is also covered by the scope of
these order when it meets the physical
description set forth above.
Steel products included in the scope of
these orders are products in which: (1) Iron
predominates, by weight, over each of the
other contained elements; and (2) the carbon
content is 2 percent or less by weight.
For purposes of this scope, the place of
cold-drawing determines the country of
origin of the subject merchandise. Subject
merchandise that is subject to minor working
in a third country that occurs after drawing
in one of the subject countries including, but
not limited to, heat treatment, cutting to
length, straightening, nondestruction testing,
deburring or chamfering, remains within the
scope of these orders.
All products that meet the written physical
description are within the scope of these
orders unless specifically excluded or
covered by the scope of an existing order.
Merchandise that meets the physical
description of cold-drawn mechanical tubing
above is within the scope of these orders
even if it is also dual or multiple certified to
an otherwise excluded specification listed
below. The following products are outside of,
and/or specifically excluded from, the scope
of these orders:
(1) Cold-drawn stainless steel tubing,
containing 10.5 percent or more of chromium
by weight and not more than 1.2 percent of
carbon by weight;
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(2) products certified to one or more of the
ASTM, ASME or American Petroleum
Institute (API) specifications listed below:
• ASTM A–53;
• ASTM A–106;
• ASTM A–179 (ASME SA 179);
• ASTM A–192 (ASME SA 192);
• ASTM A–209 (ASME SA 209);
• ASTM A–210 (ASME SA 210);
• ASTM A–213 (ASME SA 213);
• ASTM A–334 (ASME SA 334);
• ASTM A–423 (ASME SA 423);
• ASTM A–498;
• ASTM A–496 (ASME SA 496);
• ASTM A–199;
• ASTM A–500;
• ASTM A–556;
• ASTM A–565;
• API 5L; and
• API 5CT
except that any cold-drawn tubing product
certified to one of the above excluded
specifications will not be excluded from the
scope if it is also dual- or multiple-certified
to any other specification that otherwise
would fall within the scope of these orders.
The products subject to these orders are
currently classified in the Harmonized Tariff
Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) under
item numbers: 7304.31.3000, 7304.31.6050,
7304.51.1000, 7304.51.5005, 7304.51.5060,
7306.30.5015, 7306.30.5020, 7306.50.5030.
Subject merchandise may also enter under
numbers 7306.30.1000 and 7306.50.1000.
The HTSUS subheadings above are provided
for convenience and customs purposes only.
The written description of the scope of these
orders are dispositive.
[FR Doc. 2018–12593 Filed 6–8–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XG230
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of
Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish
Fishery of Puerto Rico and the U.S.
Virgin Islands; Exempted Fishing
Permit
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of an
application for an exempted fishing
permit; request for comments.
AGENCY:
NMFS announces the receipt
of an application for an exempted
fishing permit (EFP) from Puerto Rico’s
Department of Natural and
Environmental Resources (DNER). If
granted, the EFP would authorize
persons aboard DNER research vessels
and commercial fishing vessels
contracted through DNER to collect
selected reef fish species in waters of
the U.S. Caribbean exclusive economic
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 112 / Monday, June 11, 2018 / Notices
zone (EEZ) off Puerto Rico without
complying with certain seasonal and
gear closures, and size and bag limits.
Reef fish would be harvested by hookand-line and bottom longline gear and
monitored by underwater camera gear.
The operations would take place in the
U.S. Caribbean EEZ off both the west
and east coasts of Puerto Rico. All reef
fish, including undersized and
seasonally prohibited reef fish species,
would be retained, except for goliath
grouper, Nassau grouper, and all species
of parrotfish. The purpose of the EFP is
to determine spatial and temporal
variations in stock abundance of
Caribbean reef fish resources off Puerto
Rico.
DATES: Comments must be received no
later than June 26, 2018.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
on the application by any of the
following methods:
• Email: Sarah.Stephenson@
noaa.gov. Include in the subject line of
the email comment the following
document identifier: ‘‘PR DNER_EFP
2018’’.
• Mail: Sarah Stephenson, Southeast
Regional Office, NMFS, 263 13th
Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
The EFP application and related
documents are available for review
upon written request to any of the above
addresses.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sarah Stephenson, 727–824–5305;
email: Sarah.Stephenson@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EFP is
requested under the authority of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act (16
U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), and regulations at
50 CFR 600.745(b) concerning exempted
fishing.
The proposed collection for scientific
research involves activities that would
otherwise be prohibited by regulations
at 50 CFR part 622, as they pertain to
Caribbean reef fish managed by the
Caribbean Fishery Management Council.
This action involves activities covered
by regulations implementing the Fishery
Management Plan for the Reef Fish
Fishery of Puerto Rico and the U.S.
Virgin Islands. If granted, the EFP
would exempt this research activity
from certain Federal regulations at
§ 622.435 (Seasonal and area closures),
§ 622.436 (Size limits), and § 622.437
(Bag limits). The EFP would be effective
from the date of issuance through March
31, 2021.
The applicant requests authorization
to collect reef fish species in the U.S.
Caribbean EEZ off the east and west
coasts of Puerto Rico. Specimens would
be collected by persons aboard DNER
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Jkt 244001
research vessels and commercial fishing
vessels contracted through the DNER,
including DNER staff and commercial
fishermen. Each vessel’s home port is
located in Puerto Rico. This permit
would exempt project participants,
including DNER staff, that do not have
a valid commercial fishing license
issued by Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin
Islands from regulations limiting the
number of reef fish collected per person
per day, or per vessel per day (50 CFR
622.437(b)). The EFP would also exempt
the applicant from certain seasonal and
area closure regulations at 50 CFR
622.435 and size limits regulations at 50
CFR 622.436, as identified and
described below.
The project would continue the
collection of information on reef fish
abundance and distribution in waters
off eastern and western Puerto Rico as
part of the ongoing Southeast Area
Monitoring and Assessment Program—
Caribbean Reef Fish Monitoring Project.
Research in EEZ waters of the U.S.
Caribbean would consist of harvesting
reef fish at approximately 20 stations in
the EEZ off the west coast of Puerto
Rico, west of 67°00′00″ W long., and at
approximately 10 stations in the EEZ off
the east coast of Puerto Rico, from the
Fajardo coast east to Culebra Island and
Vieques Island. The stations will be
randomly located at three depth strata:
0–10, 11–20, and 21–50 fathoms.
Stations and sampling dates would be
randomly selected each year over the
duration of the EFP but may be subject
to change according to weather and
sampling logistics. All fishing activities
would occur between the hours of 5:30
a.m. and 5:30 p.m., local time.
Sampling would be conducted by (1)
bottom longline fishing, (2) hook-andline fishing, and (3) underwater camera
deployment to identify and quantify reef
fish species. Sampling at each site
would consist of one longline, three
hook-and-line, and one camera
deployment in tandem. Species
expected to be caught and landed
during the proposed activities include
all federally managed reef fish in the
U.S. Caribbean EEZ. All reef fish,
including undersized and seasonally
prohibited species, would be retained
except for goliath grouper, Nassau
grouper, and all species of parrotfish.
The EFP would allow the following
amounts of seasonally prohibited reef
fish to be harvested each year for the
duration of the EFP: A total of 100 lb (45
kg) of any combination of red, black,
tiger, yellowfin, and yellowedge
groupers during the February 1 through
April 30 seasonal closure (50 CFR
622.435(a)(1)(i)); a total of 240 lb (108
kg) of red hind grouper during the
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December 1 through the last day of
February seasonal closure (50 CFR
622.435(a)(1)(ii)); a total of 100 lb (45
kg) of any combination of vermilion,
black, silk, and blackfin snappers during
the October 1 through December 31
seasonal closure (50 CFR
622.435(a)(1)(iii)); and a total of 600 lb
(272 kg) of any combination of lane and
mutton snappers during the April 1
through June 30 seasonal closure (50
CFR 622.435(a)(1)(iv)). In addition, the
EFP would allow for the annual harvest
of a total of 500 lb (227 kg) of yellowtail
snapper, including harvest of
individuals that are smaller than the
Federal minimum size limit of 12 inches
(30.5 cm), total length (50 CFR
622.436(a)), for the duration of the EFP.
Each year, when the number of fish
authorized by the permit is collected,
activities allowed under the permit
must stop. Collection may begin again
the following year.
This permit would authorize fishing
activities during the December 1
through February 28 seasonal closure in
the Tourmaline and Abrir La Sierra
Bank red hind spawning aggregation
areas (50 CFR 622.435(a)(2)(ii)(B)(2) and
(3)), located west of Puerto Rico. The
permit would also exempt the applicant
from the year-round prohibition against
using bottom longlines in Tourmaline
and Abrir La Sierra Bank areas (50 CFR
622.435(b)(2)).
At each station, one 300-foot (91.4-m)
bottom longline would be deployed,
with anchor and surface buoys attached
at each end to allow for gear retrieval
and identification. Circle hooks would
be attached to the longline every 72
inches (183 cm), for a total of 50 hooks,
and the gear would soak for 30 minutes,
after which it would be retrieved and
any reef fish would be collected, except
for parrotfish and Nassau and goliath
groupers, which would be immediately
returned to the water. The bottom
longline would be set to minimize any
impacts to bottom habitat by avoiding
coral reefs and by fastening small buoys
at intervals between hooks to ensure the
line remains suspended above the
bottom to avoid entanglement. For each
bottom longline set, the following data
would be recorded: Date; time of first
and last hook deployment and recovery;
station code and latitude and longitude;
fishing time to the nearest minute;
weather conditions; depth; total number
of hooked fish per vessel; number,
weight, length, reproductive condition,
and species level identification of fish
per hook; and substrate and/or habitat
type. Visual inspection of reef fish
gonads would occur when the samples
are processed and they would then be
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 112 / Monday, June 11, 2018 / Notices
preserved for subsequent histological
analysis.
The hook-and-line sampling would
take place for 30 minutes at the same
randomly-selected, stratified stations as
the bottom longline, while anchored. At
each station, hook-and-line gear would
be fished using three lines, with each
line having two circular hooks baited
with squid. For each fishing trip, fishers
will randomly space their hooks on the
line and will retain all reef fish
collected, except for parrotfish and
Nassau and goliath groupers, which
would be immediately returned to the
water. For each hook-and-line set, the
following data would be recorded: Date;
time of EFP vessel trips (i.e., time of
departure and return to dock); station
location (latitude and longitude); fishing
time to the nearest 10 minutes; weather
conditions; depth; total number of
hooked fish per vessel; number, weight,
length, reproductive condition, and
identification of reef fish per hook-andline; and stratified habitat type or
substrate type. Each fish will be
identified by hook-and-line position and
by fisher. If the habitat or substrate type
is unknown, it will be characterized
whenever possible using drop cameras.
Also at each station, a camera array
would be deployed near the bottom
longline for 30 minutes. The use of
high-resolution digital video allows for
accurate and precise reef fish species
identification, counts, and size
measurements.
NMFS finds this application warrants
further consideration based on a
preliminary review. Possible conditions
the agency may impose on this permit,
if it is indeed granted, include but are
not limited to, a prohibition on
conducting research within marine
protected areas, marine sanctuaries, or
special management zones, without
additional authorization, and requiring
compliance with best practices in the
event of interactions with any protected
species. NMFS may also require DNER
complete and submit periodic catch
report forms summarizing the amount of
reef fish species harvested during the
seasonal closures and within the
exempted closed areas, as well as during
the period of effectiveness of any issued
EFP. Additionally, NMFS would require
any sea turtles taken incidentally during
the course of fishing or scientific
research activities to be handled with
due care to prevent injury to live
specimens, observed for activity, and
returned to the water.
A final decision on issuance of the
EFP will depend on NMFS’ review of
public comments received on the
application, consultations with the
affected state(s), the Council, and the
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Jkt 244001
U.S. Coast Guard, and a determination
that it is consistent with all applicable
laws.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: June 5, 2018.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018–12420 Filed 6–8–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XG108
Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to
Specified Activities; Taking Marine
Mammals Incidental to Unexploded
Ordnance Investigation Survey off the
Coast of Virginia
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; proposed incidental
harassment authorization; request for
comments.
AGENCY:
NMFS has received a request
from Virginia Electric and Power
Company d/b/a Dominion Energy
Virginia (Dominion) for authorization to
take marine mammals incidental to
unexploded ordnance (UXO)
investigation surveys off the coast of
Virginia as part of site characterization
surveys in the area of the Research
Lease of Submerged Lands for
Renewable Energy Development on the
Outer Continental Shelf (OCS–A 0497)
(Lease Area) and coastal waters where a
cable route corridor will be established.
Pursuant to the Marine Mammal
Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is
requesting comments on its proposal to
issue an incidental harassment
authorization (IHA) to incidentally take
marine mammals during the specified
activities. NMFS will consider public
comments prior to making any final
decision on the issuance of the
requested MMPA authorizations and
agency responses will be summarized in
the final notice of our decision.
DATES: Comments and information must
be received no later than July 11, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be
addressed to Jolie Harrison, Chief,
Permits and Conservation Division,
Office of Protected Resources, National
Marine Fisheries Service. Physical
comments should be sent to 1315 EastWest Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910
SUMMARY:
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and electronic comments should be sent
to ITP.Youngkin@noaa.gov.
Instructions: NMFS is not responsible
for comments sent by any other method,
to any other address or individual, or
received after the end of the comment
period. Comments received
electronically, including all
attachments, must not exceed a 25megabyte file size. Attachments to
electronic comments will be accepted in
Microsoft Word or Excel or Adobe PDF
file formats only. All comments
received are a part of the public record
and will generally be posted online at
www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/
marine-mammal-protection/incidentaltake-authorizations-other-energyactivities-renewable without change. All
personal identifying information (e.g.,
name, address) voluntarily submitted by
the commenter may be publicly
accessible. Do not submit confidential
business information or otherwise
sensitive or protected information.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dale
Youngkin, Office of Protected
Resources, NMFS, (301) 427–8401.
Electronic copies of the applications
and supporting documents, as well as a
list of the references cited in this
document, may be obtained by visiting
the internet at: www.fisheries.noaa.gov/
national/marine-mammal-protection/
incidental-take-authorizations-otherenergy-activities-renewable. In case of
problems accessing these documents,
please call the contact listed above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the
MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) direct
the Secretary of Commerce (as delegated
to NMFS) to allow, upon request, the
incidental, but not intentional, taking of
small numbers of marine mammals by
U.S. citizens who engage in a specified
activity (other than commercial fishing)
within a specified geographical region if
certain findings are made and either
regulations are issued or, if the taking is
limited to harassment, a notice of a
proposed authorization is provided to
the public for review.
An authorization for incidental
takings shall be granted if NMFS finds
that the taking will have a negligible
impact on the species or stock(s), will
not have an unmitigable adverse impact
on the availability of the species or
stock(s) for subsistence uses (where
relevant), and if the permissible
methods of taking and requirements
pertaining to the mitigation, monitoring
and reporting of such takings are set
forth.
NMFS has defined ‘‘negligible
impact’’ in 50 CFR 216.103 as an impact
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 112 (Monday, June 11, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26966-26968]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-12420]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XG230
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic;
Reef Fish Fishery of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands; Exempted
Fishing Permit
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of an application for an exempted fishing
permit; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS announces the receipt of an application for an exempted
fishing permit (EFP) from Puerto Rico's Department of Natural and
Environmental Resources (DNER). If granted, the EFP would authorize
persons aboard DNER research vessels and commercial fishing vessels
contracted through DNER to collect selected reef fish species in waters
of the U.S. Caribbean exclusive economic
[[Page 26967]]
zone (EEZ) off Puerto Rico without complying with certain seasonal and
gear closures, and size and bag limits. Reef fish would be harvested by
hook-and-line and bottom longline gear and monitored by underwater
camera gear. The operations would take place in the U.S. Caribbean EEZ
off both the west and east coasts of Puerto Rico. All reef fish,
including undersized and seasonally prohibited reef fish species, would
be retained, except for goliath grouper, Nassau grouper, and all
species of parrotfish. The purpose of the EFP is to determine spatial
and temporal variations in stock abundance of Caribbean reef fish
resources off Puerto Rico.
DATES: Comments must be received no later than June 26, 2018.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the application by any of the
following methods:
Email: [email protected]. Include in the subject
line of the email comment the following document identifier: ``PR
DNER_EFP 2018''.
Mail: Sarah Stephenson, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS,
263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
The EFP application and related documents are available for review
upon written request to any of the above addresses.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarah Stephenson, 727-824-5305; email:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EFP is requested under the authority of
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C.
1801 et seq.), and regulations at 50 CFR 600.745(b) concerning exempted
fishing.
The proposed collection for scientific research involves activities
that would otherwise be prohibited by regulations at 50 CFR part 622,
as they pertain to Caribbean reef fish managed by the Caribbean Fishery
Management Council. This action involves activities covered by
regulations implementing the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish
Fishery of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. If granted, the EFP
would exempt this research activity from certain Federal regulations at
Sec. 622.435 (Seasonal and area closures), Sec. 622.436 (Size
limits), and Sec. 622.437 (Bag limits). The EFP would be effective
from the date of issuance through March 31, 2021.
The applicant requests authorization to collect reef fish species
in the U.S. Caribbean EEZ off the east and west coasts of Puerto Rico.
Specimens would be collected by persons aboard DNER research vessels
and commercial fishing vessels contracted through the DNER, including
DNER staff and commercial fishermen. Each vessel's home port is located
in Puerto Rico. This permit would exempt project participants,
including DNER staff, that do not have a valid commercial fishing
license issued by Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands from
regulations limiting the number of reef fish collected per person per
day, or per vessel per day (50 CFR 622.437(b)). The EFP would also
exempt the applicant from certain seasonal and area closure regulations
at 50 CFR 622.435 and size limits regulations at 50 CFR 622.436, as
identified and described below.
The project would continue the collection of information on reef
fish abundance and distribution in waters off eastern and western
Puerto Rico as part of the ongoing Southeast Area Monitoring and
Assessment Program--Caribbean Reef Fish Monitoring Project. Research in
EEZ waters of the U.S. Caribbean would consist of harvesting reef fish
at approximately 20 stations in the EEZ off the west coast of Puerto
Rico, west of 67[deg]00'00'' W long., and at approximately 10 stations
in the EEZ off the east coast of Puerto Rico, from the Fajardo coast
east to Culebra Island and Vieques Island. The stations will be
randomly located at three depth strata: 0-10, 11-20, and 21-50 fathoms.
Stations and sampling dates would be randomly selected each year over
the duration of the EFP but may be subject to change according to
weather and sampling logistics. All fishing activities would occur
between the hours of 5:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., local time.
Sampling would be conducted by (1) bottom longline fishing, (2)
hook-and-line fishing, and (3) underwater camera deployment to identify
and quantify reef fish species. Sampling at each site would consist of
one longline, three hook-and-line, and one camera deployment in tandem.
Species expected to be caught and landed during the proposed activities
include all federally managed reef fish in the U.S. Caribbean EEZ. All
reef fish, including undersized and seasonally prohibited species,
would be retained except for goliath grouper, Nassau grouper, and all
species of parrotfish.
The EFP would allow the following amounts of seasonally prohibited
reef fish to be harvested each year for the duration of the EFP: A
total of 100 lb (45 kg) of any combination of red, black, tiger,
yellowfin, and yellowedge groupers during the February 1 through April
30 seasonal closure (50 CFR 622.435(a)(1)(i)); a total of 240 lb (108
kg) of red hind grouper during the December 1 through the last day of
February seasonal closure (50 CFR 622.435(a)(1)(ii)); a total of 100 lb
(45 kg) of any combination of vermilion, black, silk, and blackfin
snappers during the October 1 through December 31 seasonal closure (50
CFR 622.435(a)(1)(iii)); and a total of 600 lb (272 kg) of any
combination of lane and mutton snappers during the April 1 through June
30 seasonal closure (50 CFR 622.435(a)(1)(iv)). In addition, the EFP
would allow for the annual harvest of a total of 500 lb (227 kg) of
yellowtail snapper, including harvest of individuals that are smaller
than the Federal minimum size limit of 12 inches (30.5 cm), total
length (50 CFR 622.436(a)), for the duration of the EFP. Each year,
when the number of fish authorized by the permit is collected,
activities allowed under the permit must stop. Collection may begin
again the following year.
This permit would authorize fishing activities during the December
1 through February 28 seasonal closure in the Tourmaline and Abrir La
Sierra Bank red hind spawning aggregation areas (50 CFR
622.435(a)(2)(ii)(B)(2) and (3)), located west of Puerto Rico. The
permit would also exempt the applicant from the year-round prohibition
against using bottom longlines in Tourmaline and Abrir La Sierra Bank
areas (50 CFR 622.435(b)(2)).
At each station, one 300-foot (91.4-m) bottom longline would be
deployed, with anchor and surface buoys attached at each end to allow
for gear retrieval and identification. Circle hooks would be attached
to the longline every 72 inches (183 cm), for a total of 50 hooks, and
the gear would soak for 30 minutes, after which it would be retrieved
and any reef fish would be collected, except for parrotfish and Nassau
and goliath groupers, which would be immediately returned to the water.
The bottom longline would be set to minimize any impacts to bottom
habitat by avoiding coral reefs and by fastening small buoys at
intervals between hooks to ensure the line remains suspended above the
bottom to avoid entanglement. For each bottom longline set, the
following data would be recorded: Date; time of first and last hook
deployment and recovery; station code and latitude and longitude;
fishing time to the nearest minute; weather conditions; depth; total
number of hooked fish per vessel; number, weight, length, reproductive
condition, and species level identification of fish per hook; and
substrate and/or habitat type. Visual inspection of reef fish gonads
would occur when the samples are processed and they would then be
[[Page 26968]]
preserved for subsequent histological analysis.
The hook-and-line sampling would take place for 30 minutes at the
same randomly-selected, stratified stations as the bottom longline,
while anchored. At each station, hook-and-line gear would be fished
using three lines, with each line having two circular hooks baited with
squid. For each fishing trip, fishers will randomly space their hooks
on the line and will retain all reef fish collected, except for
parrotfish and Nassau and goliath groupers, which would be immediately
returned to the water. For each hook-and-line set, the following data
would be recorded: Date; time of EFP vessel trips (i.e., time of
departure and return to dock); station location (latitude and
longitude); fishing time to the nearest 10 minutes; weather conditions;
depth; total number of hooked fish per vessel; number, weight, length,
reproductive condition, and identification of reef fish per hook-and-
line; and stratified habitat type or substrate type. Each fish will be
identified by hook-and-line position and by fisher. If the habitat or
substrate type is unknown, it will be characterized whenever possible
using drop cameras.
Also at each station, a camera array would be deployed near the
bottom longline for 30 minutes. The use of high-resolution digital
video allows for accurate and precise reef fish species identification,
counts, and size measurements.
NMFS finds this application warrants further consideration based on
a preliminary review. Possible conditions the agency may impose on this
permit, if it is indeed granted, include but are not limited to, a
prohibition on conducting research within marine protected areas,
marine sanctuaries, or special management zones, without additional
authorization, and requiring compliance with best practices in the
event of interactions with any protected species. NMFS may also require
DNER complete and submit periodic catch report forms summarizing the
amount of reef fish species harvested during the seasonal closures and
within the exempted closed areas, as well as during the period of
effectiveness of any issued EFP. Additionally, NMFS would require any
sea turtles taken incidentally during the course of fishing or
scientific research activities to be handled with due care to prevent
injury to live specimens, observed for activity, and returned to the
water.
A final decision on issuance of the EFP will depend on NMFS' review
of public comments received on the application, consultations with the
affected state(s), the Council, and the U.S. Coast Guard, and a
determination that it is consistent with all applicable laws.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: June 5, 2018.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-12420 Filed 6-8-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
