Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits, 48294 [2018-20711]

Download as PDF 48294 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 185 / Monday, September 24, 2018 / Notices reducing discards that meet the NAFO size standards but are below the domestic minimum size. Landing the dressed fish, even at sizes less than the domestic minimum size, therefore, would not appear to put the applicant at a competitive advantage over domestic fishers because its processed fish are largely intended for the frozen market currently dominated by foreign interests. This EFP, if granted, would help validate these expectations. This EFP is necessary to allow the vessel to land headed and gutted fish caught within the NAFO Regulatory Area that are below the domestic minimum size due to the dressed condition of the fish. Each trip taken under this EFP are subject to the requirements outlined in this notice and any other condition specified by the National Marine Fisheries Service. If this EFP request is approved, it would be available to the other vessel authorized to participate in the NAFO yellowtail flounder fishery, if the other vessel owner makes such a request and it is approved. 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: September 19, 2018. Margo B. Schulze-Haugen, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2018–20718 Filed 9–21–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1 RIN 0648–XG488 Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management 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: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:40 Sep 21, 2018 Jkt 244001 The Acting Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit Application from the University of Maryland contains all the required information and warrants further consideration. Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act require publication of this notice to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for proposed Exempted Fishing Permits. DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 9, 2018. ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by any of the following methods: • Email: NMFS.GAR.EFP@noaa.gov. Include in the subject line ‘‘Comments on UMD Jonah crab 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 ‘‘Comments on UMD Jonah Crab EFP.’’ FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Hansen, NOAA Affiliate, (978) 281–9225. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The University of Maryland (UMD) submitted a complete application for an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) on September 5, 2018, to conduct fishing activities that the regulations would otherwise restrict. This project is intended to gain a better understanding of Jonah crab male size at maturity. This study is funded through the NOAA Educational Partnership Program’s Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center. UMD is requesting exemptions from the following Federal lobster regulation: 1. Gear specification requirements in 50 CFR 697.21(c) to allow for closed escape vents; If the EFP is approved, this study would take place from November 2018 through November 2019. The participating vessel would deploy no more than eight ventless traps at one time in Lobster Conservation Management Area (LCMA) 2. Maps depicting these areas are available on request. Researchers will deploy traps in trawls, compliant with the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan. Modifications to a standard lobster trap would include a closed escape vent, a smaller wire mesh size, and a smaller entrance head. Each experimental trap will have the participating fisherman’s SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 identification attached. Investigators intend to collect up to 150 crabs. Jonah crab retrieved from the modified traps would be collected and sent to the UMD lab for analysis. The exemption is needed to ensure investigators obtain a broad size distribution of Jonah crabs. Currently, there are no Federal regulations for Jonah crab. We are preparing a proposed rule to establish Federal regulations for the Jonah crab fishery which will likely include a minimum size. We anticipate that final rulemaking will occur before this project is complete. To ensure that there is no disruption to research activities, we intend to modify the exemptions granted to this study to include exemption from the minimum size so that crabs smaller than the minimum size can be analyzed. We would solicit comment on this additional exemption in the Jonah Crab Fishery Management Plan. If approved, the applicant may request minor modifications and extensions to the EFP throughout the year. We may grant EFP modifications and extensions 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. The EFP would prohibit any fishing activity conducted outside the scope of the exempted fishing activities. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: September 19, 2018. Margo B. Schulze-Haugen, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2018–20711 Filed 9–21–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Membership of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Performance Review Board National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce (DOC). ACTION: Notice of membership of the NOAA performance review board. AGENCY: NOAA announces the appointment of members who will serve on the NOAA Performance Review Board (PRB). The NOAA PRB is responsible for reviewing performance appraisals and ratings of Senior Executive Service (SES), Senior Level (SL), and Scientific and Professional SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\24SEN1.SGM 24SEN1

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[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 185 (Monday, September 24, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 48294]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-20711]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG488


Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management 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 Acting Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable 
Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary 
determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit Application from the 
University of Maryland contains all the required information and 
warrants further consideration. Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the Atlantic Coastal 
Fisheries Cooperative Management Act require publication of this notice 
to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on 
applications for proposed Exempted Fishing Permits.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 9, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by any of the following 
methods:
     Email: [email protected]. Include in the subject line 
``Comments on UMD Jonah crab 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 ``Comments on 
UMD Jonah Crab EFP.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Hansen, NOAA Affiliate, (978) 
281-9225.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The University of Maryland (UMD) submitted a 
complete application for an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) on September 
5, 2018, to conduct fishing activities that the regulations would 
otherwise restrict. This project is intended to gain a better 
understanding of Jonah crab male size at maturity. This study is funded 
through the NOAA Educational Partnership Program's Living Marine 
Resources Cooperative Science Center. UMD is requesting exemptions from 
the following Federal lobster regulation:
    1. Gear specification requirements in 50 CFR 697.21(c) to allow for 
closed escape vents;
    If the EFP is approved, this study would take place from November 
2018 through November 2019. The participating vessel would deploy no 
more than eight ventless traps at one time in Lobster Conservation 
Management Area (LCMA) 2. Maps depicting these areas are available on 
request. Researchers will deploy traps in trawls, compliant with the 
Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan. Modifications to a standard 
lobster trap would include a closed escape vent, a smaller wire mesh 
size, and a smaller entrance head. Each experimental trap will have the 
participating fisherman's identification attached. Investigators intend 
to collect up to 150 crabs. Jonah crab retrieved from the modified 
traps would be collected and sent to the UMD lab for analysis. The 
exemption is needed to ensure investigators obtain a broad size 
distribution of Jonah crabs.
    Currently, there are no Federal regulations for Jonah crab. We are 
preparing a proposed rule to establish Federal regulations for the 
Jonah crab fishery which will likely include a minimum size. We 
anticipate that final rulemaking will occur before this project is 
complete. To ensure that there is no disruption to research activities, 
we intend to modify the exemptions granted to this study to include 
exemption from the minimum size so that crabs smaller than the minimum 
size can be analyzed. We would solicit comment on this additional 
exemption in the Jonah Crab Fishery Management Plan.
    If approved, the applicant may request minor modifications and 
extensions to the EFP throughout the year. We may grant EFP 
modifications and extensions 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. The EFP would prohibit any fishing activity 
conducted outside the scope of the exempted fishing activities.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: September 19, 2018.
Margo B. Schulze-Haugen,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-20711 Filed 9-21-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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