Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permit, 11933-11934 [2019-06105]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 61 / Friday, March 29, 2019 / Notices Dated: March 25, 2019. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2019–06032 Filed 3–28–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XG914 Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC); Public Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; public meeting. AGENCY: The Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Advisory Panel of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a meeting. DATES: The meeting will be held on Friday, April 12, 2019, beginning at 9 a.m. and conclude by 3 p.m. For agenda details, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held via webinar with a telephone-only audio connection: https:// mafmc.adobeconnect.com/msb-ap2019/. Telephone instructions are provided upon connecting, or the public can call direct: 800–832–0736, Rm: *7833942#. Council address: Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 N. State Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901; telephone: (302) 674–2331 or on their website at www.mafmc.org. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher M. Moore, Ph.D., Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, telephone: (302) 526–5255. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purposes of the meeting include: (1) To create a Fishery Performance Report by the Council’s Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish (MSB) Advisory Panel. This report facilitates structured input from the Advisory Panel members for SUMMARY: the MSB specifications process for the Council and its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC); and (2) Gather Advisory Panel feedback on the development of the Council’s 2020–24 strategic plan, after reviewing the results of a recent strategic planning stakeholder survey. An agenda and background documents will be posted at the Council’s website (www.mafmc.org) prior to the meeting. Special Accommodations The meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aid should be directed to M. Jan Saunders, (302) 526–5251, at least 5 days prior to any meeting date. Dated: March 25, 2019. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2019–06033 Filed 3–28–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Conservation and Management Act require publication of this notice to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on Exempted Fishing Permit applications. Comments must be received on or before April 15, 2019. DATES: You may submit written comments by either of the following methods: • Email: nmfs.gar.efp@noaa.gov. Include in the subject line ‘‘Comments on NEFSC Study Fleet 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 NEFSC Study Fleet EFP.’’ ADDRESSES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Spencer Talmage, Fishery Management Specialist, 978–281–9232, Spencer.Talmage@noaa.gov. The Northeast Fisheries Science Center submitted a complete application for an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) on February 26, 2019, for the 2019 Study Fleet Program. The EFP would exempt 18 commercial fishing vessels from the minimum size and possession limits for species of interest, as well as allow temporary retention of species that would be discarded. The Center established the Study Fleet Program in 2002 to more fully characterize commercial fishing operations and provide sampling opportunities to augment NMFS’s data collection programs. Partnership with the commercial fishing industry allows the Center to provide samples for stock assessment and fish biology research when traditional sampling sources might otherwise be unavailable. Table 1 includes all of the regulations specified at 50 CFR part 648 that participating vessels would be exempt from for at-sea sampling or when retaining and landing fish for research purposes. The exemptions listed in Table 1 are necessary for contracted vessels to acquire the biological samples needed to meet Center research objectives. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XG899 Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permit 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 submitted by the Northeast Fisheries Science Center contains all of the required information and warrants further consideration. This Exempted Fishing Permit would exempt participating vessels from minimum fish size restrictions and fish possession limits. Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery SUMMARY: TABLE 1—SPECIFIC REGULATIONS COVERED BY THE PROPOSED EXEMPTED FISHING PERMIT jbell on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES Study fleet program EFP Number of Vessels ....................................................................... Exempted regulations in 50 CFR part 648 ................................... VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:48 Mar 28, 2019 Jkt 247001 PO 00000 Frm 00008 18. Size limits: § 648.83 Northeast multispecies minimum sizes. Possession restrictions: § 648.86(a) Haddock. § 648.86(b) Atlantic cod. § 648.86(d) Small-mesh multispecies. § 648.86(g) Yellowtail flounder. Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 11933 E:\FR\FM\29MRN1.SGM 29MRN1 11934 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 61 / Friday, March 29, 2019 / Notices TABLE 1—SPECIFIC REGULATIONS COVERED BY THE PROPOSED EXEMPTED FISHING PERMIT—Continued Study fleet program EFP § 648.86(o) Possession limits implemented by Regional Administrator. Any fish retained under the EFP would be delivered to Center staff upon landing. Additionally, the Center would issue a formal Biological Sampling Request to the vessel to retain fish in excess of possession limits or below the minimum size limit. This would ensure that the landed fish do not exceed any collection needs of the Study Fleet Program, as detailed below in Table 2. All catch would be attributed to the appropriate commercial fishing quota. For a vessel fishing on a groundfish sector trip, all catch of groundfish stocks allocated to sectors would be deducted from the vessel’s sector’s Annual Catch Entitlement (ACE). Once the ACE for a stock has been reached in a sector, vessels would no longer be allowed to fish in that stock area unless the sector acquired additional ACE for the stock in question. For common pool vessels, all groundfish catch would be counted toward the appropriate trimester total allowable catch (TAC). Common pool vessels would be exempt from possession and trip limits on EFP trips when directed for sampling by the Center, but would still be subject to trimester TAC closures. TABLE 2—STUDY FLEET PROGRAM’S BIOLOGICAL SAMPLE COLLECTION NEEDS Collection frequency Individual fish per collection period Maximum weight allowed per trip OTF, DRS ........... Monthly (Dec– Mar). 175 lb (79 kg) ...... 2,800 lb (1,270 kg). GOM, GB ............ OTF, DRS ........... Monthly (Dec– Mar). 300 lb (136 kg) .... 4,800 lb (2,177 kg). Acadian Redfish ..... GOM .................... OTF ..................... 150 lb (68 kg) ...... 750 lb (340 kg). Yellowtail Flounder GOM, GB, SNE ... OTF, DRS ........... Monthly (Mar– July). Monthly (Jan–Apr) 20 per month (10 from each stock area). 80 per week (40 from each stock area). 50 per month ....... 90 lb (41 kg) ........ 2,160 lb (980 kg). Winter Flounder ..... GOM, GB, SNE ... OTF, DRS ........... Monthly (Jan–Apr) Longfin squid ......... Any Area ............. OTM, OTF ........... Longfin squid ......... Atlantic herring ....... River herring/shad Any Area ............. Any Area ............. Any Area ............. OTM, OTF ........... OTM, OTF, PUR OTM, OTF, PUR Quarterly (4 separate months). Monthly ................ Monthly ................ Monthly ................ round herring ......... Silver hake ............. Any Area ............. Any Area ............. OTM, OTF, PUR OTM, OTF, PUR Atlantic mackerel ... Any Area ............. Shortfin squid ......... Sand lance ............. Butterfish ................ Any Area ............. Any Area ............. SNE, MA ............. Species Stock area * Gear types # Atlantic cod ............ GOM, GB ............ Haddock ................. Maximum allowance 120 per week (40 from each stock area). 120 per week (40 from each stock area). 15 per quarter ..... 160 lb (73 kg) ...... 3,840 lb (1742 kg). 5 lb (2 kg) ............ 20 lb (9 kg). Monthly ................ Monthly ................ 100 per month ..... 100 per month ..... 100 per month of each species. 100 per month ..... 100 per month ..... 75 lb (34 kg) ........ 100 lb (45 kg) ...... 100 lb (45 kg) of each species. 100 lb (45 kg) ...... 260 lb (118 kg) .... OTM, OTF, PUR Monthly ................ 100 per month ..... 260 lb (118 kg) .... OTM, OTF ........... OTM, OTF, PUR OTM .................... Monthly ................ Monthly ................ Monthly ................ 100 per month ..... 100 per month ..... 150 per month ..... 75 lb (34 kg) ........ 25 lb (11 kg) ........ 75 lb (34 kg) ........ 900 lb (408 kg). 1,200 lb (544 kg). 1,200 lb (544 kg) of ea. species. 1,200 lb (544 kg). 3,120 lb (1415 kg). 3,120 lb (1415 kg). 900 lb (408 kg). 300 lb (136 kg). 900 lb (408 kg). jbell on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES * Stock area abbreviations: Gulf of Maine (GOM), Georges Bank (GB), Southern New England (SNE). # Gear abbreviations: Otter trawl (OTF), bottom longline (LLB), sink gillnet (GNS), sea scallop dredge (DRS), fish pot (PTF), hand lines, auto jig (HND), purse seine (PUR), otter trawl midwater (OTM), pair trawl midwater (PTM). If approved, the Center 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 impact that does not change the scope of the initially approved EFP request. Any fishing activity conducted outside the scope of the exempted fishing activity would be prohibited. Dated: March 25, 2019. Jennifer M. Wallace, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2019–06105 Filed 3–28–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 17:48 Mar 28, 2019 Jkt 247001 PO 00000 Procurement List; Proposed Additions and Deletions Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled. ACTION: Proposed additions to and deletions from the Procurement List. AGENCY: The Committee is proposing to add products and service to the Procurement List that will be furnished SUMMARY: Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. VerDate Sep<11>2014 COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR SEVERELY DISABLED Frm 00009 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\29MRN1.SGM 29MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 61 (Friday, March 29, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11933-11934]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-06105]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG899


Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic 
Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permit

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 submitted by 
the Northeast Fisheries Science Center contains all of the required 
information and warrants further consideration. This Exempted Fishing 
Permit would exempt participating vessels from minimum fish size 
restrictions and fish possession limits. Regulations under the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act require 
publication of this notice to provide interested parties the 
opportunity to comment on Exempted Fishing Permit applications.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 15, 2019.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by either of the following 
methods:
     Email: [email protected]. Include in the subject line 
``Comments on NEFSC Study Fleet 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 
NEFSC Study Fleet EFP.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Spencer Talmage, Fishery Management 
Specialist, 978-281-9232, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Northeast Fisheries Science Center 
submitted a complete application for an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) 
on February 26, 2019, for the 2019 Study Fleet Program. The EFP would 
exempt 18 commercial fishing vessels from the minimum size and 
possession limits for species of interest, as well as allow temporary 
retention of species that would be discarded.
    The Center established the Study Fleet Program in 2002 to more 
fully characterize commercial fishing operations and provide sampling 
opportunities to augment NMFS's data collection programs. Partnership 
with the commercial fishing industry allows the Center to provide 
samples for stock assessment and fish biology research when traditional 
sampling sources might otherwise be unavailable. Table 1 includes all 
of the regulations specified at 50 CFR part 648 that participating 
vessels would be exempt from for at-sea sampling or when retaining and 
landing fish for research purposes. The exemptions listed in Table 1 
are necessary for contracted vessels to acquire the biological samples 
needed to meet Center research objectives.

 Table 1--Specific Regulations Covered by the Proposed Exempted Fishing
                                 Permit
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Study fleet program EFP
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Vessels....................  18.
Exempted regulations in 50 CFR part    Size limits: Sec.   648.83
 648.                                   Northeast multispecies minimum
                                        sizes.
                                       Possession restrictions:
                                       3Sec.   648.86(a) Haddock.
                                       3Sec.   648.86(b) Atlantic cod.
                                       3Sec.   648.86(d) Small-mesh
                                        multispecies.
                                       3Sec.   648.86(g) Yellowtail
                                        flounder.

[[Page 11934]]

 
                                       3Sec.   648.86(o) Possession
                                        limits implemented by Regional
                                        Administrator.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Any fish retained under the EFP would be delivered to Center staff 
upon landing. Additionally, the Center would issue a formal Biological 
Sampling Request to the vessel to retain fish in excess of possession 
limits or below the minimum size limit. This would ensure that the 
landed fish do not exceed any collection needs of the Study Fleet 
Program, as detailed below in Table 2.
    All catch would be attributed to the appropriate commercial fishing 
quota. For a vessel fishing on a groundfish sector trip, all catch of 
groundfish stocks allocated to sectors would be deducted from the 
vessel's sector's Annual Catch Entitlement (ACE). Once the ACE for a 
stock has been reached in a sector, vessels would no longer be allowed 
to fish in that stock area unless the sector acquired additional ACE 
for the stock in question. For common pool vessels, all groundfish 
catch would be counted toward the appropriate trimester total allowable 
catch (TAC). Common pool vessels would be exempt from possession and 
trip limits on EFP trips when directed for sampling by the Center, but 
would still be subject to trimester TAC closures.

                                            Table 2--Study Fleet Program's Biological Sample Collection Needs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                Individual fish
             Species                 Stock area *        Gear types          Collection        per collection      Maximum weight     Maximum allowance
                                                                               frequency            period         allowed per trip
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atlantic cod....................  GOM, GB...........  OTF, DRS..........  Monthly (Dec-Mar).  20 per month (10    175 lb (79 kg)....  2,800 lb (1,270
                                                                                               from each stock                         kg).
                                                                                               area).
Haddock.........................  GOM, GB...........  OTF, DRS..........  Monthly (Dec-Mar).  80 per week (40     300 lb (136 kg)...  4,800 lb (2,177
                                                                                               from each stock                         kg).
                                                                                               area).
Acadian Redfish.................  GOM...............  OTF...............  Monthly (Mar-July)  50 per month......  150 lb (68 kg)....  750 lb (340 kg).
Yellowtail Flounder.............  GOM, GB, SNE......  OTF, DRS..........  Monthly (Jan-Apr).  120 per week (40    90 lb (41 kg).....  2,160 lb (980 kg).
                                                                                               from each stock
                                                                                               area).
Winter Flounder.................  GOM, GB, SNE......  OTF, DRS..........  Monthly (Jan-Apr).  120 per week (40    160 lb (73 kg)....  3,840 lb (1742
                                                                                               from each stock                         kg).
                                                                                               area).
Longfin squid...................  Any Area..........  OTM, OTF..........  Quarterly (4        15 per quarter....  5 lb (2 kg).......  20 lb (9 kg).
                                                                           separate months).
Longfin squid...................  Any Area..........  OTM, OTF..........  Monthly...........  100 per month.....  75 lb (34 kg).....  900 lb (408 kg).
Atlantic herring................  Any Area..........  OTM, OTF, PUR.....  Monthly...........  100 per month.....  100 lb (45 kg)....  1,200 lb (544 kg).
River herring/shad..............  Any Area..........  OTM, OTF, PUR.....  Monthly...........  100 per month of    100 lb (45 kg) of   1,200 lb (544 kg)
                                                                                               each species.       each species.       of ea. species.
round herring...................  Any Area..........  OTM, OTF, PUR.....  Monthly...........  100 per month.....  100 lb (45 kg)....  1,200 lb (544 kg).
Silver hake.....................  Any Area..........  OTM, OTF, PUR.....  Monthly...........  100 per month.....  260 lb (118 kg)...  3,120 lb (1415
                                                                                                                                       kg).
Atlantic mackerel...............  Any Area..........  OTM, OTF, PUR.....  Monthly...........  100 per month.....  260 lb (118 kg)...  3,120 lb (1415
                                                                                                                                       kg).
Shortfin squid..................  Any Area..........  OTM, OTF..........  Monthly...........  100 per month.....  75 lb (34 kg).....  900 lb (408 kg).
Sand lance......................  Any Area..........  OTM, OTF, PUR.....  Monthly...........  100 per month.....  25 lb (11 kg).....  300 lb (136 kg).
Butterfish......................  SNE, MA...........  OTM...............  Monthly...........  150 per month.....  75 lb (34 kg).....  900 lb (408 kg).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Stock area abbreviations: Gulf of Maine (GOM), Georges Bank (GB), Southern New England (SNE).
 Gear abbreviations: Otter trawl (OTF), bottom longline (LLB), sink gillnet (GNS), sea scallop dredge (DRS), fish pot (PTF), hand lines, auto jig
  (HND), purse seine (PUR), otter trawl midwater (OTM), pair trawl midwater (PTM).

    If approved, the Center 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 impact that does not change the scope 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: March 25, 2019.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-06105 Filed 3-28-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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