Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits, 22829-22831 [2019-10356]
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 97 / Monday, May 20, 2019 / Notices
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significant amount of time. The
activities may cause some fish to leave
the area of disturbance, thus temporarily
impacting marine mammals’ foraging
opportunities in a limited portion of the
foraging range; but, because of the short
duration of the activities and the
relatively small area of the habitat that
may be affected, the impacts to marine
mammal habitat are not expected to
cause significant or long-term negative
consequences.
In summary and as described above,
the following factors primarily support
our determination that the impacts
resulting from this activity are not
expected to adversely affect the species
or stock through effects on annual rates
of recruitment or survival:
• No mortality is anticipated or
authorized;
• The Level A harassment exposures
are anticipated to result only in slight
PTS, within the lower frequencies
associated with pile driving;
• The anticipated incidents of Level B
harassment consist of, at worst,
temporary modifications in behavior
that would not result in fitness impacts
to individuals;
• The specified activity and
ensonified area is very small relative to
the overall habitat ranges of all species
and does not include habitat areas of
special significance (BIAs or ESAdesignated critical habitat); and
• The presumed efficacy of the
mitigation measures in reducing the
effects of the specified activity to the
level of least practicable adverse impact.
Based on the analysis contained
herein of the likely effects of the
specified activity on marine mammals
and their habitat, and taking into
consideration the implementation of the
monitoring and mitigation measures,
NMFS finds that the total marine
mammal take from the Port District’s
activity will have a negligible impact on
all affected marine mammal species or
stocks.
Small Numbers
As noted above, only small numbers
of incidental take may be authorized
under Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of
the MMPA for specified activities other
than military readiness activities. The
MMPA does not define small numbers
and so, in practice, where estimated
numbers are available, NMFS compares
the number of individuals taken to the
most appropriate estimation of
abundance of the relevant species or
stock in our determination of whether
an authorization is limited to small
numbers of marine mammals.
Additionally, other qualitative factors
may be considered in the analysis, such
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:41 May 17, 2019
Jkt 247001
as the temporal or spatial scale of the
activities.
Table 6 presents the number of
animals that could be exposed to
received noise levels that could cause
Level A and Level B harassment for the
Port District’s activities. Our analysis
shows that less than 16 percent of each
affected stock could be taken by
harassment. The numbers of animals
anticipated to be taken for these stocks
would be considered small relative to
the relevant stock’s abundances even if
each estimated taking occurred to a new
individual—an unlikely scenario.
Based on the analysis contained
herein of the Port District’s activity
(including the mitigation and
monitoring measures) and the
anticipated take of marine mammals,
NMFS finds that small numbers of
marine mammals will be taken relative
to the population size of the affected
species or stocks.
Unmitigable Adverse Impact Analysis
and Determination
There are no relevant subsistence uses
of the affected marine mammal stocks or
species implicated by this action.
Therefore, NMFS has determined that
the total taking of affected species or
stocks would not have an unmitigable
adverse impact on the availability of
such species or stocks for taking for
subsistence purposes.
National Environmental Policy Act
To comply with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and
NOAA Administrative Order (NAO)
216–6A, NMFS must review our action
(i.e., the issuance of an incidental
harassment authorization) with respect
to potential impacts on the human
environment.
This action is consistent with
categories of activities identified in
Categorical Exclusion B4 (incidental
harassment authorizations with no
anticipated serious injury or mortality)
of the Companion Manual for NOAA
Administrative Order 216–6A, which do
not individually or cumulatively have
the potential for significant impacts on
the quality of the human environment
and for which we have not identified
any extraordinary circumstances that
would preclude this categorical
exclusion. Accordingly, NMFS has
determined that the issuance of the IHA
qualifies to be categorically excluded
from further NEPA review.
Endangered Species Act (ESA)
No incidental take of ESA-listed
species is authorized or expected to
result from this activity. Therefore,
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
22829
NMFS has determined that formal
consultation under section 7 of the ESA
is not required for this action.
Authorization
NMFS has issued an IHA to the Port
District for the incidental take of marine
mammals due to in-water construction
work associated with the Aldo’s Seawall
Replacement Project in Santa Cruz, CA
from June 1, 2019 through May 31,
2020, provided the previously
mentioned mitigation, monitoring, and
reporting requirements are incorporated.
Dated: May 14, 2019.
Donna S. Wieting,
Director, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019–10429 Filed 5–17–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XG978
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
six commercial fishing vessels from
limited access sea scallop regulations in
support of a study on seasonal bycatch
distribution and characterize scallop
meat health on Georges Bank.
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 June 4, 2019.
ADDRESSES: You may submit written
comments by any of the following
methods:
• Email: nmfs.gar.efp@noaa.gov.
Include in the subject line ‘‘DA19–034
CFF Seasonal Survey in the Atlantic Sea
Scallop Fishery EFP.’’
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\20MYN1.SGM
20MYN1
22830
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 97 / Monday, May 20, 2019 / Notices
• Mail: Michael Pentony, Regional
Administrator, NMFS, Greater Atlantic
Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great
Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930.
Mark the outside of the envelope
‘‘DA19–034 CFF Seasonal Survey in the
Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery EFP.’’
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Aly
Pitts, Fishery Management Specialist,
978–281–9352.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Coonamesset Farm Foundation (CFF)
submitted an exempted fishing permit
(EFP) application in support of a project
titled ‘‘Seasonal Survey in the Atlantic
Sea Scallop Fishery,’’ that has been
funded under the 2019 Atlantic Sea
Scallop Research Set-Aside (RSA)
Program.
This project would look primarily at
the seasonal distribution of bycatch of
yellowtail and windowpane flounder on
the eastern part of Georges Bank in
relation to sea scallop meat weight
yield. Additional objectives include
testing of an experimental cover net to
better understand dredge efficiency and
selectivity, and collection of biological
samples to examine scallop meat quality
and yellowtail flounder liver disease.
Investigators would also work in
cooperation with New Hampshire Fish
and Game (NHFG) and the Atlantic
Offshore Lobstermen’s Association
(AOLA) to tag female lobsters.
To enable this research, CFF is
requesting exemptions for six
commercial fishing vessels from the
Atlantic sea scallop days-at-sea (DAS)
allocations at 50 CFR 648.53(b); crew
size restrictions at § 648.51(c); observer
program requirements at § 648.11(g);
Closed Area II (CAII) scallop gear
restrictions specified at § 648.81(b); and
access area program requirements at
§ 648.59(a)(1)–(3), (b)(2), (b)(4), Closed
Area II Scallop Access Area Seasonal
Closure at § 648.60(d)(2); and dredge or
net obstructions at § 648.51(b)(4)(iii).
CFF has also requested that vessels be
exempt from possession limits and
minimum size requirements specified in
part 648, subsections B and D through
O for biological sampling, and § 697.20
for lobster sampling and tagging
purposes only.
Participating vessels would conduct
scallop dredging from August 2019
through June 2020. Six vessels would
conduct a total of six 5-day trips, for a
total of 30 days at sea (DAS). The survey
area would be in Closed Area II Access
Area, with 3 stations north of the Closed
Area II Access Area. Open area tows
would be conducted on the western and
southern boundaries of Closed Area II.
There is a potential for gear conflict
with lobster gear in the central portion
of Closed Area II. In an effort to help
mitigate gear interactions, CFF would
distribute the time and location of
stations to the lobster industry, work
only during daylight hours, post an
extra lookout to avoid gear, and actively
avoid tangling in stationary gear. The
project would work in cooperation in
with NHFG and AOLA to tag lobsters
with the primary goal of documenting
their movement on and off Georges
Bank. The applicant states that data
from the tagging project could also help
answer questions of lobster discard
mortality in the scallop fishery.
All tows would be conducted with
two 15-foot (4.6-m) turtle deflector
dredges for a duration of 30 minutes
using an average tow speed of 4.8 knots.
Both dredges would be rigged with a 7row apron and twine top hanging ratio
of 2:1, the experimental dredge would
have an attached cover net with 2-inch
(5.0-cm) mesh extending from the back
of the head bale to the clubstick. Both
dredge frames would be rigged with
identical rock and tickler chain
configurations, 10-inch (25.4-cm) twine
top, and 4-inch (10.2-cm) ring bag. Gear
comparison data will help improve
efforts to reduce scallop dredge bycatch.
With the exception of the cover net,
dredge gear would conform to scallop
gear regulations.
For all tows, the entire sea scallop
catch would be counted into baskets
and weighed. One basket from each
dredge would be randomly selected, and
the scallops would be measured in 5milimeter increments to determine size
selectivity. All finfish catch would be
sorted by species and then counted and
measured. Weight, sex, and
reproductive state would be determined
for a random subsample (n=10) of
yellowtail, winter, and windowpane
flounders. Lobsters would be measured,
sexed, and evaluated for damage and
shell disease. No catch would be
retained for longer than needed to
conduct scientific sampling, and no
catch would be landed for sale. All
catch estimates for the project are listed
in Table 1, below.
khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
TABLE 1—COONAMESSETT FARM FOUNDATION GEORGES BANK SCALLOP RESEARCH PROJECT
Estimated
weight
(lb) *
Common name
Scientific name
Sea Scallop ..................................................................
Yellowtail Flounder .......................................................
Winter Flounder ............................................................
Windowpane Flounder ..................................................
Summer Flounder .........................................................
Fourspot Flounder ........................................................
American Plaice ............................................................
Grey Sole ......................................................................
Haddock ........................................................................
Atlantic Cod ..................................................................
Monkfish .......................................................................
Spiny Dogfish ...............................................................
Barndoor Skates ...........................................................
NE Skate Complex (excluding barndoor skate) ...........
Placopecten magellanicus ............................................
Limanda ferruginea .......................................................
Pseudopleuronectes americanus .................................
Scophthalmus aquosus ................................................
Paralichthys dentatus ...................................................
Paralichthys oblongus ..................................................
Hippoglossoides platessoides ......................................
Glyptocephalus cynoglossus ........................................
Melanogrammus aeglefinus .........................................
Gadus morhua ..............................................................
Lophius americanus .....................................................
Squalus acanthias ........................................................
Dipturus laevis ..............................................................
Leucoraja erinacea, Leucoraja ocellata .......................
American lobster ...........................................................
Homarus americanus ...................................................
Estimated
weight
(kg)
33,103
1,097
1,605
5,656
1,886
148
180
24
116
199
16,839
173
2,217
127,055
111,758
498
69
2,195
495
342
52
29
25
60
9,218
25
2,018
48,920
196 **
* Weights estimated using catch from a similar 2017 project.
** Number of individual animals estimated to be caught.
The applicant states that the
exemptions are necessary to allow them
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:41 May 17, 2019
Jkt 247001
to conduct experimental dredge towing
without being charged DAS, evaluate
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
twine top and dredge apron escapement,
and deploy gear in areas that are
E:\FR\FM\20MYN1.SGM
20MYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 97 / Monday, May 20, 2019 / Notices
currently closed to scallop fishing.
Participating vessels need crew size
waivers to accommodate science
personnel. Exemptions from possession
limits would allow researchers to
sample finfish and lobster catch that
exceeds possession limits or
prohibitions. The project would be
exempt from the sea scallop observer
program requirements because activities
conducted on the trip are not consistent
with normal fishing operations.
Researchers from CFF will accompany
each trip taken under the EFP. The goal
of the proposed work is to provide
information on spatial and temporal
patterns in bycatch rates in the scallop
fishery, with the objective of identifying
mechanisms to mitigate bycatch. The
data collected would enhance
understanding of bycatch and scallop
yield as they relate to access and open
area management.
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: May 14, 2019.
Kelly L. Denit,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019–10356 Filed 5–17–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Defense Acquisition Regulations
System
[Docket Number DARS–2019–0021; OMB
Control Number 0704–0549]
Information Collection Requirement;
Defense Federal Acquisition
Regulation Supplement; Contractors
Performing Private Security Functions
Outside the United States
Defense Acquisition
Regulations System, Department of
Defense (DoD).
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments regarding a proposed
extension of an approved information
collection requirement.
khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
AGENCY:
In compliance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, DoD
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:41 May 17, 2019
announces the proposed extension of a
public information collection
requirement and seeks public comment
on the provisions thereof. The Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) has
approved this information collection
requirement for use through September
30, 2019. DoD proposes that OMB
extend its approval for three additional
years.
DATES: DoD will consider all comments
received by July 19, 2019.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments,
identified by OMB Control Number
0704–0549, using any of the following
methods:
Æ Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
Æ Email: osd.dfars@mail.mil. Include
OMB Control Number 0704–0549 in the
subject line of the message.
Æ Fax: 571–372–6094.
Æ Mail: Defense Acquisition
Regulations System, Attn: Ms. Barbara
Trujillo, OUSD(A&S)DPC(DARS), 3060
Defense Pentagon, Room 3B941,
Washington, DC 20301–3060.
Comments received generally will be
posted without change to https://
www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information provided.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Barbara Trujillo, 571–372–6102. The
information collection requirements
addressed in this notice are available
electronically on the internet at: https://
www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/dfars/
index.htm. Paper copies are available
from Ms. Barbara Trujillo,
OUSD(A&S)DPC(DARS), Room 3B941,
3060 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC
20301–3060.
Jkt 247001
Title, Associated Form, and OMB
Number: Defense Federal Acquisition
Regulation Supplement (DFARS) part
225, Foreign Acquisition, and Defense
Contractors Performing Private Security
Functions Outside the United States;
OMB Control Number 0704–0549.
Needs and Uses: Geographic
combatant commanders use the
information reported by private security
contractors on security incidents in
order to properly account for and track
contractor personnel and assets in
theater and to respond to security
incidents as deemed necessary.
Affected Public: Businesses entities.
Respondent’s Obligation: Required to
obtain or retain benefits.
Type of Request: Renewal of a
currently approved collection.
Reporting Frequency: On occasion.
Number of Respondents: 12.
Responses per Respondent: 4.
Annual Responses: 48.
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
22831
Average Burden per Response: .5
hour.
Annual Response Burden Hours: 24.
Summary of Information Collection
Geographic combatant commanders
are required by statute to establish
procedures and assign responsibilities
for ensuring that contractors and
contractor personnel report certain
security incidents when performing
private security functions in covered
operational areas. The clause at DFARS
252.225–7039, Defense Contractors
Performing Private Security Functions
Outside the United States, requires
contractors and subcontractors
performing private security functions in
designated operational areas outside the
United States to comply with 32 CFR
159 and any orders, directives, and
instructions contained in the contract
on reporting the following types of
incidents to the geographic combatant
commander if and when they occur:
(a) A weapon is discharged by
personnel performing private security
functions.
(b) Personnel performing private
security functions are attacked, killed,
or injured.
(c) Persons are killed or injured or
property is destroyed as a result of
conduct by contractor personnel.
(d) A weapon is discharged against
personnel performing private security
functions or personnel performing such
functions believe a weapon was so
discharged.
(e) Active, non-lethal
countermeasures (other than the
discharge of a weapon) are employed by
personnel performing private security
functions in response to a perceived
immediate threat.
DoD invites comments on: Whether
the proposed collection of information
is necessary for the proper performance
of the functions of DoD, including
whether the information will have
practical utility; the accuracy of the
estimate of the burden of the proposed
information collection; ways to enhance
the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and ways to
minimize the burden of the information
collection on respondents, including the
use of automated collection techniques
or other forms of information
technology.
Jennifer Lee Hawes,
Regulatory Control Officer, Defense
Acquisition Regulations System.
[FR Doc. 2019–10458 Filed 5–17–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001–06–P
E:\FR\FM\20MYN1.SGM
20MYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 97 (Monday, May 20, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22829-22831]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-10356]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XG978
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 six commercial fishing vessels
from limited access sea scallop regulations in support of a study on
seasonal bycatch distribution and characterize scallop meat health on
Georges Bank.
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 June 4, 2019.
ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by any of the following
methods:
Email: [email protected]. Include in the subject line
``DA19-034 CFF Seasonal Survey in the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery
EFP.''
[[Page 22830]]
Mail: Michael Pentony, Regional Administrator, NMFS,
Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic Drive,
Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope ``DA19-034 CFF
Seasonal Survey in the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery EFP.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Aly Pitts, Fishery Management
Specialist, 978-281-9352.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Coonamesset Farm Foundation (CFF) submitted
an exempted fishing permit (EFP) application in support of a project
titled ``Seasonal Survey in the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery,'' that
has been funded under the 2019 Atlantic Sea Scallop Research Set-Aside
(RSA) Program.
This project would look primarily at the seasonal distribution of
bycatch of yellowtail and windowpane flounder on the eastern part of
Georges Bank in relation to sea scallop meat weight yield. Additional
objectives include testing of an experimental cover net to better
understand dredge efficiency and selectivity, and collection of
biological samples to examine scallop meat quality and yellowtail
flounder liver disease. Investigators would also work in cooperation
with New Hampshire Fish and Game (NHFG) and the Atlantic Offshore
Lobstermen's Association (AOLA) to tag female lobsters.
To enable this research, CFF is requesting exemptions for six
commercial fishing vessels from the Atlantic sea scallop days-at-sea
(DAS) allocations at 50 CFR 648.53(b); crew size restrictions at Sec.
648.51(c); observer program requirements at Sec. 648.11(g); Closed
Area II (CAII) scallop gear restrictions specified at Sec. 648.81(b);
and access area program requirements at Sec. 648.59(a)(1)-(3), (b)(2),
(b)(4), Closed Area II Scallop Access Area Seasonal Closure at Sec.
648.60(d)(2); and dredge or net obstructions at Sec.
648.51(b)(4)(iii). CFF has also requested that vessels be exempt from
possession limits and minimum size requirements specified in part 648,
subsections B and D through O for biological sampling, and Sec. 697.20
for lobster sampling and tagging purposes only.
Participating vessels would conduct scallop dredging from August
2019 through June 2020. Six vessels would conduct a total of six 5-day
trips, for a total of 30 days at sea (DAS). The survey area would be in
Closed Area II Access Area, with 3 stations north of the Closed Area II
Access Area. Open area tows would be conducted on the western and
southern boundaries of Closed Area II.
There is a potential for gear conflict with lobster gear in the
central portion of Closed Area II. In an effort to help mitigate gear
interactions, CFF would distribute the time and location of stations to
the lobster industry, work only during daylight hours, post an extra
lookout to avoid gear, and actively avoid tangling in stationary gear.
The project would work in cooperation in with NHFG and AOLA to tag
lobsters with the primary goal of documenting their movement on and off
Georges Bank. The applicant states that data from the tagging project
could also help answer questions of lobster discard mortality in the
scallop fishery.
All tows would be conducted with two 15-foot (4.6-m) turtle
deflector dredges for a duration of 30 minutes using an average tow
speed of 4.8 knots. Both dredges would be rigged with a 7-row apron and
twine top hanging ratio of 2:1, the experimental dredge would have an
attached cover net with 2-inch (5.0-cm) mesh extending from the back of
the head bale to the clubstick. Both dredge frames would be rigged with
identical rock and tickler chain configurations, 10-inch (25.4-cm)
twine top, and 4-inch (10.2-cm) ring bag. Gear comparison data will
help improve efforts to reduce scallop dredge bycatch. With the
exception of the cover net, dredge gear would conform to scallop gear
regulations.
For all tows, the entire sea scallop catch would be counted into
baskets and weighed. One basket from each dredge would be randomly
selected, and the scallops would be measured in 5-milimeter increments
to determine size selectivity. All finfish catch would be sorted by
species and then counted and measured. Weight, sex, and reproductive
state would be determined for a random subsample (n=10) of yellowtail,
winter, and windowpane flounders. Lobsters would be measured, sexed,
and evaluated for damage and shell disease. No catch would be retained
for longer than needed to conduct scientific sampling, and no catch
would be landed for sale. All catch estimates for the project are
listed in Table 1, below.
Table 1--Coonamessett Farm Foundation Georges Bank Scallop Research Project
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated Estimated
Common name Scientific name weight (lb) * weight (kg)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sea Scallop................................... Placopecten magellanicus........ 33,103 111,758
Yellowtail Flounder........................... Limanda ferruginea.............. 1,097 498
Winter Flounder............................... Pseudopleuronectes americanus... 1,605 69
Windowpane Flounder........................... Scophthalmus aquosus............ 5,656 2,195
Summer Flounder............................... Paralichthys dentatus........... 1,886 495
Fourspot Flounder............................. Paralichthys oblongus........... 148 342
American Plaice............................... Hippoglossoides platessoides.... 180 52
Grey Sole..................................... Glyptocephalus cynoglossus...... 24 29
Haddock....................................... Melanogrammus aeglefinus........ 116 25
Atlantic Cod.................................. Gadus morhua.................... 199 60
Monkfish...................................... Lophius americanus.............. 16,839 9,218
Spiny Dogfish................................. Squalus acanthias............... 173 25
Barndoor Skates............................... Dipturus laevis................. 2,217 2,018
NE Skate Complex (excluding barndoor skate)... Leucoraja erinacea, Leucoraja 127,055 48,920
ocellata.
-------------------------------
American lobster.............................. Homarus americanus.............. 196 **
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Weights estimated using catch from a similar 2017 project.
** Number of individual animals estimated to be caught.
The applicant states that the exemptions are necessary to allow
them to conduct experimental dredge towing without being charged DAS,
evaluate twine top and dredge apron escapement, and deploy gear in
areas that are
[[Page 22831]]
currently closed to scallop fishing. Participating vessels need crew
size waivers to accommodate science personnel. Exemptions from
possession limits would allow researchers to sample finfish and lobster
catch that exceeds possession limits or prohibitions. The project would
be exempt from the sea scallop observer program requirements because
activities conducted on the trip are not consistent with normal fishing
operations. Researchers from CFF will accompany each trip taken under
the EFP. The goal of the proposed work is to provide information on
spatial and temporal patterns in bycatch rates in the scallop fishery,
with the objective of identifying mechanisms to mitigate bycatch. The
data collected would enhance understanding of bycatch and scallop yield
as they relate to access and open area management.
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: May 14, 2019.
Kelly L. Denit,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-10356 Filed 5-17-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
