Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits, 23527-23528 [2019-10672]
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 99 / Wednesday, May 22, 2019 / Notices
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initiate Framework Adjustment 32 to
the Atlantic Sea Scallop FMP, which
contains specifications for the 2020
fishing year, 2021 default specifications,
and other measures. Third, the Council
will review scoping comments for
Amendment 21 to the Scallop FMP,
which is being developed to address
Northern Gulf of Maine Management
Area issues, limited access general
category (LAGC) possession limits, and
LAGC individual fishing quota (IFQ)
transfers. The Council will review goals
and objectives for Amendment 21 at this
meeting. Then, the Council will discuss
the recent Research Set-Aside Program
Review and receive input from both the
Scallop and Herring Committees on the
review panel’s findings and
recommendations. After that, the
Council will adjourn for the day.
Wednesday, June 12, 2019
The Council will begin its morning
session with a presentation from the
Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s
Fishery Management and Research
Division. The presentation will cover:
(1) The division’s role and
responsibilities; (2) cooperative research
activities; and (3) observer program
updates. The Council then will receive
a presentation from its Whiting PDT on
causes and sources of high groundfish
bycatch in the small-mesh multispecies
(whiting) fishery based on an analysis of
sea sampling data. Next, the Council
will receive a report from a sub-panel of
the Scientific and Statistical Committee
(SSC) that was charged with reviewing
the scientific validity of information and
analyses for Amendment 23 to the
Northeast Multispecies (Groundfish)
FMP, which is being developed to
improve groundfish monitoring. This
discussion will flow into the Groundfish
Committee Report. Here, the Council is
scheduled to approve the range of
alternatives for further analysis in
Amendment 23. The Council also will
initiate Framework Adjustment 59 to
the Groundfish FMP, which includes:
(1) 2020 total allowable catches for U.S./
Canada stocks of Eastern Georges Bank
cod, Eastern Georges Bank haddock, and
Georges Bank yellowtail flounder; (2)
2020–22 specifications for all stocks;
and (3) other measures as needed.
Following the lunch break, the
Council will continue its groundfish
discussion until all related business is
concluded. Next, the Council will
receive an update on potential strategies
for addressing recreational fishing
issues more effectively. This discussion
will be followed by a GARFO briefing
on the ‘‘Modernizing Recreational
Fisheries Management Act of 2018,’’
better known as the ‘‘Modern Fish Act.’’
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The Council then will receive a
presentation on new and revised
electronic vessel reporting requirements
for charter/headboat (for-hire) vessels
with South Atlantic permits. NMFS
Highly Migratory Species (HMS) issues
will wrap up the afternoon. First, the
Council will receive a presentation on a
series of scoping meetings and public
hearings being conducted by the HMS
Division on four proposed management
actions, which cover a number of
bluefin tuna, shark, gear, quota system,
and research issues. Next, the Council
will receive a report on the HMS
Advisory Panel’s May 21–23, 2019
meeting, which will include input on
the proposed NMFS HMS actions.
Under this agenda item, the Council
also will discuss bigeye tuna and
yellowfin tuna management under the
International Commission for the
Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT)
before adjourning for the day.
Thursday, June 13, 2019
The third day of the meeting will
begin with a progress report from the
Ecosystem-Based Fishery Management
(EBFM) Committee, which is developing
an example Fishery Ecosystem Plan
(eFEP) for Georges Bank. The Committee
will provide updates on several
components of the eFEP, including ones
related to data and monitoring,
incentive-based measures, and draft
ecosystem forage fish management
strategies. The report also will include
a short overview of initial planning
efforts for a Management Strategy
Evaluation (MSE) related to ecosystembased fishery management. The
Monkfish Committee then will present
two actions asking the Council to: (1)
Initiate Framework Adjustment 12 to
the Monkfish FMP, which includes
2020–22 specifications and any other
needed measures; and (2) approve
2020–21 priorities for the Monkfish
Research Set-Aside Program. Next, the
Council will discuss the Mid-Atlantic
Fishery Management Council’s
Commercial Electronic Vessel Trip
Reporting (eVTR) Omnibus Framework
Action, which proposes to implement
electronic VTRs for all vessels with
commercial permits for species
managed by the Mid-Atlantic Council.
The New England Council’s discussion
will focus on two jointly managed
species between the Councils, those
being monkfish and spiny dogfish. The
New England Council then will
determine a path forward regarding
commercial eVTRs in its own fisheries,
including monkfish and dogfish, given
the Mid-Atlantic Council’s evolving
action. Afterwards, GARFO will provide
a presentation on the results of the
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23527
Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction
Team’s April 23–26, 2019 meeting and
discuss next steps for rulemaking.
Following the lunch break, the
Council will take up the Skate
Committee Report. The Council will
initiate Framework Adjustment 8 to the
Northeast Skate Complex FMP, which
includes 2020–21 specifications and
other measures if needed. Second, the
Council will discuss Amendment 5 to
the Skate FMP, which proposes to
establish a limited access program for
the skate wing and/or skate bait
fisheries. Next, the Council will receive
a presentation on the joint Northeast
Fisheries Science Center and GARFO
Regional Strategic Plan for 2020–23,
which highlights collective priorities.
Finally, the Council will close out the
meeting with ‘‘other business.’’
Although non-emergency issues not
contained on this agenda may come
before the Council for discussion, those
issues may not be the subject of formal
action during this meeting. Council
action will be restricted to those issues
specifically listed in this notice and any
issues arising after publication of this
notice that require emergency action
under section 305(c) of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act, provided the public
has been notified of the Council’s intent
to take final action to address the
emergency. The public also should be
aware that the meeting will be recorded.
Consistent with 16 U.S.C. 1852, a copy
of the recording is available upon
request.
Special Accommodations
This meeting is physically accessible
to people with disabilities. Requests for
sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed to
Thomas A. Nies (see ADDRESSES) at least
5 days prior to the meeting date.
Dated: May 17, 2019.
Rey Israel Marquez,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019–10714 Filed 5–21–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–GAR–A003
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions;
General Provisions for Domestic
Fisheries; Application for Exempted
Fishing Permits
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
AGENCY:
E:\FR\FM\22MYN1.SGM
22MYN1
23528
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 99 / Wednesday, May 22, 2019 / Notices
Fisheries Commission Exempted
Fishery Study EFP.’’
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
The NMFS Assistant Regional
Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries,
Greater Atlantic Region, 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 allow
up to six commercial fishing vessels to
use raised-footrope trawl gear to target
small-mesh multispecies (silver and red
hake) within Small Mesh Area 1 before
the start of the open season. 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 a proposed exempted fishing permit.
DATES: Comments must be received on
or before June 6, 2019.
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 the Gloucester Fisheries Commission
Whiting Exempted Fishery Study EFP.’’
• Mail: Michael Pentony, Regional
Administrator, NMFS, Greater Atlantic
Regional Office, 55 Great Republic
Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the
outside of the envelope ‘‘Gloucester
SUMMARY:
Laura Hansen, Fishery Management
Specialist, (978) 281–9225.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Gloucester Fisheries Commission (GFC)
submitted an application for an EFP on
May 6, 2019. This EFP would allow up
to 6 commercial fishing vessels to take
up to 60 trips to fish for small-mesh
multispecies within Small Mesh Area 1
(SMA1). The GFC asserts that SMA 1 is
underutilized during the current season
and that small-mesh multispecies stocks
may be more prevalent and more
effectively targeted within the area
before the start of the July 15 opening
of the exemption area. This study would
provide data on catch rates of smallmesh multispecies and bycatch of
regulated Northeast multispecies (and
other species) to help evaluate the
potential for opening SMA1 earlier.
The small-mesh multispecies fishery
is open in SMA1 from July 15 through
November 15. This EFP would allow the
participating vessels to fish in SMA1 as
early as June 1 through July 14, 2019.
The exact start date may be after June
1, as some details of participation and
monitoring resources are still being
finalized. The length of each trip would
be at the discretion of the vessel
operators, consistent with normal
commercial fishing practices. Fishing
would not occur in any area closed to
protect spawning groundfish.
Participating vessels would use a
raised-footrope trawl with diamond
mesh codends that have a mesh size of
greater than 2.5 inches but less than 3
inches, consistent with 50 CFR
648.80(a)(9)(ii). Massachusetts Division
of Marine Fisheries (MA DMF) staff
would inspect all gear prior to use to
verify that it meets the required mesh
size and gear specifications. Per
regulation, this size mesh will allow
participating vessels to retain up to
3,000 lb (3.4 mt) of whiting/offshore
hake and 7,500 lb (1.4 mt) of red hake
per trip. Participating vessels would
also be exempt from the possession
limits and minimum size requirements
for biological sampling purposes only.
All catch that is not retained for sale
will be promptly returned to the sea.
A contracted observer or Northeast
Fisheries Science Center staff would be
on board all trips to collect data on
catch composition, length and weight
measurements, and operational data
(location, weather, time, duration of
tow, trawl speed, etc.).
The table below shows catch
estimates for the project that are based
on a similar study conducted by MA
DMF, in 2016 and 2017. There is
potential to catch up to 18 percent of the
red hake total allowable landings (TAL)
as part of this project which may be of
concern to other fishermen that are not
participating in the EFP.
TABLE 1—ESTIMATED CATCH FOR WHITING, RED HAKE, REGULATED GROUNDFISH, AND OTHER SPECIES
[Numbers in metric tons]
Average
catch/trip
2016
Species
Nothern Silver Hake .............................................................
Northern Red Hake ..............................................................
Cod .......................................................................................
Haddock ...............................................................................
American plaice ...................................................................
Herring .................................................................................
Yellowtail flounder ................................................................
Groundfish Excluding Haddock ...........................................
Average
catch/trip
2017
2.4
0.9
<0.1
0.5
<0.1
<0.1
<0.1
0.1
Project
average
1.9
0.8
<0.1
0.1
0.1
0.9
0.1
0.1
2.1
0.8
<0.1
0.3
0.1
0.5
<0.1
0.1
Expected
catch
(60 trips)
Percent
of quota
128.5
50.2
0.2
19.0
3.2
27.5
2.4
6.8
0.5
* 18.0
<0.1
<0.1
<0.1
<0.1
<0.1
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* This number is the percent of the TAL for Northern red hake.
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 impact that does not
change the scope of the initially
approved EFP request. Any fishing
activity conducted outside the scope of
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17:29 May 21, 2019
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the exempted fishing activity would be
prohibited.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: May 17, 2019.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019–10672 Filed 5–21–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing
System (IOOS®) Advisory Committee
National Ocean Service,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), Department of
Commerce.
AGENCY:
E:\FR\FM\22MYN1.SGM
22MYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 99 (Wednesday, May 22, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23527-23528]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-10672]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-GAR-A003
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic
Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
[[Page 23528]]
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The NMFS Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable
Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, 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 allow up to six commercial fishing
vessels to use raised-footrope trawl gear to target small-mesh
multispecies (silver and red hake) within Small Mesh Area 1 before the
start of the open season. 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 a proposed exempted fishing permit.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 6, 2019.
ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by any of the following
methods:
Email: [email protected]. Include in the subject line
``Comments on the Gloucester Fisheries Commission Whiting Exempted
Fishery Study EFP.''
Mail: Michael Pentony, Regional Administrator, NMFS,
Greater Atlantic Regional Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester,
MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope ``Gloucester Fisheries
Commission Exempted Fishery Study EFP.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Hansen, Fishery Management
Specialist, (978) 281-9225.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gloucester Fisheries Commission (GFC)
submitted an application for an EFP on May 6, 2019. This EFP would
allow up to 6 commercial fishing vessels to take up to 60 trips to fish
for small-mesh multispecies within Small Mesh Area 1 (SMA1). The GFC
asserts that SMA 1 is underutilized during the current season and that
small-mesh multispecies stocks may be more prevalent and more
effectively targeted within the area before the start of the July 15
opening of the exemption area. This study would provide data on catch
rates of small-mesh multispecies and bycatch of regulated Northeast
multispecies (and other species) to help evaluate the potential for
opening SMA1 earlier.
The small-mesh multispecies fishery is open in SMA1 from July 15
through November 15. This EFP would allow the participating vessels to
fish in SMA1 as early as June 1 through July 14, 2019. The exact start
date may be after June 1, as some details of participation and
monitoring resources are still being finalized. The length of each trip
would be at the discretion of the vessel operators, consistent with
normal commercial fishing practices. Fishing would not occur in any
area closed to protect spawning groundfish.
Participating vessels would use a raised-footrope trawl with
diamond mesh codends that have a mesh size of greater than 2.5 inches
but less than 3 inches, consistent with 50 CFR 648.80(a)(9)(ii).
Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (MA DMF) staff would inspect
all gear prior to use to verify that it meets the required mesh size
and gear specifications. Per regulation, this size mesh will allow
participating vessels to retain up to 3,000 lb (3.4 mt) of whiting/
offshore hake and 7,500 lb (1.4 mt) of red hake per trip. Participating
vessels would also be exempt from the possession limits and minimum
size requirements for biological sampling purposes only. All catch that
is not retained for sale will be promptly returned to the sea.
A contracted observer or Northeast Fisheries Science Center staff
would be on board all trips to collect data on catch composition,
length and weight measurements, and operational data (location,
weather, time, duration of tow, trawl speed, etc.).
The table below shows catch estimates for the project that are
based on a similar study conducted by MA DMF, in 2016 and 2017. There
is potential to catch up to 18 percent of the red hake total allowable
landings (TAL) as part of this project which may be of concern to other
fishermen that are not participating in the EFP.
Table 1--Estimated Catch for Whiting, Red Hake, Regulated Groundfish, and Other Species
[Numbers in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expected
Species Average catch/ Average catch/ Project catch (60 Percent of
trip 2016 trip 2017 average trips) quota
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nothern Silver Hake............. 2.4 1.9 2.1 128.5 0.5
Northern Red Hake............... 0.9 0.8 0.8 50.2 * 18.0
Cod............................. <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 0.2 <0.1
Haddock......................... 0.5 0.1 0.3 19.0 <0.1
American plaice................. <0.1 0.1 0.1 3.2 <0.1
Herring......................... <0.1 0.9 0.5 27.5 <0.1
Yellowtail flounder............. <0.1 0.1 <0.1 2.4 <0.1
Groundfish Excluding Haddock.... 0.1 0.1 0.1 6.8
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* This number is the percent of the TAL for Northern red hake.
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 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: May 17, 2019.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-10672 Filed 5-21-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
