Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permit, 19457-19459 [2020-07218]
Download as PDF
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 67 / Tuesday, April 7, 2020 / Notices
information and materials electronically
or via mail (see ADDRESSES section). We
request that all information be
accompanied by supporting
documentation such as maps,
bibliographic references, or reprints of
pertinent publications. We also would
appreciate the submitter’s name,
address, and any association,
institution, or business that the person
represents; however, anonymous
submissions will also be accepted.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.
Dated: April 1, 2020.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Conservation
Division,Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020–07243 Filed 4–6–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XW019]
U.S. Stakeholder Meeting on Pacific
Bluefin Tuna Fishery Management
Framework; Meeting Announcement
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting;
rescheduled meeting.
AGENCY:
NMFS is holding a meeting to
discuss the future management of the
U.S. West Coast Pacific bluefin tuna
(PBF) fishery, including management
objectives and a management
framework. Given recent developments
related to Coronavirus/COVID–19, we
have decided to reschedule this meeting
originally planned for April 23, 2020.
We are taking this step out of an
abundance of caution to consider the
safety of our visitors. The new date for
this meeting is May 19, 2020.
DATES: The meeting will be held May
19, 2020, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PDT,
or until business concludes.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in
Room 3400 at the Glenn M. Anderson
Federal Building, 501 W. Ocean Blvd.,
Long Beach, California 90802. Please
notify Eric Poncelet (meeting facilitator),
at eponcelet@kearnswest.com or (415)
697–0566 by May 4, 2020, if you plan
to attend. If interested members of the
public cannot reasonably attend the
meeting in person, NMFS may provide
for a teleconference phone line or
webinar for such members if a request
is made to the meeting facilitator. NMFS
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:22 Apr 06, 2020
Jkt 250001
strongly encourages in-person
participation in order to facilitate
discussion, unless developments related
to Coronavirus/COVID–19 restrict
attendance in person at that time. See
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for
additional information on attendance,
participation instructions, and meeting
materials.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Celia Barroso, West Coast Region,
NMFS, at Celia.Barroso@noaa.gov, or at
(562) 432–1850.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
intended to hold a meeting to discuss
the future management of the U.S. West
Coast PBF fishery, including
management objectives and a
management framework, on April 23,
2020 (85 FR 11967; February 28, 2020).
However, given recent developments
related to Coronavirus/COVID–19, we
have decided to reschedule this meeting
originally planned for April 23, 2020.
We are taking this step out of an
abundance of caution to consider the
safety of our participants. The new date
for this meeting is May 19, 2020.
Stakeholders have expressed an
interest in developing management
objectives and a long-term management
framework for PBF. In September 2018,
the Pacific Fishery Management Council
(PFMC) recommended that its Highly
Migratory Species Management Team
develop a long-term management
strategy for PBF (see the PFMC’s
‘‘September 2018 Decision Summary
Document’’ at https://
www.pcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/
2018/09/0918_Decision_Summary_
DocumentV2.pdf). On May 2, 2019,
NMFS held a stakeholder meeting in
which participants discussed potential
management objectives and strategies to
achieve those objectives for the
domestic commercial PBF fishery (see
the NMFS report to the June PFMC
meeting at https://www.pcouncil.org/
wp-content/uploads/2019/06/J2b_Sup_
NMFS_Rpt3_JUN2019BB.pdf). The
upcoming meeting that is rescheduled
for May 19, 2020, is intended to follow
up the discussion from the 2019
stakeholder meeting as well as provide
an opportunity for early comments on
how to implement a new InterAmerican Tropical Tuna Commission
(IATTC) resolution on PBF conservation
and management for 2021–2022 that
NMFS anticipates the IATTC will adopt
at its annual meeting in August 2020. In
order to facilitate discussion, NMFS
strongly encourages in-person
participation at the meeting location
described in the ADDRESSES section, if
possible and unless developments
related to Coronavirus/COVID–19
PO 00000
Frm 00036
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
19457
restrict attendance in person at that
time. NMFS will email attendance
instructions, which may include
instructions to attend by teleconference
or webinar, and background materials to
the meeting participants who notify the
meeting facilitator as described in the
ADDRESSES section.
PBF U.S. Stakeholder Meeting Topics
The PBF U.S. stakeholder meeting
topics may include, but are not limited
to, the following:
(1) An overview of international
management of PBF and current
management of the U.S. PBF fishery;
and,
(2) Potential management options for
2021–2022 and in the long-term.
Special Accommodations
The meeting location is physically
accessible to people with disabilities.
Requests for sign language
interpretation or other auxiliary aids
should be directed to Celia Barroso, at
Celia.Barroso@noaa.gov or (562) 432–
1850, by April 27, 2020.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 951 et seq., 16 U.S.C.
1801 et seq., 16 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.
Dated: April 2, 2020.
He´le`ne M.N. Scalliet,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020–07288 Filed 4–6–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XX053]
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 in support of the 2020
Study Fleet Program contains all of the
required information and warrants
further consideration. This Exempted
Fishing Permit would exempt
participating vessels from minimum fish
sizes and possession limits for species
of interest, for sampling purposes only.
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\07APN1.SGM
07APN1
19458
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 67 / Tuesday, April 7, 2020 / Notices
Regulations under the MagnusonStevens 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 22, 2020.
ADDRESSES: You may submit written
comments by either of the following
methods:
• Email: nmfs.gar.efp@noaa.gov.
Include in the subject line ‘‘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
‘‘NEFSC STUDY FLEET EFP.’’
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Maria Fenton, Fishery Management
Specialist, 978–281–9196.
The
Northeast Fisheries Science Center
(Center) submitted a complete
application for an Exempted Fishing
Permit (EFP) in support of the 2020
Study Fleet Program. This EFP would
exempt 19 commercial fishing vessels
from minimum fish sizes and
possession limits for species of interest,
as well as allow temporary retention of
species prior to discarding.
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. As part of the
program, the Center contracts
commercial fishing vessels to collect
biological data and fish specimens for
the Center to use in research relevant to
stock assessments and fish biology. The
Center’s Study Fleet Program trains
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
participating captains and crew to
conduct at-sea sampling consistent with
Center sampling protocols for survey
and observer programs. During EFP
trips, crew would sort, weigh, and
measure fish prior to discarding. During
sampling, some discarded fish would
remain on deck slightly longer than they
would under normal sorting procedures.
Exemptions from minimum fish sizes
and possession restrictions would allow
vessels to temporarily retain catch for
at-sea sampling.
Table 1 lists the regulations from
which participating vessels would be
exempt 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—LIST OF VESSEL EXEMPTIONS FOR RETAINING AND LANDING FISH
2020 Study fleet program EFP
Number of Vessels .......................................................................
Exempted regulations in 50 CFR part 648 ...................................
When directed by the Center,
participating vessels would also be
authorized to retain and land specific
amounts of fish exceeding possession
limits and/or below minimum fish sizes,
19.
Minimum fish sizes
§ 648.83 Northeast multispecies minimum fish sizes for redfish, yellowtail
flounder, and winter flounder.
Possession restrictions
§ 648.86(a) Haddock.
§ 648.86(g) Yellowtail flounder.
§ 648.94 Monkfish.
for research purposes only. The captain
or crew would deliver these fish to
Center staff upon landing. In these
limited circumstances, the Study Fleet
Program would give participating
vessels a formal biological sampling
request prior to landing. This would
ensure that the landed fish do not
exceed any collection needs of the
Study Fleet, as detailed in Table 2.
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
TABLE 2—STUDY FLEET PROGRAM’S BIOLOGICAL SAMPLE COLLECTION NEEDS
Species
Stock
area *
Gear
types #
Collection
frequency
Acadian redfish ......
GOM ....................
OTF .....................
Haddock .................
GOM, GB ............
OTF, DRS ...........
Winter flounder ......
GOM, GB, SNE ...
OTF, DRS ...........
Monthly (Jan–Apr)
Yellowtail flounder ..
GOM, GB, SNE ...
OTF, DRS ...........
Monthly (Jan–Apr)
Monkfish .................
Butterfish ................
Atlantic mackerel ...
Shortfin squid .........
SNE .....................
SNE .....................
SNE .....................
Any Area .............
OTF .....................
OTM ....................
OTM ....................
OTM, OTF ...........
Twice ...................
Twice ...................
Twice ...................
Monthly (Dec–
Mar).
Monthly (Mar–
July).
Monthly (Dec–
Mar).
Individual
fish per
collection
period
Maximum
weight
allowed per
trip
Maximum
allowance
50 per month .......
150 lb (331 kg) ....
750 lb (1,653 kg).
80 per week (40
from each stock
area).
120 per week (40
from each stock
area).
120 per week (40
from each stock
area).
10 per trip ............
20 per trip ............
20 per trip ............
30 per month .......
300 lb (661 kg) ....
4,800 lb (10,582
kg).
160 lb (353 kg) ....
3,840 lb (8,466
kg).
90 lb (198 kg) ......
2,160 lb (4,762
kg).
120 lb (295 kg) ....
10 lb (22 kg) ........
10 lb (22 kg) ........
15 lb (33 kg) ........
240 lb (529 kg).
20 lb (44 kg).
20 lb (44 kg).
60 lb (132 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).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:22 Apr 06, 2020
Jkt 250001
PO 00000
Frm 00037
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
E:\FR\FM\07APN1.SGM
07APN1
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 67 / Tuesday, April 7, 2020 / Notices
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.
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: April 1, 2020.
He´le`ne M.N. Scalliet,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries,National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020–07218 Filed 4–6–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Patent and Trademark Office
[Docket No.: PTO–P–2020–0021]
Grant of Interim Extension of the Term
of U.S. Patent No. 7,534,790;
Vernakalant Hydrochloride
United States Patent and
Trademark Office, Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of interim patent term
extension.
AGENCY:
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:22 Apr 06, 2020
Jkt 250001
Robert Bahr,
Deputy Commissioner for Patent Examination
Policy,United States Patent and Trademark
Office.
[FR Doc. 2020–07190 Filed 4–6–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–16–P
The United States Patent and
Trademark Office has issued an order
granting interim extension for a oneyear interim extension of the term of
U.S. Patent No. 7,534,790.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ali
Salimi by telephone at (571) 272–0909;
by mail marked to his attention and
addressed to the Commissioner for
Patents, Mail Stop Hatch-Waxman PTE,
P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313–
1450; by fax marked to his attention at
SUMMARY:
(571) 273–0909; or by email to
ali.salimi@uspto.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section
156 of Title 35, United States Code,
generally provides that the term of a
patent may be extended for a period of
up to five years if the patent claims a
product, or a method of making or using
a product, that has been subject to
certain defined regulatory review, and
that the patent may be extended for
interim periods of up to one year if the
regulatory review is anticipated to
extend beyond the expiration date of the
patent.
On February 5, 2020, Correvio
International Sa`rl, the patent owner of
record, timely filed an application
under 35 U.S.C. 156(d)(5) for a second
interim extension of the term of U.S.
Patent No. 7,534,790. The patent claims
the human drug product, vernakalant
hydrochloride. The application for
patent term extension indicates that
New Drug Application (NDA) 22–034
was submitted to the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) on December 19,
2006.
Review of the patent term extension
application indicates that, except for
permission to market or use the product
commercially, the subject patent would
be eligible for an extension of the patent
term under 35 U.S.C. 156, and that the
patent should be extended for one year
as required by 35 U.S.C. 156(d)(5)(B).
Because the regulatory review period
will continue beyond the once-extended
expiration date of the patent, March 31,
2020, interim extension of the patent
term under 35 U.S.C. 156(d)(5) is
appropriate.
An interim extension under 35 U.S.C.
156(d)(5) of the term of U.S. Patent No.
7,534,790 is granted for a period of one
year from the extended expiration date
of the patent.
COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING
COMMISSION
Sunshine Act Meetings
1:30 p.m. EDT, Tuesday,
April 14, 2020.
PLACE: This meeting will be convened
on a telephone conference call.
STATUS: Closed.
MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED:
Enforcement matters. In the event that
TIME AND DATE:
PO 00000
Frm 00038
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
19459
the time, date, or location of this
meeting changes, an announcement of
the change, along with the new time,
date, and/or place of the meeting will be
posted on the Commission’s website at
https://www.cftc.gov/.
CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Christopher Kirkpatrick, 202–418–5964.
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552b.
Dated: April 3, 2020.
Christopher Kirkpatrick,
Secretary of the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2020–07422 Filed 4–3–20; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 6351–01–P
CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission to the Office of
Management and Budget for Review
and Approval; Comment Request;
Application Instructions for
AmeriCorps State and National
Competitive New and Continuation
Corporation for National and
Community Service (CNCS).
ACTION: Notice of information collection;
request for comment.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
CNCS is proposing to renew an
information collection.
DATES: Written comments must be
submitted to the individual and office
listed in the ADDRESSES section by June
8, 2020.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments,
identified by the title of the information
collection activity, by any of the
following methods:
(1) By mail sent to: Corporation for
National and Community Service,
Attention Arminda Pappas, 250 E Street
SW, Washington, DC 20525.
(2) By hand delivery or by courier to
the CNCS mailroom at the mail address
given in paragraph (1) above, between
9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time,
Monday through Friday, except federal
holidays.
(3) Electronically through
www.regulations.gov.
Comments submitted in response to
this notice may be made available to the
public through regulations.gov. For this
reason, please do not include in your
comments information of a confidential
nature, such as sensitive personal
information or proprietary information.
If you send an email comment, your
email address will be automatically
captured and included as part of the
comment that is placed in the public
docket and made available on the
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\07APN1.SGM
07APN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 67 (Tuesday, April 7, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19457-19459]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-07218]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XX053]
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 in support of the 2020 Study
Fleet Program contains all of the required information and warrants
further consideration. This Exempted Fishing Permit would exempt
participating vessels from minimum fish sizes and possession limits for
species of interest, for sampling purposes only.
[[Page 19458]]
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 22, 2020.
ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by either of the following
methods:
Email: [email protected]. Include in the subject line
``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 ``NEFSC STUDY
FLEET EFP.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maria Fenton, Fishery Management
Specialist, 978-281-9196.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Northeast Fisheries Science Center
(Center) submitted a complete application for an Exempted Fishing
Permit (EFP) in support of the 2020 Study Fleet Program. This EFP would
exempt 19 commercial fishing vessels from minimum fish sizes and
possession limits for species of interest, as well as allow temporary
retention of species prior to discarding.
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. As part of
the program, the Center contracts commercial fishing vessels to collect
biological data and fish specimens for the Center to use in research
relevant to stock assessments and fish biology. The Center's Study
Fleet Program trains participating captains and crew to conduct at-sea
sampling consistent with Center sampling protocols for survey and
observer programs. During EFP trips, crew would sort, weigh, and
measure fish prior to discarding. During sampling, some discarded fish
would remain on deck slightly longer than they would under normal
sorting procedures. Exemptions from minimum fish sizes and possession
restrictions would allow vessels to temporarily retain catch for at-sea
sampling.
Table 1 lists the regulations from which participating vessels
would be exempt 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--List of Vessel Exemptions for Retaining and Landing Fish
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2020 Study fleet program EFP
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Vessels.................... 19.
Exempted regulations in 50 CFR part Minimum fish sizes
648.
Sec. 648.83 Northeast
multispecies minimum fish sizes
for redfish, yellowtail
flounder, and winter flounder.
Possession restrictions
Sec. 648.86(a) Haddock.
Sec. 648.86(g) Yellowtail
flounder.
Sec. 648.94 Monkfish.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
When directed by the Center, participating vessels would also be
authorized to retain and land specific amounts of fish exceeding
possession limits and/or below minimum fish sizes, for research
purposes only. The captain or crew would deliver these fish to Center
staff upon landing. In these limited circumstances, the Study Fleet
Program would give participating vessels a formal biological sampling
request prior to landing. This would ensure that the landed fish do not
exceed any collection needs of the Study Fleet, as detailed in Table 2.
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
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acadian redfish................. GOM............... OTF............... Monthly (Mar-July) 50 per month...... 150 lb (331 kg)... 750 lb (1,653 kg).
Haddock......................... GOM, GB........... OTF, DRS.......... Monthly (Dec-Mar). 80 per week (40 300 lb (661 kg)... 4,800 lb (10,582
from each stock kg).
area).
Winter flounder................. GOM, GB, SNE...... OTF, DRS.......... Monthly (Jan-Apr). 120 per week (40 160 lb (353 kg)... 3,840 lb (8,466
from each stock kg).
area).
Yellowtail flounder............. GOM, GB, SNE...... OTF, DRS.......... Monthly (Jan-Apr). 120 per week (40 90 lb (198 kg).... 2,160 lb (4,762
from each stock kg).
area).
Monkfish........................ SNE............... OTF............... Twice............. 10 per trip....... 120 lb (295 kg)... 240 lb (529 kg).
Butterfish...................... SNE............... OTM............... Twice............. 20 per trip....... 10 lb (22 kg)..... 20 lb (44 kg).
Atlantic mackerel............... SNE............... OTM............... Twice............. 20 per trip....... 10 lb (22 kg)..... 20 lb (44 kg).
Shortfin squid.................. Any Area.......... OTM, OTF.......... Monthly (Dec-Mar). 30 per month...... 15 lb (33 kg)..... 60 lb (132 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).
[[Page 19459]]
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.
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: April 1, 2020.
H[eacute]l[egrave]ne M.N. Scalliet,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-07218 Filed 4-6-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P