Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits, 19747-19748 [2020-07392]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 68 / Wednesday, April 8, 2020 / Notices
auxiliary aids should be directed to the
Designated Federal Officer by April 3,
2020.
Dated: April 2, 2020.
David Holst,
Chief Financial Officer/Administrative
Officer, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric
Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2020–07337 Filed 4–7–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–KA–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XX047]
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
submitted by the Cape Cod Commercial
Fishermen’s Alliance contains all of the
required information and warrants
further consideration. This exempted
fishing permit would require
participants to use electronic
monitoring systems on 100 percent of
sector trips for catch accounting in the
Northeast multispecies fishery;
additionally, vessels would be
authorized to access portions of
Northeast multispecies closed areas.
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 April 23, 2020.
ADDRESSES: You may submit written
comments by either of the following
methods:
• Email: nmfs.gar.efp@noaa.gov.
Include in the subject line ‘‘AUDIT–
MODEL EM 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
‘‘AUDIT–MODEL EM EFP.’’
lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:37 Apr 07, 2020
Jkt 250001
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Claire Fitz-Gerald, Fishery Policy
Analyst, 978–281–9255.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Northeast
multispecies (groundfish) sectors must
implement and fund an at-sea
monitoring (ASM) program, and the
Northeast Multispecies Fishery
Management Plan regulations allow
sectors to use electronic monitoring
(EM) to satisfy this monitoring
requirement, provided that NMFS
deems the technology sufficient for
catch monitoring. NMFS recently
notified the Council of its intent to
allow sectors to submit EM plans
instead of, or in addition to, ASM plans
as part of the fishing year 2021 and 2022
sector operations plans approval
process. For the 2020 fishing year,
lessons learned through this exempted
fishing permit (EFP) will allow NMFS to
continue developing standards and
requirements for the groundfish EM
program. Project partners include the
Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s
Alliance, The Nature Conservancy, the
Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association,
and fishermen.
If approved, this EFP would build on
previous EFPs issued to the project
partners in support of the audit-model
EM program for groundfish sectors. The
first EFP was issued in fishing year
2017; participating vessels were
required to use EM on 100 percent of
sector trips and groundfish discards
were calculated based on the video
footage. Vessels were exempted from
their sector’s ASM requirements.
Thirteen vessels using a variety of gear
types (e.g. hook, benthic longline, sink
gillnet, bottom trawl) participated in the
project and completed a total of 81 trips.
The EFP was renewed in fishing year
2018. We developed and implemented a
protocol for verifying, or auditing,
vessels’ self-reported discards from the
electronic vessel trip report (eVTR)
against video footage. Vessels were also
granted exemptions to fish in closed
areas during certain times of the year. A
total of 258 trips suitable for quota
monitoring were completed during
fishing year 2018. In fishing year 2019,
we renewed the EFP again and reduced
the targeted level of audit to 50 percent
of trips based on a statistical analysis of
EFP trips from fishing years 2017 and
2018. EVTRs were used to calculate
discards for trips that were not selected
for audit.
The project partners have submitted a
renewal request for fishing year 2020.
The proposed participant list includes
15 vessels, all of which participated in
this EFP in fishing year 2019. Together,
these vessels are expected to take a total
PO 00000
Frm 00023
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
19747
of 590 trips. The project partners expect
that additional vessels may join the
project during fishing year 2020.
Vessels participating in this EFP
would be exempt from the regulations
requiring them to adhere to their
sector’s ASM program, and instead
would be required to use EM on 100
percent of groundfish trips. Camera
systems would be used in lieu of human
at-sea monitors, and in addition to
Northeast Fishery Observer Program
(NEFOP) observers. Vessels would
adhere to a vessel-specific monitoring
plan detailing at-sea catch handling
protocols. Vessels would submit haullevel eVTRs with count and weight
estimates for all groundfish discards. In
fishing year 2020, individual vessels
may test different catch handling and
reporting methodologies (e.g.,
volumetric sampling, sub-trip level
eVTR), with our approval. Vessels
would not be exempt from any other
standard reporting and monitoring
requirements.
The discard estimates provided in the
eVTR would be used for catch
accounting, and all catch of allocated
groundfish would be deducted from the
appropriate sector’s allocation. The EM
service provider would review the video
footage and produce an EM summary
report identifying, counting, and
generating weight estimates for all
groundfish discards. The provider
would submit this report to NMFS. We
would compare the eVTR and EM
summary report to ensure the
submissions match within an
established tolerance. If the trips do not
match, the eVTR would not be used for
catch accounting for that trip. For trips
that carry a NEFOP observer, the NEFOP
data would be used for catch
accounting.
In fishing year 2019, we targeted an
audit level of 50 percent of trips. In
fishing year 2020, we intend to develop
performance-based audit standards and
may adjust the targeted audit level for
vessels up or down in an effort to test
a performance-based audit. Developing
and implementing a performance-based
audit selection process would
incentivize accurate reporting on eVTRs
and good catch handling practices.
Following the EM service provider’s
review of selected trips, the Northeast
Fisheries Science Center would conduct
a secondary review of the EM summary
reports for a subset of trips, consistent
with previous years.
Because participating vessels would
be fully monitored and accountable,
project partners requested exemptions
to access closed areas, to incentivize
participation and create additional
fishing opportunities for healthy stocks.
E:\FR\FM\08APN1.SGM
08APN1
19748
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 68 / Wednesday, April 8, 2020 / Notices
Vessels would be allowed to use hook
gear and sink gillnets in Closed Area II
from April 16 through January 31, hook
gear (i.e., jig machines, handgear,
benthic longlines) in the Western Gulf
of Maine Closure Area, jig gear (i.e., jig
machines and handgear) in the Cashes
Ledge Closure Area, excluding the
Ammen Rock Habitat Management
Area, and benthic longlines in the
Fippinnies Ledge portion of the Cashes
Ledge Closure Area (west of 69°09.1′
W). All catch of allocated groundfish
would be deducted from the appropriate
sector’s allocation.
TABLE 1—ESTIMATES OF GROUNDFISH CATCH IN CLOSED AREAS
American Plaice .......................................
Atlantic Halibut .........................................
Atlantic Wolffish .......................................
CC/GOM Yellowtail Flounder ...................
GB East Cod ............................................
GB East Haddock ....................................
GB West Cod ...........................................
GB West Haddock ...................................
GB Winter Flounder .................................
GB Yellowtail Flounder ............................
GOM Cod .................................................
GOM Haddock .........................................
GOM Winter Flounder ..............................
N. Windowpane Flounder ........................
Ocean Pout ..............................................
Pollock ......................................................
Redfish .....................................................
S. Windowpane Flounder ........................
SNE/MA Winter Flounder ........................
SNE/MA Yellowtail Flounder ....................
White Hake ..............................................
Witch Flounder .........................................
WGOM
closure
(lb)
WGOM
closure
(mt)
Cashes ledge
closure
(lb)
Cashes ledge
closure
(mt)
CAII
(lb)
CAII
(mt)
........................
........................
87
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
6,322
39,242
7
........................
........................
17,630
11
........................
........................
........................
121
........................
........................
........................
0
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
3
18
0
........................
........................
8
0
........................
........................
........................
0
........................
........................
651
318
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
16,888
79,271
5
........................
........................
19,861
........................
........................
........................
........................
200
........................
........................
0
0
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
8
36
0
........................
........................
9
........................
........................
........................
........................
0
........................
........................
305
10
........................
25,500
25,100
........................
5,401
1,015
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
3
13,633
........................
........................
........................
........................
58
........................
........................
0
0
........................
12
11
........................
2
0
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
0
6
........................
........................
........................
........................
0
........................
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: April 3, 2020.
He´le`ne M.N. Scalliet,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020–07392 Filed 4–7–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with NOTICES
National Telecommunications and
Information Administration
Commerce Spectrum Management
Advisory Committee Meeting
National Telecommunications
and Information Administration, U.S.
Department of Commerce.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
Notice of open meeting.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:37 Apr 07, 2020
Jkt 250001
This notice announces a
public meeting of the Commerce
Spectrum Management Advisory
Committee (Committee). The Committee
provides advice to the Assistant
Secretary of Commerce for
Communications and Information and
the National Telecommunications and
Information Administration (NTIA) on
spectrum management policy matters.
DATES: The meeting will be held April
22, 2020, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.,
Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).
ADDRESSES: This meeting will be
conducted in an electronic format and
open to the public via audio
teleconference (866–652–3435
participant code 28570198). Public
comments may be emailed to dreed@
ntia.gov or mailed to Commerce
Spectrum Management Advisory
Committee, National
Telecommunications and Information
Administration, 1401 Constitution
Avenue NW, Room 4600, Washington,
DC 20230.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
David J. Reed, Designated Federal
Officer, at (202) 482–5955 or dreed@
ntia.gov; and/or visit NTIA’s website at
https://www.ntia.gov/category/csmac.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background: The Committee provides
advice to the Assistant Secretary of
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00024
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Commerce for Communications and
Information on needed reforms to
domestic spectrum policies and
management in order to: License radio
frequencies in a way that maximizes
public benefits; keep wireless networks
as open to innovation as possible; and
make wireless services available to all
Americans. See Charter at https://
www.ntia.doc.gov/files/ntia/
publications/csmac_signed_charter_930-17.pdf.
This Committee is subject to the
Federal Advisory Committee Act
(FACA), 5 U.S.C. App. 2, and is
consistent with the National
Telecommunications and Information
Administration Act, 47 U.S.C. 904(b).
The Committee functions solely as an
advisory body in compliance with the
FACA. For more information about the
Committee visit: https://www.ntia.gov/
category/csmac.
Matters To Be Considered: The
Committee provides advice to the
Assistant Secretary to assist in
developing and maintaining spectrum
management policies that enable the
United States to maintain or strengthen
its global leadership role in the
introduction of communications
technology, services, and innovation;
thus expanding the economy, adding
jobs, and increasing international trade,
while at the same time providing for the
E:\FR\FM\08APN1.SGM
08APN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 68 (Wednesday, April 8, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19747-19748]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-07392]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XX047]
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 submitted by
the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen's Alliance contains all of the
required information and warrants further consideration. This exempted
fishing permit would require participants to use electronic monitoring
systems on 100 percent of sector trips for catch accounting in the
Northeast multispecies fishery; additionally, vessels would be
authorized to access portions of Northeast multispecies closed areas.
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 April 23, 2020.
ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by either of the following
methods:
Email: [email protected]. Include in the subject line
``AUDIT-MODEL EM 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 ``AUDIT-MODEL EM
EFP.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Claire Fitz-Gerald, Fishery Policy
Analyst, 978-281-9255.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Northeast multispecies (groundfish) sectors
must implement and fund an at-sea monitoring (ASM) program, and the
Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan regulations allow
sectors to use electronic monitoring (EM) to satisfy this monitoring
requirement, provided that NMFS deems the technology sufficient for
catch monitoring. NMFS recently notified the Council of its intent to
allow sectors to submit EM plans instead of, or in addition to, ASM
plans as part of the fishing year 2021 and 2022 sector operations plans
approval process. For the 2020 fishing year, lessons learned through
this exempted fishing permit (EFP) will allow NMFS to continue
developing standards and requirements for the groundfish EM program.
Project partners include the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen's Alliance,
The Nature Conservancy, the Maine Coast Fishermen's Association, and
fishermen.
If approved, this EFP would build on previous EFPs issued to the
project partners in support of the audit-model EM program for
groundfish sectors. The first EFP was issued in fishing year 2017;
participating vessels were required to use EM on 100 percent of sector
trips and groundfish discards were calculated based on the video
footage. Vessels were exempted from their sector's ASM requirements.
Thirteen vessels using a variety of gear types (e.g. hook, benthic
longline, sink gillnet, bottom trawl) participated in the project and
completed a total of 81 trips. The EFP was renewed in fishing year
2018. We developed and implemented a protocol for verifying, or
auditing, vessels' self-reported discards from the electronic vessel
trip report (eVTR) against video footage. Vessels were also granted
exemptions to fish in closed areas during certain times of the year. A
total of 258 trips suitable for quota monitoring were completed during
fishing year 2018. In fishing year 2019, we renewed the EFP again and
reduced the targeted level of audit to 50 percent of trips based on a
statistical analysis of EFP trips from fishing years 2017 and 2018.
EVTRs were used to calculate discards for trips that were not selected
for audit.
The project partners have submitted a renewal request for fishing
year 2020. The proposed participant list includes 15 vessels, all of
which participated in this EFP in fishing year 2019. Together, these
vessels are expected to take a total of 590 trips. The project partners
expect that additional vessels may join the project during fishing year
2020.
Vessels participating in this EFP would be exempt from the
regulations requiring them to adhere to their sector's ASM program, and
instead would be required to use EM on 100 percent of groundfish trips.
Camera systems would be used in lieu of human at-sea monitors, and in
addition to Northeast Fishery Observer Program (NEFOP) observers.
Vessels would adhere to a vessel-specific monitoring plan detailing at-
sea catch handling protocols. Vessels would submit haul-level eVTRs
with count and weight estimates for all groundfish discards. In fishing
year 2020, individual vessels may test different catch handling and
reporting methodologies (e.g., volumetric sampling, sub-trip level
eVTR), with our approval. Vessels would not be exempt from any other
standard reporting and monitoring requirements.
The discard estimates provided in the eVTR would be used for catch
accounting, and all catch of allocated groundfish would be deducted
from the appropriate sector's allocation. The EM service provider would
review the video footage and produce an EM summary report identifying,
counting, and generating weight estimates for all groundfish discards.
The provider would submit this report to NMFS. We would compare the
eVTR and EM summary report to ensure the submissions match within an
established tolerance. If the trips do not match, the eVTR would not be
used for catch accounting for that trip. For trips that carry a NEFOP
observer, the NEFOP data would be used for catch accounting.
In fishing year 2019, we targeted an audit level of 50 percent of
trips. In fishing year 2020, we intend to develop performance-based
audit standards and may adjust the targeted audit level for vessels up
or down in an effort to test a performance-based audit. Developing and
implementing a performance-based audit selection process would
incentivize accurate reporting on eVTRs and good catch handling
practices. Following the EM service provider's review of selected
trips, the Northeast Fisheries Science Center would conduct a secondary
review of the EM summary reports for a subset of trips, consistent with
previous years.
Because participating vessels would be fully monitored and
accountable, project partners requested exemptions to access closed
areas, to incentivize participation and create additional fishing
opportunities for healthy stocks.
[[Page 19748]]
Vessels would be allowed to use hook gear and sink gillnets in Closed
Area II from April 16 through January 31, hook gear (i.e., jig
machines, handgear, benthic longlines) in the Western Gulf of Maine
Closure Area, jig gear (i.e., jig machines and handgear) in the Cashes
Ledge Closure Area, excluding the Ammen Rock Habitat Management Area,
and benthic longlines in the Fippinnies Ledge portion of the Cashes
Ledge Closure Area (west of 69[deg]09.1' W). All catch of allocated
groundfish would be deducted from the appropriate sector's allocation.
Table 1--Estimates of Groundfish Catch in Closed Areas
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WGOM closure WGOM closure Cashes ledge Cashes ledge
(lb) (mt) closure (lb) closure (mt) CAII (lb) CAII (mt)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Plaice......................................... .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. ..............
Atlantic Halibut........................................ .............. .............. 651 0 305 0
Atlantic Wolffish....................................... 87 0 318 0 10 0
CC/GOM Yellowtail Flounder.............................. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. ..............
GB East Cod............................................. .............. .............. .............. .............. 25,500 12
GB East Haddock......................................... .............. .............. .............. .............. 25,100 11
GB West Cod............................................. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. ..............
GB West Haddock......................................... .............. .............. .............. .............. 5,401 2
GB Winter Flounder...................................... .............. .............. .............. .............. 1,015 0
GB Yellowtail Flounder.................................. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. ..............
GOM Cod................................................. 6,322 3 16,888 8 .............. ..............
GOM Haddock............................................. 39,242 18 79,271 36 .............. ..............
GOM Winter Flounder..................................... 7 0 5 0 .............. ..............
N. Windowpane Flounder.................................. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. ..............
Ocean Pout.............................................. .............. .............. .............. .............. 3 0
Pollock................................................. 17,630 8 19,861 9 13,633 6
Redfish................................................. 11 0 .............. .............. .............. ..............
S. Windowpane Flounder.................................. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. ..............
SNE/MA Winter Flounder.................................. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. ..............
SNE/MA Yellowtail Flounder.............................. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. ..............
White Hake.............................................. 121 0 200 0 58 0
Witch Flounder.......................................... .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. ..............
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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: April 3, 2020.
H[eacute]l[egrave]ne M.N. Scalliet,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-07392 Filed 4-7-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
