Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits, 36379 [2020-12897]
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 116 / Tuesday, June 16, 2020 / Notices
closures for sufficient time to collect
and record length measurements. If the
targeted or incidental species are caught
outside the closed seasons and closed
areas, the commercial fishermen may
retain them and sell them, consistent
with applicable law. Additionally, as
applicable for the targeted and
incidental species described within the
application and this notice, the
applicant would be exempt from bag
limit regulations at 50 CFR
622.437(b)(1).
NMFS finds this application warrants
further consideration based on a
preliminary review. Possible conditions
the agency may impose on this permit,
if it is granted, include but are not
limited to, a prohibition on conducting
sampling activities within marine
protected areas, marine sanctuaries, or
special management zones, without
additional authorization, and requiring
compliance with best practices in the
event of interactions with any protected
species. NMFS may also require annual
reports summarizing the amount of reef
fish species harvested during the
seasonal and area closures, as well as
during the period of effectiveness of any
issued EFP. Additionally, NMFS would
require any sea turtles taken
incidentally during the course of the
activities to be handled with due care to
prevent injury to live specimens,
observed for activity, and returned to
the water.
A final decision on issuance of the
EFP will depend on NMFS’ review of
public comments received on the
application, consultations with the
affected state(s), the Council, and the
U.S. Coast Guard, and a determination
that it is consistent with all applicable
laws.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: June 10, 2020.
He´le`ne M.N. Scalliet,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020–12873 Filed 6–15–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
lotter on DSK30NT082PROD with NOTICES
[RTID 0648–XX054]
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions;
General Provisions for Domestic
Fisheries; Application for Exempted
Fishing Permits
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
AGENCY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:13 Jun 15, 2020
Jkt 250001
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
The Assistant Regional
Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries,
Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has
made a preliminary determination that
an Exempted Fishing Permit application
from the Ocean Associated Incorporated
contains all of the required information
and warrants further consideration. The
Exempted Fishing Permit would allow
one commercial fishing vessel to fish
outside of fishery regulations in support
of research conducted by the applicant.
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 July 1, 2020.
ADDRESSES: You may submit written
comments by following method:
• Email: nmfs.gar.efp@noaa.gov.
Include in the subject line ‘‘Comments
on OAIRopeless Fishing EFP.’’
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Laura Hansen, Fishery Management
Specialist, 978–281–9225.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Ocean
Associates Incorporated (OAI)
submitted a complete application for an
Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) on
March 12, 2020, to conduct commercial
fishing activities that the regulations
would otherwise restrict. The OAI is
requesting an exemption from Federal
lobster regulations that would authorize
a federally-permitted commercial
lobster vessel to participate in a ropeless
lobster gear study. This EFP would
exempt the participating vessel from the
Federal gear marking requirements
found at 50 CFR 697.21(b)(2). This
would allow for the use of a single buoy
marker on a trawl of more than three
traps.
The purpose of this study is to test a
prototype ropeless fishing system to
potentially prevent entanglements of
protected species, primarily North
Atlantic right whales. This is a
continuation of a study that started in
2018. The traps were deployed on a
commercial fishing vessel in 2019 to get
fishermen confident in deploying the
gear. The trawl was deployed nine times
with soak times ranging from 9–20
minutes in an average depth of 120 ft
(36.5 m). The spool performed as
designed and was retrieved easily with
all deployments. This study is funded
through the NMFS Bycatch Reduction
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
36379
Engineering Program
(NA18NMF4720279).
The EFP would authorize the
participating vessel to deploy two
experimental trawls consisting of five or
more traps. Experimental trawls would
have a rope spool, fitted with an
acoustic release, deployed on one end of
the trawl, with a buoy line attached to
the other. Soak time would be between
2–5 days, but may be modified
depending on what each fisherman
decides is appropriate for fishing.
Sampling would occur from May
through November 2020 in Lobster
Conservation Management Area 3.
Initial deployments would be overseen
by a Woods Hole Oceanographic
Institute engineering team, but later
would be observed by OAI personnel.
There would be 42 deployments of
experimental trawls.
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: June 10, 2020.
He´le`ne M.N. Scalliet,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020–12897 Filed 6–15–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XW016]
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions;
Fisheries Off West Coast States;
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery;
Trawl Rationalization Program; 2020
Cost Recovery
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice, 2020 cost recovery fee
percentage correction.
AGENCY:
This action provides
participants in the Pacific Coast
Groundfish Trawl Rationalization
Program (Trawl Program), Shorebased
Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\16JNN1.SGM
16JNN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 116 (Tuesday, June 16, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 36379]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-12897]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XX054]
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 from the
Ocean Associated Incorporated contains all of the required information
and warrants further consideration. The Exempted Fishing Permit would
allow one commercial fishing vessel to fish outside of fishery
regulations in support of research conducted by the applicant.
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 July 1, 2020.
ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by following method:
Email: [email protected]. Include in the subject line
``Comments on OAIRopeless Fishing EFP.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Hansen, Fishery Management
Specialist, 978-281-9225.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Ocean Associates Incorporated (OAI)
submitted a complete application for an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP)
on March 12, 2020, to conduct commercial fishing activities that the
regulations would otherwise restrict. The OAI is requesting an
exemption from Federal lobster regulations that would authorize a
federally-permitted commercial lobster vessel to participate in a
ropeless lobster gear study. This EFP would exempt the participating
vessel from the Federal gear marking requirements found at 50 CFR
697.21(b)(2). This would allow for the use of a single buoy marker on a
trawl of more than three traps.
The purpose of this study is to test a prototype ropeless fishing
system to potentially prevent entanglements of protected species,
primarily North Atlantic right whales. This is a continuation of a
study that started in 2018. The traps were deployed on a commercial
fishing vessel in 2019 to get fishermen confident in deploying the
gear. The trawl was deployed nine times with soak times ranging from 9-
20 minutes in an average depth of 120 ft (36.5 m). The spool performed
as designed and was retrieved easily with all deployments. This study
is funded through the NMFS Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program
(NA18NMF4720279).
The EFP would authorize the participating vessel to deploy two
experimental trawls consisting of five or more traps. Experimental
trawls would have a rope spool, fitted with an acoustic release,
deployed on one end of the trawl, with a buoy line attached to the
other. Soak time would be between 2-5 days, but may be modified
depending on what each fisherman decides is appropriate for fishing.
Sampling would occur from May through November 2020 in Lobster
Conservation Management Area 3. Initial deployments would be overseen
by a Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute engineering team, but later
would be observed by OAI personnel. There would be 42 deployments of
experimental trawls.
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: June 10, 2020.
H[eacute]l[egrave]ne M.N. Scalliet,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-12897 Filed 6-15-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
