Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish Fishery of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands; Exempted Fishing Permit, 34722-34724 [2021-13908]
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jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
34722
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 123 / Wednesday, June 30, 2021 / Notices
As per 2 CFR part 200.329, all
recipients of non-construction federal
financial assistance awards are required
to provide performance (technical)
reports to the agency at intervals no less
frequently than annually and no more
frequently than quarterly in order for
the agency to properly monitor the
award and meet oversight
responsibilities. The awarding agency
must use OMB-approved common forms
for this purpose or seek permission for
program-specific forms that will collect
the required data elements. The Coral
Reef Conservation Program seeks OMB
approval to revise this information
collection to require use of a programspecific form for semi-annual reporting
and tracking specific indicators. These
indicators align with the new Coral Reef
Conservation Program Strategic Plan
(2018; https://www.coris.noaa.gov/
activities/strategic_plan2018) and will
be used to track national progress
toward these strategic goals through
2040. The program-specific form for
semi-annual reporting will be a revised
version of what is currently in use for
NOAA’s Marine Debris Program and
will standardize reporting across
projects.
The number of respondents,
responses, and burden hours have been
corrected from the previous submission.
The previous submission included
federal employees and contractors
working on behalf of NOAA as part of
the burden for the collection. This
burden has been removed and is instead
added to the cost to the federal
government.
Affected Public: Business or other forprofit organizations; Not-for-profit
institutions; State or Local Government;
Federal government.
Frequency: Semi Annual to Annual.
Respondent’s Obligation: Required to
obtain or retain benefits.
Legal Authority: Coral Reef
Conservation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C.
6401 et seq.).
This information collection request
may be viewed at www.reginfo.gov.
Follow the instructions to view the
Department of Commerce collections
currently under review by OMB.
Written comments and
recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be
submitted within 30 days of the
publication of this notice on the
following website www.reginfo.gov/
public/do/PRAMain. Find this
particular information collection by
selecting ‘‘Currently under 30-day
Review—Open for Public Comments’’ or
by using the search function and
VerDate Sep<11>2014
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Jkt 253001
entering either the title of the collection
or the OMB Control Number 0648–0448.
Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of
the Chief Information Officer, Commerce
Department.
[FR Doc. 2021–14002 Filed 6–29–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–JE–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for
Review and Approval; Comment
Request; Western Pacific Community
Development Program Process
The Department of Commerce will
submit the following information
collection request to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for
review and clearance in accordance
with the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995, on or after the date of publication
of this notice. We invite the general
public and other Federal agencies to
comment on proposed, and continuing
information collections, which helps us
assess the impact of our information
collection requirements and minimize
the public’s reporting burden. Public
comments were previously requested
via the Federal Register on March 2,
2021 (86 FR 12178) during a 60-day
comment period. This notice allows for
an additional 30 days for public
comments.
Agency: NOAA National Marine
Fisheries Service, Commerce.
Title: Western Pacific Community
Development Process.
OMB Control Number: 0648–0612.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Request: Regular submission
(extension of a currently approved
collection).
Number of Respondents: 5.
Average Hours per Response: 6 hours.
Total Annual Burden Hours: 30
hours.
Needs and Uses: The National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the
Western Pacific Fishery Management
Council (Council) established the
western Pacific community
development program to promote the
participation of western Pacific
communities in fisheries that they have
traditionally depended upon, but in
which they may not have the
capabilities to support continued and
substantial participation, possibly due
to economic, regulatory, or other
barriers. To be eligible to participate in
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the western Pacific community
development program, a community
must meet the criteria set forth in 50
CFR part 665.20, and submit a
community development plan that
describes the purposes and goals of the
plan, the justification for proposed
fishing activities, and the degree of
involvement by the indigenous
community members, including contact
information. This collection of
information is needed to determine
whether communities submitting a
proposal are eligible for participation in
the community development program,
and whether the activities proposed
under the plan are consistent with the
intent of the program, the MagnusonStevens Act, and other applicable laws.
Affected Public: Individuals or
households; Business or other for-profit
organizations; and Not-for-profit
institutions.
Frequency: As required.
Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary.
Legal Authority: 50 CFR 665.
This information collection request
may be viewed at https://
www.reginfo.gov. Follow the
instructions to view the Department of
Commerce collections currently under
review by OMB.
Written comments and
recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be
submitted within 30 days of the
publication of this notice on the
following website www.reginfo.gov/
public/do/PRAMain. Find this
particular information collection by
selecting ‘‘Currently under 30-day
Review—Open for Public Comments’’ or
by using the search function and
entering either the title of the collection
or the OMB Control Number 0648–0612.
Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of
the Chief Information Officer, Commerce
Department.
[FR Doc. 2021–13870 Filed 6–29–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XB158]
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of
Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish
Fishery of Puerto Rico and the U.S.
Virgin Islands; Exempted Fishing
Permit
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
AGENCY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 123 / Wednesday, June 30, 2021 / Notices
Notice of receipt of an
application for an exempted fishing
permit; request for comments.
ACTION:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
NMFS announces the receipt
of an application for an exempted
fishing permit (EFP) from the NMFS
Panama City, FL laboratory. If granted,
the EFP would authorize NMFS or
NMFS contracted observers and
commercial fishers aboard contracted
commercial fishing vessels to collect
certain deep-water snapper species in
waters of the U.S. exclusive economic
zone (EEZ) off Puerto Rico. The EFP
would exempt this activity from
complying with certain seasonal and
area closures and from certain bag limits
in the U.S. Caribbean EEZ. The purpose
of the EFP is to describe benthic habitats
for deep-water reef fish species off
Puerto Rico and to determine life
history information for black, blackfin,
cardinal, queen, silk, and wenchman
snappers.
SUMMARY:
Comments must be received no
later than July 30, 2021.
DATES:
You may submit comments
on the application, identified by
‘‘NOAA–NMFS–2021–0058’’, by any of
the following methods:
• Electronic Submission: Submit all
electronic public comments via the
Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to
https://www.regulations.gov and enter
‘‘NOAA–NMFS–2021–0058’’ in the
Search box. Click the ‘‘Comment’’ icon,
complete the required fields, and enter
or attach your comments.
• Mail: Submit written comments to
Sarah Stephenson, Southeast Regional
Office, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South,
St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
Instructions: Comments sent by any
other method, to any other address or
individual, or received after the end of
the comment period, may not be
considered by NMFS. All comments
received are a part of the public record
and will generally be posted for public
viewing on www.regulations.gov
without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address),
confidential business information, or
otherwise sensitive information
submitted voluntarily by the sender will
be publicly accessible. NMFS will
accept anonymous comments (enter N/
A in the required fields if you wish to
remain anonymous).
Electronic copies of the EFP
application and related documents are
available from the website at https://
www.fisheries.noaa.gov/southeast/
caribbean-exempted-fishing-permitsefps.
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ADDRESSES:
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Sarah Stephenson, 727–824–5305;
email: Sarah.Stephenson@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EFP is
requested under the authority of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act (16
U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), and regulations at
50 CFR 600.745(b) concerning exempted
fishing.
The applicant is currently conducting
exempted fishing activities under an
EFP for a similar deep-water snapper
research project off Puerto Rico that was
issued on July 30, 2020, and is valid
through August 1, 2021. Notice of
receipt of the application for the current
EFP, with an opportunity to comment,
published in the Federal Register on
June 16, 2020 (85 FR 36377). No public
comments on that EFP were received
from that notice or since then.
The applicant requests authorization
to collect deep-water reef fish species in
the U.S. EEZ off the west coast,
northeast coast, and southeast coast of
Puerto Rico. The applicant is seeking to
gather information that could be used to
describe habitats for deep-water reef fish
species off Puerto Rico, and to obtain
additional life history information about
black, blackfin, cardinal, queen, silk,
and wenchman snappers. Specimens
would be collected by NMFS or NMFS
contracted observers and commercial
fishers aboard contracted commercial
fishing vessels. These activities may be
conducted without NMFS staff aboard
the contracted commercial vessel. If
granted, this permit would exempt
project participants from certain
seasonal and area closure regulations
codified at 50 CFR 622.435 and from
certain reef fish bag limit regulations
codified at 50 CFR 622.437(b), as
identified and described below. Pending
issuance, the EFP would be expected to
be effective from August 1, 2021,
through August 1, 2023. NMFS has
approved a Fishery Management Plan
for the EEZ off Puerto Rico. Regulations
to implement that plan, which
maintains the same seasonal and area
closures and bag limits applicable to
Federal waters off Puerto Rico as under
the Fishery Management Plan for the
Reef Fish Fishery or Puerto Rico and the
U.S. Virgin Islands and codified at 50
CFR 622.435 and 622.437, are likely to
be proposed in the near future. If those
regulations are finalized, the EFP will be
updated to reflect the proper citations
for the exempted regulations.
Activities under the EFP would
consist of harvesting reef fish during
135 fishing trips per year (45 trips per
coast), of which 40 trips would be
within the U.S. EEZ off Puerto Rico. The
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34723
remaining trips would be conducted in
Puerto Rico territorial waters. The target
depth range for this project is 100 to 650
m, with sampling sites selected in each
50 m depth range throughout the overall
depth range.
Project activities would be conducted
from August 1, 2021, through August 1,
2023. Sampling off the coast of Puerto
Rico would occur along the western
coast from Isabela to Puerto Real,
including Isla de Desecheo Marine
Reserve; along the northeast coast from
San Juan to Fajardo, extending out to
Isla de Culebra; and along the southeast
coast from Santa Isabel to Buena Vista,
extending out to Isla de Vieques.
Sampling is planned to occur for
approximately 7 to 10 days per month
year-round over the duration of the EFP.
Sampling would be conducted by
hook-and-line drift fishing in deepwater habitats. On each fishing trip,
three to six sites would be fished per
day based on weather and distance
between the sampling sites. Four
vertical lines would be deployed per
site. The first line would have a small,
lightweight, water sampling device,
which when impacting the seafloor,
would trigger a syringe to collect a water
sample (no hooks would be attached to
this line). The line would then be
immediately retrieved. This line would
also test for water current direction
before other equipment is deployed to
minimize the potential gear loss.
The second line would have an
underwater video camera system
encased in a lightweight frame with an
extended baited arm attached to the
bottom portion of the line (no hooks
would be attached to this line). Once
deployed, the underwater video camera
system would soak for 30 minutes at the
sampling site.
The third and fourth lines would each
have a maximum of 12 (#9) hooks
attached to the bottom portion of the
line above a 5–10 pound bottom weight.
One line would be baited with fish and
the other line baited with squid. The
baited lines would be fished
simultaneously, and include a small
blinking LED light attached to the line.
Once deployed, the two fishing lines
would soak for 20 minutes. All lines
would be retrieved via electric reel on
the commercial vessel.
The applicant would target black,
blackfin, cardinal queen, silk, and
wenchman snappers, but also
anticipates encountering other deepwater reef fish species during sampling.
Each year, a maximum of 1,060 of the
targeted species (up to 60 black snapper;
up to 200 blackfin snapper; up to 200
cardinal snapper; up to 200 queen
snapper; up to 200 silk snapper; and up
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 123 / Wednesday, June 30, 2021 / Notices
to 200 wenchman snapper) would be
retained under the EFP. Additionally,
each year, a maximum of 350 of the
incidental species (up to 100 vermilion
snapper; up to 100 red hind; up to 100
black, red, tiger, and yellowfin grouper,
combined; and up to 50 misty and
yellowedge grouper, combined) would
be retained. If the incidental deep-water
reef fish species are caught during the
applicable seasonal and area closures,
they would be possessed onboard the
vessel only for the purpose of taking
length measurements and tissue
samples (fin clips or muscle plugs) prior
to being returned to the water.
Length measurements would be
recorded for all species caught except
for any species for which harvest is
prohibited under Federal law (i.e.,
goliath and Nassau groupers, and
midnight, rainbow, and blue
parrotfishes). These prohibited species
would be returned immediately to the
water with a minimum of harm. For the
targeted species, the gonads, eyes, fin or
muscle tissues, and otoliths would be
removed for histological and ageing
analyses conducted by NMFS and the
contracted observers, Puerto Rico’s
Department of Natural and
Environmental Resources, and the
University of South Carolina.
In order to minimize the negative
biological effects of bringing these deepwater species to the surface, the
commercial fishing vessel would have
venting tools onboard to properly vent
fish being released back in the water to
facilitate their return to depth.
Under the EFP, the applicant would
be allowed to fish for and possess deepwater reef fish species in or from the
Bajo de Sico closed area during the
October 1 through March 31 closure
period (50 CFR 622.435(a)(2)(iv)). A
maximum of 25 fishing trips would
occur per year in the Bajo de Sico area,
50 total during the project. Of those 50
trips, it is estimated that 25 trips would
occur during the seasonal closure in the
Bajo de Sico area. In addition, the
applicant would be allowed to fish for
and possess the deep-water reef fish
species during species-specific seasonal
closures: Black, red, tiger, yellowfin,
and yellowedge grouper during the
February 1 through April 30 seasonal
closure (50 CFR 622.435(a)(1)(i)); red
hind during the December 1 through the
last day of February seasonal closure
from the EEZ west of 67°10′ W longitude
(50 CFR 622.435(a)(1)(ii)); and black,
blackfin, silk, and vermilion snappers
during the October 1 through December
31 seasonal closure (50 CFR
622.435(a)(1)(iii)). The applicant would
also be exempt from certain recreational
bag limit regulations at 50 CFR
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17:47 Jun 29, 2021
Jkt 253001
622.437(b)(1), though the EFP would
specify retention limits. Specifically, the
applicant would be limited to 30
groupers and snappers, combined, per
person per day or, if 2 or more persons
are aboard, 60 groupers and snappers,
combined, per vessel per day. The
parrotfish recreational bag limit of 2
parrotfish per person per day or, if 3 or
more persons are aboard, 6 parrotfish
per vessel per day would still apply.
The applicant intends to retain
samples of the targeted species caught
during the seasonal or area closures.
After samples are taken from the
targeted species, the remainder of the
fish caught during a seasonal or area
closure would be given to the contracted
commercial fishermen for personal use
and consumption. For incidental
species, the EFP would allow the
applicant to possess the species during
the applicable seasonal and area
closures for sufficient time to record
length measurements and to collect
tissue samples. If the targeted or
incidental species are caught outside the
closed seasons and closed areas, the
commercial fishermen may retain them,
consistent with applicable law.
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 Caribbean Fishery
Management Council, and the U.S.
Coast Guard, and a determination that it
is consistent with all applicable law.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
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Dated: June 24, 2021.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021–13908 Filed 6–29–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XB116]
Taking and Importing of Marine
Mammals
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; affirmative finding
annual renewals for Colombia, Ecuador,
El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru,
and Spain.
AGENCY:
The NMFS Assistant
Administrator (Assistant Administrator)
has completed an affirmative finding
annual renewal for the Governments of
Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador,
Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, and Spain.
(referred to hereafter as ‘‘The Nations’’)
under the Marine Mammal Protection
Act (MMPA). These affirmative findings
will continue to allow the importation
into the United States of yellowfin tuna
and yellowfin tuna products harvested
in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean
(ETP) for 1 year in compliance with the
Agreement on the International Dolphin
Conservation Program (AIDCP) by purse
seine vessels operating under The
Nations’ jurisdiction or exported from
The Nations. NMFS bases the
affirmative finding annual renewals on
reviews of documentary evidence
submitted by the Governments of The
Nations and of information obtained
from the Inter-American Tropical Tuna
Commission (IATTC).
DATES: These affirmative finding annual
renewals are effective for the 1-year
period of April 1, 2021, through March
31, 2022.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Justin Greenman, West Coast Region,
National Marine Fisheries Service, 501
W Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach,
CA 90802, (562) 980–3264,
justin.greenman@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
MMPA, 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq., allows
for importation into the United States of
yellowfin tuna harvested by purse seine
vessels in the ETP from a nation with
jurisdiction over purse seine vessels
with carrying capacity greater than 400
SUMMARY:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 123 (Wednesday, June 30, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34722-34724]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-13908]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XB158]
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic;
Reef Fish Fishery of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands; Exempted
Fishing Permit
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
[[Page 34723]]
ACTION: Notice of receipt of an application for an exempted fishing
permit; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS announces the receipt of an application for an exempted
fishing permit (EFP) from the NMFS Panama City, FL laboratory. If
granted, the EFP would authorize NMFS or NMFS contracted observers and
commercial fishers aboard contracted commercial fishing vessels to
collect certain deep-water snapper species in waters of the U.S.
exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off Puerto Rico. The EFP would exempt
this activity from complying with certain seasonal and area closures
and from certain bag limits in the U.S. Caribbean EEZ. The purpose of
the EFP is to describe benthic habitats for deep-water reef fish
species off Puerto Rico and to determine life history information for
black, blackfin, cardinal, queen, silk, and wenchman snappers.
DATES: Comments must be received no later than July 30, 2021.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the application, identified by
``NOAA-NMFS-2021-0058'', by any of the following methods:
Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov and enter ``NOAA-NMFS-2021-0058'' in the Search
box. Click the ``Comment'' icon, complete the required fields, and
enter or attach your comments.
Mail: Submit written comments to Sarah Stephenson,
Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg,
FL 33701.
Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period,
may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address), confidential business information,
or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender
will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter
N/A in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous).
Electronic copies of the EFP application and related documents are
available from the website at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/southeast/caribbean-exempted-fishing-permits-efps.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarah Stephenson, 727-824-5305; email:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EFP is requested under the authority of
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C.
1801 et seq.), and regulations at 50 CFR 600.745(b) concerning exempted
fishing.
The applicant is currently conducting exempted fishing activities
under an EFP for a similar deep-water snapper research project off
Puerto Rico that was issued on July 30, 2020, and is valid through
August 1, 2021. Notice of receipt of the application for the current
EFP, with an opportunity to comment, published in the Federal Register
on June 16, 2020 (85 FR 36377). No public comments on that EFP were
received from that notice or since then.
The applicant requests authorization to collect deep-water reef
fish species in the U.S. EEZ off the west coast, northeast coast, and
southeast coast of Puerto Rico. The applicant is seeking to gather
information that could be used to describe habitats for deep-water reef
fish species off Puerto Rico, and to obtain additional life history
information about black, blackfin, cardinal, queen, silk, and wenchman
snappers. Specimens would be collected by NMFS or NMFS contracted
observers and commercial fishers aboard contracted commercial fishing
vessels. These activities may be conducted without NMFS staff aboard
the contracted commercial vessel. If granted, this permit would exempt
project participants from certain seasonal and area closure regulations
codified at 50 CFR 622.435 and from certain reef fish bag limit
regulations codified at 50 CFR 622.437(b), as identified and described
below. Pending issuance, the EFP would be expected to be effective from
August 1, 2021, through August 1, 2023. NMFS has approved a Fishery
Management Plan for the EEZ off Puerto Rico. Regulations to implement
that plan, which maintains the same seasonal and area closures and bag
limits applicable to Federal waters off Puerto Rico as under the
Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Fishery or Puerto Rico and
the U.S. Virgin Islands and codified at 50 CFR 622.435 and 622.437, are
likely to be proposed in the near future. If those regulations are
finalized, the EFP will be updated to reflect the proper citations for
the exempted regulations.
Activities under the EFP would consist of harvesting reef fish
during 135 fishing trips per year (45 trips per coast), of which 40
trips would be within the U.S. EEZ off Puerto Rico. The remaining trips
would be conducted in Puerto Rico territorial waters. The target depth
range for this project is 100 to 650 m, with sampling sites selected in
each 50 m depth range throughout the overall depth range.
Project activities would be conducted from August 1, 2021, through
August 1, 2023. Sampling off the coast of Puerto Rico would occur along
the western coast from Isabela to Puerto Real, including Isla de
Desecheo Marine Reserve; along the northeast coast from San Juan to
Fajardo, extending out to Isla de Culebra; and along the southeast
coast from Santa Isabel to Buena Vista, extending out to Isla de
Vieques. Sampling is planned to occur for approximately 7 to 10 days
per month year-round over the duration of the EFP.
Sampling would be conducted by hook-and-line drift fishing in deep-
water habitats. On each fishing trip, three to six sites would be
fished per day based on weather and distance between the sampling
sites. Four vertical lines would be deployed per site. The first line
would have a small, lightweight, water sampling device, which when
impacting the seafloor, would trigger a syringe to collect a water
sample (no hooks would be attached to this line). The line would then
be immediately retrieved. This line would also test for water current
direction before other equipment is deployed to minimize the potential
gear loss.
The second line would have an underwater video camera system
encased in a lightweight frame with an extended baited arm attached to
the bottom portion of the line (no hooks would be attached to this
line). Once deployed, the underwater video camera system would soak for
30 minutes at the sampling site.
The third and fourth lines would each have a maximum of 12 (#9)
hooks attached to the bottom portion of the line above a 5-10 pound
bottom weight. One line would be baited with fish and the other line
baited with squid. The baited lines would be fished simultaneously, and
include a small blinking LED light attached to the line. Once deployed,
the two fishing lines would soak for 20 minutes. All lines would be
retrieved via electric reel on the commercial vessel.
The applicant would target black, blackfin, cardinal queen, silk,
and wenchman snappers, but also anticipates encountering other deep-
water reef fish species during sampling. Each year, a maximum of 1,060
of the targeted species (up to 60 black snapper; up to 200 blackfin
snapper; up to 200 cardinal snapper; up to 200 queen snapper; up to 200
silk snapper; and up
[[Page 34724]]
to 200 wenchman snapper) would be retained under the EFP. Additionally,
each year, a maximum of 350 of the incidental species (up to 100
vermilion snapper; up to 100 red hind; up to 100 black, red, tiger, and
yellowfin grouper, combined; and up to 50 misty and yellowedge grouper,
combined) would be retained. If the incidental deep-water reef fish
species are caught during the applicable seasonal and area closures,
they would be possessed onboard the vessel only for the purpose of
taking length measurements and tissue samples (fin clips or muscle
plugs) prior to being returned to the water.
Length measurements would be recorded for all species caught except
for any species for which harvest is prohibited under Federal law
(i.e., goliath and Nassau groupers, and midnight, rainbow, and blue
parrotfishes). These prohibited species would be returned immediately
to the water with a minimum of harm. For the targeted species, the
gonads, eyes, fin or muscle tissues, and otoliths would be removed for
histological and ageing analyses conducted by NMFS and the contracted
observers, Puerto Rico's Department of Natural and Environmental
Resources, and the University of South Carolina.
In order to minimize the negative biological effects of bringing
these deep-water species to the surface, the commercial fishing vessel
would have venting tools onboard to properly vent fish being released
back in the water to facilitate their return to depth.
Under the EFP, the applicant would be allowed to fish for and
possess deep-water reef fish species in or from the Bajo de Sico closed
area during the October 1 through March 31 closure period (50 CFR
622.435(a)(2)(iv)). A maximum of 25 fishing trips would occur per year
in the Bajo de Sico area, 50 total during the project. Of those 50
trips, it is estimated that 25 trips would occur during the seasonal
closure in the Bajo de Sico area. In addition, the applicant would be
allowed to fish for and possess the deep-water reef fish species during
species-specific seasonal closures: Black, red, tiger, yellowfin, and
yellowedge grouper during the February 1 through April 30 seasonal
closure (50 CFR 622.435(a)(1)(i)); red hind during the December 1
through the last day of February seasonal closure from the EEZ west of
67[deg]10' W longitude (50 CFR 622.435(a)(1)(ii)); and black, blackfin,
silk, and vermilion snappers during the October 1 through December 31
seasonal closure (50 CFR 622.435(a)(1)(iii)). The applicant would also
be exempt from certain recreational bag limit regulations at 50 CFR
622.437(b)(1), though the EFP would specify retention limits.
Specifically, the applicant would be limited to 30 groupers and
snappers, combined, per person per day or, if 2 or more persons are
aboard, 60 groupers and snappers, combined, per vessel per day. The
parrotfish recreational bag limit of 2 parrotfish per person per day
or, if 3 or more persons are aboard, 6 parrotfish per vessel per day
would still apply.
The applicant intends to retain samples of the targeted species
caught during the seasonal or area closures. After samples are taken
from the targeted species, the remainder of the fish caught during a
seasonal or area closure would be given to the contracted commercial
fishermen for personal use and consumption. For incidental species, the
EFP would allow the applicant to possess the species during the
applicable seasonal and area closures for sufficient time to record
length measurements and to collect tissue samples. If the targeted or
incidental species are caught outside the closed seasons and closed
areas, the commercial fishermen may retain them, consistent with
applicable law.
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 Caribbean Fishery Management Council, and the
U.S. Coast Guard, and a determination that it is consistent with all
applicable law.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: June 24, 2021.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-13908 Filed 6-29-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
