East Coast Fisheries of the United States; Public Meetings; Request for Comments, 43995-43996 [2021-17051]
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43995
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 152 / Wednesday, August 11, 2021 / Notices
and will generally be posted for public
viewing on www.regulations.gov
without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address, etc.),
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).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Chris Fanning, NMFS, West Coast
Region, 562–980–4198.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DSBG
fishing trials have occurred for the past
11 years (2011–2015, research years;
2015–2021, EFP years) in the U.S. West
Coast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
off California. The data collected from
this fishing activity have demonstrated
DSBG to achieve about a 95 percent
marketable catch composition. Nonmarketable catch rates have remained
low and all non-marketable catch were
released alive. Due to DSBG being
actively tended, strikes are capable of
being detected within minutes of a
hooking on the line; as a result, all
catches can be tended quickly, with
catch brought to the vessel in good
condition. To date, DSBG has had five
observed or reported interactions with
protected species, four Northern
elephant seals and one loggerhead sea
turtle, which were not seriously injured
and were released alive due to the quick
strike detection of the gear. Northern
elephant seals are protected by the
Marine Mammal Protection Act, and
loggerhead sea turtles are protected by
the Endangered Species Act.
DSLBG trials have produced similar
data to DSBG activities. Swordfish and
other marketable species have
represented about 90 percent of the
catch. Non-marketable species are
released alive due to DSLBG quick
strike detection and active gear tending.
To date, there have been no observed or
reported interactions with protected
species using DSLBG.
At its June 2021 meeting, the Pacific
Fishery Management Council (Council)
received ten applications for EFPs in
time for review and recommended that
NMFS issue seven of these EFPs to
authorize use of DSBG and/or DSLBG
(see Table 1), and recommended further
Council consideration of the remaining
three EFP applications at its September
2021 meeting. Council
recommendations can be found on the
June 2021 meeting Decision Document
here, https://www.pcouncil.org/june2021-decision-document/#HMS.
At this time, NMFS is requesting
public comment on the seven DSBG EFP
applications recommended by the
Council in June 2021. NMFS will take
the Council’s comments into
consideration along with public
comments on whether or not to issue
these EFPs. If all seven of the June 2021
Council recommended applications are
approved, a total of 52 vessels would be
allowed to fish with permitted
exemptions from the prohibitions
related to unauthorized fishing gears
used to target swordfish within the U.S.
EEZ under the Fishery Management
Plan for U.S. West Coast Fisheries for
(HMS FMP) throughout the duration of
their respective EFPs. Thirty-seven of
the vessels would be permitted to fish
with DSBG only and 15 of the vessels
would be permitted to fish using both
DSBG and DSLBG. Aside from the
exemption described above, vessels
fishing under an EFP would be subject
to all other regulations implemented in
the HMS FMP, including measures to
protect sea turtles, marine mammals,
and seabirds.
TABLE 1—SUMMARY OF DEEP-SET BUOY GEAR EXEMPTED FISHING PERMIT APPLICATIONS RECOMMENDED AT THE JUNE
2021 COUNCIL MEETING *
Number of
vessels
F.3 attachment No.
Applicant name
1 ....................................................
3 ....................................................
5 ....................................................
6 ....................................................
7 ....................................................
8 ....................................................
10 ..................................................
Austin and Robert Ashe .....................................................
Austin Brown ......................................................................
Miguel Ferre .......................................................................
Scott and Wyatt Hawkins ...................................................
Blake Hermann ...................................................................
Markus Medak, Brian Sims, and Daniel Fuller ..................
Mathew Rimmel ..................................................................
Fishing method
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
StandardDSBG.
Standard and Linked DSBG.
Standard DSBG.
Linked DSBG.
Standard DSBG.
Linked DSBG.
Standard DSBG.
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* Linked DSBG vessels can also use standard deep-set buoy gear (https://www.pcouncil.org/june-2021-briefing-book/#F).
NMFS will consider all public
comments submitted in response to this
Federal Register notice prior to issuance
of any EFP. Additionally, NMFS has
analyzed the effects of issuing DSBG
and DSLBG EFPs in accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act and
NOAA’s Administrative Order 216–6, as
well as for compliance with other
applicable laws, including Section
7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act
(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), which requires
the agency to consider whether the
proposed action is likely to jeopardize
the continued existence and recovery of
any endangered or threatened species or
result in the destruction or adverse
modification of critical habitat.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
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23:05 Aug 10, 2021
Jkt 253001
Dated: August 6, 2021.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021–17147 Filed 8–10–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XB301]
East Coast Fisheries of the United
States; Public Meetings; Request for
Comments
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
AGENCY:
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public meetings.
Several fishery management
bodies on the East Coast of the Atlantic
Ocean are convening three public
webinars to introduce a project called
East Coast Climate Change Scenario
Planning. This is a joint effort of the
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries
Commission (ASMFC), the New
England Fishery Management Council
(NEFMC), the Mid-Atlantic Fishery
Management Council (MAFMC), the
South Atlantic Fishery Management
Council (SAFMC), and NOAA Fisheries.
These webinars will introduce
stakeholders to the overall initiative,
present draft objectives, discuss
potential outcomes, explain the general
SUMMARY:
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11AUN1
43996
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 152 / Wednesday, August 11, 2021 / Notices
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
focus of the work, and collect initial
stakeholder input.
DATES: These webinars will be held on
Monday, August 30, 2021, at
4 p.m.–5:30 p.m.; Wednesday,
September 1, 2021, at 6 p.m.–7:30 p.m.;
Thursday, September 2, 2021, at 10
a.m.–11:30 a.m.
ADDRESSES: All meeting participants
and interested parties are strongly
encouraged to register in advance of any
webinar they are interested in attending.
Meeting links for each webinar can be
located at: https://www.mafmc.org/
climate-change-scenario-planning.
Meeting addresses: The meetings will
be held via webinar (see SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director,
New England Fishery Management
Council; telephone: (978) 465–0492.
Contact information and individual staff
members working on this initiative can
be found here: https://www.mafmc.org/
climate-change-scenario-planning.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Climate change is a growing threat to
marine fisheries worldwide. On the East
coast of the United States, there is
evidence of climate-related shifts in
distribution, abundance, and/or
productivity of fishery resources. It is
uncertain what the next couple of
decades will bring, and how fishery
management programs can best prepare
to meet the challenges ahead. Over the
next year, this joint effort will bring
together researchers, fishery managers,
fishery participants and others to
discuss these questions and emerge with
ideas and recommendations for how
fishery management can potentially
adapt to climate change.
The management bodies in this region
have decided to employ a scenario
planning framework to discuss these
issues. Scenario planning is a way of
exploring how fishery management may
need to evolve over the next few
decades as climate change becomes a
bigger issue. Specifically, scenarios are
stories about possible future
developments. This approach is
designed to help stakeholders and
managers think broadly about the future
implications of climate change to help
define what changes can potentially be
made now to be better prepared.
These introductory webinars are the
first step of a multi-year scenario
planning effort. Staff will explain the
overall initiative and share draft
objectives, possible outcomes and focus
of the work. There will be a presentation
introducing the basics of scenario
VerDate Sep<11>2014
23:05 Aug 10, 2021
Jkt 253001
planning and potential benefits of
engaging in the process. At the end of
the webinar there will be an opportunity
for small group discussions for
participants to share feedback and
suggestions on the information
presented and proposed. Additional
details about the webinars will be
posted to this page once available:
https://www.mafmc.org/climate-changescenario-planning.
Special Accommodations
These meetings are physically
accessible to people with disabilities.
Requests for sign language
interpretation or other auxiliary aids
should be directed to Thomas A. Nies,
Executive Director, at (978) 465–0492, at
least 5 days prior to the meeting date.
(Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.)
Dated: August 5, 2021.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021–17051 Filed 8–10–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID: 0648–XB307]
Environmental Impact Statement on
Phase 2 Modifications to the Atlantic
Large Whale Take Reduction Plan To
Reduce Serious Injury and Mortality of
Large Whales in Commercial Trap/Pot
and Gillnet Fisheries Along the U.S.
East Coast
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement,
request for comments.
AGENCY:
The National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS) intends to
begin a rulemaking process that will
amend the Atlantic Large Whale Take
Reduction Plan (Plan) to reduce the risk
of mortalities and serious injuries of
North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena
glacialis) and other large whales caused
by entanglement in commercial trap/pot
and gillnet fisheries along the U.S. East
Coast. An Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) will be prepared in
accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to
analyze the impacts to the environment
of alternatives to amend the Plan. This
notice informs the public of upcoming
SUMMARY:
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Frm 00009
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
scoping meetings to solicit public input
on Phase 2 of our efforts to reduce the
risk of entanglement to right, humpback,
and fin whales in U.S. commercial
fisheries managed under the Plan. Phase
1, a final rule implementing new
modifications to reduce mortalities and
serious injuries caused by incidental
entanglement in the northeast American
lobster and Jonah crab trap/pot fishery,
is anticipated shortly, and was analyzed
in a Final Environmental Impact
Statement released (FEIS) on July 2,
2021. Phase 2 focuses on risk reduction
in U.S. East Coast gillnet, Atlantic
mixed species trap/pot, and MidAtlantic lobster and Jonah crab trap/pot
fisheries.
Written or electronic scoping
inputs must be received at the
appropriate address, email mailbox, or
phone number (see ADDRESSES) by
October 21, 2021.
Public Hearings: At least seven virtual
public meetings will be held during the
public comment period. In addition, we
will be holding three call-in days for
interested parties to call and speak to a
NMFS staff member to ask questions or
submit information and
recommendations.
See ADDRESSES to obtain public
hearing and call-in day notification
details. Scoping will also occur through
presentations and discussions at the
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries
Commission and New England, MidAtlantic, and South Atlantic Fishery
Management Council meetings during
the scoping period.
DATES:
You may submit input on
this document via email. Submit all
electronic public comments by sending
an email to nmfs.gar.ALWTRT2021@
noaa.gov using the subject line
‘‘Comments on Atlantic Large Whale
Take Reduction Plan Scoping.’’ Input
can also be provided via webinar during
scoping meetings or via phone on callin days. Remote public meeting dates,
access, and call-in information is
available in the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section. Meeting
information will also be posted on the
Plan website fisheries.noaa.gov/
ALWTRP, or you may contact Marisa
Trego for information on dates and
times.
ADDRESSES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Marisa Trego, Take Reduction Team
Coordinator, Greater Atlantic Region.
Telephone: 978 282–8484. Address: 55
Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA
01930. Email: marisa.trego@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
E:\FR\FM\11AUN1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 152 (Wednesday, August 11, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43995-43996]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-17051]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XB301]
East Coast Fisheries of the United States; Public Meetings;
Request for Comments
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public meetings.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Several fishery management bodies on the East Coast of the
Atlantic Ocean are convening three public webinars to introduce a
project called East Coast Climate Change Scenario Planning. This is a
joint effort of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
(ASMFC), the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC), the Mid-
Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC), the South Atlantic Fishery
Management Council (SAFMC), and NOAA Fisheries. These webinars will
introduce stakeholders to the overall initiative, present draft
objectives, discuss potential outcomes, explain the general
[[Page 43996]]
focus of the work, and collect initial stakeholder input.
DATES: These webinars will be held on Monday, August 30, 2021, at 4
p.m.-5:30 p.m.; Wednesday, September 1, 2021, at 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m.;
Thursday, September 2, 2021, at 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
ADDRESSES: All meeting participants and interested parties are strongly
encouraged to register in advance of any webinar they are interested in
attending. Meeting links for each webinar can be located at: https://www.mafmc.org/climate-change-scenario-planning.
Meeting addresses: The meetings will be held via webinar (see
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director,
New England Fishery Management Council; telephone: (978) 465-0492.
Contact information and individual staff members working on this
initiative can be found here: https://www.mafmc.org/climate-change-scenario-planning.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Climate change is a growing threat to marine fisheries worldwide.
On the East coast of the United States, there is evidence of climate-
related shifts in distribution, abundance, and/or productivity of
fishery resources. It is uncertain what the next couple of decades will
bring, and how fishery management programs can best prepare to meet the
challenges ahead. Over the next year, this joint effort will bring
together researchers, fishery managers, fishery participants and others
to discuss these questions and emerge with ideas and recommendations
for how fishery management can potentially adapt to climate change.
The management bodies in this region have decided to employ a
scenario planning framework to discuss these issues. Scenario planning
is a way of exploring how fishery management may need to evolve over
the next few decades as climate change becomes a bigger issue.
Specifically, scenarios are stories about possible future developments.
This approach is designed to help stakeholders and managers think
broadly about the future implications of climate change to help define
what changes can potentially be made now to be better prepared.
These introductory webinars are the first step of a multi-year
scenario planning effort. Staff will explain the overall initiative and
share draft objectives, possible outcomes and focus of the work. There
will be a presentation introducing the basics of scenario planning and
potential benefits of engaging in the process. At the end of the
webinar there will be an opportunity for small group discussions for
participants to share feedback and suggestions on the information
presented and proposed. Additional details about the webinars will be
posted to this page once available: https://www.mafmc.org/climate-change-scenario-planning.
Special Accommodations
These meetings are physically accessible to people with
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed to Thomas A. Nies, Executive
Director, at (978) 465-0492, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.
(Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.)
Dated: August 5, 2021.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-17051 Filed 8-10-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P