Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits, 15410-15411 [2022-05765]
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15410
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 53 / Friday, March 18, 2022 / Notices
for Search and Rescue, to contact the
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via a phone call or radio broadcast.
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which are in development and are
projected to be available to the public in
2023. Changes to the forms are as
follows:
23-Hex Beacon ID line: SGBs have 23character hexadecimal unique
identifiers. NOAA’s 406 MHz Beacon
Registration Database (RGDB) currently
allows registrations for first generation
beacons (FGBs) that contain 15character hexadecimal identifiers. Once
SGBs are on the market, beacon owners
will have the capability to register either
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though each registration will be for only
one beacon ID, the hardcopy registration
form must contain separate lines for
FGBs and SGBs due to the differing
number of characters and their
presentation on manufacture labels and
packaging—FGB IDs are presented in
groups of 5–5–5 and SGB IDs will be
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Old 23-Hex ID: This field was added
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number provides additional verification
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RGDB staff to resolve cases of incorrect
or duplicate beacon IDs.
Other: An Automatic Identification
System (AIS) Maritime Mobile Service
Identity (MMSI) number was added to
the EPIRB form. The following fields
were added to the PLB form to provide
additional pertinent information to
search and rescue (SAR) forces: Radio
Call Sign (on EPIRB form), Vessel MMSI
# (on EPIRB form), AIS MMSI # (just
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:27 Mar 17, 2022
Jkt 256001
added to EPIRB form), and Aircraft
Registration (Tail) No. (on ELT form).
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households; Business or other for-profit
organizations; Not-for-profit
institutions; State, Local, or Tribal
government; Federal government.
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regulations at 47 CFR 80.1061, 47 CFR
87.199 and 47 CFR 95.1402.
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may be viewed at www.reginfo.gov.
Follow the instructions to view the
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currently under review by OMB.
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recommendations for the proposed
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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 0648–0295.
Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of
the Chief Information Officer, Commerce
Department.
[FR Doc. 2022–05792 Filed 3–17–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–HR–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XB886]
Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative
Management 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
from Pioneers for a Thoughtful
Coexistence, Inc. contains all the
required information and warrants
further consideration. Regulations under
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act and
the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries
Cooperative Management Act require
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00053
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
publication of this notice to provide
interested parties the opportunity to
comment on applications for proposed
Exempted Fishing Permits.
DATES: Comments must be received on
or before April 4, 2022.
ADDRESSES: You may submit written
comments by any of the following
methods:
• Email: NMFS.GAR.EFP@noaa.gov.
Include in the subject line ‘‘Comments
on Pioneers Ropeless Fishing EFP.’’ If
you are unable to submit comments via
the above email, please contact Laura
Hansen at (978) 281–9225, or email at
Laura.Hansen@noaa.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Laura Hansen, Fishery Management
Specialist, (978) 281–9225.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pioneers
for a Thoughtful Coexistence Inc.
(Pionners), in collaboration with the
Northeaster Fisheries Science Center
(NEFSC) submitted a complete
application for an Exempted Fishing
Permit (EFP) on December 20, 2021, to
conduct a ropeless lobster gear testing
project. Pioneers is requesting an
exemption from Federal lobster
regulations that would authorize three
federally permitted commercial lobster
vessels to participate in a ropeless
lobster gear study in the Massachusetts
Bay Restricted Area (MBRA). Pioneers is
requesting an exemption from gear
marking requirements at 50 CFR
697.21(b)(2) to allow for the use of no
surface markers on a trawl of more than
three traps.
The purpose of this study is to test
real-world use of acoustic-release
systems that would reduce the risk of
entangling protected species, including
the North Atlantic right whale.
The EFP would authorize three
federally permitted lobster vessels to
modify some of their existing trawls to
use ‘‘on-demand access’’ technology for
the retrieval of the gear. Each vessel
would use 10 sets of acoustic releases
and equipment to fish 10, 20-pot trawls
each. Experimental trawls would either
have a rope spool, a buoy and stowed
rope system, or a lift bag system fitted
with an acoustic release, deployed on
one end of the trawl. One vessel would
have 5 of the 10 trawls fixed with
acoustic releases on both ends of the
trawl. Two state-permitted vessels
would also participate in the study
exclusively in state waters of the MBRA,
and do not require Federal EFPs.
Participating vessels would be testing
gear in discrete areas in the MBRA that
were selected by the applicant based on
their claim of limited historical right
whale usage, desired bottom
composition, minimal gear conflict
E:\FR\FM\18MRN1.SGM
18MRN1
15411
exposure, and history of viable fishing
grounds. NEFSC and project
participants have been working to
develop and test ropeless gear
technology since 2019. To date, there
have been no premature releases of the
gear. Smart Buoy technology would be
used to send an automated electronic
notification to an email list within
approximately 20 minutes of surfacing
in the event of an unintended release.
The mail list includes the Principal
Investigator, Lori Caron, and Eric
Matzen, NEFSC, who would
immediately notify enforcement and
any on-the-water marine patrol,
research, and/or rescue efforts.
Positioning will be tracked in real time
and recovery would occur as soon as
possible. The gear would be transported
ashore for assessment. For a map of the
areas where sampling would occur,
please see Figure 1.
Soak time would be no longer than 14
days, gear retrieval would be limited to
daylight hours, and gear would not be
set or retrieved when right whales are in
close proximity, to further minimize any
potential interactions with right whales.
Sampling would occur from the date the
permit is issued, through the end of the
closure on April 30, 2022. Pioneers
estimated that there would be
approximately 117 hauls of the ropeless
gear. Data would be collected with data
sheets developed by the NEFSC to
ensure consistency among and between
different ropeless fishing projects. This
project would also collect whale
sighting data. NEFSC staff would assist
with data recording, when available.
The outcome of this project would be to
inform discussions on the utility of
ropeless gear to allow potential fishing
access to vertical line closure areas.
Participants would adhere to
additional precautions to mitigate
concerns regarding enforcement, gear
identification and retrieval, and
protected species interactions including:
• Unique marking of ground lines and
on-demand vertical lines beyond the
regional requirements and the ondemand vertical line would be
supervised while in the water column at
all times;
• Unique flag would be flown by
participating vessels for enforcement
recognition;
• Weekly mandatory gear loss and
gear conflict reporting;
• Stored vertical lines would be
enhanced with weak links every 40 feet
and are designed to break at less than
1700 lb (771 kg);
• Participating vessels would operate
at a 10-knot (18.5 kph) speed limit and,
if within a 500 yard (457.2 m) buffer
zone of a surfacing right whale, would
immediately depart the area at a safe,
slow speed;
• Weekly communication with
Massachusetts Division of Marine
Fisheries and NEFSC on project
activities; and,
• Use of the Trap Tracker application
for retrieval and set positioning of
trawls. This information would be
accessible to Federal, state, and
corresponding enforcement personnel,
as requested.
If approved, the applicant may
request minor modifications and
extensions to the EFP throughout the
year. We may grant EFP modifications
and extensions 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. The EFP
would prohibit any fishing activity
conducted outside the scope of the
exempted fishing activities.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:27 Mar 17, 2022
Jkt 256001
PO 00000
Frm 00054
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Dated: March 15, 2022.
Ngagne Jafnar Gueye,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022–05765 Filed 3–17–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM
PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR
SEVERELY DISABLED
Procurement List; Proposed Additions
Committee for Purchase From
People Who Are Blind or Severely
Disabled.
ACTION: Proposed additions to the
Procurement List.
AGENCY:
E:\FR\FM\18MRN1.SGM
18MRN1
EN18MR22.037</GPH>
jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES1
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 53 / Friday, March 18, 2022 / Notices
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 53 (Friday, March 18, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15410-15411]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-05765]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XB886]
Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management 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 Pioneers
for a Thoughtful Coexistence, Inc. contains all the required
information and warrants further consideration. Regulations under the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the
Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act require
publication of this notice to provide interested parties the
opportunity to comment on applications for proposed Exempted Fishing
Permits.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 4, 2022.
ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by any of the following
methods:
Email: [email protected]. Include in the subject line
``Comments on Pioneers Ropeless Fishing EFP.'' If you are unable to
submit comments via the above email, please contact Laura Hansen at
(978) 281-9225, or email at [email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Hansen, Fishery Management
Specialist, (978) 281-9225.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pioneers for a Thoughtful Coexistence Inc.
(Pionners), in collaboration with the Northeaster Fisheries Science
Center (NEFSC) submitted a complete application for an Exempted Fishing
Permit (EFP) on December 20, 2021, to conduct a ropeless lobster gear
testing project. Pioneers is requesting an exemption from Federal
lobster regulations that would authorize three federally permitted
commercial lobster vessels to participate in a ropeless lobster gear
study in the Massachusetts Bay Restricted Area (MBRA). Pioneers is
requesting an exemption from gear marking requirements at 50 CFR
697.21(b)(2) to allow for the use of no surface markers on a trawl of
more than three traps.
The purpose of this study is to test real-world use of acoustic-
release systems that would reduce the risk of entangling protected
species, including the North Atlantic right whale.
The EFP would authorize three federally permitted lobster vessels
to modify some of their existing trawls to use ``on-demand access''
technology for the retrieval of the gear. Each vessel would use 10 sets
of acoustic releases and equipment to fish 10, 20-pot trawls each.
Experimental trawls would either have a rope spool, a buoy and stowed
rope system, or a lift bag system fitted with an acoustic release,
deployed on one end of the trawl. One vessel would have 5 of the 10
trawls fixed with acoustic releases on both ends of the trawl. Two
state-permitted vessels would also participate in the study exclusively
in state waters of the MBRA, and do not require Federal EFPs.
Participating vessels would be testing gear in discrete areas in the
MBRA that were selected by the applicant based on their claim of
limited historical right whale usage, desired bottom composition,
minimal gear conflict
[[Page 15411]]
exposure, and history of viable fishing grounds. NEFSC and project
participants have been working to develop and test ropeless gear
technology since 2019. To date, there have been no premature releases
of the gear. Smart Buoy technology would be used to send an automated
electronic notification to an email list within approximately 20
minutes of surfacing in the event of an unintended release. The mail
list includes the Principal Investigator, Lori Caron, and Eric Matzen,
NEFSC, who would immediately notify enforcement and any on-the-water
marine patrol, research, and/or rescue efforts. Positioning will be
tracked in real time and recovery would occur as soon as possible. The
gear would be transported ashore for assessment. For a map of the areas
where sampling would occur, please see Figure 1.
Soak time would be no longer than 14 days, gear retrieval would be
limited to daylight hours, and gear would not be set or retrieved when
right whales are in close proximity, to further minimize any potential
interactions with right whales. Sampling would occur from the date the
permit is issued, through the end of the closure on April 30, 2022.
Pioneers estimated that there would be approximately 117 hauls of the
ropeless gear. Data would be collected with data sheets developed by
the NEFSC to ensure consistency among and between different ropeless
fishing projects. This project would also collect whale sighting data.
NEFSC staff would assist with data recording, when available. The
outcome of this project would be to inform discussions on the utility
of ropeless gear to allow potential fishing access to vertical line
closure areas.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN18MR22.037
Participants would adhere to additional precautions to mitigate
concerns regarding enforcement, gear identification and retrieval, and
protected species interactions including:
Unique marking of ground lines and on-demand vertical
lines beyond the regional requirements and the on-demand vertical line
would be supervised while in the water column at all times;
Unique flag would be flown by participating vessels for
enforcement recognition;
Weekly mandatory gear loss and gear conflict reporting;
Stored vertical lines would be enhanced with weak links
every 40 feet and are designed to break at less than 1700 lb (771 kg);
Participating vessels would operate at a 10-knot (18.5
kph) speed limit and, if within a 500 yard (457.2 m) buffer zone of a
surfacing right whale, would immediately depart the area at a safe,
slow speed;
Weekly communication with Massachusetts Division of Marine
Fisheries and NEFSC on project activities; and,
Use of the Trap Tracker application for retrieval and set
positioning of trawls. This information would be accessible to Federal,
state, and corresponding enforcement personnel, as requested.
If approved, the applicant may request minor modifications and
extensions to the EFP throughout the year. We may grant EFP
modifications and extensions 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. The EFP would prohibit any fishing activity
conducted outside the scope of the exempted fishing activities.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: March 15, 2022.
Ngagne Jafnar Gueye,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-05765 Filed 3-17-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
