Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Provisions; Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits, 37514-37516 [2023-12289]
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37514
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 110 / Thursday, June 8, 2023 / Notices
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and 777(i)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR
351.218.
Dated: June 1, 2023.
Lisa W. Wang,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and
Compliance.
Appendix
List of Topics Discussed in the Issues and
Decision Memorandum
I. Summary
II. Background
III. Scope of the Order
IV. History of the Order
V. Legal Framework
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1. Likelihood of Continuation or
Recurrence of a Countervailable Subsidy
2. Net Countervailable Subsidy Rates
Likely to Prevail
3. Nature of the Subsidies
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VIII. Recommendation
[FR Doc. 2023–12261 Filed 6–7–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
[RTID 0648–XC990]
Fisheries of the Gulf of Mexico and
South Atlantic; Southeast Data,
Assessment, and Review (SEDAR);
Public Meeting
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
AGENCY:
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16:15 Jun 07, 2023
Jkt 259001
Notice of SEDAR 79 Data
webinar for Gulf of Mexico and South
Atlantic Mutton Snapper.
ACTION:
The SEDAR 79 assessment
process of Gulf of Mexico and South
Atlantic mutton snapper will consist of
a Data Workshop, and a series of
assessment webinars, and a Review
Workshop. See SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION.
DATES: The SEDAR 79 Data webinar will
be held June 29, 2023, from 10 a.m. to
12 p.m., Eastern Time. The established
times may be adjusted as necessary to
accommodate the timely completion of
discussion relevant to the assessment
process. Such adjustments may result in
the meeting being extended from or
completed prior to the time established
by this notice.
ADDRESSES:
Meeting address: The meeting will be
held via webinar. The webinar is open
to members of the public. Those
interested in participating should
contact Julie A. Neer at SEDAR (see FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) to
request an invitation providing webinar
access information. Please request
webinar invitations at least 24 hours in
advance of each webinar.
SEDAR address: 4055 Faber Place
Drive, Suite 201, North Charleston, SC
29405.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie
A. Neer, SEDAR Coordinator; (843) 571–
4366; email: Julie.neer@safmc.net.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gulf
of Mexico, South Atlantic, and
Caribbean Fishery Management
Councils, in conjunction with NOAA
Fisheries and the Atlantic and Gulf
States Marine Fisheries Commissions
have implemented the Southeast Data,
Assessment and Review (SEDAR)
process, a multi-step method for
determining the status of fish stocks in
the Southeast Region. SEDAR is a multistep process including: (1) Data
Workshop, (2) a series of assessment
webinars, and (3) A Review Workshop.
The product of the Data Workshop is a
report that compiles and evaluates
potential datasets and recommends
which datasets are appropriate for
assessment analyses. The assessment
webinars produce a report that describes
the fisheries, evaluates the status of the
stock, estimates biological benchmarks,
projects future population conditions,
and recommends research and
monitoring needs. The product of the
Review Workshop is an Assessment
Summary documenting panel opinions
regarding the strengths and weaknesses
of the stock assessment and input data.
Participants for SEDAR Workshops are
SUMMARY:
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appointed by the Gulf of Mexico, South
Atlantic, and Caribbean Fishery
Management Councils and NOAA
Fisheries Southeast Regional Office,
HMS Management Division, and
Southeast Fisheries Science Center.
Participants include data collectors and
database managers; stock assessment
scientists, biologists, and researchers;
constituency representatives including
fishermen, environmentalists, and
NGOs; International experts; and staff of
Councils, Commissions, and state and
federal agencies.
The items of discussion during the
webinar are as follows:
Panelists will review the data sets
being considered for the assessment.
Although non-emergency issues not
contained in this agenda may come
before this group for discussion, those
issues may not be the subject of formal
action during this meeting. Action will
be restricted to those issues specifically
identified in this notice and any issues
arising after publication of this notice
that require emergency action under
section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management
Act, provided the public has been
notified of the intent to take final action
to address the emergency.
Special Accommodations
The meeting is physically accessible
to people with disabilities. Requests for
sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed to the
Council office (see ADDRESSES) at least 5
business days prior to each workshop.
Note: The times and sequence specified in
this agenda are subject to change.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: June 5, 2023.
Rey Israel Marquez,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023–12274 Filed 6–7–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XD076]
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act
Provisions; 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
AGENCY:
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08JNN1
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 110 / Thursday, June 8, 2023 / Notices
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
contains all of the required information
and warrants further consideration. The
Exempted Fishing Permit would allow
commercial fishing vessels to fish
outside fishery regulations in support of
research conducted by the applicant.
Regulations under the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act and the Atlantic
Coastal Fisheries Cooperative
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 June 23, 2023.
ADDRESSES: You may submit written
comments by the following method:
• Email: nmfs.gar.efp@noaa.gov.
Include in the subject line ‘‘MDMR 2023
Alternative Gear Retrieval EFP.’’
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Laura Deighan, Fishery Management
Specialist, Laura.Deighan@noaa.gov,
(978) 281–9184.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Maine
Department of Marine Resources
submitted a complete application for an
Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) to
conduct commercial fishing activities
that the regulations would otherwise
restrict to test alternative gear retrieval
systems that only uses one traditional
surface buoy. This EFP would exempt
the participating vessels from the gear
marking requirements at 50 CFR
697.21(b)(2) to allow the use of trawls of
more than three traps with one surface
marking and § 648.84(b) to allow the use
of gillnet gear with one surface marking.
The EFP would be valid from June 1,
2023, or the date it is issued, whichever
is later, through September 30, 2024.
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
SUMMARY:
Alternative Gear Retrieval Trials
This EFP would allow 15 federally
permitted vessels to test alternative
gears to reduce entanglement risk to
protected species, mainly the North
Atlantic right whale, in trap/pot and
sink gillnet fisheries. Participating
vessels would replace one traditional
surface marking with either a spring-tag
or a timed-release retrieval system. A
spring-tag retrieval system uses a low
breaking strength (<1700 lb (771.11 kg))
buoy line that releases a stowed
retrieval line of greater breaking strength
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:15 Jun 07, 2023
Jkt 259001
when subjected to tension (>75 lb (34.02
kg)). A timed-release retrieval system
releases a stowed line after a
programmed pre-set soak time. Vessels
would be required to use one traditional
surface-marking on the other end of trap
trawls of more than three traps and on
the other end of all gillnet gear.
Each vessel would modify two
existing pieces of gear total, one using
a spring-tag on one end and a traditional
endline on the other and one using a
timed-release on one end and a
traditional endline on the other,
resulting in no additional vertical lines
in the water. Other than gear markings,
all trap trawls and gillnet strings would
be consistent with the regulations of the
management area where the vessel is
fishing and would be fished in
accordance with the participating
vessels’ standard operations (number
and length of trips, soak times, trap
limits, etc.). The researchers anticipate
52 hauls of 26 modified trap trawls
(1,352 total hauls) in Lobster
Management Areas 1 and 3 and Maine
state waters. Trap trawls would be
consistent with Atlantic Large Whale
Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP)
regulations. Trawls would not exceed 50
traps per trawl and would soak for
approximately 3 days (and not more
than 30 days). The researchers
anticipate 52 hauls of 4 modified gillnet
strings (208 total hauls) in Statistical
Areas 513, 514, 515, and Maine state
waters. Gillnets would be consistent
with ALWTRP and Harbor Porpoise
Take Reduction Plan regulations.
Gillnets would use 15–30.5 cm (5.9–12
in) mesh, would not exceed 3,200 m
(10,498.7 ft), and would soak for a
period of approximately 24 hours (and
not more than 30 days).
The Department and the gear
manufacturer will distribute gear and
train all participants on its use.
Scientific observers may accompany the
participants on up to two trips per
vessel, within budget and safety
limitations. The Department would
provide standardized data collection
sheets to all participants, but
individually-identifiable data will only
be made public with the express
permission of the vessel owner.
This project would test novel and
emerging technologies, including lowcost gear retrieval and sub-sea gearmarking systems, in fixed-gear fisheries
to evaluate their impacts on fishing
activity and entanglement risk to
protected species, mainly the North
Atlantic right whale. The project
objectives are to: (1) Assess changes to
fishing operations from the use of
alternative retrieval systems under a
variety of oceanographic conditions
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Fmt 4703
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37515
over a full year; (2) compare the time
timed-release retrieval lines remain in
the water column to that of traditional
persistent buoy lines; (3) identify fishing
areas that may be best suited for these
alternative retrieval systems; (4) assess
changes to fishing operations from the
use of alternative gear-marking systems;
and, (5) compare data on multiple subsea gear-location systems with other
methods of ranging gear locations (e.g.
surface buoy or digital chart marker).
The Department has proposed the
following best management and risk
reduction practices:
• Experimental buoy lines will be
marked with unique white and blue
markings above the experimental timed
and spring-tagline retrieval systems, in
addition to and above the required
regional markings;
• All vessels would provide
mandatory, weekly gear loss reports;
• All vessels would report all right
whale sightings to NMFS via
ne.rw.survey@noaa.gov or NOAA (866–
755–6622) or the U.S. Coast Guard
(Channel 16);
• All vessels would adhere to a 10knot speed limit when transiting
dynamic management areas, transiting
areas closed to vertical lines, and/or
when whales are observed;
• All vessels would adhere to current
approach regulations that create a 500yard (457.2-meter or 1,500-foot) buffer
zone in the presence of a surfacing right
whale and would depart immediately at
a safe and slow speed. Hauling any gear
would immediately cease (by removal)
to accommodate the regulation and be
reinitiated only after it was reasonable
to assume the whale left the area;
• Law enforcement would be able to
inspect gear at any time because one
traditional surface-marking will be
present at all times. The PI would notify
law enforcement agencies of project
participants and activities in advance of
the project start date, including:
Æ Materials related to the
redeployment of alternative retrieval
gear systems, most relevant to the
spring-tagline retrieval system, as the
timed-release system can be redeployed
without intervention;
Æ Information necessary to continue
relevant enforcement operations with
participant gear.
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
the completion of the proposed research
and have minimal impacts that do not
change the scope or impact of the
initially approved EFP request. Any
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37516
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 110 / Thursday, June 8, 2023 / Notices
fishing activity conducted outside the
scope of the exempted fishing activity
would be prohibited.
All comments received are a part of
the public record and will generally be
posted for public viewing at https://
www.noaa.gov/organization/
information-technology/foia-readingroom 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 ‘‘anonymous’’ as the
signature if you wish to remain
anonymous).
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: June 5, 2023.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023–12289 Filed 6–7–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Extension of Request for Public
Comment on a Draft Standard Ocean
Mapping Protocol
Office of Coast Survey,
National Ocean Service, National
Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), Department of
Commerce.
ACTION: Extension of deadline for public
comments.
AGENCY:
On February 24, 2023, the
National Ocean Mapping, Exploration,
and Characterization (NOMEC) Council
and the Interagency Working Group on
Ocean and Coastal Mapping (IWG–
OCM) submitted a request for public
comment on the IWG–OCM’s draft
Standard Ocean Mapping Protocol
(SOMP) in the Federal Register. This
notice extends the deadline for
comment from June 2, 2023, to July 28,
2023. All information in the original
Federal Register notice remains
accurate but for the deadline extension
to July 28, 2023.
DATES: Comments must be received via
email by 5 p.m. ET on July 28, 2023 at
the email address listed in the
ADDRESSES section below.
ADDRESSES:
A copy of the draft SOMP may be
downloaded or viewed at: https://
iocm.noaa.gov/standards/Standard_
Ocean_Mapping_Protocol_draft_
Feb2023.pdf.
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:15 Jun 07, 2023
Jkt 259001
A copy of the National Strategy may
be downloaded or viewed at: https://
iocm.noaa.gov/about/documents/
strategic-plans/20200611-FINALSTRATEGY-NOMEC-Sec.-2.pdf.
A copy of the National Strategy
Implementation Plan may be
downloaded or viewed at: https://
iocm.noaa.gov/about/documents/
strategic-plans/210107FINALNOMECImplementationPlanClean.pdf.
Comments can be submitted by email
to iwgocm.staff@noaa.gov by 5 p.m. ET
on July 28, 2023.
Instructions: Response to this Federal
Register notice is voluntary. Please
include ‘‘Public Comment on Draft
SOMP’’ in the subject line of the
message. If applicable, clearly indicate
the section and page number of the draft
SOMP to which submitted comments
pertain. All submissions must be in
English. Email attachments will be
accepted in plain text, Microsoft Word,
or Adobe PDF formats only. Each
individual or institution is requested to
submit only one response. Please note
that the U.S. Government will not pay
for response preparation, or for the use
of any information contained in the
response.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information
should be directed to Paul Turner,
NOAA Integrated Ocean and Coastal
Mapping, at iwgocm.staff@noaa.gov,
(240) 429–0293.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant
to Objective 2.1 of the National Strategy
for Ocean Mapping, Exploring, and
Characterizing the United States
Exclusive Economic Zone, this SOMP
was drafted to encourage consistency in
data acquisition, stewardship and data
management for seafloor mapping. The
draft SOMP is organized into the
following seven chapters:
Data Management, Bathymetry,
Seabed and Lakebed Backscatter, Water
Column Sonar, Side Scan Sonar, Subbottom, and Magnetometer. Public
comments to improve the draft SOMP
are welcome on one, a few, or all
sections. Questions that might be
considered while reviewing the draft
SOMP include:
• Are the SOMP chapters
comprehensive and explanatory?
• Is the SOMP understandable?
• As a protocol, will it be helpful to
your organization, sector, or interest
group?
• How do you anticipate your
organization or sector will participate in
SOMP implementation?
• What specific improvements to the
SOMP would be of value to your
organization/sector?
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
• What is missing in the SOMP that
would facilitate use if added?
• Are there authoritative sources for
the SOMP chapters that are missing or
should be considered?
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 883e.
RDML Benjamin K. Evans,
Director, Office of Coast Survey, National
Ocean Service, National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2023–12230 Filed 6–7–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–JE–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XD037]
South Atlantic Fishery Management
Council; Public Meeting
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public meetings.
AGENCY:
The South Atlantic Fishery
Management Council (Council) will
hold meetings of its Habitat Blueprint
Working Group to review the draft
Habitat Blueprint.
DATES: The meetings will be held from
10 a.m. until 12 p.m. on Wednesday,
June 28, 2023 and Wednesday, August
16, 2023.
ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held
via webinar. Webinar registration is
required. Details are included in
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim
Iverson, Public Information Officer,
SAFMC; phone: (843) 302–8440 or toll
free: (866) SAFMC–10; fax: (843) 769–
4520; email: kim.iverson@safmc.net.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Meeting
information, including the webinar
registration link, online public comment
form, agenda, and briefing book
materials will be posted on the
Council’s website at: https://safmc.net/
workgroups/. Comments become part of
the Administrative Record of the
meeting and will automatically be
posted to the website and available for
Council consideration.
The Council is developing the Habitat
Blueprint to provide direction for its
habitat program. The Habitat Blueprint
will address program goals and
objectives, document actions to address
habitat requirements of the MagnusonStevens Act, and provide guidance on
the role and use of the Council’s Habitat
Advisory Panel.
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\08JNN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 110 (Thursday, June 8, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37514-37516]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-12289]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XD076]
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act
Provisions; 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
[[Page 37515]]
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 contains all
of the required information and warrants further consideration. The
Exempted Fishing Permit would allow commercial fishing vessels to fish
outside fishery regulations in support of research conducted by the
applicant. Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation
and Management Act and the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative
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 June 23, 2023.
ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by the following method:
Email: [email protected]. Include in the subject line
``MDMR 2023 Alternative Gear Retrieval EFP.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Deighan, Fishery Management
Specialist, [email protected], (978) 281-9184.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Maine Department of Marine Resources
submitted a complete application for an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP)
to conduct commercial fishing activities that the regulations would
otherwise restrict to test alternative gear retrieval systems that only
uses one traditional surface buoy. This EFP would exempt the
participating vessels from the gear marking requirements at 50 CFR
697.21(b)(2) to allow the use of trawls of more than three traps with
one surface marking and Sec. 648.84(b) to allow the use of gillnet
gear with one surface marking. The EFP would be valid from June 1,
2023, or the date it is issued, whichever is later, through September
30, 2024.
Alternative Gear Retrieval Trials
This EFP would allow 15 federally permitted vessels to test
alternative gears to reduce entanglement risk to protected species,
mainly the North Atlantic right whale, in trap/pot and sink gillnet
fisheries. Participating vessels would replace one traditional surface
marking with either a spring-tag or a timed-release retrieval system. A
spring-tag retrieval system uses a low breaking strength (<1700 lb
(771.11 kg)) buoy line that releases a stowed retrieval line of greater
breaking strength when subjected to tension (>75 lb (34.02 kg)). A
timed-release retrieval system releases a stowed line after a
programmed pre-set soak time. Vessels would be required to use one
traditional surface-marking on the other end of trap trawls of more
than three traps and on the other end of all gillnet gear.
Each vessel would modify two existing pieces of gear total, one
using a spring-tag on one end and a traditional endline on the other
and one using a timed-release on one end and a traditional endline on
the other, resulting in no additional vertical lines in the water.
Other than gear markings, all trap trawls and gillnet strings would be
consistent with the regulations of the management area where the vessel
is fishing and would be fished in accordance with the participating
vessels' standard operations (number and length of trips, soak times,
trap limits, etc.). The researchers anticipate 52 hauls of 26 modified
trap trawls (1,352 total hauls) in Lobster Management Areas 1 and 3 and
Maine state waters. Trap trawls would be consistent with Atlantic Large
Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP) regulations. Trawls would not exceed
50 traps per trawl and would soak for approximately 3 days (and not
more than 30 days). The researchers anticipate 52 hauls of 4 modified
gillnet strings (208 total hauls) in Statistical Areas 513, 514, 515,
and Maine state waters. Gillnets would be consistent with ALWTRP and
Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Plan regulations. Gillnets would use 15-
30.5 cm (5.9-12 in) mesh, would not exceed 3,200 m (10,498.7 ft), and
would soak for a period of approximately 24 hours (and not more than 30
days).
The Department and the gear manufacturer will distribute gear and
train all participants on its use. Scientific observers may accompany
the participants on up to two trips per vessel, within budget and
safety limitations. The Department would provide standardized data
collection sheets to all participants, but individually-identifiable
data will only be made public with the express permission of the vessel
owner.
This project would test novel and emerging technologies, including
low-cost gear retrieval and sub-sea gear-marking systems, in fixed-gear
fisheries to evaluate their impacts on fishing activity and
entanglement risk to protected species, mainly the North Atlantic right
whale. The project objectives are to: (1) Assess changes to fishing
operations from the use of alternative retrieval systems under a
variety of oceanographic conditions over a full year; (2) compare the
time timed-release retrieval lines remain in the water column to that
of traditional persistent buoy lines; (3) identify fishing areas that
may be best suited for these alternative retrieval systems; (4) assess
changes to fishing operations from the use of alternative gear-marking
systems; and, (5) compare data on multiple sub-sea gear-location
systems with other methods of ranging gear locations (e.g. surface buoy
or digital chart marker).
The Department has proposed the following best management and risk
reduction practices:
Experimental buoy lines will be marked with unique white
and blue markings above the experimental timed and spring-tagline
retrieval systems, in addition to and above the required regional
markings;
All vessels would provide mandatory, weekly gear loss
reports;
All vessels would report all right whale sightings to NMFS
via [email protected] or NOAA (866-755-6622) or the U.S. Coast
Guard (Channel 16);
All vessels would adhere to a 10-knot speed limit when
transiting dynamic management areas, transiting areas closed to
vertical lines, and/or when whales are observed;
All vessels would adhere to current approach regulations
that create a 500-yard (457.2-meter or 1,500-foot) buffer zone in the
presence of a surfacing right whale and would depart immediately at a
safe and slow speed. Hauling any gear would immediately cease (by
removal) to accommodate the regulation and be reinitiated only after it
was reasonable to assume the whale left the area;
Law enforcement would be able to inspect gear at any time
because one traditional surface-marking will be present at all times.
The PI would notify law enforcement agencies of project participants
and activities in advance of the project start date, including:
[cir] Materials related to the redeployment of alternative
retrieval gear systems, most relevant to the spring-tagline retrieval
system, as the timed-release system can be redeployed without
intervention;
[cir] Information necessary to continue relevant enforcement
operations with participant gear.
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 the completion of the proposed research and
have minimal impacts that do not change the scope or impact of the
initially approved EFP request. Any
[[Page 37516]]
fishing activity conducted outside the scope of the exempted fishing
activity would be prohibited.
All comments received are a part of the public record and will
generally be posted for public viewing at https://www.noaa.gov/organization/information-technology/foia-reading-room 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 ``anonymous'' as the signature if
you wish to remain anonymous).
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: June 5, 2023.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-12289 Filed 6-7-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
