Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits, 13350-13352 [2025-04881]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
13350
Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 54 / Friday, March 21, 2025 / Notices
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: March 18, 2025.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2025–04877 Filed 3–20–25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XE794]
New England Fishery Management
Council; Public Meeting
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
AGENCY:
The New England Fishery
Management Council (Council) is
scheduling a public webinar of its Joint
Herring Committee and Advisory Panel
to consider actions affecting New
England fisheries in the exclusive
economic zone (EEZ).
Recommendations from this group will
be brought to the full Council for formal
consideration and action, if appropriate.
DATES: This webinar will be held on
Friday, April 11, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
ADDRESSES:
Webinar registration URL
information: https://nefmc-org.zoom.us/
meeting/register/
TBis4dq3S6GqKutcVTezWQ.
Council address: New England
Fishery Management Council, 50 Water
Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cate
O’Keefe, Executive Director, New
England Fishery Management Council;
telephone: (978) 465–0492.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES
Agenda
The Atlantic Herring Committee and
Advisory Panel will meet jointly to
discuss Specifications—receive a report
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:34 Mar 20, 2025
Jkt 265001
from the Plan Development Team (PDT)
and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries
Commission’s (ASMFC) Technical
Committee and summary of Scientific
and Statistical Committee (SSC)
recommendations, and consider revising
recommendations for fishing year (FY)
2025 and 2026 specifications, FY 2027
default specifications and possible inseason adjustments, and make
recommendations to the Committee/
Council as appropriate. Other business
will be discussed if necessary.
Although non-emergency issues not
contained on the agenda may come
before this Council for discussion, those
issues may not be the subject of formal
action during this meeting. Council
action will be restricted to those issues
specifically listed in this notice and any
issues arising after publication of this
notice that require emergency action
under section 305(c) of the MagnusonStevens Act, provided the public has
been notified of the Council’s intent to
take final action to address the
emergency. The public also should be
aware that the meeting will be recorded.
Consistent with 16 U.S.C. 1852, a copy
of the recording is available upon
request.
Special Accommodations
This meeting is physically accessible
to people with disabilities. Requests for
sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed to Cate
O’Keefe, Executive Director, at (978)
465–0492, at least 5 days prior to the
meeting date.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: March 18, 2025.
Rey Israel Marquez,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2025–04870 Filed 3–20–25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XE716]
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions;
General Provisions for Domestic
Fisheries; Application for Exempted
Fishing Permits
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 (EFP)
application contains all of the required
information and warrants further
consideration. The EFP would allow
federally permitted fishing vessels to
fish outside fishery regulations in
support of exempted fishing activities
proposed by the Cape Cod Commercial
Fishermen’s Alliance. Regulations
under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act
require publication of this notification
to provide interested parties the
opportunity to comment on applications
for proposed EFPs.
SUMMARY:
Comments must be received on
or before April 7, 2025.
DATES:
You may submit written
comments by email at nmfs.gar.efp@
noaa.gov. Include in the subject line
‘‘CCCFA SCOQ EFP.’’ All comments
received are a part of the public record
and may be posted for public viewing
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).
ADDRESSES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Christine Ford, Fishery Management
Specialist, christine.ford@noaa.gov,
978–281–9185.
The
applicant submitted a complete
application for an EFP to conduct
commercial fishing activities that the
regulations would otherwise restrict.
This EFP would exempt the
participating vessels from the following
Federal regulations:
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
AGENCY:
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
E:\FR\FM\21MRN1.SGM
21MRN1
Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 54 / Friday, March 21, 2025 / Notices
13351
TABLE 1—REQUESTED EXEMPTIONS
CFR citation
Regulation
Need for exemption
50 CFR 648.14(j)(2)(iii) ........
Prohibition against offloading unshucked surfclams or
ocean quahogs from vessels not capable of carrying
cages.
Prohibition against landing or possessing, after offloading, any cage holding surfclams or ocean quahogs without a cage tag required by § 648.77.
Cage tag requirements ...................................................
Participating vessels are not capable of carrying cages,
and ports do not have the infrastructure to safely offload into cages.
Participating vessels will use alternate/smaller sized
containers and alternate tags, and will not be tagging
as required in 648.77.
The tags will not be in increments of 60 cubic feet (ft3)
(1.7 cubic meters (m3)) (32 bushels); the landing
containers will be tagged in 16-bushel increments.
50 CFR 648.14(j)(3)(vi) ........
50 CFR 648.77(a) ................
TABLE 2—PROJECT SUMMARY
Project title ..........................................................
Project start .........................................................
Project end ..........................................................
Project objectives ................................................
Project location ...................................................
Number of vessels ..............................................
Number of trips ...................................................
Trip duration (days) ............................................
Total number of days ..........................................
Gear type(s) ........................................................
Number of tows or sets ......................................
Duration of tows or sets .....................................
khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES
Project Narrative
This project builds on initial work
completed in 2014–2015, and reflects
renewed interest in Atlantic surfclams
and ocean quahogs by the Cape Cod
small boat fleet and a new, local dealer/
processor that normally buys from state
waters surfclam boats, and accepts
smaller increments. The previous test
using alternative containers and tags
showed promise, but buyers at the time
would not accept non-standard cages,
limiting the market viability of the
alternative cages. This EFP would
collect data to support a future
regulatory request to permanently allow
small boats to land surfclams and ocean
quahogs in smaller increments.
This EFP would authorize five vessels
to continue to develop the viability of a
day-boat Atlantic surfclam and ocean
quahog fishery for small vessels based
out of Cape Cod, by testing alternatives
to the large industry-standard cages and
32-bushel (1.13 cubic meter (m3)) cage
tags. The traditional cages do not fit on
smaller day-boats and, as a result,
vessels not capable of carrying a cage
onboard must offload directly into
cages. This can be burdensome and
dangerous, and the extra handling and
compression of clams in the cages can
lead to damaged product and lower
market value. Many ports do not have
the infrastructure to safely offload into
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:34 Mar 20, 2025
Jkt 265001
Use of alternative cage sizes and tag protocols to support a high-quality, niche market for Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog harvested by day-boat vessels on Cape Cod.
Upon Issuance.
12/31/2025.
To test the viability of alternate landing containers for smaller vessels, tag and quantify
surfclams and ocean quahogs with a cage tag equivalent, and evaluate alternative landing
procedures to improve the quality and value of surfclams landed with smaller vessels and
smaller containers.
Federal waters around Cape Cod, to include Statistical Areas 521, 514, 526, 537, and 538.
5.
195.
1.
195.
Dredge.
30–40 per trip; up to 7,800 total.
15–30 minutes.
cages, and the local dealer dedicated to
buying the catch is not capable of
handling 32-bushel (1.13 m3) cages. All
participating vessels would have open
access permits and receive tags from one
of the participants with allocation.
The participating vessels would use
two alternative landing containers: A
standard-size fish vat (internal
measurements: 44 inch × 39 inch × 27
inch (1.12 meter (m) × 0.99 m × 0.69 m)
capable of holding 16 bushels (0.56 m3),
and a standard-size stackable fish tote
(internal measurements: 25 inch × 15.8
inch × 10.2 inch (0.64 m × 0.40 m × 0.26
m) capable of holding 1.5 bushels (0.05
m3). One alternative denomination of a
16-bushel tag would be used, either on
a fish vat or on a pallet of ten 1.5-bushel
totes wrapped in plastic wrap; the
participants acknowledge the loss of 1
bushel (0.04 m3) worth of catch for each
pallet tagged. The vats would be
constrained to weigh no more than
1,424 pounds (0.65 metric tons (mt)).
The totes on a pallet would also be
constrained to weigh no more than
1,424 pounds (but likely to only weigh
1,335 pounds (0.61 mt)); weight samples
would be taken by the dealer to verify
weights as to further develop the
experimental containers. The applicant
would work with NMFS and the
National Band and Tag Company to
convert standard cage tags into the
alternative tag denomination. Up to
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
1,500 32-bushel ocean quahog tags and
up to 1,000 32-bushel surf clam tags
would be converted to 16-bushel tags.
Participating fishermen would
complete a data sheet for each EFP trip
to provide information on price per
bushel and weight for each landing
increment. Landings data would be
verified with collection of dealer reports
for each EFP trip. The proportion of
breakages vs. live would be tested
through collection of processor data
detailing surfclam quality and
condition. Annual surveys to measure
impact and determine progress against
the measures of success will be
completed, and the effects of using
modified landing containers and
alternative tags will be analyzed to
determine what, if any, benefits the EFP
protocol provides to economic viability
and safety of small boat surfclam/ocean
quahog fishing businesses.
If approved, the applicant may
request minor modifications and
extensions to the EFP throughout the
year. EFP modifications and extensions
may be granted without further notice if
they are deemed essential to facilitate
completion of the proposed research
and have minimal impacts that do not
change the scope or impact of the
initially approved EFP request. Any
fishing activity conducted outside the
scope of the exempted fishing activity
would be prohibited.
E:\FR\FM\21MRN1.SGM
21MRN1
13352
Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 54 / Friday, March 21, 2025 / Notices
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: March 18, 2025.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2025–04881 Filed 3–20–25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XE704]
Marine Mammals; File No. 22095
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit
amendment.
AGENCY:
Notice is hereby given that a
major amendment to Permit No. 22095–
01 has been issued to SeaWorld LLC
(6240 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando,
Florida 32821).
ADDRESSES: The permit amendment and
related documents are available for
review upon written request via email to
NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Courtney Smith, Ph.D., or Jennifer
Skidmore, (301) 427–8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On
January 21, 2025, notice was published
in the Federal Register (90 FR 7101)
that NMFS proposed an amendment to
Permit No. 22095–01 (75 FR 27418,
April 17, 2024) for the permit holder to
continue conducting research and
enhancement activities on one stranded,
non-releasable beluga whale
(Delphinapterus leucas; ‘‘Tyonek’’/
NOA0010477) from the endangered
Cook Inlet distinct population segment
(DPS) under a 6-month permit
extension. The extended permit allows
additional processing of an updated,
new application (File No. 28286)
submitted by the permit holder for
continued research and enhancement
activities on Tyonek (89 FR 102117,
December 17, 2024). The amended
permit No. 22095–02 expires on
September 15, 2025.
The permit amendment has been
issued under the authority of the Marine
Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as
amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the
regulations governing the taking and
importing of marine mammals (50 CFR
part 216), the Endangered Species Act of
1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531
et seq.), and the regulations governing
the taking, importing, and exporting of
khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:32 Mar 20, 2025
Jkt 265001
endangered and threatened species (50
CFR parts 222 through 226).
In compliance with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a final
determination was made that the
activity proposed under the original
permit (No. 22095) is categorically
excluded from the requirement to
prepare an environmental assessment or
environmental impact statement (84 FR
15595, April 16, 2019).
As required by the ESA, issuance of
the original permit, as amended, was
based on a finding that such permit: (1)
was applied for in good faith; (2) will
not operate to the disadvantage of such
endangered species; and (3) is
consistent with the purposes and
policies set forth in section 2 of the
ESA.
Dated: March 18, 2025.
Amy Sloan,
Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation
Division, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2025–04883 Filed 3–20–25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM
PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR
SEVERELY DISABLED
Procurement List; Proposed Deletions
Committee for Purchase From
People Who Are Blind or Severely
Disabled.
AGENCY:
Proposed deletions from the
Procurement List.
ACTION:
The Committee is proposing
to delete service(s) from the
Procurement List that were furnished by
nonprofit agencies employing persons
who are blind or have other severe
disabilities.
SUMMARY:
Comments must be received on
or before: April 20, 2025.
DATES:
Committee for Purchase
From People Who Are Blind or Severely
Disabled, 355 E Street SW, Suite 325,
Washington, DC 20024.
ADDRESSES:
For
further information or to submit
comments contact: Michael R.
Jurkowski, Telephone: (703) 489–1322,
or email CMTEFedReg@AbilityOne.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
This
notice is published pursuant to 41
U.S.C. 8503(a)(2) and 41 CFR 51–2.3. Its
purpose is to provide interested persons
an opportunity to submit comments on
the proposed actions.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Deletions
The following service(s) are proposed
for deletion from the Procurement List:
Service(s)
Service Type: Shelf Stocking, Custodial &
Warehousing
Mandatory for: Defense Commissary Agency,
Bolling AFB Commissary, Bolling AFB,
DC
Authorized Source of Supply: CW Resources,
Inc., New Britain, CT
Contracting Activity: DEFENSE
COMMISSARY AGENCY (DECA),
DEFENSE COMMISSARY AGENCY
Michael R. Jurkowski,
Director, Business Operations.
[FR Doc. 2025–04854 Filed 3–20–25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6353–01–P
COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM
PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR
SEVERELY DISABLED
Public Meeting
Committee for Purchase From
People Who Are Blind or Severely
Disabled.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
AGENCY:
April 24, 2025, from 1 p.m. to 4
p.m. ET.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held
virtually only via Zoom webinar.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Angela Phifer, 355 E Street SW, Suite
325, Washington, DC 20024; (703) 798–
5873; CMTEFedReg@AbilityOne.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background: The Committee for
Purchase From People Who Are Blind
or Severely Disabled is an independent
Federal agency operating as the U.S.
AbilityOne Commission. It oversees the
AbilityOne Program, which provides
employment opportunities through
Federal contracts for people who are
blind or have significant disabilities in
the manufacture and delivery of
products and services to the Federal
Government. The Javits-Wagner-O’Day
Act (41 U.S.C. chapter 85) authorizes
the contracts.
Registration: Attendees not requesting
speaking time should register not later
than April 23, 2025. Attendees
requesting speaking time must register
not later than April 15, 2025, and use
the comment fields in the registration
form to specify the intended speaking
topic/s. The registration link will be
available on the Commission’s home
page, www.abilityone.gov, under News
and Events.
Commission Statement: This regular
quarterly meeting will include updates
from the Commission Chairperson,
DATES:
E:\FR\FM\21MRN1.SGM
21MRN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 54 (Friday, March 21, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13350-13352]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-04881]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XE716]
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic
Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable
Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary
determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) application
contains all of the required information and warrants further
consideration. The EFP would allow federally permitted fishing vessels
to fish outside fishery regulations in support of exempted fishing
activities proposed by the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen's Alliance.
Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act require publication of this notification to provide
interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for
proposed EFPs.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 7, 2025.
ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by email at
[email protected]. Include in the subject line ``CCCFA SCOQ EFP.''
All comments received are a part of the public record and may be posted
for public viewing 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).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christine Ford, Fishery Management
Specialist, [email protected], 978-281-9185.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The applicant submitted a complete
application for an EFP to conduct commercial fishing activities that
the regulations would otherwise restrict. This EFP would exempt the
participating vessels from the following Federal regulations:
[[Page 13351]]
Table 1--Requested Exemptions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CFR citation Regulation Need for exemption
------------------------------------------------------------------------
50 CFR 648.14(j)(2)(iii).... Prohibition against Participating
offloading vessels are not
unshucked surfclams capable of carrying
or ocean quahogs cages, and ports do
from vessels not not have the
capable of carrying infrastructure to
cages. safely offload into
cages.
50 CFR 648.14(j)(3)(vi)..... Prohibition against Participating
landing or vessels will use
possessing, after alternate/smaller
offloading, any sized containers
cage holding and alternate tags,
surfclams or ocean and will not be
quahogs without a tagging as required
cage tag required in 648.77.
by Sec. 648.77.
50 CFR 648.77(a)............ Cage tag The tags will not be
requirements. in increments of 60
cubic feet (ft3)
(1.7 cubic meters
(m3)) (32 bushels);
the landing
containers will be
tagged in 16-bushel
increments.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 2--Project Summary
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Project title................ Use of alternative cage sizes and tag
protocols to support a high-quality,
niche market for Atlantic surfclam and
ocean quahog harvested by day-boat
vessels on Cape Cod.
Project start................ Upon Issuance.
Project end.................. 12/31/2025.
Project objectives........... To test the viability of alternate
landing containers for smaller vessels,
tag and quantify surfclams and ocean
quahogs with a cage tag equivalent, and
evaluate alternative landing procedures
to improve the quality and value of
surfclams landed with smaller vessels
and smaller containers.
Project location............. Federal waters around Cape Cod, to
include Statistical Areas 521, 514, 526,
537, and 538.
Number of vessels............ 5.
Number of trips.............. 195.
Trip duration (days)......... 1.
Total number of days......... 195.
Gear type(s)................. Dredge.
Number of tows or sets....... 30-40 per trip; up to 7,800 total.
Duration of tows or sets..... 15-30 minutes.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Project Narrative
This project builds on initial work completed in 2014-2015, and
reflects renewed interest in Atlantic surfclams and ocean quahogs by
the Cape Cod small boat fleet and a new, local dealer/processor that
normally buys from state waters surfclam boats, and accepts smaller
increments. The previous test using alternative containers and tags
showed promise, but buyers at the time would not accept non-standard
cages, limiting the market viability of the alternative cages. This EFP
would collect data to support a future regulatory request to
permanently allow small boats to land surfclams and ocean quahogs in
smaller increments.
This EFP would authorize five vessels to continue to develop the
viability of a day-boat Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fishery for
small vessels based out of Cape Cod, by testing alternatives to the
large industry-standard cages and 32-bushel (1.13 cubic meter (m\3\))
cage tags. The traditional cages do not fit on smaller day-boats and,
as a result, vessels not capable of carrying a cage onboard must
offload directly into cages. This can be burdensome and dangerous, and
the extra handling and compression of clams in the cages can lead to
damaged product and lower market value. Many ports do not have the
infrastructure to safely offload into cages, and the local dealer
dedicated to buying the catch is not capable of handling 32-bushel
(1.13 m\3\) cages. All participating vessels would have open access
permits and receive tags from one of the participants with allocation.
The participating vessels would use two alternative landing
containers: A standard-size fish vat (internal measurements: 44 inch x
39 inch x 27 inch (1.12 meter (m) x 0.99 m x 0.69 m) capable of holding
16 bushels (0.56 m\3\), and a standard-size stackable fish tote
(internal measurements: 25 inch x 15.8 inch x 10.2 inch (0.64 m x 0.40
m x 0.26 m) capable of holding 1.5 bushels (0.05 m\3\). One alternative
denomination of a 16-bushel tag would be used, either on a fish vat or
on a pallet of ten 1.5-bushel totes wrapped in plastic wrap; the
participants acknowledge the loss of 1 bushel (0.04 m\3\) worth of
catch for each pallet tagged. The vats would be constrained to weigh no
more than 1,424 pounds (0.65 metric tons (mt)). The totes on a pallet
would also be constrained to weigh no more than 1,424 pounds (but
likely to only weigh 1,335 pounds (0.61 mt)); weight samples would be
taken by the dealer to verify weights as to further develop the
experimental containers. The applicant would work with NMFS and the
National Band and Tag Company to convert standard cage tags into the
alternative tag denomination. Up to 1,500 32-bushel ocean quahog tags
and up to 1,000 32-bushel surf clam tags would be converted to 16-
bushel tags.
Participating fishermen would complete a data sheet for each EFP
trip to provide information on price per bushel and weight for each
landing increment. Landings data would be verified with collection of
dealer reports for each EFP trip. The proportion of breakages vs. live
would be tested through collection of processor data detailing surfclam
quality and condition. Annual surveys to measure impact and determine
progress against the measures of success will be completed, and the
effects of using modified landing containers and alternative tags will
be analyzed to determine what, if any, benefits the EFP protocol
provides to economic viability and safety of small boat surfclam/ocean
quahog fishing businesses.
If approved, the applicant may request minor modifications and
extensions to the EFP throughout the year. EFP modifications and
extensions may be granted without further notice if they are deemed
essential to facilitate completion of the proposed research and have
minimal impacts that do not change the scope or impact of the initially
approved EFP request. Any fishing activity conducted outside the scope
of the exempted fishing activity would be prohibited.
[[Page 13352]]
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: March 18, 2025.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-04881 Filed 3-20-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
