[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 75 (Tuesday, April 19, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 21861]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-9458]



[[Page 21861]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA323


Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern 
United States; Northeast Multispecies Fishery; Approved Sector 
Monitoring Service Providers

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notification of NMFS-approved sector monitoring service 
providers.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces that the Administrator, Northeast 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) has approved five service 
providers who applied as eligible to provide dockside and/or at-sea 
monitoring services to Northeast (NE) multispecies sectors in FY 2011. 
Amendment 16 to the NE Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP) 
expanded sector management in the NE multispecies fishery, including a 
requirement for independent, third-party dockside and at-sea monitoring 
of sector trips beginning in fishing years (FY) 2010 and 2012, 
respectively; however, sectors could elect to have an at-sea monitoring 
program starting in FY 2010. Regulations implementing Amendment 16 
require such third-party monitoring service providers to apply to, and 
be approved by, NMFS in a manner consistent with the Administrative 
Procedure Act in order to be eligible to provide dockside and/or at-sea 
monitoring services to sectors. The regulations specify application 
requirements and criteria for the approval of service providers, which 
potential providers must demonstrate their compliance with as part of 
an application for approval by NMFS. Consistent with these regulatory 
requirements, the Regional Administrator received and reviewed 
applications from five monitoring service providers for approval to 
provide dockside and/or at-sea monitoring services to NE multispecies 
sectors in FY 2011.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the list of NMFS-approved sector monitoring 
service providers are available at http://www.nero.noaa.gov/sfd/sfdmultisector.html or by sending a written request to:
     Fax: (978) 281-9135, Attn: Mark Grant.
     Mail: 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930, Attn: 
Mark Grant.
    For service provider contact information, see the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section of this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Grant, Sector Policy Analyst, 
(978) 281-9145, fax (978) 281-9135, e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Amendment 16 to the FMP expanded the sector 
management program, including adding a requirement to ensure accurate 
monitoring of sector catch at sea and landings dockside. The 
regulations implementing Amendment 16 required (75 FR 18262; April 9, 
2010) dockside monitoring (DSM) of a minimum of 50 percent of all 
sector trips in FY 2010 and a minimum of 20 percent of sector trips in 
FY 2011. Sector vessels were also required to have a sector-funded at-
sea monitoring program in place by FY 2012. Framework Adjustment 45 (FW 
45) to the FMP, which is expected to be effective May 1, 2011, revises 
several DSM requirements. Proposed changes to the DSM program in FW 45 
would include an increase in the DSM coverage level for FY 2011 and a 
requirement for dockside monitors to board vessels after offload to 
verify that all catch has been offloaded.
    Regulations at 50 CFR 648.87(b)(4) describe the criteria for the 
approval of service providers interested in offering dockside and/or 
at-sea monitoring services to sectors. These include informational 
requirements that providers must include in applications for approval 
to NMFS. Additionally, once approved, service providers must be able to 
document having met performance requirements specified by the 
regulations (Sec.  648.87(b)(4)(ii)) during the FY, including required 
coverage levels, in order to maintain eligibility. NMFS can disapprove 
any previously approved service provider at anytime during the FY 
through notice in writing to the individual service provider if the 
service provider ceases to meet the performance standards. NMFS 
approved service providers for FY 2010 based upon the completeness of 
their application addressing the information requirements specified in 
the regulations (Sec.  648.87(b)(4)(i)), and a determination of the 
applicant's ability to perform the duties and responsibilities of a 
sector monitoring service provider.
    To approve service providers for FY 2011 (beginning May 1, 2011), 
NMFS specified that FY 2011 applications from approved FY 2010 service 
providers must demonstrate that the regulatory performance requirements 
had been met for the first two quarters of FY 2010 (through October 31, 
2010), in addition to providing the minimum informational requirements. 
NMFS received complete applications from two service providers 
intending to provide dockside and/or at-sea monitoring services to 
sectors in FY 2011, two service providers intending to provide only 
dockside monitoring services, and one service provider intending to 
provide only at-sea monitoring services. All five of these providers 
were previously approved and provided dockside and/or at-sea monitoring 
services to sectors in FY 2010. Based on the information provided by 
the FY 2011 applications, the Regional Administrator has approved the 
following service providers as eligible to provide dockside monitoring 
services to sectors in FY 2011:
     A.I.S., Inc., 89 North Water Street, New Bedford, MA 
02747, phone 508-990-9054, fax 508-990-9055, Web site http://www.aisobservers.com.
     MRAG Americas, 65 Eastern Ave., Unit B2C, Essex, MA 01929, 
phone 978-768-3880, fax 978-768-3878, Web site http://www.mragamericas.com.
     Saltwater Inc., 733 N. Street, Anchorage, AK 99501, phone 
907-276-3241, fax 907-258-5999, Web site http://www.saltwaterinc.com.
     Atlantic Catch Data Ltd., 99 Wyse Road, Suite 815, 
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, CANADA B3A 4S5, phone 1-902-422-4745, fax 1-
902-422-9780, website http://www.atlanticcatchdata.ca.
    The Regional Administrator has approved the following service 
providers as eligible to provide at-sea monitoring services to sectors 
in FY 2011:
     A.I.S., Inc.
     MRAG Americas
     East West Technical Services, LLC, 34 Batterson Drive, New 
Britain, CT 06053, phone 860-223-5165, fax 860-223-6005, Web site 
http://www.ewts.com.

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: April 13, 2011.
Margo Schulze-Haugen,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-9458 Filed 4-18-11; 8:45 am]
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