[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 237 (Friday, December 9, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 89065-89066]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-29575]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF026


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

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

ACTION: Notice of approved monitoring service providers.

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SUMMARY: NMFS has approved five companies to provide at-sea monitoring 
services to Northeast multispecies sectors in fishing years 2017 and 
2018. Regulations implementing the Northeast Multispecies Fishery 
Management Plan require at-sea monitoring companies to apply to, and be 
approved by, NMFS in order to be eligible to provide at-sea monitoring 
services to sectors. This action will allow sectors to contract at-sea 
monitoring services with any of the approver providers for fishing 
years 2017 and 2018.

ADDRESSES: The list of NMFS-approved sector monitoring service 
providers are available at: http://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/sustainable/species/multispecies/, or by sending a written request to: 55 Great Republic 
Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930, Attn: Kyle Molton.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kyle Molton, Fishery Management 
Specialist, (978) 281-9236, fax (978) 281-9135, email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Amendment 16 (75 FR 18262; April 9, 2010) to 
the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP) expanded the 
sector management program, including a requirement for industry-funded 
monitoring of catch by sector vessels. Framework Adjustment 48 to the 
FMP (78 FR 26118; May 3, 2013) revised the goals and objectives for 
sector monitoring programs. Sectors must employ approved independent 
third-party monitoring companies to provide at-sea monitoring services 
to their vessels.

Standards for Approving At-Sea Monitoring Service Providers

    We are transitioning from an annual approval process to biennial 
approval to provide sectors additional stability and flexibility in 
negotiating contracts with monitoring companies. Applications approved 
this year will cover both fishing year 2017 and fishing year 2018 (May 
1, 2017, through April 30, 2019). There will be an opportunity in 2017 
for additional monitoring companies to apply for approval to provide 
services in fishing year 2018.
    The regulations at 50 CFR 648.87(b)(4) describe the criteria for 
approval of at-sea monitoring service providers. We approve service 
providers based on: (1) Completeness and sufficiency of applications; 
(2) determination of the applicant's ability to meet the performance 
requirements of a sector monitoring service provider; and (3) 
documented successful performance in the prior fishing year. We can 
disapprove any previously approved service provider during the fishing 
year if the provider fails to meet the performance standards, including

[[Page 89066]]

required coverage levels. We must notify service providers of 
disapproval in writing.

Approved Monitoring Service Providers

    We received complete applications from five companies: A.I.S., 
Inc.; East West Technical Services, LLC; MRAG Americas, Inc.; Fathom 
Research, LLC; and ACD USA Ltd. These five companies were approved for 
fishing year 2016. We approve all five companies to provide at-sea 
monitoring services in fishing years 2017 and 2018 because they have 
met the application requirements, documented their ability to comply 
with service provider standards, and have met the service provider 
performance criteria to date in fishing year 2016.

                                                      Table 1--Approved Fishing Year 2016 Providers
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              Provider name                          Address                 Phone            Fax                            Website
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ACD USA Ltd..............................  1801 Hollis St., Suite         902-749-5107    902-749-4552  www.atlanticcatchdata.ca.
                                            1220, Halifax, Nova
                                            Scotia, Canada B35 3N4.
A.I.S., Inc..............................  14 Barnabas Rd., P.O. Box      508-990-9054    508-990-9055  aisobservers.com.
                                            1009, Marion, MA 02738.
East West Technical Services, LLC........  1415 Corona Ln., Vero          860-910-4957    860-223-6005  www.ewts.com.
                                            Beach, FL 32963.
Fathom Research, LLC.....................  1213 Purchase St., Suite       508-990-0997    508-991-7372  www.fathomresearchllc.com.
                                            302, New Bedford, MA 02740.
MRAG Americas, Inc.......................  1810 Shadetree Circle,         978-768-3880    978-768-3878  www.mragamericas.com.
                                            Anchorage, AK 99502.
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    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: December 6, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-29575 Filed 12-8-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P