[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 51 (Friday, March 17, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14205-14206]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-05351]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF217


Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; 
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Application for an Exempted Fishing 
Permit

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

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the receipt of an exempted fishing permit (EFP) 
application for 2017 and 2018 that would continue work done in 2015 and 
2016, and is considering issuance of EFPs for vessels participating in 
the EFP fishery. The EFPs would be effective no earlier than April 3, 
2017, and would expire no later than December 31, 2018, but could be 
terminated earlier under terms and conditions of the EFPs and other 
applicable laws.

DATES: Comments must be received no later than 5 p.m., local time on 
April 3, 2017.

[[Page 14206]]


ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by 0648-XF217, by any 
one of the following methods:
     Email: [email protected].
     Fax: 206-526-6736, Attn: Benjamin Mann.
     Mail: Barry A. Thom, Regional Administrator, West Coast 
Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., Seattle, WA 98115-0070, Attn: 
Benjamin Mann.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Benjamin Mann (West Coast Region, 
NMFS), phone: 206-526-6117, fax: 206-526-6736.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This action is authorized by the Pacific 
Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act provisions at 50 CFR 600.745, 
which states that EFPs may be used to authorize fishing activities that 
would otherwise be prohibited. At the June 2016 Pacific Fishery 
Management Council (Council) meeting in Tacoma, WA, the Council 
considered an EFP application from the San Francisco Community Fishing 
Association and Dan Platt. An opportunity for public testimony was 
provided during the Council meeting. For more details on this EFP 
application and to view a copy of the application, see the Council's 
Web site at www.pcouncil.org and browse the November 2016 Briefing 
Book. The Council recommended that NMFS consider issuing the following 
EFP, and that this EFP be issued for 2 years. The 2-year duration is 
intended to coincide with the 2017-2018 biennial harvest specifications 
and management measures process. Therefore, to reduce the 
administrative burden of issuing annual EFPs during the 2-year 
management cycle, NMFS is considering issuing the EFP described below 
for a 2-year period. The EFP issued for this 2-year period would expire 
no later than December 31, 2018, but could be terminated earlier under 
terms and conditions of the EFP and other applicable laws.

Commercial Yellowtail EFP

    The San Francisco Community Fishing Association and Dan Platt 
submitted an application to continue their 2016-2017 EFP work for two 
more years. The primary purpose of the EFP is to test a commercial hook 
and line gear to target underutilized yellowtail rockfish, while 
keeping bycatch of overfished species low. The current application 
includes changes from the previous EFP including: (1) Extension of the 
southern boundary from Point San Pedro (37[deg]35' N. lat.) to Point 
Conception (34[deg]27' N. lat.); (2) addition of 3 vessels to the EFP 
(7 total); and (3) federal observer coverage requirement of 30 percent 
(trips not observed would be self-reported). The EFPs are necessary to 
allow activities that are otherwise prohibited by Federal regulations.
    After review of the final proposal, NMFS has concerns with the 
proposed reduced observer coverage. NMFS has historically relied on 100 
percent observer coverage to collect and maintain data critical to 
evaluating the feasibility of new fisheries management strategies. NMFS 
has never issued a groundfish EFP without 100 percent coverage. 
Further, the proposed extension of the southern boundary would extend 
the fishery into waters where no baseline data exists; highlighting the 
need to obtain data for management purposes that has historically be 
collected by observers. The Northwest Fisheries Science Center has 
indicated that they may be able to provide for some additional observer 
coverage, working with the applicants. NMFS is considering, but has not 
yet approved, using some electronic monitoring in lieu of observers. 
NMFS is inviting comments on these issues.

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq., and 
16 U.S.C. 7001 et seq.

    Dated: March 14, 2017.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-05351 Filed 3-16-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P