[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 53 (Tuesday, March 21, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14504-14505]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-05493]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF288


Permits; Foreign Fishing

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

ACTION: Notice of application for permit; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS publishes for public review and comment information 
regarding a permit application for transshipment of Atlantic herring by 
Canadian vessels, submitted under provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). This 
action is necessary for NMFS to make a determination that the permit 
application can be approved.

DATES: Written comments must be received by April 4, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on this action, identified by RIN 0648-
XF288, should be sent to Kent Laborde in the NMFS Office for 
International Affairs and Seafood Inspection at 1315 East-West Highway, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910 or by email at [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kent Laborde at (301) 427-8364 or by 
email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Section 204(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1824(d)) 
authorizes the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to issue a 
transshipment permit authorizing a vessel other than a vessel of the 
United States to engage in fishing consisting solely of transporting 
fish or fish products at sea from a point within the United States 
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) or, with the concurrence of a state, 
within the boundaries of that state, to a point outside the United 
States. In addition, Public Law 104-297, section 105(e), directs the 
Secretary to issue section 204(d) permits to up to 14 Canadian 
transport vessels that are not equipped for fish harvesting or 
processing, for the transshipment of Atlantic herring harvested by 
United States fishermen and to be used solely in sardine processing. 
Transshipment must occur from within the boundaries of the State of 
Maine or within the portion of the EEZ east of the line 69 degrees 30 
minutes west and within 12 nautical miles from Maine's seaward 
boundary.
    Section 204(d)(3)(D) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act provides that an 
application may not be approved until the Secretary determines that 
``no owner or operator of a vessel of the United States which has 
adequate capacity to perform the transportation for which the 
application is submitted has indicated . . . an interest in performing 
the transportation at fair and reasonable rates.'' NMFS is publishing 
this notice as part of its effort to make such a determination with 
respect to the application described below.

Summary of Application

    NMFS received an application requesting authorization for four 
Canadian transport vessels to receive

[[Page 14505]]

transfers of herring from United States purse seine vessels, stop 
seines, and weirs for the purpose of transporting the herring to Canada 
for sardine processing. The transshipment operations will occur within 
the boundaries of the State of Maine or within the portion of the EEZ 
east of the line 69[deg]30' W. longitude and within 12 nautical miles 
from Maine's seaward boundary.

    Dated: March 15, 2017.
John Henderschedt,
Director, Office for International Affairs and Seafood Inspection, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-05493 Filed 3-20-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P