[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 58 (Tuesday, March 28, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15329-15331]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-06057]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF289


Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic 
Fisheries; Application for 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: The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable 
Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary 
determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) application 
submitted by the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) contains 
all of the required information and warrants further consideration. 
This EFP would exempt participating vessels from the following types of 
fishery regulations: Minimum fish size restrictions; fish possession 
limits for species not protected under the Endangered Species Act 
(ESA); gear-specific fish possession restrictions for the purpose of 
at-sea sampling; and, in limited situations for research purposes only, 
retaining and landing prohibited fish species. Regulations under the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act require 
publication of this notification to provide interested parties the 
opportunity to comment on EFP applications.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 12, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by either of the following 
methods:
     Email: [email protected]. Include in the subject line 
``Comments on NEFSC Study Fleet EFP.''
     Mail: John K. Bullard, Regional Administrator, NMFS, 
Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, 
Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope ``Comments on 
NEFSC Study Fleet EFP.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Spencer Talmage, Fishery Management 
Specialist, 978-281-9232, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NEFSC submitted a complete application for 
an EFP on February 21, 2017, to enable data collection activities that 
the regulations on commercial fishing would otherwise restrict.
    The NEFSC Study Fleet Program was established in 2002 to more fully 
characterize commercial fishing operations and to leverage sampling 
opportunities to augment NMFS data collection programs. NEFSC contracts 
commercial fishing vessels to collect tow-by-tow catch and 
environmental data, and to fulfill specific biological sampling needs. 
To collect these data, NEFSC Study Fleet Program obtains an EFP to 
secure the necessary waivers for these vessels to possess and land fish 
that would otherwise be prohibited by regulations. The EFP would exempt 
31 Federally permitted commercial fishing vessels from the following 
regulations while participating in the Study Fleet Program and 
operating under NEFSC managed projects: Minimum fish size

[[Page 15330]]

restrictions; fish possession limits for species not protected under 
the ESA; gear-specific fish possession restrictions for the purpose of 
at-sea sampling; and, in limited situations for research purposes only, 
retaining and landing prohibited fish species. Table 1 lists the 
specific regulations that would be exempted by this permit. The 
participating vessels would be obligated to comply with all applicable 
requirements and restrictions specified at 50 CFR part 648, unless 
specifically exempted in this EFP.
    Fishing vessel crews trained by the NEFSC Study Fleet Program would 
sort, weigh, and measure fish that are to be discarded. In the course 
of sampling, some discarded species would be on deck slightly longer 
than under normal sorting procedures, which requires an exemption from 
the following restrictions: Minimum fish size; fish possession limits; 
prohibited fish species, not including species protected under the ESA; 
and gear-specific fish possession restrictions for at-sea sampling.
    Participating vessels would also be authorized to retain and land, 
in limited situations for research purposes only, fish species and/or 
sizes that are not in compliance with fishing regulations. The vessels 
would be authorized to retain specific amounts of particular species in 
whole or round weight condition, which would be delivered upon landing 
to NMFS staff. To ensure that the collection needs of the Study Fleet 
Program are not exceeded, participating vessels are required to obtain 
a formal Biological Sampling Request in writing from the NEFSC Study 
Fleet Program prior to landing any sublegal fish. None of the landed 
biological samples from these trips would be sold for commercial use, 
or utilized for any purpose other than scientific research.
    All catch would be attributed to the appropriate commercial fishing 
quota, and vessels would not be exempt from any inseason quota closure. 
For vessels on a groundfish sector trip, all catch of Northeast 
multispecies stocks allocated to sectors would be deducted from its 
sector's Annual Catch Entitlement (ACE). Once the ACE for a stock has 
been reached in a sector, vessels would no longer be allowed to fish in 
that stock area, unless its sector acquires additional ACE for the 
limiting stock. For common pool vessels, all catch of Northeast 
multispecies stocks would be counted toward the appropriate trimester 
total allowable catch (TAC). Common pool vessels would be subject to 
applicable trimester total allowable catch (TAC) closures.

 Table 1--Specific Regulations Covered by the Proposed Exempted Fishing
                                 Permit
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                      NEFSC Study Fleet Program EFP
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Number of vessels......................  36.
Exempted regulations in 50 CFR part 648  Size limits:
                                         Sec.   648.83 NE multispecies
                                          minimum sizes.
                                         Sec.   648.93 Monkfish minimum
                                          fish size.
                                         Sec.   648.147 Black sea bass
                                          minimum fish size.
                                         Possession restrictions:
                                         Sec.   648.86(a) Haddock.
                                         Sec.   648.86(b) Atlantic cod.
                                         Sec.   648.86(c) Atlantic
                                          halibut.
                                         Sec.   648.86(d) Small-mesh
                                          multispecies.
                                         Sec.   648.86(l) Zero retention
                                          of Atlantic wolffish and
                                          windowpane flounder.
                                         Sec.   648.86(o) Possession
                                          limits implemented by Regional
                                          Administrator.
                                         Sec.   648.94 Monkfish
                                          possession limit.
                                         Sec.   648.322 Skate possession
                                          and landing restrictions.
                                         Sec.   648.145 Black sea bass
                                          possession limits.
                                         Sec.   648.92(b)(2)(i)
                                          Prohibition from landing NE
                                          multispecies on monkfish-only
                                          day-at-sea.
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NEFSC Study Fleet Program Biological Sampling Needs

    As described above, participating vessels would only collect and 
land biological samples after the NEFSC issues a formal request in 
writing. Table 2 details the Study Fleet Program's sampling needs.

                                            Table 2--Study Fleet Program's Biological Sample Collection Needs
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                                                                                                Individual fish     Maximum weight
             Species                 Stock area *        Gear types          Collection        per collection     allowed per trip   Maximum  allowance
                                                                               frequency            period               (lb)                 (lb)
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Windowpane Flounder.............  GOM, GB...........  OTF, DRS..........  Monthly...........  40 ea./mo.........  30................  360.
Monkfish........................  GOM, GB, SNE......  OTF, GNS, DRS.....  Monthly...........  15 ea/mo SNE, 15    750...............  9,000.
                                                                                               ea/mo GOM.
Haddock.........................  GOM, GB, SNE......  OTF, LLB, GNS, DRS  Monthly/Seasonal..  40 ea/mo..........  320...............  1,600.
Atlantic Cod....................  GOM, GB, SNE......  OTF, LLB, GNS, DRS  Monthly...........  120 ea/mo.........  270...............  7,200.
Barndoor Skate..................  GOM, GB, SNE......  OTF, GNS, DRS.....  Quarterly.........  20 ea/qtr.........  150...............  600.
Thorny Skate....................  GOM, GB, SNE......  OTF, GNS, DRS.....  Quarterly.........  20 ea/qtr.........  150...............  600.
Black Sea Bass..................  GB, SNE...........  PTF, OTF..........  Monthly...........  30 ea/mo..........  180...............  2,160.
Atlantic Wolffish...............  GOM, GB...........  OTF, GNS, LLB.....  Monthly...........  40 ea/mo..........  160...............  3,500.
Cusk............................  GOM, GB...........  OTF,GNS, LLB......  Monthly...........  40 ea/mo..........  140...............  3,600.
Atlantic Halibut................  GOM, GB...........  OTF, GNS, LLB.....  Monthly...........  20 ea/mo..........  500...............  6,000.

[[Page 15331]]

 
Butterfish......................  SNE, MA...........  OTM...............  Monthly...........  150 ea/mo.........  75................  900.
Atlantic Herring................  Any Area..........  OTM, OTF, PTM, PUR  Monthly...........  100 ea/mo.........  100...............  1,200.
River Herring/Shad..............  Any Area..........  OTM, OTF, PTM, PUR  Monthly...........  100 ea/mo of ea     100 of ea. species  1,200 of ea.
                                                                                               species.                                species.
Round Herring...................  Any Area..........  OTM, OTF, PTM, PUR  Monthly...........  100 ea/mo.........  100...............  1,200.
Silver Hake.....................  Any Area..........  OTM, OTF, PTM, PUR  Monthly...........  100 ea/mo.........  260...............  3,120.
Atlantic Mackerel...............  Any Area..........  OTM, OTF, PTM,      Monthly...........  100 ea/mo.........  260...............  3,120.
                                                       HND, PUR.
Shortfin Squid..................  Any Area..........  OTM, OTF..........  Monthly...........  100 ea/mo.........  75................  900.
Sand Lance......................  Any Area..........  OTM, OTF, PTM, PUR  Monthly...........  100 ea/mo.........  25................  300.
Longfin Squid...................  Any Area..........  OTM, OTF..........  Monthly...........  100 ea/mo.........  75................  900.
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* Stock area abbreviations: Gulf of Maine (GOM), Georges Bank (GB), Southern New England (SNE)
 Gear abbreviations: Otter trawl (OTF), bottom longline (LLB), sink gillnet (GNS), sea scallop dredge (DRS), fish pot (PTF), hand lines, auto jig
  (HND), purse seine (PUR), otter trawl midwater (OTM), pair trawl midwater (PTM).

    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 impact that does not change the scope of the initially approved 
EFP request. Any fishing activity conducted outside the scope of the 
exempted fishing activity would be prohibited.

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

    Dated: March 22, 2017.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-06057 Filed 3-27-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P