[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 111 (Monday, June 12, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26918-26919]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-12103]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF438


Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic 
Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits

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

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The NMFS Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable 
Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, has made a preliminary 
determination that an exempted fishing permit application contains all 
of the required information and warrants further consideration. This 
exempted fishing permit would allow commercial fishing vessels in 
collaboration with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries to 
research the use of raised-footrope trawl gear to target whiting 
(Northern silver hake) within an area of the Gulf of Maine whiting 
exempted fishery for two weeks before the start of the current open 
season.
    Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act require publication of this notification to provide 
interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for a 
proposed exempted fishing permit.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 27, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by any of the following 
methods:
     Email: [email protected]. Include in the subject line 
``Comments on 2017 MADMF Whiting Exempted Fishery Study EFP.''
     Mail: John K. Bullard, Regional Administrator, NMFS, 
Greater Atlantic Regional Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, 
MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope ``2017 MADMF Whiting 
Exempted Fishery Study EFP.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Reid Lichwell, Fishery Management 
Specialist, (978) 282-9112.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Massachusetts Division of Marine 
Fisheries (MADMF) submitted an application for an Exempted Fishing 
Permit (EFP) to assess the use of small-mesh raised-footrope trawl gear 
in a Gulf of Maine (GOM) exempted fishing area two weeks before the 
area opens for whiting fishing. Research would occur within a subarea 
of Small Mesh Area 1 (SMA1). This EFP would allow up to eight 
participating commercial fishing vessels exemptions from the minimum 
mesh size gear requirements found at 50 CFR 648.80(a)(3); and from the 
possession limits and minimum size requirements specified in 50 CFR 
part 648, subparts B and D through O.
    MADMF asserts that the GOM whiting exempted fishery is 
underutilized and analysis of observer data have indicated that whiting 
stocks may be more prevalent and more effectively targeted within the 
exemption areas before the current July 15 opening for SMA1. This study 
would provide data on catch rates of whiting and bycatch of regulated 
Northeast (NE) multispecies to evaluate if an earlier opening of the 
GOM whiting exempted fishery in SMA1 is warranted. This is the second 
year of study to test raised-footrope trawl gear targeting whiting 
before the start of the SMA1 whiting exempted fishery.

[[Page 26919]]

    This EFP would allow eight vessels to fish within the western 
portion of SMA1 during July 1-14. Participating vessels would each be 
limited to six fishing days. The length of each trip would be at the 
discretion of the vessel operators, consistent with normal commercial 
fishing practices. Each vessel would conduct 3 to 4 tows per day, with 
each tow lasting approximately 90 minutes.
    These vessels would operate under the normal restrictions for 
operating in the whiting exemption areas during their open seasons. For 
instance, participating vessels would use a raised-footrope trawl with 
diamond mesh nets that have either a codend mesh size of greater than 
2.5 inches but less than 3 inches, or a codend mesh size of 3 inches or 
greater, consistent with Sec.  648.80(a)(9)(ii). Per trip possession 
limits that would be allowed for silver, northern red, and offshore 
hake are consistent with those outlined in Sec.  648.86(d). Additional 
species permitted for retention and sale would include butterfish, 
spiny dogfish, Atlantic herring, Atlantic mackerel, scup, and squid. 
Regulated Northeast multispecies (cod, haddock, etc.) cannot be 
retained by the participating vessels either under this EFP or during 
the normal small-mesh exempted fisheries. Participating vessels would 
be exempt from the possession limits and minimum size requirements for 
sampling purposes only, in order to facilitate collecting weight and 
length measurements of catch. All catch not retained for sale would be 
returned to the sea as soon as possible after biological sampling is 
conducted.
    MADMF has analyzed catch data collected during last year's sampling 
trips, which utilized the same gear, time period (July 1-14), 
geographic area, and methods that are proposed for this year's study. 
Last year's sampling was conducted by five vessels within SMA1, 
totaling 29 trip (82 tows). Data collected from these trips shows 
approximately 10 percent bycatch of regulated groundfish species in 
SMA1. The majority of this catch was haddock. It is anticipated that 
the catch for the proposed 2017 study would have similar bycatch and 
catch composition as last year's study.
    All trips will be accompanied by either MADMF trained staff or 
contracted observers to collect data on catch composition, length and 
weight measurements, and operational data (location, weather, time, 
duration of tow, trawl speed, etc.). All gear will be inspected and 
measured prior to its use to verify that it meets the mesh sizes 
requirements consistent with existing applicable small-mesh exempted 
gear requirements.
    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: June 7, 2017.
Margo B. Schulze-Haugen,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-12103 Filed 6-9-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P