[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 113 (Wednesday, June 14, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 27236]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-12317]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF475


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 Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable 
Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary 
determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit application from the 
Coonamessett Farm Foundation to conduct a scallop survey contains all 
of the required information and warrants further consideration.
    Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act require publication of this notice intended to provide 
interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for 
proposed Exempted Fishing Permits.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 29, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by any of the following 
methods:
     Email: [email protected]. Include in the subject line 
``CFF NGOM Survey 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 
CFF NGOM Survey EFP.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shannah Jaburek, Fisheries Management 
Specialist, 978-282-8456.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Coonamessett Farm Foundation submitted a 
complete application on May 23, 2017, to conduct an optical and dredge 
survey in the Northern Gulf of Maine (NGOM) Scallop Management Area. 
The project titled ``An Optical Assessment of Sea Scallop Abundance and 
Distribution in Select Areas of the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop 
Management Area'' would be funded through the Scallop Research Set-
Aside Program. The primary survey instrument would be the HabCam 
imaging system, consisting of a camera that continuously takes photos 
and a side scanning sonar, that would be towed approximately 2.5 meters 
above the ocean floor. A scallop survey dredge would also be deployed 
to enable collection of biological information. The vessel would be 
exempt from the Atlantic sea scallop days-at-sea (DAS) allocations at 
50 CFR 648.53(b); NGOM management program requirements at Sec.  648.62; 
crew size restrictions at Sec.  648.51(c); dredge gear restrictions at 
Sec.  648.51(b); and observer program requirements at Sec.  648.11(g). 
The vessel would also be temporarily exempt from possession limits and 
minimum size requirements specified in 50 CFR part 648, subparts B and 
D through O, for biological sampling purposes only. These exemptions 
would support an abundance survey of the NGOM Scallop Management Area.
    The primary survey instrument will be the HabCam imaging system, 
but a scallop survey dredge would be deployed to enable collection of 
biological information. One vessel would conduct the survey in early 
July 2017 over the course of four days-at-sea. Researchers would 
conduct 3 dredge tows per day for a maximum of 12 tows using the NMFS 
survey dredge. The survey dredge is 8 feet (2.4 m) in width equipped 
with 2-inch (5.1-cm) rings, 4-inch (10.2-cm) diamond twine top, and a 
1.5-inch (3.8-cm) diamond mesh liner. All tows would be conducted at 
speeds between 4.8 to 5.1 knots (2.5 to 2.6 m/s) for 10-15 minutes. The 
dredge tow locations would be determined during the optical survey 
using the HabCam system based on scallop abundance. This survey would 
provide scallop biomass estimates that would support scallop resource 
management in the NGOM Management Area. The survey will occur in parts 
of Stellwagen Bank and Jeffrey's Ledge that are open to commercial 
scallop fishing. No dredge tows will occur in a habitat closed area.
    In addition to collecting Habcam image data, scientific personnel 
will record detailed catch information on scallops, finfish, and 
invertebrates from dredge tows. No fish or scallops will be retained 
for commercial purposes, but frozen samples of scallop meats may be 
retained. All bycatch would be returned to the sea as soon as 
practicable following data collection. These exemptions will allow CFF 
to conduct experimental dredge towing without being charged DAS, as 
well as deploy gear that is not consistent with current scallop 
regulations. Participating vessels need crew size waivers to 
accommodate science personnel. Exemption from possession limit and 
minimum sizes would ensure the vessel is not in conflict with 
possession regulations while collecting catch data. The project would 
also be exempt from the sea scallop observer program requirements 
because activities conducted on the trip are not consistent with normal 
fishing operations.
    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 impacts that do not change the scope or impact 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 9, 2017.
Margo B. Schulze-Haugen,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-12317 Filed 6-13-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P