[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 200 (Tuesday, October 16, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52208-52209]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-22487]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG447


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Exempted Fishing Permits

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

ACTION: Notice of receipt of an application for exempted fishing 
permit; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the receipt of an application for an exempted 
fishing permit (EFP) from Bradford Whipple and Howard Rau. If granted, 
the EFP would authorize the applicants to deploy golden crab traps and 
commercially fish on a limited basis for golden crab in the Federal 
waters of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf). The project seeks to collect 
information on the effectiveness of golden crab traps in the Gulf and 
the viability of a commercial golden crab fishery in the Gulf.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before October 31, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the application, identified by 
``NOAA-NMFS-2018-0108'' by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to 
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2018-0108, click the 
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or 
attach your comments.
     Mail: Karla Gore, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 263 
13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
     Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any 
other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment 
period, may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part 
of the public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address), confidential business information, 
or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender 
will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter 
``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous).
    Electronic copies of the applications may be obtained from the 
Southeast Regional Office website at http://

[[Page 52209]]

sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/gulf_fisheries/LOA_and_EFP/
index.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karla Gore, 727-824-5305; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EFP is requested under the authority of 
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 
1801 et seq.), and regulations at 50 CFR 600.745(b) concerning exempted 
fishing.
    The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) and NMFS do 
not manage the harvest of golden crab in Federal waters of the Gulf. 
However, the use or possession of a fish trap in Federal waters in the 
Gulf is prohibited (50 CFR 622.9(c)), and a ``fish trap'' is any trap 
capable of taking finfish, except for a trap historically used in the 
directed fishery for crustaceans (that is, blue crab, stone crab, and 
spiny lobster) (50 CFR 622.2). Therefore, golden crab traps are a 
prohibited gear in Gulf Federal waters.
    If granted, the EFP would exempt the applicants from the 
prohibition on the use or possession of a fish trap in Federal waters 
of the Gulf to allow the testing of various golden crab trap designs 
and fishing configurations to determine if a commercial golden crab 
fishery is viable in the Gulf. Additionally, because most of the 
information and data on golden crab in the Gulf is at least 20 years 
old, this project would allow for the collection of new information on 
golden crab in the Gulf. The applicants have requested the EFP be 
effective for 2 years. During that time, the applicants would collect 
information on harvest rates, soak time, effectiveness of the various 
trap style, bycatch, and crab quality. The project design is intended 
to avoid impacts to non-target species, protected species, and 
habitats.
    As described in the application, the applicants would test the 
catch efficiency of four different golden crab trap configurations that 
are currently used in the South Atlantic golden crab fishery. The two 
vessels to be used in the EFP would deploy a maximum of two strings of 
6 to 40 traps per trip. The traps would be baited with fish carcasses 
and trap soak times would range from overnight up to 17 days depending 
on trap type and location. Sampling would occur year-round and the 
applicants expect to set and haul the traps a maximum of 60 times over 
the course of the 2-year project. At any time, there would be no more 
than 100 golden crab traps deployed on the seafloor during the project. 
Setting and hauling of the traps will occur during all hours.
    The golden crab trap gear would be deployed in the southeastern 
Gulf, on mud bottom. From south to north, the gear would be set, 
between 25[deg] and 28[deg] north latitude with the western gear 
boundary ranging from 84.20[deg] to 85.40[deg] west longitude in depths 
ranging from 1,800 to 2,600 ft (548.6 m to 792.4 m). The 1,800 ft 
(548.6 m) contour will also mark the eastern boundary for gear 
deployment. This location is west of southwest Florida and outside the 
range of any other known directed-fishery operating in the Gulf, 
including the deep-water shrimp fishery. The applicants have agreed to 
avoid areas of known coral habitats and have communicated with the 
members of the Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee to 
identify these coral locations. This project area is also outside the 
boundaries of both the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary 
and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. However, the project 
area is close to Bryde's whale habitat and part of the project area 
overlaps with an area where sperm whales are known to be present.
    As described in the application, the traps to be tested would be of 
various shapes (rectangle, square and round), various sizes (from 6 ft 
by 6 ft by 2 ft to 2 ft by 3 ft by 4 ft, (1.8 m by 1.8 m by 0.6 m to 
0.6 m by 0.9 m by 1.2 m)), and have different mesh sizes (1.5 inch to 4 
inch (3.8 cm to 10.2 cm)). The traps would also have different types of 
entrances, including top entrances from 8 inch by 8 inch (20.3 cm by 
20.3 cm) to 9 inch by 9 inch (22.9 cm by 22.9 cm), and on circle traps, 
top funnels that are 3 feet (0.9 m) in diameter. One variation of trap 
would include a 4-inch by 6-inch (10.2 cm to 15.2 cm) side entrance. 
All of the traps would have the same size escape gap (3 inches by 4 
inches (7.6 cm by 10.2 cm)) and would be constructed of steel or rebar 
frames covered in vinyl-coated mesh. The weight of each trap is 
estimated to range from 50 lb to 100 lb (23 to 45 kg), depending on the 
design used.
    Each trap location would be marked on the vessel's global 
positioning system (GPS) before deployment to ensure ease of retrieval. 
There would be no buoy lines to the surface and the gear would be set 
in muddy bottom habitat. Sophisticated sounder technology on each 
vessel is capable of identifying bottom characteristics that are 
suitable habitat (muddy bottom) for golden crab traps and fishing while 
avoiding coral habitat.
    The applicants would conduct the testing using two vessels issued 
South Atlantic commercial golden crab permits. Vessel crew would keep 
detailed records during the sampling trips, including the location of 
the trip, set and haul date and time, species harvested, impacts on 
bottom features, trap efficiency, and any bycatch. This information 
would be shared with the Council and NMFS. Landings information would 
be collected through the vessel trip ticket program and any golden crab 
landed from the project would only be sold to federally licensed 
dealers.
    The Council reviewed the EFP application at its April 2018 meeting, 
provided comments related to avoiding both coral areas and conflicts 
with shrimp vessels, and recommended that NMFS approve the application. 
NMFS finds the application warrants further consideration. Possible 
conditions the agency may impose on the permit, if granted, include but 
are not limited to, a prohibition on conducting research in known coral 
areas, marine protected areas, marine sanctuaries, special management 
zones, or areas where they might interfere with managed fisheries 
without additional authorization. Additionally, NMFS may require 
special protections for marine mammals, ESA-listed species and 
designated critical habitat, and may require particular gear markings. 
A final decision on issuance of the EFP will depend on NMFS' review of 
public comments received on the application, consultations with the 
appropriate fishery management agencies of the affected states, and the 
U.S. Coast Guard, as well as a determination that it is consistent with 
all applicable laws.

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

    Dated: October 11, 2018.
Margo B. Schulze-Haugen,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-22487 Filed 10-15-18; 8:45 am]
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