[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 73 (Tuesday, April 16, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 15594]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-07575]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG969


Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management 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 
Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation contains all of the required 
information and warrants further consideration. This permit would 
facilitate research on the impact of increasing water temperature on 
female lobster size at maturity and growth.
    Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act and the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative 
Management Act require publication of this notice to provide interested 
parties the opportunity to comment on applications for proposed 
Exempted Fishing Permits.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 1, 2019.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by any of the following 
methods:
     Email: [email protected]. Include in the subject line 
``Comments on CFRF Lobster Size at Maturity EFP.''
     Mail: Michael Pentony, Regional Administrator, NMFS, 
Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, 
Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope ``Comments on 
CFRF Lobster Size at Maturity Study.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Hansen, Fishery Management 
Specialist, 978-281-9225, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation 
(CFRF) submitted a complete application for an Exempted Fishing Permit 
(EFP) on March 8, 2019, to conduct fishing activities that the 
regulations would otherwise restrict. The EFP would authorize seven 
vessels to collect up to 480 female lobsters of different size classes 
including egg-bearing and v-notched lobsters. The participating vessels 
are currently authorized to use up to three ventless traps per trawl 
under a separate EFP. The modifications to a conventional lobster trap 
include a closed escape vent, single parlor, and smaller mesh size and 
entrance head, all to allow for the capture of undersized lobster.
    Funding for this study has been awarded through the Atlantic States 
Marine Fisheries Commission. For this research, CFRF is requesting 
exemptions from the following Federal lobster regulations:
    1. Possession restrictions in Sec. Sec.  697.20(a), 697.20(d), and 
697.20(g) to allow for retention of undersized, v-notched, and egg-
bearing lobsters.
    2. Dealer requirements in Sec.  697.7(c)(1)(xviii), to allow the 
sale of lobsters to a research organization that is not a Federally 
permitted dealer.
    If the EFP is approved, this research would take place from May to 
August, 2019. The participating vessels would be authorized to collect 
240 female lobsters from both statistical areas 537 and 562. Twenty 
female lobsters would be collected from 12 distinct size bins, ranging 
from 53-113mm. Five vessels would sample in statistical area 537 and 
two would sample in statistical area 562. No more than 40 of the 
retained lobsters would be v-notched. Lobsters collected for the study 
would be identified with a different color band than the retained 
portion of their catch and transported by CFRF staff to the 
Massachusetts Division on Marine Fisheries laboratory for holding prior 
to dissection. Vessels would be compensated by CFRF for the female 
lobsters.
    If approved, the applicant may request minor modifications and 
extensions to the EFP throughout the study period. 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: April 11, 2019.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-07575 Filed 4-15-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P