[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]
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