[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 92 (Monday, May 13, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 20862]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-09787]



[[Page 20862]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-GAR-A002


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 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 five commercial lobster vessels to 
participate in a lobster growth and abundance study, under the 
direction of Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries in state waters 
off the coast of Massachusetts.
    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 Exempted Fishing Permit 
applications.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 28, 2019.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by any of the following 
methods:
     Email: [email protected]. Include in the subject line 
``Comments on MA DMF Lobster Study 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 MA 
DMF Lobster Study EFP.''

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Massachusetts Division of Marine 
Fisheries (MA DMF) submitted a complete renewal application for an 
Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) to conduct a lobster abundance survey 
that Federal regulations would otherwise restrict. The purpose of this 
study is to provide fishery-independent data on lobster growth and 
abundance in Massachusetts state waters of statistical areas 514 and 
538.
    This survey has occurred annually since 2006 in Massachusetts state 
waters. On average, 15,604 lobsters per year were sampled from 2007-
2016. The EFP would authorize the five participating vessels to deploy 
three standard and three ventless traps per six-pot trawl. Stations 
would be sampled twice per month from June to October 2019. Sampling 
trips would occur after a soak time of 3 to 5 days and at least one MA 
DMF scientist would be on board for the sampling trips. MA DMF 
personnel would not be on board when traps are baited and deployed. All 
gear would be Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan compliant. 
Survey traps will be separate from each vessel's commercial lobster 
traps and would be tagged as, ``MADMF Research Traps.''
    All catch during sampling trips would be retained temporarily to 
collect biological data. MA DMF staff may collect lobster and/or Jonah 
crab, including undersized, oversized, v-notched, and egg-bearing 
lobsters. Collected samples would be used for research projects on 
growth and maturity. No catch from the experimental trips would be 
landed for sale.
    If approved, MA DMF may request minor modifications and extensions 
to the EFP throughout the study. 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: May 8, 2019.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-09787 Filed 5-10-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P