[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 117 (Wednesday, June 17, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36535-36536]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-12991]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XQ011]


Permits; Foreign Fishing

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

ACTION: Notice of application for transshipment permit; request for 
comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS publishes for public review and comment information 
regarding a permit application for transshipment of farmed salmon from 
aquaculture operations in Maine to processing plants in Canada by 
Canadian flagged vessels. The application for a transshipment permit is 
submitted under provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act

[[Page 36536]]

(Magnuson-Stevens Act). This action is necessary for NMFS to make a 
determination that the permit application can be approved.

DATES: Written comments must be received by July 1, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on this action, identified by RTID 0648-
XQ011 should be sent to Kent Laborde in the NMFS Office for 
International Affairs and Seafood Inspection by email at 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kent Laborde at (301) 427-8364 or by 
email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Section 204(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1824(d)) 
authorizes the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to issue a 
transshipment permit authorizing a vessel other than a vessel of the 
United States to engage in fishing consisting solely of transporting 
fish or fish products at sea from a point within the United States 
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) or, with the concurrence of a state, 
within the boundaries of that state, to a point outside the United 
States.
    Section 204(d)(3)(D) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act provides that an 
application to transship from U.S. waters to another country using non-
U.S. vessels may not be approved until the Secretary determines that 
``no owner or operator of a vessel of the United States which has 
adequate capacity to perform the transportation for which the 
application is submitted has indicated . . . an interest in performing 
the transportation at fair and reasonable rates.'' NMFS is publishing 
this notice as part of its effort to make such a determination with 
respect to the application described below and specifically seeks 
comment from any owner or operator of a vessel of the United States, 
which has adequate capacity to perform the transportation of fish 
described below at fair and reasonable prices.

Summary of Application

    NMFS received an application from True North Salmon Limited 
Partnership and 697002 NB, Inc., requesting authorization to transfer 
salmon from United States farm pens in Maine to four Canadian vessels 
for the purpose of transporting the salmon to Black's Harbour, Canada 
for processing.
    The transshipment operations will occur within the boundaries of 
the State of Maine and within 12 nautical miles from Maine's seaward 
boundary.

    Dated: June 11, 2020.
Alexa Cole,
Director, Office of International Affairs and Seafood Inspection, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-12991 Filed 6-16-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P