[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 128 (Thursday, July 2, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 39886]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-14306]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XX061]


Magnuson-Stevens 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 contains all 
of the required information and warrants further consideration. The 
Exempted Fishing Permit would allow commercial fishing vessels to fish 
outside of scallop regulations in support of research conducted by the 
Coonamessett Farm Foundation. Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act require publication of this 
notification to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment 
on applications for proposed Exempted Fishing Permits.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 17, 2020.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by email to 
[email protected]. Include in the subject line ``CFF Compensation 
Fishing Gear Research EFP.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shannah Jaburek, Fisheries Management 
Specialist, 978-282-8456.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Coonamessett Farm Foundation (CFF) submitted 
a complete application for an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) on April 
28, 2020, that would allow gear research to be conducted by vessels on 
compensation fishing trips associated with projects funded by the 2020 
Scallop Research Set-Aside (RSA) Program. The exemptions would allow 20 
participating commercial fishing vessels to exceed the crew size 
regulations at 50 CFR 648.51(c) to place a researcher on the vessel and 
temporarily exempt the participating vessels from possession limits and 
minimum size requirements specified in 50 CFR part 648, subparts B and 
D through O, for biological sampling purposes. Any fishing activity 
conducted outside the scope of the exempted fishing activity would be 
prohibited, including landing fish in excess of a possession limit or 
below the minimum size.
    Experimental fishing activity would test a one-way extended link 
dredge gear modification to reduce flatfish bycatch and catch of pre-
recruit scallops in the scallop dredge fishery. Any modification would 
comply with existing scallop gear regulations. All trips would take 
place in scallop open access areas of southern New England and scallop 
fishing areas open to scallop RSA compensation fishing.
    The exemption from crew size limits is needed because a research 
technician would accompany vessels on the compensation fishing trips to 
collect catch data associated with the dredge modifications. The crew 
size exemption would be for approximately 120 days-at-sea and must be 
used in conjunction with a valid compensation fishing letter of 
authorization. The technician would only engage in data collection 
activities and would not process catch to be landed for sale. Exemption 
from possession limit and minimum sizes would support catch sampling 
activities and ensure the vessel is not in conflict with possession 
regulations while collecting catch data. All catch above a possession 
limit or below a minimum size would be discarded as soon as possible 
following data collection. The proposed gear modifications are not 
expected to increase catch above typical commercial fishing practices 
and gears. All research trips would otherwise be consistent with normal 
commercial fishing activity and catch would be retained for sale.
    If approved, the applicant may request minor modifications and 
extensions to the EFP throughout the year. 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: June 29, 2020.
H[eacute]l[egrave]ne M.N. Scalliet,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-14306 Filed 7-1-20; 8:45 am]
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