[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 144 (Monday, July 27, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45198-45202]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-16132]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XX057]


International Affairs; U.S. Fishing Opportunities in the 
Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization Regulatory Area

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

ACTION: Notification of U.S. fishing opportunities.

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SUMMARY: We are announcing 2020-2024 fishing opportunities in the 
Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization Regulatory Area. This action 
is necessary to make fishing privileges in the Regulatory Area 
available on an equitable basis to the extent possible. The intent of 
this notice is to alert U.S. fishing vessels of these fishing 
opportunities, to relay the available quotas available to U.S. 
participants, and to outline the process and requirements for vessels 
to apply to participate in this fishery. Allocation of these fishing 
privileges would be for five years, unless the approved vessel(s) are 
unable to successfully utilize the available quotas or the privilege is 
otherwise revoked.

DATES: These fishing opportunities are effective August 11, 2020 
through December 31, 2024. Expressions of interest regarding fishing 
opportunities in NAFO will be accepted through August 11, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Expressions of interest regarding U.S. fishing opportunities 
in NAFO should be made in writing to Michael Pentony, U.S. Commissioner 
to the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO), NMFS Greater 
Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, by emailing Moira Kelly, Senior 
Fishery Program Specialist, at [email protected].
    Information relating to chartering vessels of another NAFO 
Contracting Party, transferring NAFO fishing opportunities to or from 
another NAFO Contracting Party, or general U.S. participation in NAFO 
is available from Patrick E. Moran, NMFS Office of International 
Affairs and Seafood Inspection, email: [email protected].
    Additional information about NAFO Conservation and Enforcement 
Measures and the High Seas Fishing Compliance Act Permit required for 
NAFO participation is available from Shannah Jaburek, NMFS Greater 
Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, 
Gloucester, MA 01930 (phone: 978-282-8456, fax: 978-281-9135, email: 
[email protected]) and online from NAFO at https://www.nafo.int.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Moira Kelly, (978) 281-9218.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

General NAFO Background

    The United States is a Contracting Party to the Northwest Atlantic 
Fisheries Organization (NAFO). NAFO is an intergovernmental fisheries 
science and management body whose convention applies to most fishery 
resources in international waters of the Northwest Atlantic, except 
salmon, tunas/marlins, whales, and sedentary species such as shellfish. 
Currently, NAFO has 12 contracting parties from North America, Europe, 
Asia, and the Caribbean. NAFO's Commission is responsible for the 
management and conservation of the fishery resources in the Regulatory 
Area (waters outside the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ)). Figure 1 
shows the NAFO Regulatory Area.

[[Page 45199]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN27JY20.007

    As a Contracting Party within NAFO, the United States may be 
allocated catch quotas or effort allocations for certain species in 
specific areas within the NAFO Regulatory Area and may participate in 
fisheries for other species for which we have not received a specific 
quota. For most stocks for which the United States does not receive a 
specific allocation, an open allocation, known as the ``Others'' 
allocation under the Convention, is shared access between all NAFO 
Contracting Parties.
    Additional information on NAFO can be found online at https://www.nafo.int/About-us. The NAFO Conservation and Enforcement Measures 
(CEM) that specify the fishery regulations, total allowable catches 
(TAC, quotas), and other information about the fishery program is 
available online at: https://www.nafo.int/Fisheries/Conservation. NAFO 
updates the CEM annually.
    This notice announces the fishing opportunities available to U.S. 
vessels in NAFO regulatory waters, including specific stocks for which 
the United States has an allocation under NAFO or through arrangements 
with other Contracting Parties and fishing opportunities under the 
``Other'' NAFO allocations. This notice also outlines the application 
process and other requirements for U.S. vessels that wish to 
participate in the 2020-2024 NAFO fisheries. Allocations, including the 
``Others'' quotas, may vary based on decisions made at the NAFO Annual 
Meeting. Substantial changes in allocations may facilitate additional 
solicitations of fishing interest, which would be announced in the 
Federal Register, as necessary.

NAFO Fishing Opportunities Available to U.S. Fishing Vessels

    The principal species managed by NAFO are Atlantic cod, yellowtail 
and witch flounders, Acadian redfish, American plaice, Greenland 
halibut, white hake, capelin, shrimp, skates, and Illex squid. NAFO 
specifies conservation measures for fisheries on these species 
occurring in its Regulatory Area, including TACs for these managed 
species that are allocated among NAFO Contracting Parties.
    The United States receives annual quota allocations at the NAFO 
Annual Meetings for two stocks to be fished in the subsequent year 
(Division 3M Redfish and Subareas 3 and 4 Illex squid). For 2020, the 
United States was allocated 69 metric tons (mt) of 3M redfish and 453 
mt of Subareas 3 and 4 Illex squid. The United States was also 
allocated 25 fishing days for the Division 3M shrimp fishery this year. 
NAFO is currently undertaking a process to move the 3M shrimp fishery 
away from days-at-sea to a quota-management scheme. In addition, the 
United States has agreed to receive a transfer of 1,000 mt of NAFO 
Division 3LNO yellowtail flounder from Canada's 2020-2024 quota 
allocations, consistent with a recent bilateral arrangement. This 
transfer arrangement may be modified or discontinued by either the 
United States or Canada prior to October 1 of each year. The Greater 
Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office will announce any changes to the 
arrangement, as necessary.
    Fishing in the NAFO Regulatory Area requires substantial investment 
by the vessel owners. In recent years, NMFS has allocated U.S. fishing 
opportunity on an annual basis. However, it is often difficult for 
vessels to make sufficient market arrangements given the uncertainty of 
an annual allocation process. In addition, a recently negotiated 
bilateral arrangement with Canada provides for a transfer of 1,000 mt 
of 3LNO yellowtail flounder for 5 years. As such, we intend to allocate 
U.S. fishing privileges for the duration of the yellowtail flounder 
arrangement (through December 31, 2024) for all NAFO species the United 
States is

[[Page 45200]]

authorized to fish for, except 3M shrimp, which will be allocated for 
just 2020. The Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office will announce 
future allocations of 3M shrimp based on further discussions of the 
management scheme within NAFO. If any approved vessel is unable to 
successfully utilize awarded fishing privileges, transfers to other 
approved vessels or additional solicitations of interest may be 
warranted.
    Additional fishing opportunities may be available to U.S. vessels 
for stocks where the United States has not been allocated quota through 
the ``Others'' allocation, as noted in Annex I.A of the CEM. For 2020, 
the Others quotas are as follows:

                  Table 1--2020 NAFO Others Allocations
                            [mt, live weight]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Species                   NAFO division       Others quota
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cod.............................  3M....................              34
Redfish.........................  3LN...................             109
                                  3M....................             124
                                  3O....................             100
Yellowtail Flounder.............  3LNO..................              85
Witch Flounder..................  3NO...................              12
White Hake......................  3NO...................              59
Skates..........................  3LNO..................             258
Illex squid.....................  Squid 3, 4 (Sub-Areas              794
                                   3+4).
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The United States shares the Others quota with other NAFO 
Contracting Parties and access is on a first come, first served basis 
across all Contracting Parties. Directed fishing is prohibited by NAFO 
when the Others quota for a particular stock has been fully harvested.
    Additional directed quota for these and other stocks managed within 
the NAFO Regulatory Area could be made available to U.S. vessels 
through industry-initiated chartering arrangements or government-to-
government transfers of quota from other NAFO Contracting Parties. If 
such additional quota becomes available, GARFO may publish additional 
solicitations of interest.
    U.S. vessels participating in NAFO may also retain bycatch of NAFO 
managed species to the following maximum amounts as outlined in Article 
6 of the CEM. The percentage, by weight, is calculated as a percent of 
each stock of the total catch of species listed in Annex I.A (i.e., the 
NAFO managed stocks previously listed) retained onboard from the 
applicable division at the time of inspection, based on logbook 
information:
    1. Cod, Division 3M: 1,250 kg or 5 percent, whichever is more;
    2. Witch Flounder, Division 3M: 1,250 kg or 5 percent, whichever is 
more;
    3. Redfish, Division 3LN: 1,250 kg or 5 percent, whichever is more;
    4. Cod, Division 3NO: 1,000 kg or 4 percent, whichever is more;
    5. American plaice: While conducting a directed fishery for 
yellowtail flounder in Divisions 3LNO: 15 percent of American plaice; 
otherwise, 1,250 kg or 5 percent, whichever is greater; and
    6. For all other Annex I.A stocks where the United States has no 
specific quota, the bycatch limit is 2,500 kg or 10 percent, unless a 
ban on fishing applies or the quota for the stock has been fully 
utilized. If the fishery for the stock is closed or a retention ban 
applies, the permitted bycatch limit is 1,250 kg or 5 percent.
    Opportunities to fish for species not listed above (i.e., species 
listed in Annex I.A of the NAFO CEM and non-allocated on non-regulated 
species), but occurring within the NAFO Regulatory Area, including 
Atlantic halibut, may also be available. U.S. fishermen interested in 
fishing for these other species should contact the NMFS Greater 
Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (see ADDRESSES) for additional 
information. Authorization to fish for such species will include 
permit-related conditions or restrictions, including but not limited 
to, minimum size requirements, bycatch-related measures, and catch 
limits. Any such conditions or restrictions will be designed to ensure 
the optimum utilization, long-term sustainability, and rational 
management and conservation of fishery resources in the NAFO Regulatory 
Area, consistent with the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation 
in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries as well as the Amendment to the 
Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic 
Fisheries, which has been adopted by all NAFO Contracting Parties.

Applying for These Fishing Opportunities

    Expressions of interest to fish for any or all of the 2020-2024 
U.S. fishing opportunities in NAFO described above will be considered 
from all U.S. fishing interests (e.g., vessel owners, processors, 
agents, others). Applicants are urged to carefully review and 
thoroughly address the application requirements and selection criteria 
as detailed below. Expressions of interest should be directed in 
writing to Regional Administrator Michael Pentony (see ADDRESSES).

Information Required in an Application Letter

    Expressions of interest should include a detailed description of 
anticipated fishing operations for the full five years. Descriptions 
should include, at a minimum:
     Intended target species;
     Proposed dates of fishing operations;
     Vessel(s) to be used to harvest fish, including the name, 
registration, and home port of the intended harvesting vessel(s);
     The number of fishing personnel and their nationality 
involved in vessel operations;
     Intended landing port or ports; including for ports 
outside of the United States, whether or not the product will be 
shipped to the United States for processing;
     Processing facilities to be used;
     Target market for harvested fish; and,
     Evidence demonstrating the ability of the applicant to 
successfully

[[Page 45201]]

prosecute fishing operations in the NAFO Regulatory Area, in accordance 
with NAFO management measures. This may include descriptions of 
previously successful NAFO or domestic fisheries participation.
    Note that applicant U.S. vessels must possess or be eligible to 
receive a valid High Seas Fishing Compliance Act (HSFCA) permit. HSFCA 
permits are available from the NMFS Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries 
Office. Information regarding other requirements for fishing in the 
NAFO Regulatory Area is detailed below and is also available from the 
NMFS Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (see ADDRESSES).
    U.S. applicants wishing to harvest U.S. allocations using a vessel 
from another NAFO Contracting Party, or hoping to enter a chartering 
arrangement with a vessel from another NAFO Contracting Party, should 
see below for details on U.S. and NAFO requirements for such 
activities. If you have further questions regarding what information is 
required in an expression of interest, please contact Patrick Moran 
(see ADDRESSES).

Criteria Used in Identifying Successful Applicants

    Applicants demonstrating the greatest benefits to the United States 
through their intended operations will be most successful. Such 
benefits may include:
     The use of U.S vessels and crew to harvest fish in the 
NAFO Regulatory Area;
     Detailed, positive impacts on U.S. employment as a result 
of the fishing, transport, or processing operations;
     Use of U.S. processing facilities;
     Transport, marketing, and sales of product within the 
United States;
     Other ancillary, demonstrable benefits to U.S. businesses 
as a result of the fishing operation; and
     Documentation of the physical characteristics and 
economics of the fishery for future use by the U.S. fishing industry.
    Other factors we may consider include but are not limited to: A 
documented history of successful fishing operations in NAFO or other 
similar fisheries; the history of compliance by the vessel with the 
NAFO CEM or other domestic and international regulatory requirements, 
including potential disqualification of an applicant with repeated 
compliance issues; and, for those applicants without NAFO or other 
international fishery history, a description of demonstrated harvest, 
processing, marketing, and regulatory compliance within domestic 
fisheries.
    To ensure equitable access by U.S. fishing interests, we may 
provide additional guidance or procedures, or we may issue regulations 
designed to allocate fishing interests to one or more U.S. applicants 
from among qualified applicants. These regulatory changes may result in 
NMFS altering or amending quota the NMFS grants an applicant through 
this process. NMFS will notify any approved applicant of the proposed 
regulatory changes in advance of making the changes. After reviewing 
all requests for allocations submitted, we may also decide not to grant 
any allocations if it is determined that no requests adequately meet 
the criteria described in this notice.

Notification of Selected Vessels for NAFO Fisheries

    We will provide written responses to all applicants notifying them 
of their application status and, as needed for successful applicants, 
allocation awards will be made as quickly as possible so that we may 
notify NAFO and take other necessary actions to facilitate operations 
in the regulatory area by U.S. fishing interests. Successful applicants 
will receive additional information from us on permit conditions and 
applicable regulations before starting fishing operations.

Mid-Term Allocation Adjustments

    In the event that an approved U.S. entity does not, is not able to, 
or is not expected to fish an allocation, or part thereof, awarded to 
them, NMFS may reallocate to other approved U.S. entities. If 
requested, approved U.S. entities must provide updated fishing plans 
and/or schedules. A U.S. entity may not consolidate or transfer 
allocations without prior approval from NMFS. In the event that other 
approved U.S. entities are unable to fish additional allocation, NMFS 
may solicit further interest by notice in the Federal Register.

Chartering a Vessel To Fish Available U.S. Allocations

    Under the bilateral arrangement with Canada, the United States may 
enter into a chartering (or other) arrangement with a Canadian vessel 
to harvest the transferred yellowtail flounder. For other NAFO-
regulated species listed in Annexes I.A and I.B, the United States may 
enter into a chartering arrangement with a vessel from any other NAFO 
Contracting Party. Additionally, any U.S. vessel or fishing operation 
may enter into a chartering arrangement with any other vessel or 
business from a NAFO Contracting Party. The United States and the other 
Contracting Party involved in a chartering arrangement must agree to 
the charter, and the NAFO Executive Secretary must be advised of the 
chartering arrangement before the commencement of any charter fishing 
operations. Any U.S. vessel or fishing operation interested in making 
use of the chartering provisions of NAFO must provide at least the 
following information: The name and registration number of the U.S. 
vessel; a copy of the charter agreement; a detailed fishing plan; a 
written letter of consent from the applicable NAFO Contracting Party; 
the date from which the vessel is authorized to commence fishing; and 
the duration of the charter (not to exceed six months).
    Expressions of interest using another NAFO Contracting Party vessel 
under charter should be accompanied by a detailed description of 
anticipated benefits to the United States, as described above. 
Additional detail on chartering arrangements can be found in Article 26 
of the CEM (https://www.nafo.int/Fisheries/Conservation).
    Any vessel from another Contracting Party wishing to enter into a 
chartering arrangement with the United States must be in full current 
compliance with the requirements outlined in the NAFO Convention and 
CEM. These requirements include, but are not limited to, submission of 
the following reports to the NAFO Executive Secretary:
     Notification that the vessel is authorized by its flag 
state to fish within the NAFO Regulatory Area during the applicable 
fishing year;
     Provisional monthly catch reports for all vessels of that 
NAFO Contracting Party operating in the NAFO Regulatory Area;
     Daily catch reports for each day fished by the subject 
vessel within the Regulatory Area;
     Observer reports within 30 days following the completion 
of a fishing trip; and
     An annual statement of actions taken by its flag state to 
comply with the NAFO Convention.
    The United States may also consider the vessel's previous 
compliance with NAFO bycatch, reporting, and other provisions, as 
outlined in the NAFO CEM, before authorizing the chartering 
arrangement.

Transfer of U.S. Quota Allocations to Another NAFO Party

    The United States may transfer fishing opportunities by mutual 
agreement with another NAFO Contracting Party and with prior 
notification to the NAFO Executive Secretary. An applicant may request 
to arrange for any of the

[[Page 45202]]

previously described U.S. opportunities to be transferred to another 
NAFO party, although such applications will likely be given lesser 
priority than those that involve more direct harvesting or processing 
by U.S. entities. Applications to arrange for a transfer of U.S. 
fishing opportunities should contain a letter of consent from the 
receiving NAFO Contracting Party, and should also be accompanied by a 
detailed description of anticipated benefits to the United States. As 
in the case of chartering operations, the United States may also 
consider a NAFO Contracting Party's previous compliance with NAFO 
bycatch, reporting, and other provisions, as outlined in the NAFO CEM, 
before agreeing to enter into a transfer arrangement.

Receiving a Transfer of NAFO Quota Allocations From Another NAFO Party

    The United States may also receive transfers of additional fishing 
opportunities from other NAFO Contracting Parties. We are required to 
provide a letter consenting to such a transfer and must provide notice 
to the NAFO Executive Secretary. In the event that an applicant is able 
to arrange for the transfer of additional fishing opportunities from 
another NAFO Contracting Party to the United States, NMFS may agree to 
facilitate such a transfer. However, there is no guarantee that if an 
applicant has facilitated the transfer of quota from another 
Contracting Party to the United States, such applicant will receive 
authorization to fish for such quota. If quota is transferred to the 
United States, we may need to solicit new applications for the use of 
such quota. All applicable NAFO requirements for transfers must be met. 
As in the case of chartering operations, the United States may also 
consider a NAFO Contracting Party's previous compliance with NAFO 
bycatch, reporting, and other provisions, as outlined in the NAFO CEM, 
before agreeing to accept a transfer. Any fishing quota or other 
harvesting opportunities received via this type of transfer are subject 
to all U.S and NAFO rules as detailed below.
    For more details on NAFO requirements for chartering and 
transferring NAFO allocations, contact Patrick Moran (see ADDRESSES).

Fishing in the NAFO Regulatory Area

    U.S. applicant vessels must be in possession of, or obtain, a valid 
HSFCA permit, which is available from the NMFS Greater Atlantic 
Regional Fisheries Office. All permitted vessels must comply with any 
conditions of this permit and all applicable provisions of the 
Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic 
Fisheries and the CEM. We reserve the right to impose additional permit 
conditions that ensure compliance with the NAFO Convention and the CEM, 
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and any 
other applicable law.
    The CEM provisions include, but are not limited to:
     Maintaining a fishing logbook with NAFO-designated entries 
(Annex II.A and Article 28);
     Adhering to NAFO hail system requirements (Annexes II.D 
and II.F; Article 28; Article 30 part B);
     Carrying an approved onboard observer for each trip 
consistent with requirements of Article 30 part A;
     Maintaining and using a functioning, autonomous vessel 
monitoring system authorized by issuance of the HSFCA permit as 
required by Articles 29 and 30; and
     Complying with all relevant NAFO CEM requirements, 
including minimum fish sizes, gear, bycatch retention, and per-tow move 
on provisions for exceeding bycatch limits in any one haul/set.
    Further details regarding U.S. and NAFO requirements are available 
from the NMFS Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, and can be 
found in the NAFO CEM on the internet (https://www.nafo.int/Fisheries/Conservation).
    Vessels issued valid HSFCA permits under 50 CFR part 300 are exempt 
from certain domestic fisheries regulations governing fisheries in the 
Northeast United States found in 50 CFR 648 when participating in NAFO 
fisheries. Specifically, vessels are exempt from the Northeast 
multispecies, monkfish, and skate requirements. These exemption include 
permit, mesh size, effort-control, minimum fish size, and possession 
limit restrictions, specified in Sec. Sec.  648.4, 648.51, 648.53, 
648.80, 648.82, 648.83, 648.86, 648.87, 648.91, 648.92, 648.94, 
648.322. Exemptions apply while transiting the U.S. exclusive economic 
zone with multispecies and/or monkfish on board the vessel, or landing 
multispecies and/or monkfish in U.S. ports that were caught while 
fishing in the NAFO Regulatory Area. U.S. vessels fishing in NAFO may 
possess, retain, and land barndoor skate; however, they may not 
possess, retain, or land other prohibited skate species specified in 
Sec. Sec.  648.14(v) and 634.322(g). These exemptions are conditional 
on the following requirements: The vessel operator has a letter of 
authorization issued by the Regional Administrator on board the vessel; 
for the duration of the trip, the vessel fishes, except for transiting 
purposes, exclusively in the NAFO Regulatory Area and does not harvest 
fish in, or possess fish harvested in, or from, the U.S. EEZ; when 
transiting the U.S. EEZ, all gear is properly stowed and not available 
for immediate use as defined under Sec.  648.2; and the vessel operator 
complies with the provisions, conditions, and restrictions specified on 
the HSFCA permit and all NAFO CEM while fishing in the NAFO Regulatory 
Area.

    Dated: July 20, 2020.
Alexa Cole,
Director, Office of International Affairs and Seafood Inspection, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-16132 Filed 7-24-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P