[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 45 (Wednesday, March 10, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 13700]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-04908]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XA857]


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 funding research under the 
Scallop Research Set-Aside Program by conducting compensation fishing. 
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 March 25, 2021.

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

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Maine Department of Marine Resources (ME 
DMR) submitted a complete application for an Exempted Fishing Permit 
(EFP) on December 23, 2020, requesting an exemption for vessels with 
Federal Northern Gulf of Maine (NGOM) permits fishing under their 2020 
Scallop Research Set-Aside (RSA) Letters of Authorization to fish their 
allocation outside of the NGOM management area. Under the Scallop RSA 
program, projects are awarded a set amount of pounds of scallops for 
vessels to harvest that pays for the research component of the project. 
Compensation fishing under the Scallop RSA Program is not restricted to 
the NGOM management area; however, vessels with a NGOM scallop permit 
are restricted to only fishing for and possessing scallops within this 
area.
    ME DMR needs this exemption in order to provide vessels the most 
flexibility to harvest all of the pounds it was allocated under the 
Scallop RSA Program. Allowing the exemption would not create additional 
fishing pressure in other areas because it is already assumed that 
vessels participating in compensation fishing have access to any areas 
that are allowed under Framework Adjustment 32 to the Atlantic Sea 
Scallop Fishery Management Plan. This EFP would be valid through the 
2020 Scallop RSA compensation fishing season and must be used in 
conjunction with a valid compensation fishing Letter of Authorization. 
All compensation fishing trips would otherwise be consistent with 
normal compensation 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: March 4, 2021.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-04908 Filed 3-9-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P