[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 50 (Wednesday, March 17, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 14597]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-05459]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XA876]


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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 four commercial surfclam and ocean 
quahog vessels to conduct at-sea paralytic shellfish poisoning testing 
in the Closed Area II scallop access area in statistical area 552. 
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 April 1, 2021.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by the following method:
     Email: [email protected]. Include in the subject line 
``Sea Watch Surfclam EFP.''

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Sea Watch is requesting exemption from the 
Georges Bank Closed Area specified at 50 CFR 648.76(a)(4). The proposed 
project would explore expansion of the area that is currently open to 
vessels that are certified for at-sea testing for paralytic shellfish 
poisoning (PSP).
    This Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) would allow four commercial 
surfclam and ocean quahog vessels, using hydraulic clam dredge gear, to 
conduct at-sea PSP testing in the Closed Area II scallop access area in 
statistical area 552. The participating vessels are already certified 
for at-sea testing and are currently operating the area that opened in 
George's Bank in 2012. Vessels would take 2 trips per week for a 
yearlong period, for a total of up to 416 trips. Each trip would be 
between two to four days. Vessels would land up to 4,800 bushels 
(169,148 L) of surfclams or ocean quahogs per trip. All landings would 
be handled under the current PSP protocol in place as mandated by the 
Food and Drug Administration and Interstate Shellfish Sanitation 
Conference. A positive PSP result from any one sample would deem the 
area unacceptable for harvest. The vessel Captain would immediately 
report all positive screening test results, by telephone or email, to 
the Authority within the intended State of landing, the Food and Drug 
Administration (FDA) Shellfish Specialist, and the processor. The FDA 
would notify NMFS and permitted vessels would stop fishing in the 
affected area(s).
    Participating vessels would adhere to all seasonal groundfish 
closures in Closed Area II and would not retain any scallops while on 
EFP trips. Additionally, vessels must also adhere to all other 
requirements at 50 CFR 648.76(a)(4)(i).
    If approved, Sea Watch 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: March 11, 2021.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-05459 Filed 3-16-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P