[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 33 (Thursday, February 17, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9040-9041]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-03435]



[[Page 9040]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XB737]


Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern 
United States; Atlantic Herring Fishery; Approved Industry-Funded 
Monitoring Service Providers

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

ACTION: Notice of approved industry-funded monitoring service 
providers.

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SUMMARY: NMFS has approved four companies to provide industry-funded 
monitoring services (observing, at-sea monitoring, and/or portside 
sampling) to Atlantic herring vessels during industry-funded monitoring 
years 2022-2023 (April 1, 2022, through March 31, 2024). Monitoring 
coverage regulations require that any entities seeking to provide 
monitoring services, including services for industry-funded monitoring 
programs, must apply for and obtain approval from NMFS. This action 
will allow Atlantic herring vessels to secure industry-funded 
monitoring services from any of the approved providers during 2022-
2023.

ADDRESSES: The list of NMFS-approved industry-funded monitoring service 
providers is available at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/resource/data/observer-providers-northeast-and-mid-atlantic-programs.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maria Fenton, Fishery Management 
Specialist, (978) 281-9196.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The New England Industry-Funded Monitoring (IFM) Omnibus Amendment 
created an IFM program in the Atlantic herring fishery and set a 50-
percent monitoring coverage target on vessels issued an All Areas 
(Category A) or Areas 2/3 (Category B) limited access Atlantic herring 
permit. This 50-percent coverage target consists of the combination of 
Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology (SBRM) coverage and IFM 
coverage provided to a vessel during the IFM year. Prior to any trip 
declared into the herring fishery, representatives for vessels issued 
Category A or B permits are required to notify NMFS for monitoring 
coverage. If NMFS informs a vessel that a trip is selected for IFM 
coverage, the vessel is required to obtain at-sea monitoring coverage 
from a NMFS-approved service provider for that trip. Midwater trawl 
vessels may also obtain IFM observer coverage in order to fish in a 
Groundfish Closed Area on a trip that was not selected for SBRM or IFM 
coverage. Vessels selected for SBRM coverage will continue to follow 
SBRM procedures, and that coverage will count toward achieving the 50-
percent coverage target.
    Some Category A or B herring vessels may participate in an Exempted 
Fishing Permit (EFP) to use an electronic monitoring and portside 
sampling program in lieu of carrying a human at-sea monitor to fulfill 
the requirements of the IFM Amendment. If NMFS informs a vessel 
participating in the EFP that a trip has been selected for IFM 
coverage, that vessel is required to obtain portside sampling services 
for that trip. Vessels participating in the EFP may also obtain 
portside sampling coverage in lieu of carrying an observer in order to 
fish in a Groundfish Closed Area on a trip that was not selected for 
SBRM or IFM coverage.

Monitoring Service Provider Approval Process

    Monitoring coverage regulations at Sec.  648.11(h)(1) require that 
any entities seeking to provide monitoring services, including services 
for IFM programs, must apply for and obtain approval from NMFS. The 
regulations at Sec.  648.11(h)(4) describe the criteria for evaluating 
and approving a monitoring services provider application. NMFS approves 
service providers based on: (1) Completeness of the applications; and 
(2) determination of the applicant's ability to perform the duties and 
responsibilities of a monitoring service provider, as demonstrated in 
the application. Once approved, service providers must meet the 
requirements, conditions, and responsibilities specified at Sec.  
648.11(h)(5) and (6) in order to maintain eligibility. NMFS must notify 
service providers, in writing, if approval is withdrawn for any reason.

Approved Industry-Funded Monitoring Service Providers

    NMFS received complete applications from four companies to provide 
IFM services to Atlantic herring vessels during IFM years 2022-2023: 
Saltwater Inc.; East West Technical Services LLC; A.I.S., Inc.; and 
Fathom Resources, LLC. We approved all four companies to provide IFM 
services to Atlantic herring vessels during IFM years 2022-2023 because 
they met the application requirements and demonstrated their ability to 
perform the duties and responsibilities of a monitoring service 
provider. All four companies are currently approved to provide IFM 
services for the Atlantic herring fishery in 2020-2021. NMFS will 
closely monitor the performance of approved providers and will be 
prepared to withdraw approval during the current approval term, or 
disapprove a future application to provide monitoring services, if it 
is determined that monitoring provider requirements, conditions, and 
responsibilities are not being met.

   Table 1--Companies Approved To Provide IFM Services to Atlantic Herring Vessels During IFM Years 2022-2023
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                                    Approved IFM
            Provider                 service(s)        Contact information                 Website
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Saltwater Inc..................  Portside sampling.  733 N St., Anchorage,   www.saltwaterinc.com.
                                                      AK 99501, Phone: 907-
                                                      276-3241, Fax: 907-
                                                      258-5999.
East West Technical Services     Industry-funded     91 Point Judith Rd.,    www.ewts.com.
 LLC.                             observer, ASM,      Suite 26, Unit 347,
                                  portside sampling.  Narragansett, RI
                                                      02882, Phone: 860-910-
                                                      4957, Fax: 860-223-
                                                      6005.
A.I.S., Inc....................  Industry-funded     540 Hawthorn St.,       www.aisobservers.com.
                                  observer, ASM,      North Dartmouth, MA
                                  portside sampling.  02747, Phone: 508-990-
                                                      9054, Fax: 508-990-
                                                      9055.
Fathom Resources, LLC..........  Industry-funded     855 Aquidneck Ave.,     www.fathomresources.com.
                                  observer, ASM,      Unit 9, Middletown,
                                  portside sampling.  RI 02842, Phone: 508-
                                                      990-0997, Fax: 508-
                                                      991-7372.
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[[Page 9041]]

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: February 10, 2022.
Ngagne Jafnar Gueye,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-03435 Filed 2-16-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P