[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