[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 8, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12939-12941]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-04868]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XB816]


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 a proposed exempted fishing permit contains all of 
the required information and warrants further consideration. This 
exempted fishing permit would allow Atlantic herring vessels to use 
electronic monitoring, coupled with portside sampling, in lieu of at-
sea monitoring to satisfy their industry-funded monitoring requirements 
during 2022. 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 23, 2022.

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

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The New England Fishery Management Council took final action on the 
New England Industry-Funded Monitoring (IFM) Omnibus Amendment in 2018 
and recommended a 50-percent coverage target for at-sea monitoring 
(ASM) coverage aboard vessels issued a Category A or B herring permit. 
This 50-percent coverage target includes a combination of Standardized 
Bycatch Reporting Methodology (SBRM) and IFM coverage. IFM coverage 
requirements may be waived on a trip-by-trip basis if monitoring 
coverage is unavailable, if vessels intend to land less than 50 mt of 
herring, or if vessels carry no fish on pair trawling trips (i.e., wing 
vessels). The IFM Amendment also included a provision allowing midwater 
trawl vessels to purchase observer coverage in order to fish in 
Groundfish Closed Areas (GCA).
    The Council reviewed the results from a midwater trawl electronic 
monitoring (EM) pilot study and concluded that a combination of EM and 
portside sampling was an appropriate substitute for ASM aboard midwater 
trawl vessels. However, rather than including EM and portside 
requirements in the IFM Amendment, the Council recommended that NMFS 
administer EM and portside sampling via an exempted fishing permit 
(EFP) for midwater trawl vessels during the first 2 years of IFM in the 
herring fishery. The Council is required to evaluate the effectiveness 
of the herring IFM program 2 years after implementation of the 
amendment. In July 2021, NMFS issued an EFP authorizing six herring 
vessels to use EM and portside sampling in lieu of ASM to satisfy their 
IFM requirements during the first year of IFM in the herring fishery. 
The issuance of this 2022 EFP would cover the second year of IFM in the 
herring fishery. The Council would consider lessons learned through the 
2021 and 2022 EFPs when reviewing herring IFM requirements and 
considering how to most effectively and efficiently administer an EM 
and portside sampling program for the herring fishery.
    Herring fishing effort has been limited in IFM year 2021 due to low 
annual catch limits (ACL). As of February 15, 2022, participating 
vessels completed 27 trips under the 2021 EFP:
     Eight trips were selected for IFM coverage. Coverage 
waivers were issued for seven of these trips, and one was portside 
sampled;
     One GCA trip was taken, and that trip was portside 
sampled; and
     Twelve trips were eligible for EM video review (i.e., 
there was fishing effort). Video review had been completed for 11 of 
these trips.
    Findings from the voluntary EM study, as well as analyses in the 
Environmental Assessment for the IFM Amendment, suggest that EM and 
portside sampling may be a more cost-effective monitoring option than 
at-sea monitors or observers for the herring fishery. Developing 
another permanent monitoring option for the herring fishery would give 
herring vessels additional flexibility to select the most cost-
effective monitoring option for their fishing operations, which would 
help mitigate the negative economic impacts of recent reductions to 
herring ACLs. Additionally, information gathered through this EFP would 
also help further evaluate the utility of EM and portside sampling to 
monitor fishing in GCAs, and to monitor herring vessels fishing with 
purse seine or bottom trawl gear.

Project Description

    The project period for this EFP would cover IFM year 2022 (April 1, 
2022-March 31, 2023), contingent upon availability of funds. Under this 
EFP, up to 21 vessels holding Category A or B herring permits would be 
required to run EM systems (video cameras and gear sensors) on 100 
percent of declared herring trips, except under the following 
circumstance: If a vessel using midwater trawl gear intends to operate 
as a wing vessel on a trip (meaning it will pair trawl with another 
midwater trawl vessel but will not pump or carry any fish onboard), and 
NMFS issues the wing vessel a waiver from IFM requirements for that 
trip, the wing vessel does not need to run its EM system during that 
trip. Declared herring trips include any trips declared using the 
herring (HER) plan code, or any trips where the vessel indicates that 
it is retaining herring when participating in the Atlantic mackerel 
(e.g., mackerel trip with herring retention (MAH), mackerel trip with 
herring and squid retention (MHS)) or the squid fishery (e.g., longfin 
squid trip with herring retention (SLH), longfin squid trip with 
herring and mackerel retention (LHM), Illex squid trip with herring 
retention (SIH), Illex squid trip with herring and mackerel 
retention(IHM)).
    The purpose of EM is to confirm catch retention and verify 
compliance with slippage restrictions. Participating vessels would be 
required to run EM systems regardless of whether they are carrying an 
SBRM observer on trips that are selected for SBRM coverage. 
Participating vessels would be required to adhere to all normal 
reporting

[[Page 12940]]

requirements, except as exempted through this EFP. Participating 
vessels would be required to adhere to individual Vessel Monitoring 
Plans (VMP) when fishing under the EFP. Each vessel's VMP would outline 
the catch handling protocols and EM system configurations that the 
vessel would use while participating in the program. Vessels would not 
be permitted to fish under the EFP until they hold a NMFS-approved VMP.
    NMFS contracted Saltwater Inc., as the EM service provider for this 
EFP during IFM year 2022. Vessels would be required to use Saltwater 
Inc., as the EM service provider when fishing under this EFP. The EM 
service provider would be responsible for developing VMPs for 
participating vessels. The EM service provider would also be 
responsible for: Installing, maintaining, and uninstalling EM equipment 
on participating vessels; reviewing EM video footage; processing and 
annotating video and sensor data; generating EM data analysis 
summaries; and working with NMFS personnel to review program 
performance for refinement.
    Given anticipated low fishing effort during IFM year 2022, EM data 
from 100 percent of EFP trips with fishing effort would get selected 
for video review in order to learn as much as possible about 
administering an EM program through this EFP. Because the purpose of EM 
is to confirm catch retention and trips without fishing effort would 
have no catch, trips without fishing effort would not get selected for 
video review. EM video reviewers would identify (presence/absence) and 
characterize each discard event that occurs on reviewed trips.
    Participating vessels would primarily fish with midwater trawl or 
purse seine gear on declared herring trips; however, some vessels may 
fish with small-mesh bottom trawl gear under the EFP. Prior to the 
start of each year, participating vessels would be required to inform 
the Principal Investigator (PI) and NMFS about which gears they planned 
to fish with at what points during the year. Participating vessels 
would also be required to notify the PI and NMFS one month ahead of 
when they planned to switch gears. Feedback from industry suggests that 
catch handling protocols remain consistent regardless of whether 
vessels fish with midwater trawl, purse seine, or small-mesh bottom 
trawl gear. However, when a vessel switches gears, EM technicians may 
need to reconfigure the cameras on board to ensure that they can still 
adequately capture fishing activity. After switching gears, the vessel 
may not depart on a declared herring trip until the EM service provider 
has confirmed that the EM system is properly configured and documented 
in the vessel's VMP.
    Allowing vessels to switch gears during the year will incentivize 
participation in the EFP by allowing vessels flexibility to maximize 
fishing opportunities. Additionally, allowing participating vessels to 
fish with purse seine and small-mesh bottom trawl gear would provide 
NMFS with additional information on the effectiveness of using EM to 
monitor vessels fishing with these gear types, because the pilot study 
and the 2021 EFP focused primarily on vessels fishing with midwater 
trawl gear. Participation in the EFP is not expected to lead to any 
shifts in effort that would not otherwise have occurred in the fishery.

Portside Sampling

    Prior to any declared herring trip, representatives from vessels 
with Category A or B permits are required to follow the usual 
notification process for monitoring coverage. NMFS will notify the 
vessel representative if a trip is selected for SBRM or IFM coverage. 
Consistent with the Council-recommended 50-percent IFM coverage target 
for herring vessels, 50 percent of EFP trips would be selected for 
coverage. If selected for IFM coverage, participating vessels would be 
subject to portside sampling on the selected trip in lieu of hiring an 
at-sea monitor. The purpose of portside sampling is to collect species 
composition data along with age and length information. If NMFS 
notifies a participating vessel that a trip has been selected for IFM 
coverage, that vessel would be required to procure portside sampling 
services from a NMFS-approved service provider. Consistent with the 
herring monitoring requirements at Sec.  648.11(m)(1)(iv), the vessel 
would be prohibited from fishing for, taking, possessing, or landing 
any herring without procuring portside sampling services for that trip, 
unless NMFS issued the vessel a coverage waiver for that trip.
    When a trip is portside sampled (i.e., selected for IFM coverage or 
paying for portside sampling in order to fish in a GCA), participating 
vessels would be required to comply with slippage prohibitions and 
consequence measures, and they would need to offload their catch at a 
NMFS-approved sampling station. Sampling station owners would be 
responsible for maintaining sampling stations according to NMFS safety 
standards. Portside samplers would complete a safety inspection upon 
arrival at each sampling station, prior to the start of an offload. If 
a station failed to meet all of the requirements outlined in the safety 
inspection checklist, the participating vessel would be issued a one-
time waiver by the portside sampler to continue the offload and an 
explanation of the safety deficiency refusal. The portside sampler 
would also report the safety deficiency refusal to NMFS. If the 
original safety deficiency was not addressed within 48 hours of being 
reported to NMFS, participating vessels would not be permitted to 
continue offloading at that location on trips selected for portside 
sampling until the station had been brought into compliance.

Slippage Requirements

    If a participating vessel slipped catch on a trip that was portside 
sampled, that vessel would be subject to all of the following 
consequence measures:
     The vessel operator must move at least 15 nautical miles 
(nm) (27.78 km) from the location of the slippage event before 
deploying any gear again, and must stay at least 15 nm (27.78 km) away 
from the slippage event location for the remainder of the fishing trip;
     The vessel operator must complete and sign a Released 
Catch Affidavit detailing: The vessel name and permit number; the VTR 
serial number; where, when, and for what reason the catch was released; 
the estimated weight of each species brought on board or released on 
that tow. A completed affidavit must be submitted to NMFS within 48 
hours of the end of the trip; and
     The vessel operator must report slippage events on the 
herring daily Vessel Monitoring System catch report and indicate the 
reason for slipping catch.

Fishing Inside of Groundfish Closed Areas

    To comply with the 100-percent monitoring coverage requirement when 
fishing inside a GCA, participating vessels would be authorized to use 
EM and portside sampling, in lieu of carrying a human observer, even if 
not selected for IFM or SBRM coverage. A GCA trip that was portside 
sampled would not count towards the vessel's realized coverage rate if 
the trip was not selected for IFM or SBRM coverage. In other words, if 
a trip was not selected for either coverage type but the vessel elected 
to pay for optional portside sampling coverage in order to fish inside 
a GCA, that trip would not count towards the vessel's realized coverage 
rate.

[[Page 12941]]

Proposed Exemptions

General Exemptions for Participating Vessels

    This EFP would exempt participating vessels from the IFM ASM 
coverage requirements at Sec.  648.11(m)(1)(ii). This exemption would 
authorize participating vessels to use EM, coupled with portside 
sampling, to satisfy their IFM coverage requirements in lieu of 
carrying a human at-sea monitor.

Slippage Exemptions for Participating Vessels Fishing Outside of 
Groundfish Closed Areas

    This EFP would exempt participating vessels from the slippage 
definition at Sec.  648.2 under the following circumstance: 
Participating vessels fishing outside of GCAs would be authorized to 
discard fish sorted at the grate (with the exception of haddock) in 
view of a camera on trips selected for portside sampling. These 
discards would not be considered slippage and would not trigger 
slippage consequence measures, but vessels would still be required to 
report them as discards. This exemption would not apply when vessels 
are fishing inside GCAs. When fishing inside GCAs, fish discarded at 
the grate after sorting would be considered slippage and would trigger 
slippage consequence measures.
    Vessels with observer or ASM coverage may discard fish at the grate 
after those fish are made available for sampling, and those discards 
are not considered slippage. However, fish discarded at the grate after 
sorting are considered slippage on vessels selected for portside 
sampling. This exemption would resolve operational differences 
resulting from the slippage definition and help create equity in vessel 
operations across gear and monitoring types. Feedback from industry 
suggests that only small quantities of fish are handpicked at the 
grate, so it is unlikely that this exemption would result in high 
volumes of fish being discarded prior to catch being sampled portside.

Observer Exemptions for Participating Vessels Fishing Inside of 
Groundfish Closed Areas

    This EFP would exempt participating vessels from the Northeast 
multispecies season and area restrictions at Sec.  648.202(b)(1), and 
from the prohibition against fishing in a Northeast multispecies closed 
area without an observer on board at Sec.  648.14(r)(2)(v). The EFP 
would authorize participating vessels to use EM and portside sampling 
in lieu of carrying a human observer when fishing in a GCA on a trip 
not selected for SBRM coverage. Purchasing portside sampling coverage 
to fish in GCAs is expected to be less expensive than purchasing 
observer coverage to fish in GCAs, so this exemption would provide an 
incentive for vessels to participate in the EFP. This exemption would 
also allow NMFS to assess the feasibility of using EM and portside 
sampling to monitor midwater trawl herring trips fished in GCAs.

Operational Discarding Exemptions for Participating Vessels Fishing 
Inside of GCAs

    This EFP would exempt participating vessels from season and area 
restrictions at Sec.  648.202(b)(2) and (4) when operationally 
discarding catch. The EFP would authorize participating vessels to 
operationally discard catch in GCAs without triggering the consequence 
measures described at Sec.  648.202(b)(4). Operational discards in the 
herring fishery are defined as ``small amounts of fish that cannot be 
pumped on board and remain in the codend or seine at the end of pumping 
operations.'' Midwater trawl vessels are permitted to operationally 
discard outside of GCAs without triggering consequence measures, but 
not inside GCAs. This exemption would allow participating vessels to 
maintain operational consistency inside and outside of GCAs. This 
exemption would also allow NMFS to collect additional information on 
the frequency of operational discards in GCAs. This exemption would not 
undermine conservation objectives because participating vessels would 
be fully monitored on 100 percent of trips and would be fully 
accountable for their catch in GCAs.
    If approved, minor modifications and extensions to the EFP may be 
made 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 1, 2022.
Ngagne Jafnar Gueye,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-04868 Filed 3-7-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P