[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 76 (Wednesday, April 20, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23498-23499]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-08443]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XB953]


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 (EFP) application 
submitted by Full Share Inc. contains all of the required information 
and warrants further consideration. 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 May 5, 2022.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Travis Ford, Fishery Policy Analyst, 
[email protected], (978) 281-9233.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Full Share, Inc. submitted a complete 
application for an EFP to enable filming and documentation of 
commercial fishing activities for a motion picture, currently titled 
``Finestkind.'' This EFP would exempt the participating vessel from: 
The minimum shell height requirement at 50 CFR 648.14(i)(2)(i) and 
648.50(a); the in-shell possession limit inside vessel monitoring 
system (VMS) demarcation line at Sec. Sec.  648.14(i)(2)(iii)(B) and 
648.52(e); the crew size restrictions at Sec.  648.51(c); the day-at-
sea requirements at Sec.  648.53(b); the requirements of the Northern 
Gulf of Maine Management Program at Sec.  648.62; and minimum size and 
possession

[[Page 23499]]

restrictions for filming in part 648 subparts B and D through O.
    Josef Boreland, Marine Coordinator, applied for an EFP on April 1, 
2022, on behalf of Full Share Inc., in support of a motion picture, 
currently titled ``Finestkind.'' The filming would take place aboard 
the commercial fishing vessel SANDRA JANE (P: 410430). For the purpose 
of replicating authentic commercial fishing practices for the motion 
picture, the F/V SANDRA JANE \1\ would be fishing for scallops off of 
Gloucester, MA for 4 days in June 2022.
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    \1\ The United States Coast Guard has acknowledged that the name 
SANDRA JANE will be temporarily replaced with the name FINESTKIND on 
the vessel for filming. The vessel will not officially have its name 
changed.
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    The proposed EFP would allow the vessel to fish for scallops 
outside of the requirements of its Federal permit for the purpose of 
filming the motion picture. Fishing would occur for 4 days off of 
Gloucester, MA to fish scallops in Federal waters of the Gulf of Maine 
on and around Stellwagen Bank. The fishing vessel will have its normal 
crew of 7 (including the operator) and an additional 25 film crew 
onboard. Additional film support vessels will accompany the fishing 
vessel.
    The fishing vessel would capture scallops by towing two 4.57-meter 
wide New Bedford-style dredges at approximately 5 knots (9.26 km/hr) 
for 10 minutes per tow, 1 to 2 tows per day. The deployment and haul 
back of the gear will be filmed. The majority of the catch will be 
immediately returned to the sea. A portion of the scallop catch may be 
transported shoreward to more easily film shucking and other processing 
procedures closer to shore in state waters. The applicant will pursue a 
letter of authorization from the Massachusetts Department of Marine 
Fisheries for any necessary exemptions from any state regulations. No 
catch will be landed 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: April 15, 2022.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-08443 Filed 4-19-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P