[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 209 (Tuesday, October 31, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 74440]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-24021]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XD462]


Permits; Foreign Fishing

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

ACTION: Notice of application for transshipment permit; request for 
comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS publishes for public review and comment information 
regarding a permit application for transshipment of farmed salmon from 
aquaculture operations in Maine waters to processing plants in Canada 
by Canadian flagged vessels. The application for a transshipment permit 
is submitted under provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). This action is 
necessary for NMFS to make a determination that the permit application 
can be approved.

DATES: Written comments must be received by November 14, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on this action, identified by RTID 0648-
XD462 should be sent to Kent Laborde and Jasmine Prat in the NMFS 
Office of International Affairs, Trade, and Commerce by email at 
[email protected] and [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kent Laborde and Jasmine Prat by email 
at [email protected] and [email protected], or by phone at 301-
956-5472.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 204(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act 
(16 U.S.C. 1824(d)) authorizes the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to 
issue a transshipment permit for a vessel other than a vessel of the 
United States to engage in fishing consisting solely of transporting 
fish or fish products at sea from a point within the United States 
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) or, with the concurrence of a state, 
within the boundaries of that state, to a point outside the United 
States.
    Section 204(d)(3)(D) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act provides that an 
application to transship from U.S. waters to another country using non-
U.S. vessels may not be approved until the Secretary determines that 
``no owner or operator of a vessel of the United States which has 
adequate capacity to perform the transportation for which the 
application is submitted has indicated . . . an interest in performing 
the transportation at fair and reasonable rates.'' NMFS is publishing 
this notice as part of its effort to make such a determination with 
respect to the application described below.

Summary of Application

    NMFS received an application from True North Salmon Limited 
Partnership, Kelly Cove Salmon Limited, and 697002 NB, Inc., requesting 
authorization to transfer salmon from U.S. farm pens in Maine waters to 
five Canadian vessels for the purpose of transporting the salmon to 
Blacks Harbour, Canada for processing. The transshipment operations 
will occur within the boundaries of the State of Maine, and within 12 
nautical miles from Maine's seaward boundary. NMFS issued permits for 
the same vessels for use in calendar year 2023. Those permits will 
expire December 31, 2023.

    Dated: October 26, 2023.
Alexa Cole,
Director, Office of International Affairs, Trade, and Commerce, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-24021 Filed 10-30-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P