[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 61 (Thursday, March 28, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21491-21492]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-06651]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XD828]


Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act Provisions; 
General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted 
Fishing Permit

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

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable 
Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary 
determination that an exempted fishing permit renewal application from 
the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (MA DMF) contains all of 
the required information and warrants further consideration. The 
exempted fishing permit (EFP) would allow federally permitted fishing 
vessels to fish outside fishery regulations in support of exempted 
fishing activities proposed by the applicant. Regulations under the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the 
Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative 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 April 12, 2024.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christine Ford, Fishery Management 
Specialist, [email protected], (978) 281-9185.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The MA DMF submitted a complete application 
for an EFP to conduct commercial fishing activities that the 
regulations would otherwise restrict. This EFP would exempt the 
participating vessels from the following Federal regulations:

                      Table 1--Requested Exemptions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
          CFR citation                Regulation      Need for exemption
------------------------------------------------------------------------
50 Part 697.21(c)(1) and (2)....  Gear specification  To allow for the
                                   requirements for    use of traps
                                   Lobster             without escape
                                   Management Areas    vents.
                                   1 and 2.
Sec.   697.19(a) and (b)........  Trap limit          To allow for trap
                                   requirements for    limits to be
                                   Areas 1 and 2.      exceeded.
Sec.   697.19(i)................  Trap tag            To allow for
                                   requirements.       alternatively
                                                       tagged traps.
Sec.  Sec.   697.20(a)(2),        Minimum and         To allow sub-legal
 697.20(b)(2), 697.20(a)(3), and   maximum carapace    and over-sized
 697.20(b)(3).                     length              lobsters to be
                                   requirements for    landed for
                                   Areas 1 and 2.      research
                                                       purposes.

[[Page 21492]]

 
Sec.   697.20(g)(1) and (3).....  V-notch possession  To allow landing
                                   requirement for     of female
                                   Areas 1 and 2.      lobsters for
                                                       research
                                                       purposes.
Sec.   697.20(d)(1) and (3).....  Berried female      To allow landing
                                   possession          of egg-bearing
                                   requirements.       female lobsters
                                                       for research
                                                       purposes.
Sec.   697.20(h)(1).............  Minimum carapace    To allow sub-legal
                                   width               Jonah crabs to be
                                   requirements.       landed for
                                                       research
                                                       purposes.
Sec.  Sec.   697.20(h)(2)(i) and  Berried female      To allow landing
 (ii).                             possession          of egg-bearing
                                   requirement.        female Jonah
                                                       crabs for
                                                       research
                                                       purposes.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


                        Table 2--Project Summary
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Project title..........................  2024 MA DMF Ventless Trap
                                          Survey.
Project Start..........................  05/01/2024.
Project End............................  10/31/2024.
Project objectives.....................  To provide fishery-independent
                                          data on lobster and Jonah crab
                                          growth and abundance within
                                          Massachusetts State waters.
Project location.......................  Statistical Areas 514 and 538.
Number of vessels......................  Up to 6.
Number of trips........................  Approximately 70.
Trip duration (days)...................  1.
Total number of days...................  Approximately 70.
Gear type(s)...........................  Lobster traps.
Number of tows or sets.................  16 per trip.
Duration of tows or sets...............  3 day soak time.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Project Narrative

    The purpose of this survey is to provide fishery-independent data 
on lobster and Jonah crab growth and abundance within Massachusetts 
State waters of statistical areas 514 and 538. MA DMF funds this 
lobster abundance survey through their commercial and recreational 
lobster license fees. This survey has occurred annually since 2006. At 
least one MA DMF scientist would be on board for the sampling trips. MA 
DMF personnel would not be on board when traps are baited and deployed. 
Exemptions would not substantively change vessel operations. All catch 
during sampling trips would be retained temporarily to collect 
biological data. MA DMF staff may collect lobster and/or Jonah crab, 
including undersized, oversized, v-notched, and egg-bearing lobsters. 
Collected samples would be used for research projects on growth and 
maturity. No catch from the experimental traps would be landed for 
sale. All gear would be Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan 
compliant. Survey traps will be separate from each vessel's commercial 
lobster traps and would be tagged as, ``MA DMF Research Traps.''
    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 the 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.
    All comments received are a part of the public record and may be 
posted for public viewing without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address), confidential business information, 
or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender 
will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter 
``anonymous'' as the signature if you wish to remain anonymous).
    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: March 25, 2024.
Everett Wayne Baxter,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-06651 Filed 3-27-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P