Notice2021-16292
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
July 30, 2021
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit application from the Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation 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.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 144 (Friday, July 30, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 144 (Friday, July 30, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41020-41021]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-16292]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XB262]
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic
Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
[[Page 41021]]
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 application from the
Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation 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 August 16, 2021.
ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by the following method:
<bullet> Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#422c2f24316c2523306c272432022c2d23236c252d34"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a5cbc8c3d68bc2c4d78bc0c3d5e5cbcac4c48bc2cad3">[email protected]</span></a>. Include in the subject line
``Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation N-Viro Dredge EFP.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shannah Jaburek, Fishery Management
Specialist, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c5b6ada4ababa4adebafa4a7b0b7a0ae85abaaa4a4eba2aab3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="81f2e9e0efefe0e9afebe0e3f4f3e4eac1efeee0e0afe6eef7">[email protected]</span></a>, (978) 281-9135.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation
(CFRF) submitted a complete application for an Exempted Fishing Permit
(EFP) to conduct commercial fishing activities that the Atlantic Sea
Scallop Fishery Management Plan regulations would otherwise restrict.
This EFP would exempt the participating vessels from: Observer program
requirements at 50 CFR 648.11; days-at-sea (DAS) requirements at Sec.
648.53; crew size restrictions at Sec. 648.51(c); scallop fishing
restrictions in Closed Area II--East at Sec. 648.59(b)(2) and (g)(1);
scallop trawl and dredge gear restrictions at Sec. 648.51; and minimum
size and possession restrictions for onboard sampling and scallop
transplanting in Sec. 648 subparts B and D through O.
The project was funded as part of the 2021 Atlantic Sea Scallop
Research Set-Aside (RSA) Program, and is the second phase of a project
funded by the 2019 Scallop RSA Program. This project would compare
scallop catch rates, bycatch rates, and fuel savings from new designs
of the N-Viro dredge to the standard New Bedford style dredge, as well
as the version of the N-Viro dredge used in the 2019 study.
Experimental fishing will take place on four limited access general
category (LAGC) vessels and one limited access (LA) scallop vessel. The
LAGC vessels will target a total of 90 60-minute tows using the N-Viro
dredge in Statistical Areas 537, 539, and 611 over approximately 12
days of fishing. The LA vessel will conduct one, 6-day trip in Closed
Area II--East. This area has a large population of small scallops and
would allow for testing the effects of the N-Viro dredge on small
scallop bycatch. The LA vessel will conduct 90 paired tows using the N-
Viro dredge and a standard New Bedford dredge. Forty-five tows will be
at the optimal speed for the N-Viro dredge, and 45 tows at the optimal
speed for the New Bedford dredge.
The N-Viro dredge design will vary slightly between the LAGC and LA
vessels participating in the project. For the LAGC vessels, the dredge
will consist of a tow bar with four small dredges attached, while the
LA vessel will use six small dredges attached to a tow bar. CFRF may
test several modifications to the small dredge on the LAGC, including:
(1) Increasing the number of tines on each frame from 9 to 12; (2)
adding a pressure plate to the frame opening; (3) substituting a
cutting bar in place of the adjustable tine bar on the dredge frames;
(4) changing the twine top hang ration and attachment points; (5)
moving a set of float cans to the front of the bag; (6) removing chain
links between tow bar and individual frames to change frame tow angles;
and (7) adding rubber chafing gear. Two of the small dredges will be
standard. Results from the LAGC portion of the research will inform the
design of the dredge used on the LA vessel.
Researchers from CFRF would accompany each trip taken under the EFP
and direct all sampling activities. On all vessels, catch will be
sorted into baskets after each tow. On LAGC vessels, catch from the
standard and modified N-Viro dredges will be kept separate. On the LA
vessel, catch from the N-Viro dredge and New Bedford dredge will be
kept separate. The total number and weight of scallops and rocks will
be recorded. Sub-legal scallops will then be separated from legal
scallops, and both categories will be counted and weighed. A random
subsample of each will be measured. All incidental catch will
identified to the species level, and will be counted, weighed, and
measured.
On the LAGC trips, scallop catch would be kept for sale in
accordance with current regulations. On the LA trips, catch would not
be landed for sale unless the vessel has used 2021 Scallop RSA quota.
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: July 27, 2021.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-16292 Filed 7-29-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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