Notice2021-16787
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits
Primary source
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Published
August 6, 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 submitted by the Coonamessett Farm 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 149 (Friday, August 6, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 149 (Friday, August 6, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 43190]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-16787]
[[Page 43190]]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XB272]
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 application submitted by
the Coonamessett Farm 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 23, 2021.
ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by the following method:
<bullet> Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b5dbd8d3c69bd2d4c79bd0d3c5f5dbdad4d49bd2dac3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="87e9eae1f4a9e0e6f5a9e2e1f7c7e9e8e6e6a9e0e8f1">[email protected]</span></a>. Include in the subject line
``CFF Seasonal Scallop Survey EFP.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shannah Jaburek, Fishery Management
Specialist; <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6f1c070e01010e0741050e0d1a1d0a042f01000e0e41080019"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d5a6bdb4bbbbb4bdfbbfb4b7a0a7b0be95bbbab4b4fbb2baa3">[email protected]</span></a>, (978) 281-9135.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Coonamessett Farm Foundation (CFF)
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: Atlantic sea scallop days-
at-sea (DAS) allocations at 50 CFR 648.53(b); crew size restrictions at
Sec. 648.51(c); observer program requirements at Sec. 648.11(g);
minimum mesh size restrictions at Sec. 648.51(b)(2); minimum ring size
restrictions at Sec. 648.51(b)(3); dredge obstruction restriction at
Sec. 648.51(b)(4)(iii); Closed Area II restrictions in Sec. 648.59
and 648.60; dredge or net obstructions at Sec. 648.51(b)(4)(iii); size
and possession limits at Sec. 648 subsections B and D through O for
biological sampling only, and Sec. 697.20 for lobster sampling and
tagging only.
CFF applied for an EFP on April 5, 2021, to conduct a scallop
survey in Georges Bank. This EFP would allow CFF to conduct the survey
over four, 7-day survey trips on commercial scallop vessels from August
17, 2021, through July 30, 2022, at 50 fixed stations. The survey
stations would be located in Closed Area II Southeast, Closed Area II
Southwest, Closed Area II extension, and the eastern edge of the
Southern Flank Scallop Management Simulator areas. The survey stations
were chosen to provide data about scallop spawning, scallop meat
quality, and seasonal patterns of habitat use by bycatch species caught
in the scallop fishery.
Participating vessels would use two, 15-foot (4.6 m) turtle
deflector dredges with 10-inch (25.4 cm) twine tops, 4-inch (10.2 cm)
ring bags, 7-row aprons, and 2:1 twine top hanging ratios. One dredge
would have a 50-mm cover net attached to catch juvenile scallops and
other bycatch species that escape from normal scallop dredges. The
dredge with the cover net would be towed for 10 minutes at 4.8 knots
(8.9 km/hr). The dredge without the cover net would be towed for 30
minutes at 4.8 knots (8.9 km/hr). Dredges would be fished
alternatively.
CFF researchers would be participating vessels at all times and
would direct sampling activities. Scallop catch would be sorted into
baskets and weighed. A subsample of catch would be measured and have
meat quality and other biological metrics recorded. Flatfish bycatch
would be weighed and measured for length, and reproductive data would
be recorded for windowpane, winter, and yellowtail flounder. Crabs,
moon snails, whelks, and other scallop predators would be weighed and
counted. Sea stars would be sampled using the same protocols as
scallops. Lobsters would have biological measurements taken and will be
assessed for dredge damage. Lobsters would also be tagged in
collaboration with the Atlantic Offshore Lobstermen's Association. 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: August 2, 2021.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-16787 Filed 8-5-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on August 6, 2021.
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