Notice2023-03321
Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits
Primary source
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Published
February 17, 2023
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 contains all of the required information and warrants further consideration. The Exempted Fishing Permit would allow commercial fishing vessels to fish outside fishery regulations in support of research conducted 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.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 33 (Friday, February 17, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 33 (Friday, February 17, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10293-10294]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-03321]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XC781]
Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management 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 contains all
of the required information and warrants further consideration. The
Exempted Fishing Permit would allow commercial fishing vessels to fish
outside fishery regulations in support of research conducted 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 March 6, 2023.
ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by any of the following
methods:
<bullet> Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#325c5f54411c5553401c575442725c5d53531c555d44"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a6c8cbc0d588c1c7d488c3c0d6e6c8c9c7c788c1c9d0">[email protected]</span></a>. Include in the subject line
``NHFG Early Benthic-Phase Lobster Trap EFP.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Deighan, Fishery Management
Specialist, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5a163b2f283b741e3f333d323b341a34353b3b743d352c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="aee2cfdbdccf80eacbc7c9c6cfc0eec0c1cfcf80c9c1d8">[email protected]</span></a>, (978) 281-9184.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department
submitted a complete application for an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP)
to conduct commercial fishing activities that the regulations would
otherwise restrict. The EFP would allow the Department to continue
pilot testing of early benthic-phase (EBP) lobster traps, which target
lobsters between 15- and 50-mm carapace length, to determine their
feasibility for broader use in lobster surveys. This EFP would exempt
the participating vessel from the Federal regulations described in
Table 1.
Table 1--Requested Exemptions
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Citation Regulation Need for exemption
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50 CFR 697.21(c) and Sec. Gear To allow for the use
697.21(d). specification of modified traps
requirements. with no escape vents
or ghost panels.
Sec. 697.19................. Trap limit To allow for one
requirements. additional trap.
Sec. 697.19(j).............. Trap tag To allow for the use
requirements. of four untagged
traps.
Sec. Sec. 697.20(a)(7), Possession To allow for onboard
697.20(a)(8), 697.20(b)(5), restrictions. biological sampling
697.20(b)(6), 697.20(d), and of undersized,
697.20(g). oversized, v-
notched, and egg-
bearing lobsters.
Sec. 697.21(a).............. Gear To allow for the use
identification of four unmarked
and marking traps.
requirements.
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[[Page 10294]]
This project would use one federally permitted lobster vessel to
pilot test the use of four EBP lobster traps in Lobster Management Area
3 (Statistical Areas 561, 562, and 522). The EBP traps are 80-cm square
traps based on a modified crawfish trap. They have four square
openings, measuring less than two inches (5.08 cm), which lead to ramps
that drop the lobsters into a baited kitchen. Inside the traps, there
are additional ramps that lead the lobsters to four cylindrical parlors
with vertical openings. The traps are attached to cement runners that
provide weight and maintain proper orientation.
The participants would place two EBP traps each on two of their
existing trawls and haul them twice per trip during the course of the
vessel's normal fishing activity. The vessel would take between 9 and
13 experimental trips, lasting from 7 to 12 days, between May 15 and
November 15, 2023. The crew would rig the EBP traps within Atlantic
Large Whale Take Reduction Plan-compliant commercial trawls, resulting
in no additional end lines. The vessel would fish one trap above its
2023 allocation, but would remain within the universal Area 3 trap cap.
Researchers would allow up to 144 total hauls, but expect 72 to 104
hauls. At each haul, the crew would record, and immediately release,
all bycatch and measure, sex, and release all lobsters from the EBP
trap. They would also sample catch in two standard traps per trawl
(four total) as control data. They would land and sell the legal catch
from the standard traps.
The goal of this project is to test the selectivity of the EBP trap
(versus ventless traps that often catch eel and crab) and the
scalability of its use. If successful, EBP traps could be used in
lobster surveys to provide information about larval-settlement patterns
and juvenile nursery grounds.
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: February 13, 2023.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-03321 Filed 2-16-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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