Notice2023-22295
Pacific Islands Pelagic Fisheries; American Samoa Longline Limited Entry Program
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
October 6, 2023
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS announces that 25 American Samoa pelagic longline limited entry permits in 2 permit size classes are available for 2023. NMFS is accepting applications for these available permits.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 193 (Friday, October 6, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 193 (Friday, October 6, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69621-69622]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-22295]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XD371]
Pacific Islands Pelagic Fisheries; American Samoa Longline
Limited Entry Program
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; availability of permits.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that 25 American Samoa pelagic longline limited
entry permits in 2 permit size classes are available for 2023. NMFS is
accepting applications for these available permits.
DATES: NMFS must receive complete permit applications including payment
by February 5, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Download a blank application from the NOAA Fisheries
website: <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/permit/american-samoa-longline-limited-entry-permit">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/permit/american-samoa-longline-limited-entry-permit</a>. Submit your application and pay the processing
fee electronically per instructions at <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pacific-islands/commercial-fishing/apply-pacific-islands-fishing-permit">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pacific-islands/commercial-fishing/apply-pacific-islands-fishing-permit</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Walter Ikehara, NMFS Pacific Islands
Regional Office (PIRO), Sustainable Fisheries, tel 808-725-5175 or
email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2b7b627964065b4e5946425f586b45444a4a054c445d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f7a7bea5b8da8792859a9e8384b799989696d9909881">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Federal regulations at 50 CFR 665.816 allow
NMFS to re-issue permits for the American Samoa pelagic longline
limited entry program if the number of permits falls below the maximum
allowed. At least 25 permits are available for issuance in the
following permit size classes, as follows:
<bullet> 17 in Small (vessels up to 50 feet or 15.24 meters in
overall length); and
<bullet> 8 in Large (vessels overall length 50 feet or 15.24 meters
and longer).
Please note that the number of available permits may change before
the application period closes. Applicants must specify the permit size
class (one only) for which they are applying on the application form.
If there are more applications than available permits in a
particular size class, the Regional Administrator shall issue permits
to persons according to the following priority standard:
(i) Priority accrues to the person with the earliest documented
participation in the pelagic longline fishery in the Exclusive Economic
Zone (EEZ) around American Samoa from smallest to largest vessel; and
(ii) In the event of a tie in the priority ranking between two or
more applicants, the applicant whose second documented participation in
the pelagic longline fishery in the EEZ around American Samoa is first
in time will be ranked first in priority. If there is still a tie
between two or more applicants, the Regional Administrator will select
the successful applicant by an impartial lottery.
NMFS will only consider complete applications, which must include
the completed and signed application form, copy of current United
States Coast Guard Certificate of Documentation or state or territory
vessel registration, evidence of documented participation in the
fishery if needed for prioritization, and non-refundable payment of the
application processing fee. Incomplete applications may be abandoned 30
days after receipt if deficiencies are not addressed.
Documented participation means participation proved by, but not
necessarily limited to, a properly submitted NMFS or American Samoa
logbook, an American Samoa creel survey record, a delivery or payment
record from an American Samoa-based cannery, retailer or wholesaler, an
American Samoa tax record, an individual wage record, ownership title,
vessel registration, or other official documents showing:
(i) Ownership of a vessel that was used to fish in the EEZ around
American Samoa; or
(ii) Evidence of work on a fishing trip during which longline gear
was used to harvest western Pacific pelagic management unit species in
the EEZ around American Samoa. If the applicant does not possess the
necessary documentation of evidence of work on a fishing trip based on
records available only from NMFS or the Government of American Samoa
(e.g., creel survey record or logbook), the applicant may issue a
request to PIRO to obtain such records from the appropriate agencies,
if available. The applicant should provide sufficient information on
the fishing trip to allow PIRO to retrieve the records.
If an applicant requests NMFS, in writing, to use NMFS longline
logbook data as evidence of documented participation, the applicant
must specify the qualifying vessel, official number, and month and year
of the logbook records. NMFS will not conduct an unlimited search for
records.
NMFS must receive applications by February 5, 2024 to be considered
for a permit (see ADDRESSES). NMFS will not
[[Page 69622]]
accept applications received after that date.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: October 3, 2023.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-22295 Filed 10-5-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.