Notice2024-30443
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries Off West Coast States; Pacific Highly Migratory Species; Opening of Tier 9 Application Period
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
January 7, 2025
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NMFS announces the opening of the permit application period for initial issuance of limited entry deep-set buoy gear permits under qualification tier 9. Authorized through implementation of Amendment 6 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for U.S. West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species (HMS) and its implementing regulations, tier 9 was established as the final tier in a ranking system for issuance of limited entry deep-set buoy gear permits. Tier 9 permits for deep-set buoy gear will be available through the National Permits System.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 4 (Tuesday, January 7, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 4 (Tuesday, January 7, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1083-1084]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-30443]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XE519]
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries Off West Coast States;
Pacific Highly Migratory Species; Opening of Tier 9 Application Period
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; permit application period opening.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the opening of the permit application period
for initial issuance of limited entry deep-set buoy gear permits under
qualification tier 9. Authorized through implementation of Amendment 6
to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for U.S. West Coast Fisheries for
Highly Migratory Species (HMS) and its implementing regulations, tier 9
was established as the final tier in a ranking system for issuance of
limited entry deep-set buoy gear permits. Tier 9 permits for deep-set
buoy gear will be available through the National Permits System.
DATES: The application period for initial issuance of deep-set buoy
gear permits issued under tier 9 is February 1 through March 31, 2025.
ADDRESSES: This notice is accessible via the internet at the Office of
the Federal Register website at <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov">https://www.federalregister.gov</a>.
Background information on Amendment 6 to the HMS FMP and supporting
documents are available at the NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region website
at <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/region/west-coast">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/region/west-coast</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Palmigiano,
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a5cec4d7c0cb8bd5c4c9c8ccc2ccc4cbcae5cbcac4c48bc2cad3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d2b9b3a0b7bcfca2b3bebfbbb5bbb3bcbd92bcbdb3b3fcb5bda4">[email protected]</span></a> or 206-526-4491.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The FMP for U.S. West Coast Fisheries for HMS and its implementing
regulations at title 50 in the Code of Federal Regulations, part 660,
subpart K, regulate commercial and recreational fishing for HMS in the
U.S. exclusive economic zone off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and
California and in adjacent high seas waters. NMFS published Amendment 6
and its implementing regulations on May 8, 2023 (88 FR 29545).
Amendment 6 authorizes deep-set buoy gear (DSBG) as an additional gear
type for catching swordfish and other HMS in Federal waters off of
California and Oregon. The Pacific Fishery Management Council
recommended that NOAA Fisheries authorize DSBG as an additional
commercial gear type to improve the economic viability of the West
Coast-based swordfish fishery while minimizing bycatch to the extent
practicable. The regulations also established a limited entry (LE)
regime for ``phased-in'' permitting of DSBG fishing within Federal
waters of the Southern California Bight (see 50 CFR 660.707(g)). Tier 9
is the final phase of that LE permit regime.
Tier 9 Permits
As required by the regulations at Sec. 660.707(g)(12), once the
list of initial approved qualifiers for tiers 1 through 8 is exhausted,
NMFS may begin accepting applications under tier 9. Additionally, as
required by regulations, NMFS must announce the opening of tier 9 in
the Federal Register. This notice serves as that announcement.
Therefore, beginning on February 1, 2025, and ending on March 31,
2025, NMFS will accept applications for initial issuance of LE DSBG
permits under tier 9. NMFS will continue to accept applications for
tier 9 permits on an annual basis and issue up to 25 permits per year
until a total of 300 LE DSBG permits are issued, unless NMFS determines
that the maximum number of permits should be fewer than 300 and
publishes a subsequent rulemaking. The process for initial issuance of
LE DSBG permits to applicant that qualify under tier 9, which can be
found at Sec. 660.707(g)(12), is summarized below.
To qualify for a LE DSBG permit under tier 9, an applicant must be
a ``person'' as defined at Sec. 660.702 and must not already own a LE
DSBG permit either individually or as a shareholder in a business which
owns a LE DSBG permit.
To apply for a LE DSBG permit under tier 9 in 2025, a person must
submit a complete application to NMFS through the National Permits
System website no later than 11:59 p.m. Pacific daylight time on March
31, 2025. A complete initial issuance application package consists of
the following: a completed initial issuance application form, which may
include ownership interest for businesses, and as required under Sec.
660.707(g)(3)(ii); a current copy of the U.S. Coast Guard Documentation
Form or State registration form for the vessel that will be registered
to the permit; and payment of required fees. NMFS may require
additional documentation as it deems necessary to make a determination
on the application. The
[[Page 1084]]
initial issuance application package will be considered incomplete
until the required information is submitted. NMFS will decline to act
on an incomplete application.
NMFS will issue LE DSBG permits to approved applicants under tier 9
on a first come, first served basis, according to the date and time
that their application was submitted through the National Permits
System. NMFS will issue up to 25 permits each year. If NMFS approves
more than 25 applications in a single year, the approved applicants
above 25 (who were not issued a permit) will receive priority for
permit issuance the following year, according to the date and time that
their complete applications were received.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: December 17, 2024.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-30443 Filed 1-6-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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