Notice2025-04882
Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act Provision; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permit
Primary source
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Published
March 21, 2025
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 renewal application from the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (MA DMF) contains all of the required information and warrants further consideration. The exempted fishing permit (EFP) would allow federally permitted fishing vessels to fish outside fishery regulations in support of exempted fishing activities proposed 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 EFPs.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 54 (Friday, March 21, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 54 (Friday, March 21, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13343-13344]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-04882]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XE778]
Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act Provision;
General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted
Fishing Permit
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 renewal application from
the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (MA DMF) contains all of
the required information and warrants further consideration. The
exempted fishing permit (EFP) would allow federally permitted fishing
vessels to fish outside fishery regulations in support of exempted
fishing activities proposed 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 EFPs.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 7, 2025.
ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by email at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ec82818a9fc28b8d9ec2898a9cac82838d8dc28b839a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="aac4c7ccd984cdcbd884cfccdaeac4c5cbcb84cdc5dc">[email protected]</span></a>, subject line ``MA DMF 2025 Ventless Trap EFP.''
All comments received are a part of the public record and may be
posted for public viewing without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address), confidential business information,
or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender
will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter
``anonymous'' as the signature if you wish to remain anonymous).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christine Ford, Fishery Management
Specialist, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#97f4ffe5fee4e3fef9f2b9f1f8e5f3d7f9f8f6f6b9f0f8e1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6d0e051f041e19040308430b021f092d03020c0c430a021b">[email protected]</span></a>, 978-281-9185.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The MA DMF submitted a complete application
for an EFP to conduct commercial fishing activities that the
regulations would otherwise restrict. This EFP would exempt the
participating vessels from the following Federal regulations:
Table 1--Requested Exemptions
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CFR citation Regulation Need for exemption
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50 CFR 697.21(c)(1) and (2). Gear specification To allow for the use
requirements for of traps without
Lobster Management escape vents.
Areas 1 and 2.
50 CFR 697.19(a) and (b).... Trap limit To allow for trap
requirements for limits to be
Areas 1 and 2. exceeded.
50 CFR 697.19(i)............ Trap tag To allow for
requirements. alternatively
tagged traps.
50 CFR 697.20(a)(2), Minimum and maximum To allow sub-legal
697.20(b)(2), 697.20(a)(3), carapace length and over-sized
and 697.20(b)(3). requirements for lobsters to be
Areas 1 and 2. landed for research
purposes.
50 CFR 697.20(g)(1) and (3). V-notch possession To allow landing of
requirement for female lobsters for
Areas 1 and 2. research purposes.
50 CFR 697.20(d)(1) and (3). Berried female To allow landing of
possession egg-bearing female
requirements. lobsters for
research purposes.
50 CFR 697.20(h)(1)......... Minimum carapace To allow sub-legal
width requirements. Jonah crabs to be
landed for research
purposes.
50 CFR 697.20(h)(2)(i) and Berried female To allow landing of
(ii). possession egg-bearing female
requirement. Jonah crabs for
research purposes.
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Table 2--Project Summary
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Project title................ 2025 MA DMF Ventless Trap Survey.
Project start................ 05/26/2025.
Project end.................. 10/31/2025.
Project objectives........... To provide fishery-independent data on
lobster and Jonah crab growth and
abundance within Massachusetts State
waters.
Project location............. Statistical Areas 514 and 538.
Number of vessels............ Up to 6.
Number of trips.............. Up to 70.
Trip duration (days)......... 1.
Total number of days......... Up to 70.
Gear type(s)................. Lobster traps.
Number of tows or sets....... 16 per trip.
[[Page 13344]]
Duration of tows or sets..... 3 day soak.
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Project Narrative
The purpose of this survey is to provide fishery-independent data
on lobster and Jonah crab growth and abundance within Massachusetts
State waters of statistical areas 514 and 538. MA DMF funds this
lobster abundance survey through their commercial and recreational
lobster license fees. This survey has occurred annually since 2006. At
least one MA DMF scientist would be on board for the sampling trips. MA
DMF personnel would not be on board when traps are baited and deployed.
Exemptions would not substantively change vessel operations. All catch
during sampling trips would be retained temporarily to collect
biological data. MA DMF staff may collect lobster and/or Jonah crab,
including undersized, oversized, v-notched, and egg-bearing lobsters.
Collected samples would be used for research projects on growth and
maturity. No catch from the experimental traps would be landed for
sale. All gear would be Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan
compliant. Each trawl consists of six traps, with three vented and
three ventless traps alternated along the string. Survey traps would be
tagged as, ``MA DMF Ventless Traps.''
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: March 18, 2025.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-04882 Filed 3-20-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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