Notice2026-07086
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits
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
April 13, 2026
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 (EFP) application contains all of the required information and warrants further consideration. The EFP would allow federally permitted fishing vessels to fish outside fishery regulations in support of exempted fishing activities proposed by Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (MA DMF). 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 EFPs.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 70 (Monday, April 13, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 70 (Monday, April 13, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18831-18832]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-07086]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XF628]
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 (EFP) application
contains all of the required information and warrants further
consideration. The EFP would allow federally permitted fishing vessels
to fish outside fishery regulations in support of exempted fishing
activities proposed by Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (MA
DMF). 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 EFPs.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 28, 2026.
ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d0bebdb6a3feb7b1a2feb5b6a090bebfb1b1feb7bfa6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="abc5c6cdd885cccad985cecddbebc5c4caca85ccc4dd">[email protected]</span></a>. Include in the subject line ``MA DMF 2026
Ventless Trap Survey''. 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: Elise Scholl, Fishery Management
Specialist, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#40252c2933256e3323282f2c2c002e2f21216e272f36"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7d1811140e18530e1e151211113d13121c1c531a120b">[email protected]</span></a>, 978-281-9189.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The applicant 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 for up to
360 traps in Area 1
and 96 traps for
Area 2.
50 CFR 697.19(j)............ 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..................... 2026 Ventless Trap Survey.
Project start..................... 5/01/2026.
Project end....................... 10/31/2026.
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................. 5.
Number of trips................... 70.
Trip duration (days).............. 1.
Total number of days.............. 70.
Gear type(s)...................... Lobster Traps.
Number of tows or sets............ 16 per trip.
Duration of tows or sets.......... 3-day soak.
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[[Page 18832]]
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 its commercial and recreational
lobster license fees. This survey has occurred annually since 2006.
Each trawl consists of six traps, with three vented and three
ventless traps alternated along the string. The escape vents in vented
traps are standardized throughout all survey areas to one rectangular
vent in the parlor, size 1\15/16\'' x 5\3/4\'' (Lobster Conservation
Management Area 1 regulation sized vent). All gear would be Atlantic
Large Whale Take Reduction Plan compliant and meet Federal protected-
species related regulations. Survey traps would be tagged as ``MA DMF
Research Traps''. 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. Catch is expected to be low compared with the
biomass and, aside from samples retained for research purposes,
returned to sea alive. 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.
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: April 8, 2026.
David R. Blankinship,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-07086 Filed 4-10-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on April 13, 2026.
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