Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Herring Fishery; Approved Industry-Funded Monitoring Service Providers
| Published date | 14 April 2020 |
| Citation | 85 FR 20677 |
| Record Number | 2020-07859 |
| Section | Notices |
| Court | National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration |
Federal Register, Volume 85 Issue 72 (Tuesday, April 14, 2020)
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 72 (Tuesday, April 14, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20677-20678]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-07859]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XX051]
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern
United States; Atlantic Herring Fishery; Approved Industry-Funded
Monitoring Service Providers
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of approved industry-funded monitoring service
providers.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS has approved four companies to provide industry-funded
monitoring services (observing, at-sea monitoring, and/or portside
sampling) to Atlantic herring vessels during industry-funded monitoring
years 2020-2021 (April 1, 2020-March 31, 2022). Monitoring coverage
regulations require that any entities seeking to provide monitoring
services, including services for industry-funded monitoring programs,
must apply for and obtain approval from NMFS. This action will allow
Atlantic herring vessels to secure industry-funded monitoring services
from any of the approved providers during 2020-2021.
ADDRESSES: The list of NMFS-approved industry-funded monitoring service
providers is available at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/new-england-mid-atlantic/fisheries-observers/industry-funded-monitoring-northeast,
or by sending a written request to: 55 Great Republic Drive,
Gloucester, MA 01930, Attn: Maria Fenton.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maria Fenton, Fishery Management
Specialist, (978) 281-9196.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The New England Industry-Funded Monitoring (IFM) Omnibus Amendment
created an IFM program in the Atlantic herring fishery and set a 50-
percent monitoring coverage target on vessels issued an All Areas
(Category A) or Areas 2/3 (Category B) limited access Atlantic herring
permit. This 50-percent coverage target includes a combination of
Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology (SBRM) coverage and IFM
coverage. Prior to any trip declared into the herring fishery,
representatives for vessels issued Category A or B permits are required
to notify NMFS for monitoring coverage. If NMFS informs a vessel that a
trip is selected for IFM coverage, the vessel is required to obtain at-
sea monitoring coverage from a NMFS-approved service provider for that
trip. Midwater trawl vessels may also obtain an IFM observer coverage
in order to fish in a Groundfish Closed Area on a trip that was not
selected for SBRM or IFM coverage.
Some midwater trawl herring vessels may enroll in an Exempted
Fishing Permit (EFP) to use an electronic monitoring and portside
sampling program in lieu of carrying a human at-sea monitor to fulfill
the requirements of the IFM Amendment. If NMFS informs a vessel
participating in the EFP that a trip has been selected for IFM
coverage, that vessel would be required to obtain portside sampling
services for that trip. Vessels participating in the EFP could also
obtain portside sampling coverage in lieu of carrying an observer in
order to fish in a Groundfish Closed Area on a trip that was not
selected for SBRM or IFM coverage.
Monitoring Service Provider Approval Process
Monitoring coverage regulations at Sec. 648.11(h)(1) require that
any entities seeking to provide monitoring services, including services
for IFM programs, must apply for and obtain approval from NMFS. The
regulations at Sec. 648.11(h)(4) describe the criteria for evaluating
and approving a monitoring services provider application. NMFS approves
service providers based on: (1) Completeness of the applications; and
(2) determination of the applicant's ability to perform the duties and
responsibilities of a monitoring service provider, as demonstrated in
the application. Once approved, service providers must meet the
requirements, conditions, and responsibilities specified at Sec.
648.11(h)(5) and (6) in order to maintain eligibility. NMFS must notify
service providers, in writing, if approval is withdrawn for any reason.
Approved Industry-Funded Monitoring Service Providers
NMFS received complete applications from four companies to provide
IFM services to Atlantic herring vessels during IFM years 2020-2021:
Fathom Resources, LLC; A.I.S., Inc.; East West Technical Services LLC;
and Saltwater Inc. We approved all four companies to provide IFM
services to Atlantic herring vessels during IFM years 2020-2021 because
they have met the application requirements and demonstrated their
ability to perform the duties and responsibilities of a monitoring
service provider. Fathom Resources, LLC; A.I.S., Inc.; and East West
Technical Services LLC are currently approved to provide at-sea
monitoring services for the Northeast multispecies fishery and
industry-funded observer services for the Atlantic sea scallop fishery.
A.I.S. Inc. and Saltwater Inc. are currently permitted to provide
observer services for the North Pacific Observer Program. NMFS will
closely monitor the performance of approved providers and will be
prepared to withdraw approval during the current approval term, or
disapprove a future application to provide monitoring services, if it
is determined that monitoring provider requirements, conditions, and
responsibilities are not being met.
[[Page 20678]]
Table 1--Companies Approved To Provide IFM Services to Atlantic Herring Vessels During IFM Years 2020-2021
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Provider Approved IFM service(s) Address Phone Fax Website
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fathom Resources, LLC................ Industry-funded 855 Aquidneck Ave, Unit 508-990-0997 508-991-7372 www.fathomresources.com
observer, at-sea 9, Middletown, RI 02842. .
monitoring, portside
sampling.
A.I.S., Inc.......................... Industry-funded 540 Hawthorn St, North 508-990-9054 508-990-9055 www.aisobservers.com.
observer, at-sea Dartmouth, MA 02747.
monitoring, portside
sampling.
East West Technical Services LLC..... At-sea monitoring, PO Box 643864, Vero 860-910-4957 860-223-6005 www.ewts.com.
portside sampling. Beach, FL 32964.
Saltwater Inc........................ Portside sampling....... 733 N St, Anchorage, AK 907-276-3241 907-258-5999 www.saltwaterinc.com.
99501.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: April 9, 2020.
H[eacute]l[egrave]ne M.N. Scalliet,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-07859 Filed 4-13-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
