Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits

Citation85 FR 39886
Record Number2020-14306
Published date02 July 2020
SectionNotices
CourtNational Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register, Volume 85 Issue 128 (Thursday, July 2, 2020)
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 128 (Thursday, July 2, 2020)]
                [Notices]
                [Page 39886]
                From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
                [FR Doc No: 2020-14306]
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                DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
                National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
                [RTID 0648-XX061]
                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.
                -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable
                Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary
                determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit application contains all
                of the required information and warrants further consideration. The
                Exempted Fishing Permit would allow commercial fishing vessels to fish
                outside of scallop regulations in support of research conducted by the
                Coonamessett Farm Foundation. 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 Exempted Fishing Permits.
                DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 17, 2020.
                ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by email to
                [email protected]. Include in the subject line ``CFF Compensation
                Fishing Gear Research EFP.''
                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shannah Jaburek, Fisheries Management
                Specialist, 978-282-8456.
                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Coonamessett Farm Foundation (CFF) submitted
                a complete application for an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) on April
                28, 2020, that would allow gear research to be conducted by vessels on
                compensation fishing trips associated with projects funded by the 2020
                Scallop Research Set-Aside (RSA) Program. The exemptions would allow 20
                participating commercial fishing vessels to exceed the crew size
                regulations at 50 CFR 648.51(c) to place a researcher on the vessel and
                temporarily exempt the participating vessels from possession limits and
                minimum size requirements specified in 50 CFR part 648, subparts B and
                D through O, for biological sampling purposes. Any fishing activity
                conducted outside the scope of the exempted fishing activity would be
                prohibited, including landing fish in excess of a possession limit or
                below the minimum size.
                 Experimental fishing activity would test a one-way extended link
                dredge gear modification to reduce flatfish bycatch and catch of pre-
                recruit scallops in the scallop dredge fishery. Any modification would
                comply with existing scallop gear regulations. All trips would take
                place in scallop open access areas of southern New England and scallop
                fishing areas open to scallop RSA compensation fishing.
                 The exemption from crew size limits is needed because a research
                technician would accompany vessels on the compensation fishing trips to
                collect catch data associated with the dredge modifications. The crew
                size exemption would be for approximately 120 days-at-sea and must be
                used in conjunction with a valid compensation fishing letter of
                authorization. The technician would only engage in data collection
                activities and would not process catch to be landed for sale. Exemption
                from possession limit and minimum sizes would support catch sampling
                activities and ensure the vessel is not in conflict with possession
                regulations while collecting catch data. All catch above a possession
                limit or below a minimum size would be discarded as soon as possible
                following data collection. The proposed gear modifications are not
                expected to increase catch above typical commercial fishing practices
                and gears. All research trips would otherwise be consistent with normal
                commercial fishing activity and catch would be retained 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: June 29, 2020.
                H[eacute]l[egrave]ne M.N. Scalliet,
                Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
                Fisheries Service.
                [FR Doc. 2020-14306 Filed 7-1-20; 8:45 am]
                BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
                

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