[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 30 (Wednesday, February 13, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10136-10137]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-03371]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XC398
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern
United States; Northeast Multispecies Fishery; Approved Monitoring
Service Providers
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice, approved monitoring service providers.
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SUMMARY: NMFS has approved four companies to provide dockside and/or
at-sea monitoring services to Northeast (NE) multispecies vessels in
fishing year (FY) 2013. Regulations implementing Amendment 16 to the NE
Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (Amendment 16) require third-party
monitoring service providers to apply to, and be approved by, NMFS in a
manner consistent with the Administrative Procedure Act in order to be
eligible to provide dockside and/or at-sea monitoring services to
sectors.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the list of NMFS-approved sector monitoring
service providers are available at http://www.nero.noaa.gov/sfd/sfdmultisector.html or by sending a written request to:
Fax: (978) 281-9135, Attn: Mark Grant.
Mail: 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930, Attn:
Mark Grant.
For service provider contact information, see the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section of this notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Grant, Sector Policy Analyst,
(978) 281-9145, fax (978) 281-9135, email [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Amendment 16 expanded the sector management
program, including adding a requirement to ensure accurate monitoring
of both sector at-sea catch and dockside landings, and common pool
dockside landings (75 FR 18262; April 9, 2010). Framework Adjustment 45
to the FMP (Framework 45, 76 FR 23042, April 25, 2011) revised several
dockside monitoring requirements.
Standards for Approving Sectors
Regulations at 50 CFR 648.87(b)(4) describe the criteria for NMFS
approval of interested at-sea and dockside service providers. Once
approved, providers must document having met performance requirements
in order to maintain eligibility (Sec. 648.87(b)(4)(ii)). NMFS can
disapprove any previously approved service provider during the FY if
the service provider in question ceases to meet the performance
standards. NMFS must notify service providers of disapproval in
writing.
NMFS first approved service providers for FY 2010, based upon the
completeness of their application addressing the regulatory
requirements (Sec. 648.87(b)(4)(i)), and a determination of the
applicant's ability to perform the duties and responsibilities of a
monitoring service provider. In FY 2011, NMFS approved service
providers based on completeness of applications, determination of
ability, and performance during FY 2010. NMFS did not approve any
providers for FY 2012 because there was no dockside monitoring
requirement and at-sea monitoring was provided solely by NMFS.
NMFS is approving service providers for FY 2013 (beginning May 1,
2013) based on: (1) Completeness of applications; (2) determination of
the applicant's ability to perform the duties and responsibilities of a
sector monitoring service provider; and (3) performance as NMFS-funded
providers in FY 2012.
NE multispecies sectors are required to design and implement
independent, third-party at-sea monitoring in FY 2013, and are
responsible for the costs of these monitoring requirements, unless
otherwise instructed by NMFS. The regulations currently require the NE
multispecies fishery to hire and pay for dockside monitoring in FY
2013. In December 2012, the New England Fishery Management Council
approved measures to modify the at-sea
[[Page 10137]]
monitoring program and eliminate the requirement for dockside
monitoring for both sector and common pool vessels. As this measure has
not yet been approved, and a sector may elect to retain dockside
monitoring through its operations plan, NMFS is also approving dockside
monitoring service providers.
Approved Monitoring Service Providers
NMFS received complete applications from three service providers
intending to provide dockside and/or at-sea monitoring services, and
one service provider intending to provide only at-sea monitoring
services. All four applicants were previously approved and provided
dockside and/or at-sea monitoring services to sectors. The Regional
Administrator has approved the following service providers as eligible
to provide dockside monitoring and/or at-sea monitoring services in FY
2013:
Table 1--Approved FY 2013 Providers
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At-Sea Dockside
Provider name monitoring monitoring Address Phone Fax Web site
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A.I.S., Inc........................ X X 89 North Water Street, New (508) 990-9054............. (508) 990-9055............. www.aisobservers.com
Bedford, MA 02747.
MRAG Americas...................... X X 65 Eastern Ave., Unit B2C, (978) 768-3880............. (978) 768-3878............. www.mragamericas.com
Essex, MA 01929.
Atlantic Catch Data Ltd............ X X 99 Wyse Road, Suite 815, (902) 422-4745............. (902) 422-9780............. www.atlanticcatchdata.ca
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia,
CANADA B3A 4S5.
East West Technical Services, LLC.. ............ X 34 Batterson Drive, New (860) 223-5165............. (860) 223-6005............. www.ewts.com
Britain, CT 06053.
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Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: February 8, 2013.
Kara Meckley,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-03371 Filed 2-12-13; 8:45 am]
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