[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 138 (Friday, July 18, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41987-41988]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-16993]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XD343
Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management 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: We are considering issuing an Exempted Fishing Permit to allow
the Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation to continue to explore the
use of several data recording devices in an industry-based study that
would effectively relay more accurate, detailed, and timely American
lobster data to fisheries managers and scientists. The Commercial
Fisheries Research Foundation is also proposing to use vent-less traps
in order to determine the abundance and distribution of juvenile
American lobsters in Lobster Management Areas 2 and 3.
The Exempted Fishing Permit renewal application is complete and
further consideration of the application is warranted per Sec.
600.745, and the activities authorized under the Exempted Fishing
Permit would be consistent with the goals and objectives of the
Interstate Fisheries Management
[[Page 41988]]
Plan for American lobster. 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 August 4, 2014.
ADDRESSES: Comments on this notice may be submitted by email. The
mailbox address for providing email comments is [email protected].
Include in the subject line ``Comments on CFRF Lobster EFP.''
Written comments should be sent to: John K. Bullard, Regional
Administrator, NMFS, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, 55
Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of the
envelope ``Comments on CFRF Lobster EFP.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maria Jacob, Environmental Technician,
978-281-9180.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation
(CFRF) submitted a complete application for a 1-year renewal to an
existing Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) on May 15, 2014. To conduct its
research on the abundance and distribution of juvenile American lobster
in Lobster Management Areas (LMAs) 2 and 3, the CFRF is requesting
exemptions from the following Federal lobster regulations: (1) Gear
specifications to allow for closed escape vents, as prohibited in Sec.
697.21(c); (2) trap limits to be exceeded by 3 additional traps per
fishing vessel, for a total of 36 additional traps, as prohibited in
Sec. 697.19(a)(2) for LMA 2, and Sec. 697.19(b)(5) for LMA 3; and (3)
trap tag requirements, as specified in Sec. 697.19(f). This study
would utilize 12 Federal commercial fishing vessels; 6 vessels in each
of the 2 management areas. One additional vessel would operate as an
alternate vessel, so there would only be 12 active vessels at any given
time. Sampling would take place in the following statistical areas: 464
(Area 3 region); 512 (Area 3 region); 515; 525; 526; 537; 538; 539;
561; 562; and 616.
Funding for this study will be provided through NOAA grant
NA09NMF4720414, as part of the Southern New England Collaborative
Research Initiative Program (SNECRI). One of the main objectives of the
SNECRI is to improve collection and management of fishery-dependent
data. This study would attempt to achieve this goal.
The study would take place during regular fishing activity, and
sampling would take place on each vessel in Area 2 once per week during
scheduled fishing trips, and once every 10 days in Area 3 during
scheduled fishing trips. If an EFP is granted, there would be an
additional 36 modified traps in the water during any given time, for a
period of one year. Each participating vessel would have up to three
modified traps attached to a regular trap trawl, to be hauled every 6
to 9 days. The addition of 36 modified traps would increase the total
number of traps in the fishery by 0.003 percent.
Modifications to a conventional lobster trap would include a closed
escape vent, single parlor, smaller mesh size, and smaller entrance
head. These modified traps would be attached to one, two, or three
randomly selected trap trawl(s) during regular fishing operations.
Lobsters retrieved from these modified traps would remain onboard for a
short period of time to allow for sampling, after which they would be
returned to the water.
Biological information will be collected on both kept and discarded
lobsters, including: Carapace length; sexual determination; and
presence of eggs, v-notches, and shell disease. For every trap trawl
hauled during a designated sampling trip, commercial fishermen would be
expected to sample 100 lobsters, or 20 traps if there are less than 100
lobsters to sample in a randomly chosen trap trawl. This study would
use several recording devices, including onboard electronic calipers
for length measurements, video cameras, and waterproof tablets. Data
will be recorded using waterproof tablets, and the information will be
uploaded using wireless internet connection once the vessel returns to
port.
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: July 15, 2014.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-16993 Filed 7-17-14; 8:45 am]
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