[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 18, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8627-8628]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-03273]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XD710
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 five companies to provide at-sea monitoring
services to Northeast multispecies vessels in fishing year 2015.
Regulations implementing Amendment 16 to the Northeast Multispecies
Fishery Management Plan require third-party at-sea 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 at-sea monitoring services to sectors.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the list of NMFS-approved sector monitoring
service providers are available at http://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/sustainable/species/multispecies/ or by sending a written request to: 55 Great Republic
Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930, Attn: Brett Alger.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brett Alger, Fishery Management
Specialist, (978) 675-2153, fax (978) 281-9135, email
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Amendment 16 (75 FR 18262; April 9, 2010) to
the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP) expanded the
sector management program, including requirements to ensure accurate
monitoring of sector at-sea catch and dockside landings, and common
pool dockside landings. Framework Adjustment 48 to the FMP (Framework
48, 78 FR 26118, May 3, 2013) revised the goals and objectives for
sector monitoring programs.
Standards for Approving At-Sea Monitoring Service Providers
Regulations at 50 CFR 648.87(b)(4) describe the criteria for NMFS
approval of at-sea monitoring service providers. NMFS is approving
service providers for fishing year 2015 (beginning May 1, 2015) 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 fishing year 2014. NE multispecies sectors are required to
design and implement independent, third-party at-sea monitoring
programs in fishing year 2015, and are responsible for the costs of
these monitoring requirements, unless otherwise instructed by NMFS.
For fishing year 2014, NMFS approved A.I.S., Inc.; East West
Technical Services, LLC; MRAG Americas, Inc.; Fathom Research, LLC; and
ACD USA Ltd. as service providers based on the completeness of their
application, addressing the regulatory requirements (Sec.
648.87(b)(4)(i)), determination of ability, and performance during
previous fishing years. 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 fishing year if the service provider in question
ceases to meet the performance standards. NMFS must notify service
providers of disapproval in writing.
Approved Monitoring Service Providers
NMFS received complete applications from five companies interested
in providing at-sea monitoring services in fishing year 2015; these
were the same
[[Page 8628]]
five approved in fishing year 2014. The Regional Administrator has
approved the following service providers as eligible to provide at-sea
monitoring services in fishing year 2015 because they have met the
application requirements and applicable performance standards:
Table 1--Approved Fishing Year 2015 Providers
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Provider name Address Phone Fax Website
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ACD USA Ltd.................. 4 Parker St., 2nd 902-422-4745........ 902-422-9780........ www.atlanticcat
Floor, Gloucester, chdata.ca.
MA 01930.
A.I.S., Inc.................. 89 N. Water St., 508-990-9054........ 508-990-9055........ aisobservers.co
P.O. Box 2093, New m.
Bedford, MA 02741.
East West Technical Services, 86 Mumford Rd., 860-910-4957........ 860-223-6005........ www.ewts.com.
LLC. Narragansett, RI
02882.
Fathom Research, LLC......... 1213 Purchase St., 508-990-0997........ 508-991-7372........ www.fathomresea
New Bedford, MA rchllc.com.
02740.
MRAG Americas, Inc........... 65 Eastern Ave., 978-768-3880........ 978-768-3878........ www.mragamerica
Unit B2C, Essex, MA s.com.
01929.
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Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: February 12, 2015.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-03273 Filed 2-17-15; 8:45 am]
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