16616 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 57 / Thursday, March 24, 2011 / Notices 

NEFSC STUDY FLEET PROGRAM EFP—Continued 

Number of vessels 24 

Possession Possession for at-sea sampling plus limited landing 

§ 648.231 Spiny dogfish closure. 

§ 648.235 Spiny dogfish possession and landing restrictions. 

The following descriptions detail the 

NEFSC Study Fleet Program’s Sampling 

Needs: 

Haddock—whole fish would be 

retained for maturity and fecundity 

research. The haddock retained would 

not exceed 30 fish per trip, or 360 fish 

for all trips. The maximum weight of 

haddock on any trip would not exceed 

120 lb (54.43 kg) total weight per trip, 

and would not exceed 1,440 lb (653.17 

kg) for all trips combined. 

Yellowtail Flounder—whole fish 

would be retained for maturity, 

fecundity, bioelectrical impedance 

analysis (BIA), food habits, and genetic 

research. The yellowtail flounder 

retained would not exceed 60 fish per 

month from each of the three stock areas 

(Gulf of Maine (GOM), Georges Bank 

(GB), Southern New England/MidAtlantic (SNE/MA)), or 1,800 fish total 

from each stock area for all trips. The 

maximum weight on any trip would not 

exceed 50 lb (22.70 kg) total weight, and 

would not exceed 1,500 lb (680.39 kg) 

for all trips combined. 

Summer Flounder—whole fish would 

be retained for maturity, fecundity, BIA, 

food habits, and genetic research. The 

summer flounder retained would not 

exceed 60 fish per month from each of 

the three stock areas (GOM, GB, SNE/ 

MA), or 1,800 fish total from each stock 

area for all trips. The maximum weight 

on any trip would not exceed 100 lb 

(45.36 kg) total weight, and would not 

exceed 3,000 lb (1,360.78 kg) for all trips 

combined. 

Winter Flounder—whole fish would 

be retained for maturity, fecundity, BIA, 

food habits, and genetic research. The 

winter flounder retained would not 

exceed 60 fish per month from each of 

the three stock areas (GOM, GB, SNE/ 

MA), or 1,800 fish total from each stock 

area for all trips. The maximum weight 

on any trip would not exceed 75 lb 

(34.02 kg) total weight, and would not 

exceed 2,250 lb (1,020.58 kg) for all trips 

combined. 

Spiny Dogfish—Whole fish would be 

retained for reproductive biology 

research. The spiny dogfish retained 

would not exceed 50 fish per month 

from each of the two stock areas (GOM, 

SNE/MA), or 1,200 fish total for all 

trips. The maximum weight on any trip 

would not exceed 390 lb (176.9 kg), and 

would not exceed 9,360 lb (4,245.62 kg) 

total for all trips. Monkfish—whole fish would be 

retained for maturity and fecundity 

research. Monkfish retained would not 

exceed 10 fish per trip, or 120 fish total 

for all trips. The maximum weight on 

any trip would not exceed 100 lb (45.36 

kg) total weight, and would not exceed 

1,200 lb (544.31 kg) for all trips 

combined. 

Cod—whole fish would be retained 

for tagging demonstrations and 

educational purposes. Cod to be 

retained would not exceed 15 fish per 

trip, or 60 cod for all trips. The 

maximum weight on any trip would not 

exceed 150 lb (68.04 kg) total weight, 

and would not exceed 600 lb (272.16 kg) 

for all trips combined. Barndoor Skate—whole and, in some 

cases, live skates would be retained for 

age and growth research and species 

confirmation. The barndoor skates 

retained would not exceed 20 fish per 

trip, or 80 skates total for all trips. The 

maximum weight on any trip would not 

exceed 75 lb (34.02 kg) total weight, and 

would not exceed 300 lb (136.08 kg) 

total for all trips combined. Thorny Skate—whole and, in some 

cases, live skates would be retained for 

age and growth research and species 

confirmation. Thorny skates retained 

would not exceed 20 fish per trip, or 80 

skates total for all trips. The maximum 

weight on any trip would not exceed 75 

lb (34.02 kg) whole weight, and would 

not exceed 300 lb (136.08 kg) total for 

all trips combined. Black Sea Bass—whole fish would be 

retained for examination of seasonal and 

latitudinal patterns in energy allocation. 

This effort is in support of an ongoing 

study at the NEFSC to evaluate BIA to 

measure fish energy density and 

reproductive potential for stock 

assessment. Black sea bass retained 

would not exceed 75 fish per trip or 300 

black sea bass total for all trips. The 

maximum weight on any trip would not 

exceed 250 lb (113.40 kg) total weight, 

and would not exceed 1,000 lb (453.59 

kg) total for all trips combined. 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 impact 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: March 18, 2011. 

Margo Schulze-Haugen, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2011–7018 Filed 3–23–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

RIN 0648–BA89 

Identification of Nations Whose 

Fishing Vessels Are Engaged in 

Fishing in Waters Beyond Any National 

Jurisdiction That Target or Incidentally 

Catch Sharks 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice and request for 

information. 

SUMMARY: NMFS is seeking information 

regarding nations whose vessels are 

engaged in fishing in waters beyond any 

national jurisdiction that target or 

incidentally catch sharks. Such 

information will be reviewed for the 

purposes of the identification of nations 

pursuant to the High Seas Driftnet 

Fishing Moratorium Protection Act 

(Moratorium Protection Act). 

DATES: Information should be received 

on or before August 1, 2011, but will be 

accepted up to December 1, 2011. 

ADDRESSES: Information should be 

submitted to NMFS Office of 

International Affairs, Attn.: MSRA 

Shark Information, 1315 East-West 

Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. 

E-mail address: SHARK.INFO@noaa.gov 

or fax (301) 713–9106. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

NMFS Office of International Affairs, 


emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 57 / Thursday, March 24, 2011 / Notices 16617 

or Cheri McCarty (ph. 301–713–9090). 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Shark 

Conservation Act of 2010 (S.850) 

amended the Moratorium Protection Act 

(16 U.S.C.1826d–k) to require actions be 

taken by the United States to strengthen 

shark conservation. Specifically, these 

amendments to the Moratorium 

Protection Act require the Secretary of 

Commerce to identify nations whose 

fishing vessels are engaged, or have 

been engaged during the preceding 

calendar year, in fishing activities or 

practices in waters beyond any national 

jurisdiction that target or incidentally 

catch sharks and the nation has not 

adopted a regulatory program to provide 

for the conservation of sharks, including 

measures to prohibit removal of any of 

the fins of a shark (including the tail) 

and discarding the carcass of the shark 

at sea, that is comparable to that of the 

United States, taking into account 

different conditions. The Secretary is 

required to begin making identifications 

not later than January 4, 2012. 

The Moratorium Protection Act also 

requires the Secretary of Commerce to 

certify whether each nation identified 

has taken the following steps to warrant 

receipt of a positive certification: 

Provided documentary evidence of 

adoption of a regulatory program that is 

comparable to that of the United States, 

taking into account different conditions 

and established a management plan 

containing requirements that will assist 

in gathering species-specific data. If a 

nation does not receive a positive 

certification by the Secretary of 

Commerce, it could be subject to 

sanctions under the High Seas Driftnet 

Fisheries Enforcement Act (Enforcement 

Act) (16 U.S.C. 1826a). 

In fulfillment of its requirements 

under the Moratorium Protection Act, 

NMFS is in the process of collecting and 

analyzing information on nations whose 

vessels target or incidentally catch 

sharks in waters beyond any national 

jurisdiction in anticipation of making 

identifications by January 4, 2012. 

NMFS is soliciting information from the 

public that could assist in its 

identification of nations engaged in 

such activities. Information that may 

prove useful to NMFS includes: 

• Documentation (photographs, etc.) 

of fishing vessels engaged in targeted or 

incidental catch of sharks on the high 

seas; 

• Fishing vessel records; 

• Trade data supporting evidence that 

a nation’s vessels are engaged in shark 

catch; 

• Reports from off-loading facilities, 

port-side government officials, 

enforcement agents, military personnel, 

port inspectors, transshipment vessel 

workers and fish importers; 

• RFMO catch documents and 

statistical document programs, as 

appropriate; 

• Nation’s domestic regulations for 

shark conservation and management; 

and 

• Reports from governments, 

international organizations, or 

nongovernmental organizations. 

NMFS will consider all available 

information, as appropriate, when 

making a determination whether or not 

to identify a particular nation whose 

fishing vessels are engaged, or have 

been engaged during the preceding 

calendar year, in fishing activities or 

practices in waters beyond any national 

jurisdiction that target or incidentally 

catch sharks and the nation has not 

adopted a regulatory program to provide 

for the conservation of sharks, including 

measures to prohibit removal of any of 

the fins of a shark (including the tail) 

and discarding the carcass of the shark 

at sea, that is comparable to that of the 

United States, taking into account 

different conditions. NMFS is interested 

in information on shark fishing activity 

during calendar year 2011. Information 

should be as specific as possible to 

assist NMFS in its review. 

NMFS will consider several criteria 

when determining whether information 

is appropriate for use in making 

identifications, including but not 

limited to: 

• Corroboration of information; 

• Whether multiple sources have 

been able to provide information in 

support of an identification; 

• The methodology used to collect 

the information; 

• Specificity of the information 

provided; 

• Susceptibility of the information to 

falsification and alteration; and 

• Credibility of the individuals or 

organization providing the information. 

On January 12, 2011, NMFS 

published a final rule to implement both 

the identification and certification 

procedures for nations whose vessels 

were engaged in illegal, unreported, or 

unregulated (IUU) fishing or bycatch of 

protected living marine resources. 

NMFS plans to publish a proposed rule 

to establish the identification and 

certification procedures for nations 

whose fishing vessels are engaged in 

fishing activities or practices in waters 

beyond any national jurisdiction that 

target or incidentally catch sharks if the 

nation has not adopted a regulatory 

program for the conservation of sharks 

that is comparable to that of the United 

States, taking into account different 

conditions. 

Dated: March 21, 2011. 

Rebecca Lent, 

Director, Office of International Affairs, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2011–6980 Filed 3–21–11; 4:15 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

RIN 0648–XA315 

Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management 

Council (MAFMC); Meetings 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of public meeting. 

SUMMARY: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery 

Management Council (Council) and its 

Ecosystems and Ocean Planning 

Committee, its Squid, Mackerel, and 

Butterfish Committee, its Spiny Dogfish 

Committee, and its Executive 

Committee will hold public meetings. 

DATES: Tuesday, April 12, 2011 through 

Thursday, April 14, 2011. On Tuesday, 

April 12—The Ecosystems and Ocean 

Planning Committee will meet from 2 

p.m. until 5 p.m. On Wednesday, April 

13—The Squid, Mackerel, and 

Butterfish Committee will meet from 

8:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. From 11 a.m. 

until 12 p.m. there will be a Squid 

Trawl Proposed Rule Highly Migratory 

Species (HMS) Presentation. From 1 

p.m. to 3 p.m. there will be a 

continuation of the Squid, Mackerel, 

and Butterfish Committee. The Spiny 

Dogfish Committee will meet from 3 

p.m. until 5 p.m. There will be a Public 

Listening Session from 5 p.m. until 6 

p.m. On Thursday, April 14—The 

Executive Committee will meet from 8 

a.m. until 9 a.m. The Council will 

convene at 9 a.m. A 3–Year 

Standardized Bycatch Reporting 

Methodology Report (SBRM) will be 

from 9 a.m. until 10 a.m. There will be 

a Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 

Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) 

Presentation from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. 

From 11 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. the 

Council will receive an Update on 

Amendment 6 to the Monkfish Fishery 

Management Plan (FMP). The Council 

will hold its regular Business Session 

from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. to 

approve the February 2011 minutes, 

receive Organizational Reports, the 

South Atlantic Liaison Report, the 


emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES