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 Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RTID 0648-XA619]
 AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
 ACTION: Notice of intent; request for comments.
 SUMMARY: NMFS announces its intent to issue exempted fishing permits (EFPs), scientific research permits (SRPs), display permits, letters of acknowledgment (LOAs), and shark research fishery permits for Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) in 2021. EFPs and related permits would authorize collection of a limited number of Atlantic HMS, including tunas, swordfish, billfishes, and sharks, from Federal waters in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico for the purposes of scientific research, data collection, the investigation of bycatch, and public display, among other things. LOAs acknowledge that scientific research activity aboard a scientific research vessel is being conducted. Generally, EFPs and related permits would be valid from the date of issuance through December 31, 2021, unless otherwise specified in the permit, subject to the terms and conditions of individual permits.
 DATES: Written comments received in response to this notice will be considered by NMFS when issuing EFPs and related permits, and must be received on or before 
                        *December 28, 2020.*
 ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted electronically via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to 
                        *www.regulations.gov/​#!docketDetail;​D=​NOAA-NMFS-2020-0145,*
                         click the “Comment Now” icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Craig Cockrell, phone: (301) 427-8503, email: 
                        *craig.cockrell@noaa.gov.*


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS issues EFPs and related permits where Atlantic HMS regulations (
                    *e.g.,*
                     fishing seasons, prohibited species, authorized gear, closed areas, and minimum sizes) may otherwise prohibit the collection of live animals and/or biological samples for data collection and public display purposes or may otherwise prohibit certain fishing activities that NMFS has an interest in permitting or acknowledging. Pursuant to 50 CFR parts 600 and 635, NMFS Regional Administrator or Director may authorize, for limited testing, public display, data collection, exploratory fishing, compensation fishing, conservation engineering, health and safety surveys, environmental cleanup, and/or hazard removal purposes, the target or incidental harvest of species managed under a fishery management plan (FMP) or fishery regulations that would otherwise be prohibited. These permits exempt permit holders from the specific portions of the regulations that may otherwise prohibit the collection of Atlantic HMS for public education, public display, or scientific research. Collection of Atlantic HMS under EFPs, SRPs, display permits, and shark research fishery permits represents a small portion of the overall fishing mortality for Atlantic HMS, and this mortality is counted against the relevant quota, as appropriate and applicable. The terms and conditions of individual permits are unique; however, all permits will include reporting requirements, limit the number and/or species of Atlantic HMS to be collected, and only authorize collection in Federal waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea. EFPs and related permits are issued under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) (16 U.S.C. 1801 
                    *et seq.*) and/or the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA) (16 U.S.C. 971 
                    *et seq.*). Regulations at 50 CFR 600.745 and 635.32 govern specifically authorized activities, including scientific research activity, exempted fishing, and exempted public display and educational activities with respect to Atlantic HMS. The Magnuson-Stevens Act exempts scientific research conducted by a scientific research vessel from the definition of “fishing.” NMFS issues LOAs acknowledging such bona fide research activities involving species that are only regulated under the Magnuson-Stevens Act (
                    *e.g.,*
                     most species of sharks) and not under ATCA. NMFS generally does not consider recreational or commercial vessels to be bona fide research vessels. However, if the vessels have been contracted only to conduct research and not participate in any commercial or recreational fishing activities during that research, NMFS may consider those vessels as bona fide research platforms while conducting the specified research. For example, in the past, NMFS has determined that commercial pelagic longline vessels assisting with population surveys for sharks may be considered “bona fide research vessels” while engaged only in the specified research. For such activities, NMFS reviews scientific research plans and may issue an LOA acknowledging that the proposed activity is scientific research for purposes of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Examples of research acknowledged by LOAs include tagging and releasing sharks during bottom longline surveys to understand the distribution and seasonal abundance of different shark species, and collecting and sampling sharks caught during trawl surveys for life history and bycatch studies. While scientific research is not defined as “fishing” subject to the MSA, scientific research is not exempt from regulation under ATCA. Therefore, NMFS issues SRPs that authorize researchers to collect HMS from bona fide research vessels for collection of species managed under this statute (
                    *e.g.,*
                     tunas, swordfish, and billfish). One example of research conducted under SRPs consists of scientific surveys of tunas, swordfish, and billfish conducted from NOAA research vessels. EFPs are issued for activities conducted from commercial or recreational fishing vessels. Examples of activities conducted under EFPs include collection of young-of-the-year bluefin tuna for genetic research from recreational fishing vessels; conducting billfish larval tows from private vessels to determine billfish habitat use, life history, and population structure; and tagging sharks caught on commercial or recreational fishing gear to determine post-release mortality rates. NMFS also intends to issue display permits for the collection of sharks and other HMS for public display in 2021. Collection of sharks and other HMS sought for public display in aquaria often involves collection when the commercial fishing seasons are closed, collection of otherwise prohibited species (
                    *e.g.,*
                     sand tiger sharks), and collection of fish below the regulatory minimum size. Under Amendment 2 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic HMS FMP, NMFS determined that dusky sharks cannot be collected for public display. The majority of EFPs and related permits described in this annual notice relate to scientific sampling and tagging of Atlantic HMS within existing quotas, and the impacts of the activities to be conducted usually have been previously analyzed in various environmental assessments and environmental impact statements for Atlantic HMS management. In most such cases, NMFS intends to issue these permits without additional opportunity for public comment beyond what is provided in this notice. Occasionally, NMFS receives applications for research activities that were not anticipated, or for research that is outside the scope of general scientific sampling and tagging of Atlantic HMS, or rarely, for research that is particularly controversial. Should NMFS receive such applications, NMFS will provide additional opportunity for public comment, consistent with the regulations at 50 CFR 600.745. On December 4, 2019, NMFS received an application for an EFP requesting an exemption from the regulations that prohibit the retention of bluefin tuna with unauthorized gear onboard. See 50 CFR 635.19(b). This application was submitted by the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen's Alliance (CCCFA). The applicants suggested that, with the use of electronic monitoring and through issuance of an EFP, there would be sufficient at-sea monitoring to verify that the catch of bluefin tuna occurred with authorized gear (
                    *i.e.,*
                     rod and reel and harpoon gear) and not with the unauthorized gear onboard the vessel (
                    *i.e.,*
                     benthic longline, jigging machines, handgear, demersal gillnet, or otter trawl). An EFP was issued to the CCCFA on April 28, 2020 that exempted 10 vessels from regulations at 50 CFR 635.19(b). Since issuance of the permit, nine trips have been taken from July through August in New England, four bluefin tuna were retained, and four bluefin tuna were lost at the boat. Harpoon gear was not used for any of the nine trips. There were no shark interactions that occurred during fishing activities in 2020. Comments are invited specifically on these issues related to potential issuance of a similar permit to the CCCFA in 2021. In addition, this notice invites comments on the shark research fishery 
                    ( print page 76032)
                    first implemented through Amendment 2 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic HMS FMP. This research fishery is conducted under the auspices of the EFP program. Shark research fishery permit holders assist NMFS in collecting valuable shark life history and other scientific data required in shark stock assessments. Since the shark research fishery was established in 2008, the research fishery has allowed for: The collection of fishery dependent data for current and future stock assessments; the operation of cooperative research to meet NMFS' ongoing research objectives; the collection of updated life-history information used in the sandbar shark (and other species) stock assessment; the collection of data on habitat preferences that might help reduce fishery interactions through bycatch mitigation; the evaluation of the utility of the mid-Atlantic closed area on the recovery of dusky sharks; the collection of hook-timer and pop-up satellite archival tag information to determine at-vessel and post-release mortality of dusky sharks; and the collection of sharks to update the weight conversion factor from dressed weight to whole weight. In 2021, NMFS intends to examine the feasibility of using electronic monitoring to accurately measure soak times of bottom longline sets. Fishermen who wish to participate must fill out an application for a shark research fishery permit under the EFP program. Shark research fishery participants are subject to 100-percent observer coverage. In recent years, all non-prohibited shark species brought back to the vessel dead have been required to be retained and were counted against the appropriate quotas of the shark research fishery participant. Additionally, in recent years, all participants of the shark research fishery were limited to a very small number of dusky shark mortalities on a regional basis. Once the designated number of dusky shark mortalities occurs in a specific region, certain terms and conditions are applied (
                    *e.g.,*
                     soak time limits). If subsequent interactions occur in the region all shark research fishery activities must stop within that region. Participants would continue to be limited in the number of sets allowed on each trip and the number of hooks allowed on each set. All participants are also limited to a maximum of 500 hooks onboard the vessel while on a shark research fishery trip. A 
                    **Federal Register**
                     notice describing the specific objectives for the shark research fishery in 2021 and requesting applications from interested and eligible shark fishermen is expected to publish in the near future. NMFS requests public comment regarding NMFS' intent to issue shark research fishery permits in 2021 during the comment period of this notice. The number of specimens that have been authorized thus far under EFPs and other related permits for 2020, as well as the number of specimens collected in 2019, is summarized in Table 1. The total amount of collections in 2019 were within the analyzed quotas for all quota managed Atlantic HMS species. The number of specimens collected in 2020 will be available when all 2020 interim and annual reports are submitted to NMFS. In all cases, mortalities associated with EFPs, SRPs, or display permits (except for larvae) are counted against the appropriate quota. NMFS issued a total of 40 EFPs, SRPs, display permits, and LOAs in 2019 for the collection of HMS and 5 shark research fishery permits. As of October 20, 2020, NMFS has issued a total of 31 EFPs, SRPs, display permits, and LOAs and 8 shark research fishery permits. Table 1—Summary of HMS Exempted Fishing Permits Issued in 2019 and 2020, Other Than Shark Research Fishery Permits
[“HMS” refers to multiple species being collected under a given permit type]
Permit type
2019
2020Permits issued**
Authorized
                             fish 
                             (num) **
Fish kept/
                             discarded 
                             dead 
                             (num)
Permits
                             issued **
Authorized
                             fish 
                             (num) **EFPHMS
7
120
0
10
550Shark
4
20
6
3
0Tuna
2
750
0
2
750SRPHMS
                             Shark
4
                             1
549
                             486
0
                             145
1
                             2
50
                             1,325DisplayHMS
2
82
0
2
82Shark
5
193
56
6
321Total
25
2,200
716
28
3,078LOA *Shark
15
0
839
5
0* LOAs acknowledge, but do not authorize, scientific research activity. Thus, the number of sharks in the authorized fish column are in part estimates of harvest under LOAs. LOA holders are either required or encouraged to report all fishing activities in a timely manner.** Some shark EFPs, SRPs, and LOAs were issued for the purposes of tagging and the opportunistic sampling of sharks and were not expected to result in large amounts of mortality, thus no limits on sampling were set. Some mortality may occur throughout 2020, and will be accounted for under the 60 metric ton shark research and display quota.
 Final decisions on the issuance of any EFPs, SRPs, display permits, and shark research fishery permits will depend on the submission of all required information about the proposed activities, NMFS' review of public comments received on this notice, an applicant's reporting history on past permits, if vessels or applicants were issued any prior violations of marine resource laws administered by NOAA, consistency with relevant National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents, and any consultations with appropriate Regional Fishery 
                    ( print page 76033)
                    Management Councils, states, or Federal agencies. NMFS does not anticipate any significant environmental impacts from the issuance of these EFPs, consistent with the assessment of such activities within the environmental impacts analyses in existing HMS actions, including the 1999 FMP, the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic HMS FMP and its amendments, Amendment 2 to the Consolidated Atlantic HMS FMP, the Environmental Assessment for the 2012 Swordfish Specifications, and the Environmental Assessment for the 2015 Final Bluefin Tuna Quota and Atlantic Tuna Fisheries Management Measures. (Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 
                        *et seq.*
                         and 16 U.S.C. 1801 
                        *et seq.*) Dated: November 23, 2020. Jennifer M. Wallace, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.


[FR Doc. 2020-26193 Filed 11-25-20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P