```

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 151 (Monday, August 6, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38294-38295]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-16771]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG384

Magnuson-Stevens 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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Acting Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable 
Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary 
determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit application contains all 
of the required information and warrants further consideration. The 
Exempted Fishing Permit would allow commercial fishing vessels to fish 
outside of scallop regulations in support of research conducted by the 
Coonamessett Farm Foundation. These exemptions would support research 
conducted on trips to test gear modifications for bycatch reduction in 
the scallop dredge fishery.
    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 21, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by any of the following 
methods:
     Email: [email protected]. Include in the subject line 
``CFF Compensation Fishing Gear Research EFP.''
     Mail: Michael Pentony, Regional Administrator, NMFS, 
Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, 
Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope ``Comments on 
CFF Compensation Fishing Gear Research EFP.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shannah Jaburek, Fisheries Management 
Specialist, 978-282-8456.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Coonamessett Farm Foundation (CFF) submitted 
a complete application for an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) on July 6, 
2018, that would allow gear research to be conducted by vessels on 
compensation fishing trips associated with projects funded by the 2018 
Scallop Research Set-Aside (RSA) program. The exemptions would allow 
commercial fishing vessels to exceed the crew size regulations at 50 
CFR 648.51(c) to place a researcher on the vessel and temporarily 
exempt the participating vessels from possession limits and minimum 
size requirements specified in 50 CFR part 648, subpart B and subparts 
D through O, for biological sampling purposes. Any fishing activity 
conducted outside the scope of the exempted fishing activity would be 
prohibited, including landing fish in excess of a possession limit or 
below the minimum size.
    Experimental fishing activity would test a one-way extended link 
gear

[[Page 38295]]

modification in an attempt to reduce finfish bycatch and habitat impact 
in the scallop dredge fishery. Any modification would comply with 
existing scallop gear regulations. All trips would take place in 
scallop fishing areas open to scallop RSA compensation fishing.
    Exemption from crew size limits is needed because a research 
technician would accompany vessels on the compensation fishing trips to 
collect catch data associated with the dredge modifications. The crew 
size exemption would be for approximately 120 days-at-sea and would be 
used in conjunction with a valid compensation fishing letter of 
authorization. The technician would only engage in data collection 
activities, and would not process catch to be landed for sale. 
Exemption from possession limit and minimum sizes would support catch 
sampling activities, and ensure the vessel is not in conflict with 
possession regulations while collecting catch data. All catch above a 
possession limit or below a minimum size would be discarded as soon as 
possible following data collection. Estimated catch totals for the 
experimental permit activities are listed below in Table 1. The 
proposed gear modifications are not expected to increase catch above 
typical commercial fishing practices and gears. All research trips 
would otherwise be consistent with normal commercial fishing activity 
and catch would be retained for sale.

        Table 1--Estimated Bycatch for CFF EFP Compensation Trips
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Weight   Weight
                   Species                      Number    (lb)     (kg)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NE Skate Complex.............................   19,326   10,051    4,559
Barndoor Skate...............................    1,231       14        6
Summer Flounder..............................      747    2,951    1,339
Winter Flounder..............................       14        2        1
Yellowtail Flounder..........................       36       10        5
Windowpane Flounder..........................      106       39       18
Monkfish.....................................    2,973    4,689    2,127
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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: August 1, 2018.
Margo B. Schulze-Haugen,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-16771 Filed 8-3-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
```