Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 219 / Wednesday, November 13, 2024 / Notices 89617 

622.514(a)(2)) for data collection. A 

maximum of 120 red hind would be 

harvested under the EFP. The applicant 

is seeking to gather life history 

information (e.g., age, growth, 

reproduction) that could be used in 

future stock assessments for red hind, 

which provide guidance and 

management recommendations specific 

to this species for NMFS, the Caribbean 

Fishery Management Council, and the 

U.S. Virgin Islands’ Department of Fish 

and Wildlife. 

The applicant was awarded funding 

through the Cooperative Research 

Program to complete critical gaps in red 

hind population demographics and life 

history in preparation for upcoming 

stock assessments in the U.S. Caribbean. 

In addition to collecting life history 

information for the species, the project 

aims to evaluate current Federal area 

and seasonal closures that protect red 

hind spawning aggregations through 

replication of previous sampling 

collections and analysis of temporal 

trends related to size-at-age, sex ratios, 

and size and age frequency distributions 

for red hind during spawning events. By 

targeting red hind spawning 

aggregations, the applicant will be better 

able to collect data that currently is not 

readily available on larger sized fish. 

Data collected from this project would 

be made available for use in future stock 

assessments for red hind in St. Croix 

and St. Thomas and St. John, which are 

tentatively scheduled for late 2025 and 

2026. 

Red hind would be collected by 

researchers and commercial fishermen 

aboard contracted commercial fishing 

vessels. If granted, the EFP would 

exempt project participants from area 

and seasonal closure regulations 

codified at 50 CFR 622.479(a)(2) (St. 

Croix) and 50 CFR 622.514(a)(2) (St. 

Thomas and St. John), as identified and 

described below. Pending issuance, the 

EFP would be expected to be effective 

from December 1, 2024, through March 

1, 2025. The EFP would only apply to 

the captains and vessels that are 

selected to be a part of the project. 

Therefore, Fish/Fisheries Conservation 

Lab at the University of South Carolina 

would be able to account for and 

provide NMFS with a list of participants 

(e.g., state license, registration of each 

vessel and vessel name during 

designated fishing trips, name of 

participants and contact information, 

etc.) to be covered under the EFP before 

the project begins. 

Activities under the EFP would 

consist of harvesting 60 red hind from 

the Lang Bank site east of St. Croix 

during the 4 days around the full moon 

for the months of January 2025 and 

February 2025, and 60 red hind from the 

MCD site south of St. Thomas during 

the 4 days around the full moon for the 

months of December 2024 and January 

2025. During each sampling event (i.e., 

fishing day), commercial fishermen 

would use a maximum of four fishing 

rods, each with up to three hooks. All 

activities (a maximum of 16 fishing 

days) would occur in Federal waters, 

from depths of 82 to 246 feet (25 to 75 

meters), while adrift (i.e., no anchoring 

would occur). Once the 60 red hind are 

obtained from each site, fishing 

activities would end. 

The applicant would only target red 

hind. All other catch would be returned 

to the water using a descending device, 

if necessary, to ensure minimum harm. 

A total of 120 red hind would be 

retained under the EFP. Samples would 

be stored on ice and transported to a 

field lab. For each sample, the 

applicants would record standard 

length, fork length, and total length (to 

the nearest millimeter) and weight (to 

the nearest gram). Otoliths would be 

removed, rinsed, and stored for further 

processing. Gonads would be removed, 

weighed, and preserved. Eyes, muscle, 

stomachs, and fin clips would be 

collected and archived for future 

research on trophic ecology and 

population genomics. 

Under the EFP, the applicant would 

be exempt from the closure regulations 

and allowed to fish for and harvest red 

hind in or from the (1) red hind 

spawning aggregation area east of St. 

Croix during the closure from December 

1 through last day of February (50 CFR 

622.479(a)(2)) and (2) Hind Bank Marine 

Conservation District closed area (50 

CFR 622.514(a)(2)). A maximum of 8 

fishing trips would occur in each site, 

16 total during the project. 

NMFS finds this application warrants 

further consideration based on a 

preliminary review. Possible conditions 

the agency may impose on the EFP, if 

granted, include but are not limited to, 

a prohibition on fishing within marine 

protected areas, marine sanctuaries, or 

special management zones without 

additional authorization, and requiring 

compliance with best practices in the 

event of interactions with any protected 

species. 

A final decision on issuance of the 

EFP will depend on NMFS’ review of 

public comments received on the 

application, consultations with 

appropriate fishery management 

agencies of the affected states, the 

Council, and the U.S. Coast Guard, and 

a determination that the activities to be 

taken under the EFP are consistent with 

all other applicable laws. 

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. 

Dated: November 6, 2024. 

Karen H. Abrams, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–26184 Filed 11–12–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XE455] 

Permits; Foreign Fishing 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of application for 

transshipment permit; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: NMFS publishes for public 

review and comment information 

regarding a permit application for 

transshipment of farmed salmon from 

aquaculture operations in Maine waters 

to processing plants in Canada by 

Canadian flagged vessels. The 

application for a transshipment permit 

is submitted under provisions of the 

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 

Conservation and Management Act 

(Magnuson-Stevens Act). This action is 

necessary for NMFS to make a 

determination on whether to approve 

the permit application. 

DATES: Written comments must be 

received by November 27, 2024. 

ADDRESSES: Written comments on this 

action, identified by RTID 0648–XE455 

should be sent to Jasmine Prat in the 

NMFS Office of International Affairs, 

Trade, and Commerce by email at 

jasmine.prat@noaa.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Jasmine Prat by email at jasmine.prat@

noaa.gov, or by phone at 301–956–5472. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

Section 1824(d) of the MagnusonStevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1824(d)) 

authorizes the Secretary of Commerce 

(Secretary) to issue a transshipment 

permit for a vessel other than a vessel 

of the United States to engage in fishing 

consisting solely of transporting fish or 

fish products at sea from a point within 

the United States Exclusive Economic 

Zone (EEZ) or, with the concurrence of 

a state, within the boundaries of that 

state, to a point outside the United 

States. 

Section 1824(d)(3)(D) of the 

Magnuson-Stevens Act provides that an 


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89618 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 219 / Wednesday, November 13, 2024 / Notices 

application to transship from U.S. 

waters to another country using nonU.S. vessels may not be approved until 

the Secretary determines that no owner 

or operator of a vessel of the United 

States which has adequate capacity to 

perform the transportation for which the 

application is submitted has indicated 

an interest in performing the 

transportation at fair and reasonable 

rates. NMFS is publishing this notice as 

part of its effort to make such a 

determination with respect to the 

application described below. 

Summary of Application 

NMFS received an application from 

True North Salmon Limited Partnership, 

Kelly Cove Salmon Limited, and 697002 

NB, Inc., requesting authorization to 

transfer salmon from U.S. farm pens in 

Maine waters to 5 Canadian vessels for 

the purpose of transporting the salmon 

to Blacks Harbour, Canada for 

processing. The transshipment 

operations will occur within the 

boundaries of the State of Maine, and 

within 12 nautical miles from Maine’s 

seaward boundary. NMFS issued 

permits for the same vessels for use in 

calendar year 2024. Those permits 

expire December 31, 2024. 

Dated: November 7, 2024. 

Alexa Cole, 

Director, Office of International Affairs, 

Trade, and Commerce, National Marine 

Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–26293 Filed 11–12–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

Establishment of the Ocean 

Acidification Advisory Board and 

Solicitation of Nominations for 

Membership 

AGENCY: National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of establishment of the 

Ocean Acidification Advisory Board 

and solicitation of nominations for 

membership. 

SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 10644(6) 

of the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act and 

in accordance with the Federal 

Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as 

amended, the Administrator of NOAA 

and the Subcommittee on Ocean 

Science and Technology (SOST) 

announce the establishment of the 

Ocean Acidification Advisory Board 

(OAAB). The OAAB shall provide 

independent advice and 

recommendations to the Interagency 

Working Group on Ocean Acidification 

(IWG–OA) and the SOST on matters 

related to Federal activities on ocean 

and coastal acidification, including 

understanding impacts and developing 

mitigation techniques for ecosystems 

and human communities. This notice 

also requests nominations for 

membership on the OAAB. 

DATES: Nominations should be sent to 

the web address specified below and 

must be received no more than 120 days 

after publication of this notice on March 

18th, 2025. This solicitation notice shall 

remain open for two years; NOAA will 

continue to accept applications after 120 

days past the publication of this notice 

in case there are vacancies. 

ADDRESSES: Nominations and 

applications should be submitted 

electronically to the Designated Federal 

Officer (DFO), OAAB, NOAA, at 

dwight.gledhill@noaa.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Dwight Gledhill, DFO, OAAB, NOAA, at 

301–734–1288 or dwight.gledhill@

noaa.gov in the Ocean Acidification 

Program Office, Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Research. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background and Authority 

Establishment of the OAAB 

implements a statutory requirement of 

the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act, Public 

Law 117–167, sec. 10644(6), 33 U.S.C. 

3703(c). The OAAB is governed by the 

FACA, which sets forth standards for 

the formation and use of advisory 

committees. The OAAB’s 

responsibilities include the following: 

(1) Advise the SOST and IWG–OA on 

Federal research, monitoring, and 

outreach activities related to ocean and 

coastal acidification, and on efforts to 

coordinate these activities among 

agencies; (2) Review and make 

recommendations to the SOST on the 

IWG–OA’s biennial reports, strategic 

research plan, and ocean chemistry 

coastal community vulnerability 

assessments; (3) Advise the SOST and 

IWG–OA on the best practices for data 

management and archiving standards 

for ocean and coastal acidification data; 

and (4) Maintain mechanisms for 

engagement and coordination with 

Tribal governments. The OAAB Chair 

shall brief the SOST and IWG–OA on 

the progress of the OAAB as necessary 

or at the request of the SOST. 

II. Structure 

The OAAB shall consist of 25 

members appointed by the Co-Chairs of 

the SOST, as follows per the statute’s 

requirements: (A) Two representatives 

of the shellfish, lobster, or crab industry; 

(B) One representative of the finfish 

industry; (C) One representative of 

seafood processors; (D) Three 

representatives from academia, 

including both natural and social 

sciences; (E) One representative of 

recreational fishing; (F) One 

representative of a relevant 

nongovernmental organization; (G) Six 

representatives from relevant State and 

local governments with policy or 

regulatory authorities related to ocean 

acidification and coastal acidification; 

(H) One representative from the Alaska 

Ocean Acidification Network or a 

subsequent entity that represents the 

same geographical region and has a 

similar purpose; (I) One representative 

from the California Current 

Acidification Network or a subsequent 

entity that represents the same 

geographical region and has a similar 

purpose; (J) One representative from the 

Northeast Coastal Acidification Network 

or a subsequent entity that represents 

the same geographical region and has a 

similar purpose; (K) One representative 

from the Southeast Coastal Acidification 

Network or a subsequent entity that 

represents the same geographical region 

and has a similar purpose; (L) One 

representative from the Gulf of Mexico 

Coastal Acidification Network or a 

subsequent entity that represents the 

same geographical region and has a 

similar purpose; (M) One representative 

from the Mid-Atlantic Coastal 

Acidification Network or a subsequent 

entity that represents the same 

geographical region and has a similar 

purpose; (N) One representative from 

the Pacific Islands Ocean Observing 

System or a subsequent entity that 

represents the island territories and 

possessions of the United States in the 

Pacific Ocean, and the State of Hawaii 

and has a similar purpose; (O) One 

representative from the Caribbean 

Regional Association for Coastal Ocean 

Observing or a subsequent entity that 

represents Puerto Rico and the United 

States Virgin Islands and has a similar 

purpose; (P) One representative from the 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration Olympic Coast Ocean 

Acidification Sentinel Site or a 

subsequent entity that represents the 

same geographical representation; (Q) 

One representative from the National 

Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration shall serve as an exofficio member of the Advisory Board 

without a vote. 

Other than the NOAA ex-officio 

member, who will serve in the capacity 

as a Regular Government Employee 


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