[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 52 (Thursday, March 17, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15208-15209]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-05598]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XB745]


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.

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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. NMFS approved permits in January 2022 for 
four vessels for the entity requesting the permit, True North Salmon 
Limited Partnership and 697002 NB, Inc. The recent application is for 
one additional vessel to perform the same functions as the four 
previously permitted 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 that the permit application 
can be approved.

DATES: Written comments must be received by March 31, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on this action, identified by `RTID 0648-
XB745', should be sent to Kent Laborde in the NMFS Office of 
International Affairs and Seafood Inspection by email at 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#660d030812480a070409140203260809070748010910"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="177c727963397b767578657372577978767639707861">[email protected]</span></a>.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kent Laborde at (301) 427-8364 or by 
email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6209070c164c0e03000d100607220c0d03034c050d14"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e78c828993c98b868588958382a789888686c9808891">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Section 204(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1824(d)) 
authorizes the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to issue a 
transshipment permit authorizing 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 204(d)(3)(D) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act provides that an 
application to transship from U.S. waters to another country using non-
U.S. vessels may not be approved until the Secretary determines that no 
owner or operator of a U.S. vessel with 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 received no public comment on its previous notice (86 FR 
72579, December 22, 2021) regarding the four Canadian flagged vessels 
for which NMFS issued transshipment permits in January, 2022. 
Therefore, NMFS maintains its prior conclusion that no U.S. vessels 
have an interest in performing the transport. NMFS is publishing this 
notice to inform the public that one additional vessel for the 
aforementioned entity will be permitted to perform the activities 
described below.

Summary of Application

    NMFS received an application from True North Salmon Limited 
Partnership and 697002 NB, Inc, requesting authorization to transfer 
salmon from United States farm pens in Maine waters to one Canadian 
vessel for the purpose of transporting the salmon to Black's Harbour, 
Canada for processing. This vessel would be in addition to the four 
vessels permitted in January of 2022 to perform the same activities. 
The transshipment operations will occur within the boundaries of the 
State of Maine, and within 12 nautical miles (22.22 kilometers) from 
Maine's seaward boundary.


[[Page 15209]]


    Dated: March 11, 2022.
Alexa Cole,
Director, Office for International Affairs and Seafood Inspection, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-05598 Filed 3-16-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P


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