[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 149 (Friday, August 6, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 43190]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-16787]



[[Page 43190]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XB272]


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.

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SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable 
Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary 
determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit application submitted by 
the Coonamessett Farm Foundation contains all of the required 
information and warrants further consideration. 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 23, 2021.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by the following method:
    <bullet> Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b5dbd8d3c69bd2d4c79bd0d3c5f5dbdad4d49bd2dac3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="87e9eae1f4a9e0e6f5a9e2e1f7c7e9e8e6e6a9e0e8f1">[email protected]</span></a>. Include in the subject line 
``CFF Seasonal Scallop Survey EFP.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shannah Jaburek, Fishery Management 
Specialist; <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6f1c070e01010e0741050e0d1a1d0a042f01000e0e41080019"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d5a6bdb4bbbbb4bdfbbfb4b7a0a7b0be95bbbab4b4fbb2baa3">[email protected]</span></a>, (978) 281-9135.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Coonamessett Farm Foundation (CFF) 
submitted a complete application for an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) 
to conduct commercial fishing activities that the Atlantic Sea Scallop 
Fishery Management Plan regulations would otherwise restrict. This EFP 
would exempt the participating vessels from: Atlantic sea scallop days-
at-sea (DAS) allocations at 50 CFR 648.53(b); crew size restrictions at 
Sec.  648.51(c); observer program requirements at Sec.  648.11(g); 
minimum mesh size restrictions at Sec.  648.51(b)(2); minimum ring size 
restrictions at Sec.  648.51(b)(3); dredge obstruction restriction at 
Sec.  648.51(b)(4)(iii); Closed Area II restrictions in Sec.  648.59 
and 648.60; dredge or net obstructions at Sec.  648.51(b)(4)(iii); size 
and possession limits at Sec.  648 subsections B and D through O for 
biological sampling only, and Sec.  697.20 for lobster sampling and 
tagging only.
    CFF applied for an EFP on April 5, 2021, to conduct a scallop 
survey in Georges Bank. This EFP would allow CFF to conduct the survey 
over four, 7-day survey trips on commercial scallop vessels from August 
17, 2021, through July 30, 2022, at 50 fixed stations. The survey 
stations would be located in Closed Area II Southeast, Closed Area II 
Southwest, Closed Area II extension, and the eastern edge of the 
Southern Flank Scallop Management Simulator areas. The survey stations 
were chosen to provide data about scallop spawning, scallop meat 
quality, and seasonal patterns of habitat use by bycatch species caught 
in the scallop fishery.
    Participating vessels would use two, 15-foot (4.6 m) turtle 
deflector dredges with 10-inch (25.4 cm) twine tops, 4-inch (10.2 cm) 
ring bags, 7-row aprons, and 2:1 twine top hanging ratios. One dredge 
would have a 50-mm cover net attached to catch juvenile scallops and 
other bycatch species that escape from normal scallop dredges. The 
dredge with the cover net would be towed for 10 minutes at 4.8 knots 
(8.9 km/hr). The dredge without the cover net would be towed for 30 
minutes at 4.8 knots (8.9 km/hr). Dredges would be fished 
alternatively.
    CFF researchers would be participating vessels at all times and 
would direct sampling activities. Scallop catch would be sorted into 
baskets and weighed. A subsample of catch would be measured and have 
meat quality and other biological metrics recorded. Flatfish bycatch 
would be weighed and measured for length, and reproductive data would 
be recorded for windowpane, winter, and yellowtail flounder. Crabs, 
moon snails, whelks, and other scallop predators would be weighed and 
counted. Sea stars would be sampled using the same protocols as 
scallops. Lobsters would have biological measurements taken and will be 
assessed for dredge damage. Lobsters would also be tagged in 
collaboration with the Atlantic Offshore Lobstermen's Association. No 
catch will be landed for sale.
    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 2, 2021.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-16787 Filed 8-5-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P


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