2022-05598. 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. 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 [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kent Laborde at [phone] or by email at [e-mail].

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.

Dated: March 11, 2022.

Alexa Cole,

Director, Office for International Affairs and Seafood Inspection, National Marine Fisheries Service.