Federal Register #2026-07053

Exempted Fishing Permit for Fisheries Research in Gulf of Maine Closure Areas

This opportunity concerns a request for public comment on a research-focused exempted fishing permit (EFP) in the Gulf of Maine: - Government Buyer: - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce - National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of Sustainable Fisheries - Applicant/Research Entity: - Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) - Products/Equipment Used: - Electronic jigging machines (up to four auto-jigs) - Rod-and-reel fishing gear (up to two rods and reels) - No specific OEMs or commercial products are being procured; equipment is for research use only - Services/Activities Requested: - Authorization for federally permitted fishing vessels to operate in Gulf of Maine Groundfish Closure Areas (Statistical areas 513, 514, and 515) - Collection of biological and catch data on pollock and Atlantic cod, including sublegal size fish - Tagging and biological sampling of at least 150 pollock, with opportunistic sampling of Atlantic cod - Up to 20 research trips planned, each with a 2-day duration - Unique/Notable Requirements: - Exemptions from federal regulations (minimum fish size, closed area restrictions) to enable scientific sampling - Focus on low-impact fishing methods and data collection for fisheries research - No commercial procurement or acquisition of new equipment is involved; the notice is for regulatory exemption to support research.

Description

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has preliminarily determined that an application for an exempted fishing permit (EFP) submitted by the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) contains all required information and merits further consideration. The EFP would allow federally permitted fishing vessels to fish outside standard fishery regulations to support research activities, including collecting data on pollock distribution, size, sex composition, and feeding habits in the Gulf of Maine Groundfish Closure Areas. The project also includes opportunistic collection of Atlantic cod biological samples. Public comments on the application are invited until April 28, 2026.

View original listing