Federal Register #RTID 0648-XF868

NOAA Seeks Comments on Exempted Fishing Permit for Combined Scallop and Tilefish Trips

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), through the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), is seeking public input on an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) application for a pilot project involving combined scallop and tilefish fishing trips. - Government Buyer: - Department of Commerce - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of Sustainable Fisheries - Applicant: Scallop Shack Farms, LLC - Project Overview: - Pilot project to evaluate operational efficiency by combining scallop and tilefish fishing trips on a single federally permitted vessel - Aims to reduce transit time and fuel consumption - Involves 33 trips using scallop dredge and bottom longline gear - Regulatory Exemptions: - Exemption from federal regulations prohibiting the landing of species other than scallops and monkfish in certain scallop dredge fishery exemption areas - Operational Parameters: - One Limited Access General Category (LAGC) vessel - Possession limits per trip: up to 600 lb of scallops, 500 lb of blueline tilefish, and 500 lb or 50% by weight of golden tilefish - Each trip lasts 24–96 hours - No specific equipment, OEMs, or part numbers are mentioned - Focus is on regulatory flexibility and operational testing, not procurement of goods or technology

Description

The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS, has preliminarily determined that an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) application from Scallop Shack Farms, LLC contains all required information and warrants further consideration. The EFP would allow a federally permitted fishing vessel to fish outside fishery regulations to support exempted fishing activities. This pilot project aims to evaluate combined scallop and tilefish fishing trips to increase operational efficiency by reducing transit time and fuel consumption. Interested parties are invited to comment on the application by August 4, 2026.

View original listing