Federal Register #2026-17126

Request for Comments on Exempted Fishing Permit for Maine Lobster Fishery

NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is requesting public comments on an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) application from the Maine Department of Marine Resources (ME DMR) for the Maine lobster fishery near Jeffreys Ledge. - Government Buyer: - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) - Office of Sustainable Fisheries - Project Overview: - Up to 50 federally permitted lobster fishing vessels may operate outside standard regulations in designated Maine conservation zones - Purpose is to test dynamic management strategies to reduce entanglement risk for endangered North Atlantic Right Whales - Products/Services Requested: - Lobster traps (up to 50 vessels participating) - Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) for dynamic management activities - Unique/Notable Requirements: - Temporary exemption from gear marking and trip reporting regulations - Risk reduction measures: speed limits, mandatory whale sighting reports, weekly gear loss reports - Vessels must temporarily remove or secure one endline from trawls when notified of whale presence - Immediate cessation of gear hauling when whales are present; restoration of gear configuration within 30 days after whale aggregation dispersal - Adherence to whale approach regulations - No specific OEMs or commercial vendors are mentioned; the opportunity is focused on regulatory exemptions and operational practices for scientific and conservation purposes.

Description

The notice announces a request for comments on an application for an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) that would allow certain federally permitted vessels to fish outside standard regulations to support activities proposed by the Maine Department of Marine Resources. The EFP aims to test dynamic management in Maine's lobster fishery to reduce the risk of entanglement with endangered North Atlantic Right Whales. The project involves up to 50 vessels operating in specific lobster conservation zones from November 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027. Comments on the application are due by September 8, 2026.

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