Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits (EFPs), 6420-6421 [E5-484]
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6420
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 24 / Monday, February 7, 2005 / Notices
is necessary for the proper performance
of the functions of the agency, including
whether the information shall have
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of the burden
(including hours and cost) of the
proposed collection of information; (c)
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on respondents, including through the
use of automated collection techniques
or other forms of information
technology.
Comments submitted in response to
this notice will be summarized and/or
included in the request for OMB
approval of this information collection;
they also will become a matter of public
record.
Dated: January 28, 2005.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief
Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 05–2291 Filed 2–4–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[I.D. 020205C]
Proposed Information Collection;
Comment Request; Atlantic Highly
Migratory Species Vessel and Gear
Marking
National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Department of
Commerce, as part of its continuing
effort to reduce paperwork and
respondent burden, invites the general
public and other Federal agencies to
take this opportunity to comment on
proposed and/or continuing information
collection, as required by the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995.
DATES: Written comments must be
submitted on or before April 8, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments
to Diana Hynek, Departmental
Paperwork Clearance Officer,
Department of Commerce, Room 6625,
14th and Constitution Avenue NW,
Washington DC 20230 (or via the
Internet at dHynek@doc.gov).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection
instrument and instructions should be
directed to Michael Clark, Highly
Migratory Species Management Division
VerDate jul<14>2003
21:04 Feb 04, 2005
Jkt 205001
(F/SF1), Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver
Spring, MD 20910 (phone 301–713–
2347).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
Under current regulations at 50 CFR
part 635.6, fishing vessels permitted for
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species
(HMS) must display their official vessel
numbers on their vessels. Flotation
devices attached to certain fishing gear
must also be marked with the vessel’s
number to identify catch that is buoyed.
These requirements are necessary for
law enforcement and monitoring
purposes.Specifically, all vessels
owners that hold a valid HMS permit,
other than an HMS angling permit, are
required to mark their vessels with their
vessel identification number. The
numbers should be permanently affixed
to, or painted on the port and starboard
sides of the deckhouse or hull and on
an appropriate weather deck, so as to be
clearly visible from an enforcement
vessel or aircraft. Furthermore,
fishermen that use longline gear must
mark high-flyers and terminal buoys
with their vessel identification number.
Gillnet fishermen must also mark their
terminal buoys, and handgear or
harpoon fishermen must mark all buoys
attached to their gear with their vessel
identification number.
II. Method of Collection
There is no form or information
collected under this requirement.
Official vessel numbers issued to vessel
operators are marked on the vessel and
on flotation gear, if applicable.
III. Data
OMB Number: 0648–0373.
Form Number: None.
Type of Review: Regular submission.
Affected Public: Business or other forprofit organizations (vessel owners); and
Individuals or households.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
8,700 vessels for vessel identification
marking; and 24,064 permit holders for
gear marking.
Estimated Time Per Response: 45
minutes/year to mark a vessel; and 15
minutes/year to mark a float.
Estimated Total Annual Burden
Hours: 6,525 hours for vessel
identification marking; and 6,877 hours
for gear marking.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to
Public: $304,500.
IV. Request for Comments
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether
the proposed collection of information
is necessary for the proper performance
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
of the functions of the agency, including
whether the information shall have
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate the burden (including
hours and cost) of the proposed
collection of information; ) ways to
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity
of the information to be collected; and
(d) ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information on
respondents, including through the use
of automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
Comments submitted in response to
this notice will be summarized and/or
included in the request for OMB
approval of this information collection;
they also will become a matter of public
record.
Dated: January 28, 2005.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief
Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 05–2293 Filed 2–4–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[I.D. 020205D]
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions;
General Provisions for Domestic
Fisheries; Application for Exempted
Fishing Permits (EFPs)
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notification of a proposal for
EFPs to conduct experimental fishing;
request for comments.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional
Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries,
Northeast Region, NMFS (Assistant
Regional Administrator) has made a
preliminary determination that the
subject EFP application contains all the
required information and warrants
further consideration. The Assistant
Regional Administrator has also made a
preliminary determination that the
activities authorized under the EFP
would be consistent with the goals and
objectives of the Northeast (NE)
Multispecies Fishery Management Plan
(FMP). However, further review and
consultation may be necessary before a
final determination is made to issue the
EFP. Therefore, NMFS announces that
the Assistant Regional Administrator
proposes to recommend that an EFP be
issued that would allow one vessel to
conduct fishing operations that are
otherwise restricted by the regulations
E:\FR\FM\07FEN1.SGM
07FEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 24 / Monday, February 7, 2005 / Notices
governing the fisheries of the
Northeastern United States. The EFP
may allow for exemptions from the NE
multispecies days-at-sea (DAS) effort
control program for up to 11 DAS for the
purposes of studying the effects of a soft
grid species separation trawl. In
addition, this EFP would allow
exemptions from the Gulf of Maine
(GOM) Rolling Closure Areas II, III, and
IV.
Regulations under the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act require publication of
this notification to provide interested
parties the opportunity to comment on
applications for proposed EFPs.
DATES: Comments on this document
must be received on or before February
22, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Comments on this notice
may be submitted by e-mail. The
mailbox address for providing e-mail
comments is DA5–08@noaa.gov. Include
in the subject line of the e-mail
comment the following document
identifier: ‘‘Comments on UNH Soft
Grid Gear Modification EFP Proposal.’’
Written comments should be sent to
Patricia A. Kurkul, Regional
Administrator, NMFS, Northeast
Regional Office, 1 Blackburn Drive,
Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside
of the envelope ‘‘Comments on UNH
Soft Grid Gear Modification EFP
Proposal.’’ Comments may also be sent
via facsimile (fax) to (978) 281–9135.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Heather L. Sagar, Fishery Management
Specialist, phone 978–281–9341.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Dr. Pingguo He of the University of
New Hampshire Cooperative Extension
(UNH) submitted an application for an
EFP on May 27, 2004. This EFP was
approved and granted for the period
November 19, 2004, through April 30,
2005. This is a continuation of a project
that was begun in 2002. Due to the time
needed to conduct gear modifications
and tank flume tests, as well as poor
weather conditions, the sea trails were
not completed during the 2003–2004
fishing years. This EFP would authorize
one commercial vessel to conduct sea
trials using a soft grid finfish excluder
device. The objective of the research is
to test trawl gear designed to separate
flatfish from roundfish for the purpose
of reducing bycatch of roundfish,
particularly cod. The separation device
is designed to exploit behavioral
differences that exist between these two
types of fish.
The proposed gear design consists of
a trawl net with a soft panel, or ramp,
that would be positioned in front of a
double codend. The gear is designed in
VerDate jul<14>2003
21:04 Feb 04, 2005
Jkt 205001
such a way as to take advantage of the
tendency for flatfish to swim towards
the ocean bottom after encountering the
separation panel and thereby into the
lower codend portion of the net.
Roundfish, which are not expected to
swim towards the sea floor after
encountering the panel, are expected to
swim into the upper codend portion of
the net, which would be left open under
normal fishing practices when the
vessel is targeting flatfish. However, for
the purposes of this experiment, both
codends would remain closed in order
to quantify separation success of these
two types of fish. The net would also
utilize visual stimuli fixed forward of
the codend to test changes in swimming
behavior in roundfish and flatfish in
response to the stimuli. Underwater
videography would be employed to
observe fish behavior and functioning of
the experimental selectivity device. The
sea trials would be conducted in
shallow water (30 to 50 fathoms (55 to
91 m)) off the coasts of New Hampshire,
southern Maine, and a small portion of
northern Massachusetts. UNH
researchers would be aboard the vessel
at all times during the experimental
work.
In a letter dated January 20, 2005, Dr.
He requested that this EFP be extended
from April 30, 2005, the previously
proposed end date, through July 31,
2005. Because no additional DAS would
be exempted from what was allowed
under the previously approved 2004
EFP, the at-sea portion of the
experiment would last no longer than 11
fishing days from November 19, 2004,
through July 31, 2005. Based upon the
catch rates from 8 days of fishing during
the same period of time in the 2003
fishing year, the following catch is
estimated to be harvested under this
EFP during the period May 1, through
July 31, 2005: Cod 2,846 lb (1,291 kg);
witch flounder 1,547 lb (702 kg);
American plaice 274 lb (124 kg); white
hake 140 lb (64 kg); yellowtail flounder
87 lb (40 kg); winter flounder 50 lb (23
kg); haddock 34 lb (15 kg); and pollock
11 lb (5 kg). All undersized fish would
be returned to the sea as quickly as
possible. Legal-sized fish that would
otherwise have to be discarded would
be allowed to be retained and sold
within the applicable GOM possession
limits. The participating vessel would
be required to report all landings in its
Vessel Trip Report.
Due to an oversight in the Federal
Register notice announcing the 2004
EFP for this project (69 FR 58153,
September 29, 2004), this EFP would
also exempt vessels from Rolling
Closure Area II during April 2005. Thus,
an EFP would be issued to one vessel
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
6421
exempting it from GOM Rolling Closure
Areas II, III, and IV and; from the NE
multispecies DAS effort control program
for any of the 11 DAS remaining from
the previous 2004 EFP that was issued.
The applicant may request minor
modifications to the EFP throughout the
year. EFP modifications may be granted
without further notice if they are
deemed essential to facilitate
completion of the proposed research
and minimal as not to change the scope
or impact the initially approved EFP
request.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: February 2, 2005.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E5–484 Filed 2–4–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[I.D. 020105A]
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management
Council; Public Meetings
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery
Management Council (Council) will
convene a public meeting of the
Socioeconomic Panel (SEP).
DATES: A meeting of the SEP will be
held beginning at 9 a.m. on Thursday,
February 24, 2005 and will conclude no
later than 3 p.m. on Friday, February 25,
2005.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
the Four Points By Sheraton New
Orleans Airport, 6401 Veterans
Memorial Boulevard, Metairie, LA
70003; 504.885.5700.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Assane Diagne, Economist, Gulf of
Mexico Fishery Management Council,
3018 U.S. Highway 301 North, Suite
1000, Tampa, Florida 33619; telephone:
813–228–2815.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Council will convene its Socioeconomic
Panel (SEP) to review ‘‘Draft
Amendment 13 for Shrimp’’, ‘‘Draft
Amendment 18A for Reef Fish’’, and
‘‘Draft Amendment 26 for Red
Snapper.’’ The shrimp amendment
considers several issues including the
establishment of a moratorium on the
E:\FR\FM\07FEN1.SGM
07FEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 24 (Monday, February 7, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6420-6421]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-484]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 020205D]
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic
Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits (EFPs)
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notification of a proposal for EFPs to conduct experimental
fishing; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable
Fisheries, Northeast Region, NMFS (Assistant Regional Administrator)
has made a preliminary determination that the subject EFP application
contains all the required information and warrants further
consideration. The Assistant Regional Administrator has also made a
preliminary determination that the activities authorized under the EFP
would be consistent with the goals and objectives of the Northeast (NE)
Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP). However, further review and
consultation may be necessary before a final determination is made to
issue the EFP. Therefore, NMFS announces that the Assistant Regional
Administrator proposes to recommend that an EFP be issued that would
allow one vessel to conduct fishing operations that are otherwise
restricted by the regulations
[[Page 6421]]
governing the fisheries of the Northeastern United States. The EFP may
allow for exemptions from the NE multispecies days-at-sea (DAS) effort
control program for up to 11 DAS for the purposes of studying the
effects of a soft grid species separation trawl. In addition, this EFP
would allow exemptions from the Gulf of Maine (GOM) Rolling Closure
Areas II, III, and IV.
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 EFPs.
DATES: Comments on this document must be received on or before February
22, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Comments on this notice may be submitted by e-mail. The
mailbox address for providing e-mail comments is DA5-08@noaa.gov.
Include in the subject line of the e-mail comment the following
document identifier: ``Comments on UNH Soft Grid Gear Modification EFP
Proposal.'' Written comments should be sent to Patricia A. Kurkul,
Regional Administrator, NMFS, Northeast Regional Office, 1 Blackburn
Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope
``Comments on UNH Soft Grid Gear Modification EFP Proposal.'' Comments
may also be sent via facsimile (fax) to (978) 281-9135.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Heather L. Sagar, Fishery Management
Specialist, phone 978-281-9341.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Dr. Pingguo He of the University of New Hampshire Cooperative
Extension (UNH) submitted an application for an EFP on May 27, 2004.
This EFP was approved and granted for the period November 19, 2004,
through April 30, 2005. This is a continuation of a project that was
begun in 2002. Due to the time needed to conduct gear modifications and
tank flume tests, as well as poor weather conditions, the sea trails
were not completed during the 2003-2004 fishing years. This EFP would
authorize one commercial vessel to conduct sea trials using a soft grid
finfish excluder device. The objective of the research is to test trawl
gear designed to separate flatfish from roundfish for the purpose of
reducing bycatch of roundfish, particularly cod. The separation device
is designed to exploit behavioral differences that exist between these
two types of fish.
The proposed gear design consists of a trawl net with a soft panel,
or ramp, that would be positioned in front of a double codend. The gear
is designed in such a way as to take advantage of the tendency for
flatfish to swim towards the ocean bottom after encountering the
separation panel and thereby into the lower codend portion of the net.
Roundfish, which are not expected to swim towards the sea floor after
encountering the panel, are expected to swim into the upper codend
portion of the net, which would be left open under normal fishing
practices when the vessel is targeting flatfish. However, for the
purposes of this experiment, both codends would remain closed in order
to quantify separation success of these two types of fish. The net
would also utilize visual stimuli fixed forward of the codend to test
changes in swimming behavior in roundfish and flatfish in response to
the stimuli. Underwater videography would be employed to observe fish
behavior and functioning of the experimental selectivity device. The
sea trials would be conducted in shallow water (30 to 50 fathoms (55 to
91 m)) off the coasts of New Hampshire, southern Maine, and a small
portion of northern Massachusetts. UNH researchers would be aboard the
vessel at all times during the experimental work.
In a letter dated January 20, 2005, Dr. He requested that this EFP
be extended from April 30, 2005, the previously proposed end date,
through July 31, 2005. Because no additional DAS would be exempted from
what was allowed under the previously approved 2004 EFP, the at-sea
portion of the experiment would last no longer than 11 fishing days
from November 19, 2004, through July 31, 2005. Based upon the catch
rates from 8 days of fishing during the same period of time in the 2003
fishing year, the following catch is estimated to be harvested under
this EFP during the period May 1, through July 31, 2005: Cod 2,846 lb
(1,291 kg); witch flounder 1,547 lb (702 kg); American plaice 274 lb
(124 kg); white hake 140 lb (64 kg); yellowtail flounder 87 lb (40 kg);
winter flounder 50 lb (23 kg); haddock 34 lb (15 kg); and pollock 11 lb
(5 kg). All undersized fish would be returned to the sea as quickly as
possible. Legal-sized fish that would otherwise have to be discarded
would be allowed to be retained and sold within the applicable GOM
possession limits. The participating vessel would be required to report
all landings in its Vessel Trip Report.
Due to an oversight in the Federal Register notice announcing the
2004 EFP for this project (69 FR 58153, September 29, 2004), this EFP
would also exempt vessels from Rolling Closure Area II during April
2005. Thus, an EFP would be issued to one vessel exempting it from GOM
Rolling Closure Areas II, III, and IV and; from the NE multispecies DAS
effort control program for any of the 11 DAS remaining from the
previous 2004 EFP that was issued. The applicant may request minor
modifications to the EFP throughout the year. EFP modifications may be
granted without further notice if they are deemed essential to
facilitate completion of the proposed research and minimal as not to
change the scope or impact the initially approved EFP request.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: February 2, 2005.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E5-484 Filed 2-4-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
