Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits, 17822-17823 [E9-8906]
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17822
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 73 / Friday, April 17, 2009 / Notices
issue an EFP. Therefore, NMFS
announces that the Assistant Regional
Administrator proposes to recommend
that an EFP be issued that would allow
24 commercial fishing vessels to
conduct research and compensation
fishing operations that are otherwise
restricted by the regulations governing
the fisheries of the Northeastern United
States. This EFP, which would enable
vessels to harvest monkfish granted
through the Monkfish Research Set–
Aside (RSA) Program, would grant
exemptions from the monkfish days–at–
sea (DAS) possession limits in the
Southern (SFMA) and Northern (NFMA)
Fishery Management Areas, as well as
exempt vessels from monkfish
minimum size limits for on–board
tagging purposes only.
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 must be received on
or before May 4, 2009.
ADDRESSES: You may submit written
comments by any of the following
methods:
• Email: DA9–072@noaa.gov. Include
in the subject line ‘‘Comments on
Monkfish Tagging EFP.’’
• Mail: Patricia A. Kurkul, Regional
Administrator, NMFS, NE Regional
Office, 1 Blackburn Drive, Gloucester,
MA 01930. Mark the outside of the
envelope ‘‘Comments on monkfish
tagging EFP, DA9–072.’’
• Fax: (978) 281–9135.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Emily Bryant, Fishery Management
Specialist, 978–281–9244.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An
application for an EFP was submitted on
March 5, 2009, for a project selected
under the New England and Mid–
Atlantic Fishery Management Councils’
Monkfish RSA Program. The specific
goals of the project are to determine
monkfish movement patterns and
compare 2009 migratory patterns to
those observed in 2007. This EFP would
grant an exemption from monkfish
possession limits to 24 vessels for the
purpose of harvesting RSA to fund this
research project (i.e. compensation
fishing). Funds generated by the
compensation fishing will be used to
pay for laboratory equipment, as well as
salaries and stipends for principal
investigators. This EFP would also
exempt vessels from the monkfish
minimum size restrictions for the
purpose of tagging monkfish during
compensation fishing activities. No
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:13 Apr 16, 2009
Jkt 217001
undersized monkfish would be landed
for sale.
Fishing would occur in the NFMA in
statistical areas 513 and 514. In the
SFMA, research would occur in
statistical areas 536, 537, 612, 613, 614,
615, 645, and 631. These statistical areas
break down into five study regions: The
NFMA; northeast SFMA; offshore
SFMA; central SFMA; and southern
SFMA. Standard commercial gillnet net
gear would be used following normal
commercial operating procedures. The
total number of days fishing will not
exceed 141. The total number of hauls
per day will be four, with a total of 50
nets per vessel, and a soak time of 24
to 72 hours. Researchers will tag 1,000
monkfish using T–bar tags in each of the
five regions, for a total of 5,000 tagged
individuals. In order to possess
undersized monkfish on board vessels
for the purpose of tagging, this research
activity requires an exemption from
monkfish minimum size limits at 50
CFR 648.93. No fish below minimum
size would be landed for sale.
Compensation fishing would occur May
2009 through April 2010, with tagging
conducted in May through June 2009,
except in the southern region of the
SFMA, where tagging would be
conducted in March through April 2010.
The 24 fishing industry collaborators
would have access to 141 monkfish DAS
that have been preliminarily awarded to
the project through the Monkfish RSA
Program. The applicant states that these
vessels must be able to land at least
3,000 lb (1,361 kg) of whole monkfish
(904 lb (410 kg) tail weight) per trip to
achieve the goal of $2,800 per RSA DAS.
In order to achieve this target catch,
these fishing activities would require an
exemption from monkfish DAS
possession limits at § 648.94(b)(2). This
exemption would provide these 24
vessels with the flexibility they need to
generate sufficient income to meet
projected costs of the research activity,
while minimizing operating expenses.
Based on the preliminary award of 141
DAS, this would require a total catch of
423,000 lb (191,870 kg) of whole
monkfish (127,410 lb (57,792 kg) tail
weight). Operating under this total
landings cap, compensation fishing
would continue until the required goal
of 423,000 lb (191,870 kg) of whole
monkfish is met, or until the awarded
DAS have been fully utilized, whichever
occurs first.
Aside from these exemptions, fishing
activity will be conducted under normal
commercial practices.
The applicant may request minor
modifications and extensions to the EFP
throughout the year. EFP modifications
and extensions may be granted without
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
further notice if they are deemed
essential to facilitate completion of the
proposed research and have minimal
impacts that do not change the scope or
impact of the initially approved EFP
request. Any fishing activity conducted
outside the scope of the exempted
fishing activity would be prohibited. If
the research project is terminated for
any reason prior to completion, any
unused funds collected from catch sold
to pay for research expenses may be
refunded to NOAA.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: April 13, 2009.
Kristen C. Koch,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9–8887 Filed 4–16–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XO37
Magnuson–Stevens Act Provisions;
General Provisions for Domestic
Fisheries; Application for Exempted
Fishing Permits
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of exempted
fishing permit application.
SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional
Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries,
Northeast Region, NMFS (Assistant
Regional Administrator), has made a
preliminary determination that the
subject exempted fishing permit (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 commercial
fishing vessel to conduct fishing
operations that are otherwise restricted
by the regulations governing the
fisheries of the Northeastern United
States.
E:\FR\FM\17APN1.SGM
17APN1
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 73 / Friday, April 17, 2009 / Notices
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 must be received on
or before May 4, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should
be sent to Patricia A. Kurkul, Regional
Administrator, NMFS, Northeast
Regional Office, 55 Great Republic
Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the
outside of the envelope ‘‘Comments on
the Massachusetts Haddock Trawl
Study.’’ Comments may also be sent via
facsimile (fax) to (978) 281–9135, or
submitted via e-mail to the following
address: DA9052@noaa.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Allison Murphy, Fishery Management
Specialist, (978) 281–9122, fax (978)
281–9135.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A
complete application for an EFP was
submitted on February 27, 2009, by
David Chosid and Michael Pol of the
Massachusetts Division of Marine
Fisheries (DMF). The project was
funded by the DMF/University of
Massachusetts, Dartmouth, School for
Marine Science and Technology, Marine
Fisheries Institute grant program. The
primary goal of the research is to test the
effectiveness of a sweepless (no ground
gear) raised footrope, semi–pelagic
trawl, referred to as the ‘‘5–point trawl’’
net. This net was designed to minimize
the catch of Atlantic cod while
maximizing the catch of haddock. The
intent of the researchers is that the
experimental net, if successful, could
potentially be an acceptable alternative
trawl design to be used in the
groundfish fishery.
The project is a continuation of
research previously conducted in 2006
and 2007 by DMF, which has
preliminarily shown that this new trawl
net design significantly reduces the
bycatch of cod, as compared to the
standard trawl used. The experimental
net was designed to exploit the
differences in behavior of haddock and
cod in relation to towed gears. Similar
to the haddock separator trawl, this
experimental net proposes to reduce cod
mortality; however, it avoids some of
the complexities associated with
separator trawls, since, under the
experimental net, the cod would not
pass through meshes, or encounter grids
or escape vents. Although this study
would focus on reducing cod-haddock
interactions, this net may also reduce
the bycatch of flatfish species such as
winter flounder, yellowtail flounder,
witch flounder, and American plaice.
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:13 Apr 16, 2009
Jkt 217001
All fish would be sorted and weighed,
and fish of legal size would be retained
for sale. All discards would be released
as quickly as practicable to reduce
incidental mortality. Exemptions from
the NE multispecies possession limits at
50 CFR 648.86, the U.S. Canada
Management Area harvest control
regulations at § 648.85(a)(3)(iv), the
U.S./Canada Management Area gear
requirements for trawl nets at
§ 648.85(a)(3)(iii), and the Eastern U.S./
Canada Area May 1– July 31 seasonal
trawl gear prohibition specified under
the Regional Administrator’s authority,
are necessary because valid testing of
the experimental nets would require
continued sampling after daily and
overall trip limits have been reached for
certain species in order to obtain
adequate replicates for analysis. The
participating vessel would be subject to
any U.S./Canada Management Area
Closures or possession prohibitions due
to the achievement of a cod, haddock,
or yellowtail flounder Total Allowable
Catch (TAC). Based on catch data from
previous experimental tows with this
net design, the researchers anticipate
that a total of 24.2 mt of fish would be
harvested throughout the course of the
study. All proceeds from the sale of the
fish would be returned to DMF for the
purpose of enhancing future research.
Following is the total estimated catch
and discards by species: Cod, 3.20 mt;
haddock, 1.60 mt; pollock, 0.00 mt;
witch flounder, 0.10 mt; yellowtail
flounder, 0.40 mt; winter flounder, 2.00
mt; American plaice, 0.40 mt; monkfish,
0.90 mt; spiny dogfish, 1.20 mt; skates,
8.80 mt; American lobster, 0.60 mt; and
other discards, 5.00 mt.
All at-sea research would be
conducted from one fishing vessel,
which intends to fish in the Eastern
U.S./Canada Haddock Special Access
Program (SAP). A total of 7 days would
be used for testing the experimental
trawl. An anticipated 84 1-hour tows
would be conducted during that time.
DMF staff would be aboard the vessel at
all times during testing.
Based on preliminary review of this
project, and in accordance with NOAA
Administrative Order 216–6, a
Categorical Exclusion from
requirements to prepare either an
Environmental Impact Statement or an
Environmental Assessment under the
National Environmental Policy Act
appears to be justified. The applicant
may request minor modifications and
extensions to the EFP throughout the
year. EFP modifications and extensions
may be granted without further notice if
they are deemed essential to facilitate
completion of the proposed research
and have minimal impacts that do not
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
17823
change the scope or impact of the
initially approved EFP request.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: April 13, 2009.
Kristen C. Koch,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9–8906 Filed 4–16–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM
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SEVERELY DISABLED
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E:\FR\FM\17APN1.SGM
17APN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 73 (Friday, April 17, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17822-17823]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-8906]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XO37
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic
Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of exempted fishing permit application.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable
Fisheries, Northeast Region, NMFS (Assistant Regional Administrator),
has made a preliminary determination that the subject exempted fishing
permit (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 commercial fishing
vessel to conduct fishing operations that are otherwise restricted by
the regulations governing the fisheries of the Northeastern United
States.
[[Page 17823]]
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 must be received on or before May 4, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Patricia A. Kurkul,
Regional Administrator, NMFS, Northeast Regional Office, 55 Great
Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope
``Comments on the Massachusetts Haddock Trawl Study.'' Comments may
also be sent via facsimile (fax) to (978) 281-9135, or submitted via e-
mail to the following address: DA9052@noaa.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Allison Murphy, Fishery Management
Specialist, (978) 281-9122, fax (978) 281-9135.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A complete application for an EFP was
submitted on February 27, 2009, by David Chosid and Michael Pol of the
Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF). The project was
funded by the DMF/University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, School for
Marine Science and Technology, Marine Fisheries Institute grant
program. The primary goal of the research is to test the effectiveness
of a sweepless (no ground gear) raised footrope, semi-pelagic trawl,
referred to as the ``5-point trawl'' net. This net was designed to
minimize the catch of Atlantic cod while maximizing the catch of
haddock. The intent of the researchers is that the experimental net, if
successful, could potentially be an acceptable alternative trawl design
to be used in the groundfish fishery.
The project is a continuation of research previously conducted in
2006 and 2007 by DMF, which has preliminarily shown that this new trawl
net design significantly reduces the bycatch of cod, as compared to the
standard trawl used. The experimental net was designed to exploit the
differences in behavior of haddock and cod in relation to towed gears.
Similar to the haddock separator trawl, this experimental net proposes
to reduce cod mortality; however, it avoids some of the complexities
associated with separator trawls, since, under the experimental net,
the cod would not pass through meshes, or encounter grids or escape
vents. Although this study would focus on reducing cod-haddock
interactions, this net may also reduce the bycatch of flatfish species
such as winter flounder, yellowtail flounder, witch flounder, and
American plaice.
All fish would be sorted and weighed, and fish of legal size would
be retained for sale. All discards would be released as quickly as
practicable to reduce incidental mortality. Exemptions from the NE
multispecies possession limits at 50 CFR 648.86, the U.S. Canada
Management Area harvest control regulations at Sec. 648.85(a)(3)(iv),
the U.S./Canada Management Area gear requirements for trawl nets at
Sec. 648.85(a)(3)(iii), and the Eastern U.S./Canada Area May 1- July
31 seasonal trawl gear prohibition specified under the Regional
Administrator's authority, are necessary because valid testing of the
experimental nets would require continued sampling after daily and
overall trip limits have been reached for certain species in order to
obtain adequate replicates for analysis. The participating vessel would
be subject to any U.S./Canada Management Area Closures or possession
prohibitions due to the achievement of a cod, haddock, or yellowtail
flounder Total Allowable Catch (TAC). Based on catch data from previous
experimental tows with this net design, the researchers anticipate that
a total of 24.2 mt of fish would be harvested throughout the course of
the study. All proceeds from the sale of the fish would be returned to
DMF for the purpose of enhancing future research. Following is the
total estimated catch and discards by species: Cod, 3.20 mt; haddock,
1.60 mt; pollock, 0.00 mt; witch flounder, 0.10 mt; yellowtail
flounder, 0.40 mt; winter flounder, 2.00 mt; American plaice, 0.40 mt;
monkfish, 0.90 mt; spiny dogfish, 1.20 mt; skates, 8.80 mt; American
lobster, 0.60 mt; and other discards, 5.00 mt.
All at-sea research would be conducted from one fishing vessel,
which intends to fish in the Eastern U.S./Canada Haddock Special Access
Program (SAP). A total of 7 days would be used for testing the
experimental trawl. An anticipated 84 1-hour tows would be conducted
during that time. DMF staff would be aboard the vessel at all times
during testing.
Based on preliminary review of this project, and in accordance with
NOAA Administrative Order 216-6, a Categorical Exclusion from
requirements to prepare either an Environmental Impact Statement or an
Environmental Assessment under the National Environmental Policy Act
appears to be justified. The applicant may request minor modifications
and extensions to the EFP throughout the year. EFP modifications and
extensions may be granted without further notice if they are deemed
essential to facilitate completion of the proposed research and have
minimal impacts that do not change the scope or impact of the initially
approved EFP request.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: April 13, 2009.
Kristen C. Koch,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-8906 Filed 4-16-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
