Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permit, 46976-46978 [E9-21981]
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46976
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 176 / Monday, September 14, 2009 / Notices
fur seals, increase the number of leopard
seals (Hydrurga leptonyx) and fur seals
tagged (for the purposes of retagging),
and use an unmanned aircraft system
for aerial photography. These activities
are authorized for the duration of the
permit, which expires on September 30,
2011.
The amendment to Permit No. 1032–
1917 authorizes the use of a small
temperature logging tag on Weddell seal
pups in the Erebus Bay, McMurdo
Sound, Ross Sea, and White Island areas
of Antarctica.. The additional tag will be
used to measure the amount of time
pups spend in the water. This
information will be used as part of the
mass dynamics studies. This activity is
authorized for the duration of the
permit, which expires on October 1,
2012.
Dated: September 9, 2009.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education
Division, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9–22037 Filed 9–11–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XR50
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions;
General Provisions for Domestic
Fisheries; Application for Exempted
Fishing Permit
cprice-sewell on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; 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 programmatic Exempted Fishing
Permit (EFP) application for the Study
Fleet Program contains all of the
required information and warrants
further consideration. Study Fleet
projects are managed by the University
of Massachusetts Dartmouth School of
Marine Science and Technology
(SMAST). The programmatic EFP would
grant exemptions from minimum fish
sizes, and possession and landing
limits. 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 issue a programmatic EFP
that would allow seven vessels to
conduct fishing operations that are
otherwise restricted by the regulations
governing the fisheries of the
Northeastern United States.
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 must be received on
or before September 29, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Comments on this notice
may be submitted by e-mail. The
mailbox address for providing e-mail
comments is NERO.EFP@noaa.gov.
Include in the subject line of the e-mail
comment the following document
identifier: ‘‘Comments on SMAST Study
Fleet Programmatic EFP.’’ 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 SMAST Study Fleet
Programmatic EFP.’’ Comments may
also be sent via facsimile (fax) to (978)
281–9135.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Allison Murphy, Fishery Management
Specialist, phone: 978–281–9122.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A
complete application for an EFP was
submitted by SMAST on May 26, 2009.
The EFP would exempt federally
permitted commercial fishing vessels
from the regulations detailed below
while participating in the following
projects managed by SMAST:
(1) Georges Bank (GB) Multispecies
Otter Trawl Net Study Fleet (seven
vessels);
(2) Skate and Monkfish Age
Validation Research and American
Lobster Shell Disease Research (seven
vessels).
The primary goal of the GB
Multispecies Otter Trawl Net study fleet
is to characterize catch on an effort level
and collect size distributions of kept
and discarded catch by: 1) Training
fishermen to representatively sample
their catch, measuring 100 kept and 100
discarded fish for each statistical area
fished per trip for each species that is
assessed using an analytical stock
assessment; 2) developing data
protocols to integrate biological
sampling into study fleet databases,
including application of electronic
measuring onboard; 3) measuring 100
kept and 100 discarded skates for each
statistical area fished per trip for each
species; and 4) measuring Atlantic
wolffish when available.
The project is a continuation of
research conducted since 2000 by
SMAST, and which is now in its third
phase of incorporating electronic
reporting and EFPs for vessels collecting
data. While fishing under Northeast
(NE) multispecies day-at-sea (DAS),
catch estimations would be derived by
one of three methods: 1) Measuring
actual weight using an electronic scale;
2) using basket weight, calculated by
using a standard weight for a basket and
counting the number of baskets filled; or
3) by using hail weight that is estimated
by the crew. Length and weight
measurements of 100 kept and 100
discarded fish, by statistical area, would
be taken from a predetermined list of
species (see Table 1). The landing of fish
for sale at authorized dealers would be
conducted according to each vessel’s
fishing permits and within current
regulations. Temporary exemptions
from the NE multispecies possession
limits at § 648.86, and NE multispecies
minimum fish sizes at § 648.83(a)(3), are
necessary to obtain the proposed data
from undersized individuals, prohibited
species, and/or fish in excess of trip
limits. Similarly, temporary exemptions
from monkfish possession limits at
§ 648.94(a) and (b), and monkfish
minimum fish sizes at § 648.93, are
necessary to obtain data from
undersized individuals in excess of trip
limits. Exemptions from skate
possession restrictions at
§ 648.322(a)(1), and prohibitions on
possession of skates at § 648.322(c)(1),
are also necessary, as these species may
be encountered when catch estimation
is being completed. Vessels would be
prohibited from landing undersized fish
or amounts of fish greater than the
allowable landing limits.
TABLE 1. LIST OF SPECIES FOR BIOLOGICAL LENGTH FREQUENCY SAMPLES
Species
Proposed Sample Size
Southern New England (SNE) Yellowtail Flounder
VerDate Nov<24>2008
15:23 Sep 11, 2009
Jkt 217001
PO 00000
100 kept fish per statistical area per trip, 100 discarded fish per
statistical area per trip.
Frm 00010
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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14SEN1
46977
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 176 / Monday, September 14, 2009 / Notices
TABLE 1. LIST OF SPECIES FOR BIOLOGICAL LENGTH FREQUENCY SAMPLES—Continued
Species
Proposed Sample Size
100 kept fish per statistical area per trip, 100 discarded fish per
statistical area per trip.
Cape Cod/GOM Yellowtail Flounder
100 kept fish per statistical area per trip, 100 discarded fish per
statistical area per trip.
SNE Winter Flounder
100 kept fish per statistical area per trip, 100 discarded fish per
statistical area per trip.
GB Winter Flounder
100 kept fish per statistical area per trip, 100 discarded fish per
statistical area per trip.
GB Haddock
100 kept fish per statistical area per trip, 100 discarded fish per
statistical area per trip.
GB Atlantic Cod
100 kept fish per statistical area per trip, 100 discarded fish per
statistical area per trip.
GOM Atlantic Cod
100 kept fish per statistical area per trip, 100 discarded fish per
statistical area per trip.
Monkfish
100 kept fish per statistical area per trip, 100 discarded fish per
statistical area per trip.
American Plaice
100 kept fish per statistical area per trip, 100 discarded fish per
statistical area per trip.
Witch Flounder
100 kept fish per statistical area per trip, 100 discarded fish per
statistical area per trip.
Atlantic Wolffish
100 kept fish per statistical area per trip, 100 discarded fish per
statistical area per trip.
Northeast Skate Complex (each species)
cprice-sewell on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
Georges Bank (GB) Yellowtail Flounder
100 kept fish per statistical area per trip, 100 discarded fish per
statistical area per trip.
Sampling would be conducted aboard
seven fishing vessels that intend to fish
on GB from the date of issuance through
April 2010, with a minimum of two
trips per month and an average trip
duration of 7 days. All vessels would
utilize otter trawl gear, with gear
configuration and mesh size dictated by
current fishery regulations.
The primary goals of the laboratory
research are to validate the age of
multiple skate species and monkfish
using ocytetracycline markers and to
examine the relationship between
trophic feeding levels and American
lobster epizootic shell disease (ESD).
A target of 6–10 individuals of each
skate species (see Table 1) would be
caught and maintained in the SMAST
seawater laboratory, and given an
injection of ocytetracycline. Most
individuals would be maintained for a
minimum of 1 year prior to sacrifice.
Skates would then be immediately
dissected, and vertebra would be
removed for further processing. In
addition, egg cases would be collected
and injected with tetracycline to
determine whether there is a difference
between the birth mark and the hatch
mark. Exemptions from skate possession
VerDate Nov<24>2008
15:23 Sep 11, 2009
Jkt 217001
restrictions at § 648.322(a)(1) and
prohibitions on possession of skates at
§ 648.322(c)(1) are necessary to collect
specimens for laboratory research.
Vessels would be prohibited from
landing undersized fish or amounts of
fish greater than the allowable landing
limits.
Monkfish (see Table 2) would be
collected by the study fleet fishing
under a monkfish DAS and transport
techniques would be tested. Monkfish
would be marked with ocytetracycline,
and most would be cultured for 1 year
to allow for growth. Temporary
exemptions from monkfish possession
limits at § 648.94(a) and (b), and
monkfish minimum fish sizes at
§ 648.93, are necessary to obtain
specimens for laboratory research.
Vessels would be prohibited from
landing undersized fish or amounts of
fish greater than the allowable landing
limits.
PO 00000
TABLE 2. LIST OF SPECIES FOR BIOLOGICAL LENGTH FREQUENCY SAMPLES
10 fish/month
Southern
Monkfish
10 fish/month
Thorny
Skate
10 fish/month
Smooth
Skate
10 fish/month
Clearnose
Skate
10 fish/month
Barndoor
Skate
10 fish/month
Rosette
Skate
10 fish/month
10 fish/month
10 fish/month
American
Lobster
Sfmt 4703
Northern
Monkfish
Winter Skate
Fmt 4703
Proposed Sample Size
Little Skate
Frm 00011
Species
10 animals/month
E:\FR\FM\14SEN1.SGM
14SEN1
46978
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 176 / Monday, September 14, 2009 / Notices
Laboratory feeding experiments
would be conducted on American
lobster to determine the trophic levels
from which they feed. The isotope
?948;15N would be measured, with the
theoretical basis that the higher the
trophic level an animal feeds, the higher
the level of the isotope. Exemptions
from lobster restrictions at
§§ 697.7(c)(1)(xxiii) and 697.17(a) are
necessary to collect specimens for
laboratory research.
Samples for the laboratory research
would be collected aboard the same
seven fishing vessels participating in the
Otter Trawl study fleet, which intend to
fish on GB from the date of issuance
through April 2010, with a minimum of
two trips per month and an average trip
duration of 7 days. All vessels would
utilize otter trawl gear, with gear
configuration and mesh size dictated by
current fishery regulations.
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: September 8, 2009.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9–21981 Filed 9–11–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
cprice-sewell on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
(C–570–953)
Narrow Woven Ribbons With Woven
Selvedge From the People’s Republic
of China: Postponement of Preliminary
Determination in the Countervailing
Duty Investigation
AGENCY: Import Administration,
International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
EFFECTIVE DATE: September 14, 2009.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Scott Holland or Shelly Atkinson, AD/
CVD Operations, Import
VerDate Nov<24>2008
18:02 Sep 11, 2009
Jkt 217001
Administration, International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution
Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230;
telephone: (202) 482–1279 and (202)
482–0166, respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On August 6, 2009, the Department of
Commerce (the ‘‘Department’’) initiated
an investigation of narrow woven
ribbons with woven selvedge from the
People’s Republic of China (‘‘PRC’’). See
Narrow Woven Ribbons With Woven
Selvedge From the People’s Republic of
China: Initiation of Countervailing Duty
Investigation, 74 FR 39298 (August 6,
2009). Currently, the preliminary
determination is due no later than
October 2, 2009.
Postponement of Due Date for
Preliminary Determination
Under section 703(c)(1)(B) of the
Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the
‘‘Act’’), the Department may extend the
period for reaching a preliminary
determination in a countervailing duty
investigation until no later than the
130th day after the date on which the
investigation is initiated, if the
Department determines that the parties
are cooperating and the case is
extraordinarily complicated. The
Department finds that the instant case is
extraordinarily complicated by reason of
the number and complexity of the
alleged countervailable subsidy
practices, the need to determine the
extent to which particular
countervailable subsidies are used by
individual manufacturers, producers,
and exporters, and the number of firms
whose activities must be investigated.
Accordingly, we are fully extending the
due date for the preliminary
determination to no later than 130 days
after the day on which the investigation
was initiated (i.e., December 6, 2009).
As December 6, 2009, is a Sunday, we
will issue the preliminary determination
no later than the next business day (i.e.,
December 7, 2009).
This notice is issued and published
pursuant to section 703(c)(2) of the Act
and 19 CFR 351.205(f)(1).
Dated: September 8, 2009.
Ronald K. Lorentzen,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Import
Administration.
[FR Doc. E9–22046 Filed 9–11–04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–S
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
Quarterly Update to Annual Listing of
Foreign Government Subsidies on
Articles of Cheese Subject to an In–
Quota Rate of Duty
AGENCY: Import Administration,
International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
EFFECTIVE DATE: September 14, 2009.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Gayle Longest, AD/CVD Operations,
Office 3, Import Administration,
International Trade Administration,
U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th
Street and Constitution Ave., NW,
Washington, DC 20230, telephone: (202)
482–3338.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section
702 of the Trade Agreements Act of
1979 (as amended) (‘‘the Act’’) requires
the Department of Commerce (‘‘the
Department’’) to determine, in
consultation with the Secretary of
Agriculture, whether any foreign
government is providing a subsidy with
respect to any article of cheese subject
to an in–quota rate of duty, as defined
in section 701(c)(1) of the Act, and to
publish an annual list and quarterly
updates to the type and amount of those
subsidies. We hereby provide the
Department’s quarterly update of
subsidies on articles of cheese that were
imported during the period April 1,
2009, through
June 30, 2009.
The Department has developed, in
consultation with the Secretary of
Agriculture, information on subsidies
(as defined in section 702(h)(2) of the
Act and section 771(5) of the Tariff Act
of 1930, as amended (‘‘Tariff Act’’),
being provided either directly or
indirectly by foreign governments on
articles of cheese subject to an in–quota
rate of duty.
The appendix to this notice lists the
country, the subsidy program or
programs, and the gross and net
amounts of each subsidy for which
information is currently available. The
Department will incorporate additional
programs which are found to constitute
subsidies, and additional information
on the subsidy programs listed, as the
information is developed.
The Department encourages any
person having information on foreign
government subsidy programs which
benefit articles of cheese subject to an
in–quota rate of duty to submit such
information in writing to the Assistant
Secretary for Import Administration,
U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th
E:\FR\FM\14SEN1.SGM
14SEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 176 (Monday, September 14, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46976-46978]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-21981]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XR50
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic
Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permit
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; 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 programmatic
Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) application for the Study Fleet Program
contains all of the required information and warrants further
consideration. Study Fleet projects are managed by the University of
Massachusetts Dartmouth School of Marine Science and Technology
(SMAST). The programmatic EFP would grant exemptions from minimum fish
sizes, and possession and landing limits. 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 issue a programmatic EFP that would allow
seven vessels to conduct fishing operations that are otherwise
restricted by the regulations governing the fisheries of the
Northeastern United States.
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 September 29, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Comments on this notice may be submitted by e-mail. The
mailbox address for providing e-mail comments is NERO.EFP@noaa.gov.
Include in the subject line of the e-mail comment the following
document identifier: ``Comments on SMAST Study Fleet Programmatic
EFP.'' 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 SMAST Study Fleet Programmatic EFP.'' Comments may also
be sent via facsimile (fax) to (978) 281-9135.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Allison Murphy, Fishery Management
Specialist, phone: 978-281-9122.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A complete application for an EFP was
submitted by SMAST on May 26, 2009. The EFP would exempt federally
permitted commercial fishing vessels from the regulations detailed
below while participating in the following projects managed by SMAST:
(1) Georges Bank (GB) Multispecies Otter Trawl Net Study Fleet
(seven vessels);
(2) Skate and Monkfish Age Validation Research and American Lobster
Shell Disease Research (seven vessels).
The primary goal of the GB Multispecies Otter Trawl Net study fleet
is to characterize catch on an effort level and collect size
distributions of kept and discarded catch by: 1) Training fishermen to
representatively sample their catch, measuring 100 kept and 100
discarded fish for each statistical area fished per trip for each
species that is assessed using an analytical stock assessment; 2)
developing data protocols to integrate biological sampling into study
fleet databases, including application of electronic measuring onboard;
3) measuring 100 kept and 100 discarded skates for each statistical
area fished per trip for each species; and 4) measuring Atlantic
wolffish when available.
The project is a continuation of research conducted since 2000 by
SMAST, and which is now in its third phase of incorporating electronic
reporting and EFPs for vessels collecting data. While fishing under
Northeast (NE) multispecies day-at-sea (DAS), catch estimations would
be derived by one of three methods: 1) Measuring actual weight using an
electronic scale; 2) using basket weight, calculated by using a
standard weight for a basket and counting the number of baskets filled;
or 3) by using hail weight that is estimated by the crew. Length and
weight measurements of 100 kept and 100 discarded fish, by statistical
area, would be taken from a predetermined list of species (see Table
1). The landing of fish for sale at authorized dealers would be
conducted according to each vessel's fishing permits and within current
regulations. Temporary exemptions from the NE multispecies possession
limits at Sec. 648.86, and NE multispecies minimum fish sizes at Sec.
648.83(a)(3), are necessary to obtain the proposed data from undersized
individuals, prohibited species, and/or fish in excess of trip limits.
Similarly, temporary exemptions from monkfish possession limits at
Sec. 648.94(a) and (b), and monkfish minimum fish sizes at Sec.
648.93, are necessary to obtain data from undersized individuals in
excess of trip limits. Exemptions from skate possession restrictions at
Sec. 648.322(a)(1), and prohibitions on possession of skates at Sec.
648.322(c)(1), are also necessary, as these species may be encountered
when catch estimation is being completed. Vessels would be prohibited
from landing undersized fish or amounts of fish greater than the
allowable landing limits.
Table 1. List of Species for Biological Length Frequency Samples
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Proposed Sample Size
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southern New England (SNE) 100 kept fish per statistical area
Yellowtail Flounder per trip, 100 discarded fish per
statistical area per trip
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 46977]]
Georges Bank (GB) Yellowtail 100 kept fish per statistical area
Flounder per trip, 100 discarded fish per
statistical area per trip
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cape Cod/GOM Yellowtail Flounder 100 kept fish per statistical area
per trip, 100 discarded fish per
statistical area per trip
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SNE Winter Flounder 100 kept fish per statistical area
per trip, 100 discarded fish per
statistical area per trip
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GB Winter Flounder 100 kept fish per statistical area
per trip, 100 discarded fish per
statistical area per trip
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GB Haddock 100 kept fish per statistical area
per trip, 100 discarded fish per
statistical area per trip
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GB Atlantic Cod 100 kept fish per statistical area
per trip, 100 discarded fish per
statistical area per trip
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GOM Atlantic Cod 100 kept fish per statistical area
per trip, 100 discarded fish per
statistical area per trip
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monkfish 100 kept fish per statistical area
per trip, 100 discarded fish per
statistical area per trip
------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Plaice 100 kept fish per statistical area
per trip, 100 discarded fish per
statistical area per trip
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Witch Flounder 100 kept fish per statistical area
per trip, 100 discarded fish per
statistical area per trip
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atlantic Wolffish 100 kept fish per statistical area
per trip, 100 discarded fish per
statistical area per trip
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northeast Skate Complex (each 100 kept fish per statistical area
species) per trip, 100 discarded fish per
statistical area per trip
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sampling would be conducted aboard seven fishing vessels that
intend to fish on GB from the date of issuance through April 2010, with
a minimum of two trips per month and an average trip duration of 7
days. All vessels would utilize otter trawl gear, with gear
configuration and mesh size dictated by current fishery regulations.
The primary goals of the laboratory research are to validate the
age of multiple skate species and monkfish using ocytetracycline
markers and to examine the relationship between trophic feeding levels
and American lobster epizootic shell disease (ESD).
A target of 6-10 individuals of each skate species (see Table 1)
would be caught and maintained in the SMAST seawater laboratory, and
given an injection of ocytetracycline. Most individuals would be
maintained for a minimum of 1 year prior to sacrifice. Skates would
then be immediately dissected, and vertebra would be removed for
further processing. In addition, egg cases would be collected and
injected with tetracycline to determine whether there is a difference
between the birth mark and the hatch mark. Exemptions from skate
possession restrictions at Sec. 648.322(a)(1) and prohibitions on
possession of skates at Sec. 648.322(c)(1) are necessary to collect
specimens for laboratory research. Vessels would be prohibited from
landing undersized fish or amounts of fish greater than the allowable
landing limits.
Monkfish (see Table 2) would be collected by the study fleet
fishing under a monkfish DAS and transport techniques would be tested.
Monkfish would be marked with ocytetracycline, and most would be
cultured for 1 year to allow for growth. Temporary exemptions from
monkfish possession limits at Sec. 648.94(a) and (b), and monkfish
minimum fish sizes at Sec. 648.93, are necessary to obtain specimens
for laboratory research. Vessels would be prohibited from landing
undersized fish or amounts of fish greater than the allowable landing
limits.
Table 2. List of Species for Biological Length Frequency Samples
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Proposed Sample Size
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern Monkfish 10 fish/month
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southern Monkfish 10 fish/month
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thorny Skate 10 fish/month
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Smooth Skate 10 fish/month
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clearnose Skate 10 fish/month
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Barndoor Skate 10 fish/month
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rosette Skate 10 fish/month
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Little Skate 10 fish/month
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Winter Skate 10 fish/month
------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Lobster 10 animals/month
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 46978]]
Laboratory feeding experiments would be conducted on American
lobster to determine the trophic levels from which they feed. The
isotope ?948;15N would be measured, with the theoretical basis that the
higher the trophic level an animal feeds, the higher the level of the
isotope. Exemptions from lobster restrictions at Sec. Sec.
697.7(c)(1)(xxiii) and 697.17(a) are necessary to collect specimens for
laboratory research.
Samples for the laboratory research would be collected aboard the
same seven fishing vessels participating in the Otter Trawl study
fleet, which intend to fish on GB from the date of issuance through
April 2010, with a minimum of two trips per month and an average trip
duration of 7 days. All vessels would utilize otter trawl gear, with
gear configuration and mesh size dictated by current fishery
regulations.
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: September 8, 2009.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-21981 Filed 9-11-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
