National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration May 11, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Northeast Region, NMFS (Assistant Regional Administrator) has made a preliminary determination that the subject exempted fishing permit (EEP) application contains all the required information and warrants further consideration. The EEP, which would enable researchers to investigate the feasibility of using a raised footnote trawl to catch haddock and pollock while limiting cod and flounder by catch, would allow for exemptions from the FMP as follows: Gulf of Maine (GOM) Rolling Closure Areas II and IV; and the minimum mesh size for trawl gear. 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 determinations is made to issue the EFP. Therefore, NMFS announces that the Assistant Regional Administrator proposes to recommend that an EFP is issued that would allow two commercial fishing 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.