National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration March 13, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS announces the receipt of a request for an exempted fishing permit (EFP) to collect fisheries data from approximately 13 pelagic longline (PLL) vessels fishing in the East Florida Coast and Charleston Bump closed areas. At this time, given the nearly rebuilt status of north Atlantic swordfish and numerous management measures regulating target and bycatch species in the PLL fishery, NMFS is considering issuing the proposed EFP to evaluate bycatch measures in these areas. The applicant states that these data would provide information on circle hook performance, target and bycatch species composition, and allow comparative analysis with historical pelagic longline logbook and observer program data. The applicant states that the goals of these fishing activities are to determine if implementation of new pelagic longline fishing practices justify the resumption of PLL fishing in the selected areas and to catch more of the United States swordfish quota. The proposed activities would occur in Federal waters of the Atlantic Ocean off Florida and South Carolina from the date of issuance through April 2008. NMFS invites comments from interested parties on this EFP request.

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 from the University of New Hampshire (UNH) for an exemption from Gulf of Maine (GOM) Rolling Closure Areas III and IV requirements of the Northeast (NE) Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP), for the purpose of designing and testing a raised footrope haddock trawl, contains all of the required information and warrants further consideration. The EFP is intended to facilitate research that would lead to the development of a viable alternative to traditional fishing gear for landing haddock, while minimizing the impact on species of concern and other bycatch. 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 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 issue an EFP that would allow 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.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 630 of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the B season allowance of the 2007 total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock for Statistical Area 630 of the GOA.