[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 155 (Monday, August 11, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46591-46592]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-18406]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XJ53
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: Notification of a proposal to conduct exempted fishing; request
for comments.
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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 submitted by the Gulf of Maine Research
Institute (GMRI), which would exempt Atlantic sea scallop (scallop)
vessels from small dredge program gear restrictions, should be issued
for public comment. 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 Atlantic
Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan (FMP). However, further review and
consultation may be necessary before a final determination is made.
DATES: Comments on GMRI's EFP application must be received on or before
August 26, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by e-mail. The mailbox address for
providing e-mail comments is [email protected]. Include in the
subject line of the e-mail comment the following document identifier:
``Comments on small dredge EFP.'' 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 small dredge EFP.'' Comments may also be
sent via facsimile (fax) to (978) 281-9135.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ryan Silva, Cooperative Research
Liaison, phone: 978-281-9326, fax: 978-281-9135.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In response to the 2008 Atlantic Sea Scallop
RSA Program request for proposals, NOAA's National Marine Fisheries
Service received a proposal from GMRI entitled, ``An assessment of
hanging ratio and mesh orientation of twine-tops on selectivity and
bycatch in the general category scallop dredge fishery in scallop
limited access areas.'' The grant approved by NOAA Grants on July 26,
2008, as NOAA Award No. NA08NMF4540667. GMRI proposes to determine if
changes to the dredge twine-top configuration would affect the
selectivity of a 10.5-ft general category scallop dredge.
Under this award, GMRI was awarded 70,565 lb of scallops from the
Elephant Trunk Access Area (ETAA) and 33 days-at-sea (DAS), with the
proceeds from sold scallops compensating participating vessel owners
and defraying research costs. Small dredge program restrictions at 50
CFR 648.51(e) require a vessel enrolled in the small dredge program to
fish with one dredge
[[Page 46592]]
no more than 10.5 ft in width. GMRI would like to contract a vessel
enrolled in the small dredge program to harvest their set-aside scallop
allocation. GMRI requests this vessel be authorized to fish two dredges
(max combined width of 31 ft) to harvest the set-aside scallops,
thereby requiring exemption from the small dredge program dredge size
restrictions. GMRI claims that this exemption would allow the vessel to
harvest the set-aside scallops more efficiently, thus reducing vessel
operating expenses and increasing the portion of proceeds supporting
the research project.
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. The applicant may place requests for 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 minimal
so as not to change the scope or impact of the initially approved EFP
request.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 4, 2008.
James P. Burgess
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-18406 Filed 8-8-08; 8:45 am]
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