[Federal Register: April 1, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 63)]
[Notices]               
[Page 17326-17327]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01ap08-40]                         

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG74

 
Permits; Foreign Fishing

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of foreign fishing application.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS publishes for public review and comment information 
regarding a foreign fishing application submitted under provisions of 
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act).

DATES: Comments must be received by April 15, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Send comments or requests for a copy of the application to 
NMFS, Office of International Affairs, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910.
    Comments on this notice may also be submitted by e-mail to 
nmfs.foreignfishing@noaa.gov. Include in the subject line the following 
document identifier: RIN 0648-XG74.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher Rogers, Office of 
International Affairs, (301) 713-9090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Section 204(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1824(d)) 
provides, among other things, that the Secretary of Commerce 
(Secretary) may issue a transshipment permit which authorizes a vessel 
other than a vessel of the United States to engage in fishing 
consisting solely of transporting fish or fish products at sea from a 
point within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) or, with the 
concurrence of a state, within the boundaries of that state to a point 
outside the United States.
    Section 204(d)(3)(D) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act provides that an 
application may not be approved until the Secretary determines that 
``no owner or operator of a vessel of the United States which has 
adequate capacity to perform the transportation for which the 
application is submitted has indicated ... an interest in performing 
the transportation at fair and reasonable rates.'' NMFS is publishing 
this notice as part of its effort to make such a determination with 
respect to the application described below.

[[Page 17327]]

Summary of Application

    NMFS has received an application requesting authorization for five 
Mexican vessels to receive, within the Pacific waters of the U.S. EEZ 
south of 34[deg]00' N. lat. and east of 121[deg]00' W. long., transfers 
of live tuna from U.S. purse seiners for the purpose of transporting 
the tuna alive to an aquaculture facility located in Baja California, 
Mexico.
    Interested U.S. vessel owners and operators may obtain a copy of 
the complete application from NMFS (see ADDRESSES).

    Dated: March 26, 2008.
Dean Swanson,
Acting Director, Office of International Affairs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-6698 Filed 3-31-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-22-S