[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 147 (Monday, August 2, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45098-45099]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-18922]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XX95


Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic 
Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits

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 an Exempted Fishing Permit 
(EFP) application contains all of the required information and warrants 
further consideration. This EFP would allow four commercial fishing 
vessels to fish outside of the limited access scallop days-at-sea (DAS) 
program and the sea scallop access area regulations in support of 
research conducted by the

[[Page 45099]]

Coonamessett Farm Foundation. The Assistant Regional Administrator has 
made a preliminary determination that the activities authorized under 
this 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 to issue an EFP. Therefore, NMFS announces that the Assistant 
Regional Administrator proposes to recommend that an EFP be issued.
    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 August 17, 2010.

ADDRESSES:  You may submit written comments by any of the following 
methods:
     Email: [email protected]. Include in the subject line 
``Comments on CFarm 2010 RSA EFP.''
     Mail: Patricia A. Kurkul, Regional Administrator, NMFS, NE 
Regional Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark 
the outside of the envelope ``Comments on CFarm 2010 RSA EFP.''
     Fax: (978) 281-9135.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Christopher Biegel, Fisheries 
Management Specialist, 978-281-9112, or Don Frei, Fisheries Management 
Specialist, 978-281-9221.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Coonamessett Farm Foundation has been 
favorably reviewed for a grant through the Atlantic sea scallop 
research set-aside (RSA) program. This grant would fund a project 
titled, ``Testing of Modifications to the Cfarm Turtle Excluder Dredge 
for Bycatch Reduction.''
    The primary objective of this testing is to test bycatch rates 
between the experimental dredge and a standard New Bedford scallop 
dredge. Four commercial scallop vessels would each conduct one 7-day 
trip for 28 total DAS. The vessels would deploy both dredges 
simultaneously in 12 30-minute tows per day, at an average speed of 4.5 
knots. The researchers will collect catch data from each dredge and 
then immediately return the catch to the sea. The vessel is expected to 
catch scallops 24,000 lb (10,866 kg), winter flounder 1,200 lb (544 
kg), yellowtail flounder 4,700 lb (2,131 kg), summer flounder 480 lb 
(544 kg), fourspot flounder 1,200 lb (544 kg), monkfish 1,200 lb (544 
kg), barndoor skate 1,200 lb (544 kg), and little skate 1,200 lb (544 
kg). No catch will be retained or landed. The trips will be taken in 
August 2010 through January 31, 2011, in Closed Area I and Closed Area 
II.
    Coonamessett Farm submitted a complete EFP application on May 26, 
2010, requesting exemption allowing four commercial fishing vessels to 
fish outside of the limited access Atlantic sea scallop days at sea 
(DAS) regulations found at 50 CFR 648.53(b) and Sea Scallop Access Area 
regulations found at 50 CFR 648.59. Any fishing activity conducted 
outside the scope of the exempted fishing activity would be prohibited.

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: July 28, 2010.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-18922 Filed 7-30-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S