[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 51 (Wednesday, March 17, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 12729]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-5741]
[[Page 12729]]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XU95
Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific;
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Application for an Exempted Fishing
Permit
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of EFP applications; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the receipt of exempted fishing permit (EFP)
applications, and is considering issuance of EFPs for vessels
participating in the EFP fisheries. The EFPs are necessary to allow
activities that are otherwise prohibited by Federal regulations. The
EFPs will be effective no earlier than April 1, 2010, and would expire
no later than April 31, 2011, but could be terminated earlier under
terms and conditions of the EFPs and other applicable laws.
DATES: Comments must be received no later than 5 p.m., local time on
April 1, 2010.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by 0648-XU95, by any
one of the following methods:
Fax: 206-526-6736, Attn: Kevin Duffy.
Mail: Barry A. Thom, Acting Administrator, Northwest
Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115-0070, Attn:
Kevin Duffy.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To view copies of the 2010 EFP
applications, visit the Pacific Council website at www.pcouncil.org and
browse the ``November 2009 Briefing Book''; or contact Kevin Duffy
(Northwest Region, NMFS), phone: 206-526-4743, fax: 206-526-6736.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This action is authorized by the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act provisions at 50 CFR
600.745, which states that EFPs may be used to authorize fishing
activities that would otherwise be prohibited. At the November 2009
Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) meeting in Costa Mesa, CA,
the Council considered applications for five EFPs from: (1) The Nature
Conservancy (TNC) and their collaborators; (2) the California
Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) and Golden Gate Fisherman's
Association; (3) the Oregon RFA; (4) Steven Fosmark; and (5) the Oregon
Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). An opportunity for public
testimony was provided during the Council meeting. For more details on
these EFP applications and to view copies of the applications, see the
Pacific Council's website at www.pcouncil.org and browse the ``November
2009 Briefing Book.'' The Council recommended that NMFS consider
issuing the following EFPs. The Council also recommended a change from
the previous years to allow some EFPs, if approved, to span across a
calendar year for business and logistical reasons. EFP reporting
requirements, in these cases, will be adjusted to ensure reporting
consistent with past practice, and an EFP will not be valid for more
than 12 consecutive months.
Community-Based Fishing Association EFP
TNC submitted a proposal for a 2010 EFP, along with their
collaborators: City of Morro Bay Harbor Department; Port San Luis
Commercial Fishermen's Association; Port San Luis Harbor District;
California Department of Fish and Game; Morro Bay Commercial
Fishermen's Organization, Inc.; and Environmental Defense. The primary
purpose of the EFP is to test whether establishing a cooperatively
managed, community-based fishing association can provide economic and
environmental performance benefits.
Recreational Chilipepper EFP
The California RFA and the Golden Gate Fishermen's Association
submitted an application for a 2010 EFP. The primary purpose of the EFP
is to do an area-based recreational fishing study to test if hook-and-
line fishing gear can be used to access underutilized chilipepper
rockfish seaward of the non-trawl RCA, while keeping bycatch of
overfished species low.
Recreational Yellowtail EFP
The Oregon RFA submitted an application for a 2010 EFP. The primary
purpose of the EFP is to test if recreational fishing gear, fitted with
a long leader to keep gear up off the ocean floor, can be used to
access underutilized yellowtail rockfish, while keeping bycatch of
overfished species low.
Commercial Chilipepper EFP
Steven Fosmark submitted an application for a 2010 EFP. The primary
purpose of the EFP is to test if a specific longline gear configuration
can be used in the commercial fishery to target underutilized
chilipepper rockfish, while keeping bycatch of overfished species low.
ODFW EFP
An EFP sponsored by the ODFW will allow selected Oregon
charterboats to retain incidentally-caught yelloweye rockfish to be
forfeited to the state. The objective of this EFP is to collect
biological samples to inform future yelloweye rockfish stock
assessments.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: March 11, 2010.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-5741 Filed 3-16-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S