[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 79 (Thursday, April 24, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 19985-19986]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10660]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Parts 600 and 648

[I.D. 041697B]


Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic 
Fisheries; Applications for Experimental Fishing Permits (EFPs)

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

ACTION: Notification of experimental fishery applications; request for 
comments.

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

SUMMARY: NMFS issues this notice to announce that the Regional 
Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), is 
considering approval of three experimental fishing proposals that would 
permit vessels to conduct operations otherwise restricted by 
regulations governing the Fisheries of the Northeastern United States. 
The experimental fisheries would involve fishing for and retention and 
limited landing of various species of fish, including regulated 
multispecies and invertebrates with small mesh in the Gulf of Maine/
Georges Bank Regulated Mesh Area. Provisions under the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act require publication of this 
notice to provide interested parties the

[[Page 19986]]

opportunity to comment on the proposed experimental fisheries.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 9, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to Andrew A. Rosenberg, Ph.D., 
Regional Administrator, Northeast Regional Office, 1 Blackburn Drive, 
Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope ``Comments on 
Proposed Experimental Fisheries.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Christopher, Fishery Management 
Specialist, 508-281-9288.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Edward Boynton submitted an application for 
an experimental fishing permit (EFP) on March 5, 1997. The applicant 
received a Saltonstall/Kennedy (S/K) Grant to investigate the food web 
link between estuaries and near shore waters of Ipswich Bay through 
sampling areas with a small mesh beam trawl. He would conduct 
experimental fishing activity on his vessel with a small-mesh beam 
trawl in near shore waters throughout Ipswich Bay. Various estuarine, 
pelagic and bottom dwelling species, including regulated multispecies, 
would be targeted with short duration tows to study the links between 
the estuarine and near shore fishery systems. A limited number of 
species would be retained and landed on some of the trips for meat 
sample tests.
    The Mount Desert Island (MDI) Biological Laboratory submitted an 
EFP application on March 20, 1997, to collect various species for 
medical studies. The MDI Biological Laboratory would charter a fishing 
vessel to use a small-mesh otter trawl to collect various species for 
medical studies. Target collection numbers of 100 to 300 fish, 
depending on the species, has been requested.
    The MDI Oceanarium submitted an EFP application on March 13, 1997, 
to collect various species for public display. The MDI Oceanarium would 
charter a commercial fishing vessel to collect various species for 
public display. A maximum of six of each species would be collected for 
display.
    EFPs would be issued to the participating vessels to exempt them 
from the possession limit, mesh size, minimum fish size, and days-at-
sea restrictions of the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan.

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

    Dated: April 18, 1997.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-10660 Filed 4-23-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F