[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 237 (Wednesday, December 10, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 65055]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-32337]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Parts 600 and 648

[I.D. 112897A]


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 proposal; request for 
comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS issues this notice to announce that the Regional 
Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS is considering approval of an 
experimental fishing proposal that would allow vessels to conduct 
operations otherwise restricted by regulations governing the Fisheries 
of the Northeastern United States. The experimental fishery would 
involve fishing for, retention, and limited landing of Atlantic sea 
scallops with a modified sea scallop dredge in Southern New England and 
Mid-Atlantic Regulated Mesh Areas. Regulations under the Magnuson-
Stevens Act provisions require publication of this notice to provide 
interested parties the opportunity to comment on the proposed 
experimental fishery.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by December 29, 1997.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Christopher, Fishery Management 
Specialist, 978-281-9288.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Virginia Institute of Marine Science 
submitted an application for an EFP on October 17, 1997, to investigate 
summer flounder bycatch by Atlantic sea scallop dredges. An 
experimental dredge would be modified with large mesh on the upper 
portion of the dredge to allow for summer flounder escapement. Fishing 
activity would target a limited amount of Atlantic sea scallops in the 
Southern New England and Mid-Atlantic Regulated Mesh Areas.
    The Virginia Institute of Marine Science would conduct experimental 
fishing activities on chartered fishing vessels. EFPs are required to 
exempt vessels from possession limits, gear restrictions, and days-at-
sea restrictions of the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan.

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

    Dated: December 4, 1997.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-32337 Filed 12-9-97; 8:45 am]
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