[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 245 (Monday, December 22, 1997)] [Proposed Rules] [Page 66844] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-33301] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Parts 600 and 648 [I.D. 120997A] 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 proposals; request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS issues this notice to announce that the Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), is considering approval of an experimental fishing proposal that would permit 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 dogfish using gillnets in the Nantucket Shoal Dogfish Exemption Area. Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions require publication of this notice to provide interested parties the opportunity to comment on the proposed experimental fisheries. DATES: Comments must be received by January 6, 1998. 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 Fisheries.'' FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary M. Tokarcik, Fishery Management Specialist, 978-281-9326. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The New England Fisheries Management Council requested an experiment to fish for dogfish using gillnets in the Nantucket Shoal Dogfish Exemption Area. An application for an experimental fishing permit (EFP) was received by the Regional Administrator on November 6, 1997. Fishing would be conducted in the Nantucket Shoal Dogfish Exemption Area, as described in Sec. 648.80(a)(9). This exemption area currently allows for the harvest of dogfish using 6-inch (15.24-cm) minimum mesh trawl gear from June 1 through October 15. The experimental fishing activity would be conducted by vessels using 6-inch (15.24-cm) minimum mesh gillnet gear. A maximum of 15 vessels would participate in the fishery for the season May 1 through November 30. Participants would be limited to 60 nets, no overnight sets of gear, and no simultaneous fishing for regulated New England groundfish. EFPs would be issued to participating vessels to exempt them from the gear and days-at-sea restrictions of the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: December 15, 1997. Gary C. Matlock, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 97-33301 Filed 12-19-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F