[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 110 (Wednesday, June 9, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 30956-30957]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-14644]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Parts 600 and 648

[I.D. 052699A]


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 announces that the Regional Administrator, Northeast 
Region, NMFS, is considering approval of an experimental fishing 
proposal. EFPs would allow vessels to conduct operations otherwise 
restricted by regulations governing the Northeast Multispecies Fishery, 
and would exempt vessels from days-at-sea (DAS), mesh sizes, and other 
gear restrictions. The experimental fishery proposal is for a 
comparative mesh selectivity study in waters south of Rhode Island 
Sound, South of Nantucket Island, North of Cape Cod Bay, and South of 
Long Island from Montauk to Shinnecock. Regulations under the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act provisions require 
publication of this document to provide interested parties the 
opportunity to comment on the proposed experimental fishery.

DATES: Comments on this notification must be received by June 24, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to Jon Rittgers, Acting 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: Bonnie Van Pelt, Fishery Management 
Specialist, 978-281-9244.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The initial experimental fishery proposal 
was submitted by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental 
Management in conjunction with the University of Rhode Island (URI) on 
March 15, 1999. It was later revised to include additional areas, 
species, and codend mesh sizes on May 12, 1999. Their proposal is for a 
comparative mesh selectivity experiment that would investigate mesh 
selectivity functions of three square codend mesh sizes--5.5

[[Page 30957]]

inch (14 cm), 6 inch (15.2 cm) and 6.5 inch (16.5 cm). The study will 
be conducted using two Rhode Island commercial fishing vessels, as well 
as representatives from the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, 
two Massachusetts commercial fishermen, two New York commercial 
fishermen, and participation by the New York Department of 
Environmental Protection. Sea trials will be conducted to quantify the 
mesh selectivity differences and comparative catch rates of winter 
flounder (Pleuronectes americanus), summer flounder (Paralichthys 
dentatus), yellowtail flounder (Limanda ferrugina), American plaice 
(Hippoglossoides platessoides), grey sole (Glyptocephalus cynoglossus), 
and windowpane flounder (Lophopsetta maculata). The experiment will 
test both 6.5 inch (16.5 cm) codend and 5.5 inch (14 cm) codend square 
mesh (treatments) against 6 inch (15.2 cm) codend square mesh (control) 
nets, including the use of mesh liners (currently prohibited under the 
regulations), by switching the control and treatment between the 
participating vessels on alternating tows. This alternating sampling 
sequence between two different vessels is designed to show how vessel 
power and size differences may contribute to mesh selectivity 
differences.
    URI scientific personnel will monitor all cruise operations. All 
undersized fish will be returned to the sea as soon as possible. All 
other catch not used for sampling purposes will be landed and sold. The 
proposed operations will occur over a 20- to 24-day period to begin on 
or about July 15, 1999, through October 31, 1999.
    EFPs would be issued to the participating vessels in the 
experiments in accordance with the conditions stated, and will exempt 
vessels from the mesh size, DAS, and other gear restrictions of the 
Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan during the specified 
time frame.

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

    Dated: June 2, 1999.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-14644 Filed 6-8-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F