[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 3 (Thursday, January 4, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 778-779]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-203]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 080100B]


Coral, Golden Crab, Shrimp, Spiny Lobster, Red Drum, Coastal 
Migratory Pelagic Resources, and Snapper- Grouper Fisheries of the 
South Atlantic

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

[[Page 779]]


ACTION: Issuance of an exempted fishing permit.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the issuance of an exempted fishing permit 
(EFP) for the South Carolina Aquarium (applicant), located in 
Charleston, South Carolina. The EFP would authorize the applicant, with 
certain conditions, to collect for public display annually, for two 
years, an average of 25 specimens each of numerous species of marine 
invertebrates and marine fish from Federal waters off South Carolina. 
This EFP is similar to the previous EFP issued to the applicant that 
expired on June 30, 2000.

DATES: The newly issued EFP is effective January 1, 2001, through 
December 31, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the EFP are available from Peter Eldridge, 
Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 9721 Executive Center Drive N., St. 
Petersburg, FL 33702.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Eldridge, 727-570-5305; fax 727-
570-5583; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  The EFP is issued under the authority of 
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 
1801 et seq.) and the regulations at 50 CFR 600.745(b).
     The South Carolina Aquarium (SCA), located in Charleston, is a 
public, non-profit, self-supporting institution for the understanding 
and conservation of South Carolina's natural aquatic habitats, with 
extensive field study and outreach programs and with free admission to 
groups of school children.
     The applicant intends, over a period of 2 years, to collect 
annually for public display an average of 25 specimens each of 76 
species of marine invertebrates and 221 species of marine fish from the 
EEZ off South Carolina, using a variety of fishing gears and the fish 
anesthetic, quinaldine.
    The proposed collection involves activities otherwise prohibited by 
regulations implementing the Fishery Management Plans for Coral, Coral 
Reefs, and Live/Hard Bottom Habitats, Golden Crab, Shrimp, Spiny 
Lobster, Red Drum, Coastal Migratory Pelagics, and Snapper-Grouper 
Fisheries of the South Atlantic Region (FMPs). The EFP authorizes the 
applicant, consistent with the terms of the EFP, to harvest and possess 
corals, live rock, golden crab, rock shrimp, red drum, wreckfish, 
warsaw grouper, and other snapper-grouper species taken from Federal 
waters off South Carolina. In addition, the EFP authorizes, consistent 
with the terms of the EFP, the use of quinaldine in a coral area and 
the possession of spiny lobster, bluefish, cobia, king and Spanish 
mackerel, groupers and snappers, greater amberjack, hogfish and red 
porgy below the minimum size limit in excess of established bag limits 
or taken with prohibited gear.
    The EFP has a number of conditions concerning the harvest of 
prohibited species and corals and the gear that can be employed, 
including bycatch restrictions. The EFP requires an annual report to 
NMFS that lists specimens that have been taken.
     The applicant also intends to collect a large number of species 
that are either not subject to Federal fishery management in the South 
Atlantic Region or included under a fishery management plan that 
contains no management measures restricting possession or harvest. The 
applicant was referred to the NMFS Highly Migratory Species Division 
for authorization to collect Atlantic highly migratory species, such as 
sharks and tunas, for public display.
    A notice of receipt of the application for this permit was 
published in the Federal Register on August 30, 2000 (65 FR 52701). In 
addition to announcing the receipt of the application, public comments 
were requested; no public comments were received. Also, consistent with 
the requirements of 50 CFR 600.745(b)(3)(i), NMFS provided copies of 
the EFP application to the State of South Carolina, the South Atlantic 
Fishery Management Council, and U.S. Coast Guard along with the 
following required information: Information on the EFP's effects on 
target and incidental species; citations of the regulations that, 
without the EFP, would prohibit the proposed collection activity; and 
other biological information relevant to the EFP proposal. None of 
these consulted entities expressed any objections to the issuance of 
the EFP.
     Failure of the permittee to comply with the terms and conditions 
of the EFP may be grounds for revocation, suspension or modification of 
this EFP or for civil or criminal sanctions.

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

    Dated: December 26, 2000.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-203 Filed 1-3-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE: 3510-22 -S