[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 70 (Thursday, April 11, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17673-17674]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-8831]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 040402C]


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.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of an application for an exempted fishing 
permit; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the receipt of an application for an exempted 
fishing permit (EFP) from Lindsey G. Parker, Captain R/V GEORGIA 
BULLDOG, on behalf of the University of Georgia's Marine Education 
Center and Aquarium (MECA). If granted, the EFP would authorize the 
applicant, with certain conditions, to collect up to 200 juvenile 
(undersized) individuals in the snapper-grouper and coastal pelagics 
complex annually. Less than 10 non egg-bearing spiny or slipper lobster 
would be collected on each cruise. Two cruises will be made annually in 
Federal waters off Georgia for public display purposes. Specimens will 
be displayed at MECA, which is located on Skidaway Island, near 
Savannah, Georgia.

DATES: Comments must be received no later than 5 p.m., eastern standard 
time, on May 13, 2002.

[[Page 17674]]


ADDRESSES: Comments on the application must be mailed to Peter 
Eldridge, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 9721 Executive Center Drive 
N., St. Petersburg, FL 33702. Comments also may be sent via fax to 727-
570-5583. Comments will not be accepted if submitted via e-mail or 
Internet.
    The application and related documents are available for review upon 
written request to the address above.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EFP is requested under the authority of 
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 
1801 et seq.), and regulations at 50 CFR 600.745(b) concerning exempted 
fishing.
    According to the applicant, MECA, located at Skidaway Island, is a 
public, non-profit, educational institution established to promote an 
awareness, understanding, and appreciation of the diverse natural 
resources associated with Georgia's ocean, estuaries, rivers, streams, 
and other aquatic environments.
    MECA provides a variety of education programs: short academic 
classes and summer science camps for school children, classes for 
college students and teachers, and programs for visiting adult groups. 
The saltwater aquarium exhibits local marine fishes and invertebrates, 
and is used as an educational tool in these programs.
    The applicant intends to make two cruises annually to collect 
specimens for public display during the period July 1, 2002 through 
June 30, 2004.
    The proposed collection for public display involves activities 
otherwise prohibited by regulations implementing the Fishery Management 
Plan (FMP) for the Snapper-Grouper Fisheries of the South Atlantic 
Region, the FMP for the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources 
(Mackerels), and the FMP for the Spiny Lobster Fishery of the Gulf of 
Mexico and South Atlantic. The applicant requires authorization to 
harvest and possess juvenile mackerels, snapper-grouper species, and 
spiny lobster taken from Federal waters off Georgia.
    Based on a preliminary review, NMFS finds that this application 
warrants further consideration and intends to issue an EFP. A final 
decision on issuance of the EFP will depend on a NMFS review of public 
comments received on the application, conclusions of environmental 
analyses conducted pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act, 
and consultations with Georgia, the South Atlantic Fishery Management 
Council, and the U.S. Coast Guard. The applicant requests a 24-month 
effective period for the EFP.

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

    Dated: April 5, 2002.
John H. Dunnigan,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 02-8831 Filed 4-10-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S