[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 132 (Wednesday, July 10, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 45697-45698]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-17332]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 600

[I.D. 070102B]


Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic 
Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits (EFPs)

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

ACTION: Notification of a proposal for EFPs to conduct experimental 
fishing; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional 
Administrator) has made a preliminary determination that the subject 
exempted fishing permit (EFP) application contains all the required 
information and warrants further consideration. The Regional 
Administrator has also made a preliminary determination that the 
activities authorized under the EFP would be consistent with the goals 
and objectives of the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan 
(FMP). However, further review and consultation may be necessary before 
a final determination is made to issue the EFP.
    Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act require publication of this notification to provide 
interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for 
proposed EFPs.

DATES: Comments on this document must be received on or before July 25, 
2002.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Patricia A. Kurkul, 
Regional Administrator, NMFS, Northeast Regional Office, 1 Blackburn 
Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope 
``Comments on UNH Codend Selectivity EFP Proposal.'' Comments may also 
be sent via facsimile (fax) to (978) 281-9135.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard A. Pearson, Fishery Policy 
Analyst, 978-281-9279.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS announces that the Regional 
Administrator proposes to issue an EFP that would allow one commercial 
vessel to conduct fishing operations that are otherwise restricted by 
the regulations governing the fisheries of the Northeastern United 
States. The EFP would allow for exemptions from the Northeast (NE) 
multispecies days-at-sea (DAS) notification requirements at 50 CFR 
648.10(c) and 648.82(a); the Gulf of Maine (GOM) Rolling Closures 
specified at 50 CFR 648.81; and the NE multispecies minimum mesh size 
requirements specified for the GOM Regulated Mesh Area at 50 CFR 
648.80, for 5 days of at-sea gear testing.
    This application for an EFP was submitted by the University of New 
Hampshire (UNH) Cooperative Extension for research funded through the 
Northeast Consortium. The applicant proposes to design, develop and 
test a hydrodynamic trawl-net codend outer cover 
for use in future, long-term, fishing trawl-net codend selectivity 
studies in the GOM not to exceed 5 days of at-sea trials. Floats, 
weights and kites would be positioned outside of the codend to hold a 
small-mesh net that surrounds the codend. The objective of the research 
is to develop a design and methodology for collecting fish that would 
otherwise escape from the codend of a trawl net. This would enable the 
researchers to quantify the amount of fish that escape and are retained 
by the codend. The researchers will use alternate tows both with and 
without the cover to evaluate any differences in 
fish retention. Also, underwater video

[[Page 45698]]

technology will be employed to observe the codend, the 
cover, and the fish escaping from the codend.
    UNH researchers would be aboard the vessel at all times during the 
experimental work. All undersized fish and/or protected species would 
be returned to the sea as quickly as possible after measurement and 
examination. Legal-sized fish that otherwise would have to be discarded 
would be allowed to be retained and sold. The participating vessel 
would be required to report all landings in its Vessel Trip Report.This 
experimental work is important because large amounts of undersized, 
regulated fish species may sometimes be caught and discarded, despite 
the use of legal-sized mesh. The successful development of a codend 
cover would facilitate future, long-term, mesh 
selectivity studies to determine appropriate codend mesh sizes and 
shapes in the GOM that reduce the catch of undersized fish, yet still 
retain legal-sized fish. Improved selectivity of trawl nets could 
ultimately provide for additional conservation of overfished species, 
such as GOM cod.
    Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act require publication of this notification to provide 
interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for 
proposed EFPs.
    Based on the results of this EFP, this action may lead to future 
rulemaking.

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

    Dated: July 5, 2002.
Virginia M. Fay,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-17332 Filed 7-9-02; 8:45 am]
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