[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 213 (Monday, November 4, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 67140-67141]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-28008]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 600

[I.D. 102802B]


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

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

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 (NE) Multispecies Fishery Management 
Plan (FMP). However, further review and consultation may be necessary 
before a final determination is made to issue the EFP. Therefore, NMFS 
announces that the Regional Administrator proposes to issue an EFP that 
would allow two vessels to conduct fishing operations that are 
otherwise restricted by the regulations governing the fisheries of the 
Northeastern United States. The EFP would exempt two vessels from the 
days-at-sea (DAS) requirements, and the Gulf of Maine (GOM) Rolling 
Closure Area IV restrictions. The experiment proposes to conduct a 
study to target flatfish using a large mesh trawl net (8-inch (20.32-
cm) mesh throughout the net) in order to develop otter trawl gear for 
the NE multispecies fishery that would result in reduced catch of 
Atlantic cod. The EFP would allow these exemptions for two commercial 
vessels, for not more than 8 days of sea trials per vessel. All 
experimental work would be monitored by a project

[[Page 67141]]

coordinator for the Northeast Consortium-funded project.
    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 
November 19, 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 Northeast Consortium-funded EFP Proposal for 8'' Square 
Mesh Bottom Trawl.'' Comments may also be sent via facsimile (fax) to 
(978) 281-9135.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Douglas W. Christel, Fisheries 
Management Specialist, 978-281-9141.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An application for an EFP was submitted by 
Phil Averill as part of a Northeast Consortium-funded project on 
September 23, 2002. The EFP would exempt two federally permitted 
commercial fishing vessels from the following NE multispecies 
provisions: The Rolling Closure Area IV restriction; and the NE 
multispecies DAS restrictions.
    The goal of this study is to assess the applicability of using 8-
inch (20.32-cm) square mesh throughout the entire trawl net in the 
inshore GOM groundfish fishery. The vessels would be primarily 
targeting grey sole and American plaice. The incidental catch is 
expected to be primarily Atlantic cod.
    The applicant has proposed that the research be conducted within 
the GOM in the area defined as follows: Between 43o00' and 44o00' N. 
lat. and between 69o00' and 70o00' W. long. Each vessel, one fishing 
with the experimental 8-inch (20.32-cm) square mesh net and one fishing 
with a conventional 6.5-inch (16.51-cm) diamond mesh cod-end trawl net, 
would conduct a total of 24 side-by-side tows of between 1 and 2 hours 
duration over a period of 8 sea days (3 tows per day). The tows would 
take place between November 1 and December 31, 2002, and between May 15 
and July 15, 2003. These areas, during these specific times, have been 
selected because it is expected that there will be significant 
concentrations of both flat and round fish available. Fish retained by 
the experimental net and the control net would be enumerated, weighed 
and measured, and returned to the sea as quickly as possible. Length 
frequencies of the fish retained and an estimate of escapement would be 
recorded for each tow. Each vessel would be exempted from 8 NE 
multispecies DAS in order to compensate for a portion of the cost of 
the research.
    Based on the results of the EFPs, this action may lead to future 
rulemaking.

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

    Dated: October 29, 2002.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-28008 Filed 11-1-02; 8:45 am]
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