[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 31 (Friday, February 14, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7508-7509]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-3761]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 110802B]


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: 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, SC. The EFP would authorize the applicant, with certain 
conditions, to collect for public display annually, for 2 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 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 of the South 
Atlantic Region for Coral, Coral Reefs, and Live/Hard Bottom Habitats, 
Golden Crab, Shrimp, Spiny Lobster, Red Drum, Coastal Migratory 
Pelagics, and Snapper-Grouper. 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, speckled hind, spiny lobster, bluefish, cobia, king and 
Spanish mackerel, groupers and snappers, greater amberjack, hogfish and 
red porgy 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 species below 
the minimum size limit and 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. 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 
collection of highly migratory species is prohibited in this EFP. 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 November 21, 2002 (67 FR 70216). 
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 the 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.


[[Page 7509]]


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

    Dated: February 10, 2003.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-3761 Filed 2-13-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S