[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 38 (Wednesday, February 26, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 8872-8873]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-4439]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 600

[I.D. 020403A]


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 an EFP 
application from the Maine Department of Marine Resources (Maine DMR) 
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), and does not detrimentally 
affect the well being of any stock of fish likely to be taken during 
the experiment. Therefore, NMFS announces that the Regional 
Administrator proposes to issue an EFP that would allow one vessel to 
conduct fishing operations that are otherwise restricted by the

[[Page 8873]]

regulations governing the fisheries of the NE United States. The EFP 
would allow for an exemption from the NE multispecies small mesh 
northern shrimp fishery exemption area time restrictions. The exempted 
fishing activity would support research to test a dual panel single 
Nordmore grate system for commercial northern shrimp, Pandalus 
borealis, in the Gulf of Maine. The system is intended to separate 
small shrimp and fish from market-sized shrimp in trawl nets by 
separating the catch using a Nordmore grate with two sets of bar 
spacings. 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 March 
13, 2003.

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 Maine Department of Marine Resources Northern Shrimp dual 
panel single Nordmore grate EFP Proposal.'' Comments may also be sent 
via facsimile (fax) to (978) 281-9135.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jason Blackburn, Fishery Management 
Specialist, 978-281-9326.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The application for an EFP was submitted by 
the Maine DMR for research being funded by the Northeast Consortium. 
The applicant is requesting an exemption for one commercial vessel from 
the NE multispecies small mesh northern shrimp fishery exemption area 
time restrictions at 50 CFR 648.80(a)(5)(iii) for 26 days of at-sea 
gear testing.The objective of the research is to test a dual panel 
single Nordmore grate system for the purposes of separating small 
shrimp and most fish from market-sized shrimp in trawl nets by 
separating the catch using a Nordmore grate with two sets of bar 
spacings. The experimental design consists of a trouser trawl net 
utilizing a Nordmore grate with two panels. The upper panel, which the 
catch in the net will encounter first, has small bar spacing that will 
let small shrimp and small fish pass through and escape the net, as the 
codend is tied to the grate below this panel. Anything larger will 
slide down the bars to the next panel, where the bar spacing is the 
normal 1-inch. The market sized shrimp and like sized bycatch will pass 
through these bars and flow back into the codend. Anything larger will 
slide down the bars and escape through the exit hole in the bottom of 
the net.
    The sea trials would be conducted off the coast of Maine, in the 
Gulf of Maine Small Mesh Northern Shrimp Exemption Area, during April 
and May 2003, outside of the fishing season for northern shrimp 
(January 15 to February 27, 2003). This is the time of year when the 
various size classes of shrimp are located in the same areas of the 
Gulf of Maine.
    No shrimp or fish will be landed during this study. It is estimated 
that the total catch of northern shrimp will be 21,632 lb (9,812 kg), 
with an estimated bycatch of 1,730 lb (785 kg) of whiting, 108 lb (49 
kg) of herring, 108 lb (49 kg) of alewife, and a minimal amount of 
other species. A scientist would be aboard the vessel during all 
experimental sea trials.
    This experimental work is important because it could lead to the 
development of gear that could improve the size selection of the shrimp 
nets for northern shrimp and reduce the inadvertent bycatch of fish 
species. The successful development of a dual panel single Nordmore 
grate device could provide the fishing industry with a highly selective 
device that functions similarly to a double Nordmore grate system, 
while being less cumbersome to rig and handle on deck.
    Based on the results of this EFP, this action could lead to future 
rulemaking.

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

    Dated: February 19, 2003.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-4439 Filed 2-25-03; 8:45 am]
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