[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 108 (Thursday, June 5, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 33680]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-14178]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 052003C]


Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Atlantic Highly Migratory 
Species; Exempted Fishing Permits

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

ACTION: Notice of receipt of a request for exempted fishing permits 
(EFPs); request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the receipt of a request for EFPs for tuna 
purse seine vessels to begin fishing prior to the traditional start 
date in order to improve market conditions and to allow retention of 
all incidental catch of bluefin tuna between 73 and 81 inches. NMFS 
invites comments from interested parties on potential concerns should 
these EFPs be issued.

DATES: Written comments on this fishing activity will be considered by 
NMFS in issuing such EFPs if received on or before June 20, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Christopher Rogers, Chief, Highly Migratory 
Species Management Division (F/SF1), NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910. Comments also may be sent via facsimile (fax) 
to (301)713-1917. Comments will not be accepted if submitted via e-mail 
or Internet.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sari Kiraly, 301-713-2347; fax: 301-
713-1917.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EFPs are requested and issued under the 
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 
Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) and/or the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act 
(16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.). Regulations at 50 CFR 600.745 and 50 CFR 
635.32 govern scientific research activity, exempted fishing, and 
exempted educational activity with respect to Atlantic HMS.
    The East Coast Tuna Association (ECTA) has requested EFPs for five 
tuna purse seine vessels to begin fishing for their giant Atlantic 
bluefin tuna allocation on July 15, rather than the traditional start 
date of August 15. The ECTA believes that beginning the purse seine 
fishing season 30 days early could enhance marketing opportunities and 
therefore benefit the entire U.S. commercial bluefin tuna fishery.
    ECTA also requests an exemption to allow these vessels to exceed 
the 10-percent tolerance level for incidental catch of bluefin tuna 
between 73 and 81 inches (185 to 206 cm). In their request, ECTA states 
that the minimum size tolerance was a restrictive factor limiting the 
success of last year's start date experiment and above normal water 
temperatures may also have been a contributing factor. ECTA also states 
that due to the prevalence of mixed schools of giant and large medium 
bluefin tuna throughout the fishing season, purse seine vessels would 
likely exceed the 10-percent tolerance for undersized fish. ECTA feels 
that the purse seine quota has not been caught in recent years because 
purse seine vessels have refrained from setting on mixed schools. ECTA 
notes that the purse seine vessels have the largest average minimum 
size of any of the U.S. Atlantic tuna commercial categories and that 
most purse seine vessels targeting mixed schools would not catch 
bluefin tuna below 75 inches (190 cm). Thus, they are requesting an 
exemption from the 10 percent tolerance level in order to ensure the 
purse seine quota is filled, to increase fishing efficiency, and to 
reduce the potential for bycatch mortality.
    NMFS invites comments from interested parties on potential concerns 
should these EFPs be issued.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: May 30, 2003.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-14178 Filed 6-4-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S