[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 127 (Wednesday, July 2, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 39532]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-16779]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 060503B]


Permits; Foreign Fishing

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

ACTION: Notice to U.S. vessel owners of need for break-bulk 
refrigerated cargo vessels.

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SUMMARY: NMFS provides notice to U.S. vessel owners of the need for 
break-bulk refrigerated cargo vessels to support approved foreign 
fishing operations in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

ADDRESSES: Additional information on this action may be obtained from 
NMFS, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, International Fisheries 
Division, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert A. Dickinson, Office of 
Sustainable Fisheries, (301) 713-2276.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) (Magnuson-
Stevens Act), any person may submit an application requesting a permit 
authorizing a vessel other than a vessel of the United States to engage 
in fishing consisting solely of transporting fish or fish products at 
sea from a point within the EEZ or, with the concurrence of a State, 
within the boundaries of that State, to a point outside the United 
States.
    Potential joint venture (JV) partners have reported that they will 
need to have a number of break-bulk refrigerated cargo vessels 
permitted under section 204(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act to support 
approved foreign fishing operations in the EEZ. The JV partners have 
reported that arrangements for such support vessels must generally be 
made on short notice immediately prior to the need for transport 
services. The JV partners have also reported that they are not aware of 
the availability of any U.S.-flag break-bulk refrigerated cargo vessels 
and that it will therefore be necessary for them to employ foreign 
break-bulk refrigerated cargo vessels to support their operations.
    In the interest of expediting the issuance of required permits and 
in accordance with section 204(d)(3) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the 
JV partners have requested and received from the New England Fishery 
Management Council and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, a 
recommendation that any break-bulk refrigerated cargo vessels required 
to support approved foreign fishing operations in the EEZ be permitted 
under section 204(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act.
    In accordance with section 204(d)(3)(D) of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Act, NMFS is notifying interested parties of the need of the JV 
partners for break-bulk refrigerated cargo vessels to transship 
processed fishery products at-sea and transport the products to points 
outside the United States. Further information about the requirements 
of the JV partners is available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES). Owners or 
operators of vessels of the United States who purport to have vessels 
with adequate capacity to perform the required transportation at fair 
and reasonable rates should indicate their interest in doing so to NMFS 
(see ADDRESSES). NMFS will provide notice of such interest to any 
204(d) permit applicant(s) and consider such interest in making a 
determination in accordance with section 204(d)(3)(D) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act.
    In consideration of the Councils' recommendation, the apparent lack 
of available U.S.-flag break-bulk refrigerated cargo vessels (as 
reported by the JV partners), and the requirement to process and issue 
on short notice permits requested in accordance with section 204(d) of 
the Magnuson-Stevens Act, until an owner or operator of a vessel of the 
United States having adequate capacity to perform the required 
transportation at fair and reasonable rates is identified, NMFS intends 
to approve as expeditiously as possible all complete applications for 
204(d) transshipment permits submitted by U.S. JV partners in support 
of approved foreign fishing operations in the EEZ.

    Dated: June 26, 2003.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-16779 Filed 7-1-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S