[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 218 (Wednesday, November 12, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64084-64085]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-28210]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 103003D]


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: NMFS announces that the Assistant Regional Administrator for 
Sustainable Fisheries, Northeast Region, NMFS (Assistant Regional 
Administrator) proposes to recommend that EFPs be issued in response to 
an application submitted by the Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen's 
Association (CCCHFA), in collaboration with the New England Aquarium 
and NMFS. The EFP would allow up to six vessels to retain undersized 
Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) in the area of the Great South Channel east 
onto Georges Bank

[[Page 64085]]

from December 2003 through November 2004. The Assistant Regional 
Administrator has made a preliminary determination that the application 
contains all of the required information and warrants further 
consideration and that the activities to be authorized under the EFPs 
would be consistent with the goals and objectives of the Northeast 
Multispecies Fishery Management Plan. However, further review and 
consultation may be necessary before a final determination is made to 
issue EFPs.

DATES: Comments on this action must be received on or before November 
28, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Patricia A. Kurkul, 
Regional Administrator, NMFS, NE Regional Office, 1 Blackburn Drive, 
Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope ``Comments on 
CCCHFA Undersized Cod EFP Proposal.'' Comments may also be sent via fax 
to (978) 281-9135. Comments will not be accepted if submitted via e-
mail or the Internet.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Heather Sagar, Fishery Management 
Specialist, phone: (978) 281-9341, fax: (978) 281-9135, email: 
[email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On October 1, 2003, CCCHFA, in collaboration with the New England 
Aquarium and NMFS, submitted a complete application for up to six 
vessels to conduct a study on mortality rates and survivability of 
undersized Atlantic cod harvested in the bottom-set longline and jig 
fisheries in southern New England. Currently the mortality for 
undersized cod returned to the water is considered to be 100 percent, 
since there is little information to indicate otherwise. Exemptions 
would be necessary to relieve vessels from the restrictions on 
possession of undersized Atlantic cod at Sec.  648.83(a). The proposed 
study would occur inside the area defined as follows: The outer Cape 
Cod shoreline at 42[deg] N. lat. and 70[deg] W. long., then follow the 
70[deg] W. long. line south to the northern border of the Nantucket 
Lightship Closed Area, then follow the northern border of the Nantucket 
Lightship Closed Area east to 69[deg] W. long., then follow the 69[deg] 
W. long. line north to the western border of Georges Bank Closed Area 
I, then follow the western border of Georges Bank Closed Area I (Loran 
C 13700) to the 42[deg] N. lat. line, then follow the 42[deg] N. lat. 
line west to 70[deg] W. long. At no time would fishing operations be 
conducted inside year-round closure areas.
    The experiment would occur from December 2003 through November 
2004, during which time longline vessels would sample at 20, 30, and 40 
fathoms (36.6, 54.9, and 73.2 m, respectively) 3 times each, during 
each season, for a total of 36 trips ( 3 depths x 3 samples x 4 seasons 
= a total of 36 days). There will be six vessels participating in this 
study for a total of 36 trips for the experiment. Each vessel would 
fish its bottom-set longline gear consisting of 1,800 ft (548.6 m) of 
mainline with 300 12 circle hooks spaced every 6 ft (1.83 m). 
Approximately 3,600 hooks would be set per fishing day, with a soak 
time of 3-4 hours. After the vessel sets the longline it would begin 
the jigging portion of the study. The undersized cod would be measured, 
weighed, and tagged to determine survivability rates of the undersized 
cod. The applicant would use two different handling techniques for all 
longline caught fish: Alternate fish would be flipped off the hook or 
snubbed (allowing the hook to pass through the jaw). All fish caught 
during the jigging portion would be flipped off the hook. During each 
season, a minimum of 150 undersized fish would be collected and 
retained for 72 hours in each cage at each of the sample depths. The 
cage would be constructed to hug tight to the sea floor and to resist 
rolling in the highly tidal areas. Other than the above protocol, the 
vessels would follow normal fishing practices. All fish landed would be 
subject to existing minimum size and trip limit requirements.
    A scientific data collector would be present on board each 
participating vessel. Scientific data collectors would be responsible 
for collecting all relevant biological and environmental data. CCCHFA 
would be responsible for developing a full report of results and 
provide this report to NMFS.
    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.

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

    Dated: November 3, 2003.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-28210 Filed 11-10-03; 8:45 am]
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