[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 220 (Friday, November 14, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64609-64610]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-28547]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 110603A]


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), Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notification of a proposal for EFPs to conduct experimental 
fishing; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable 
Fisheries, Northeast Region, NMFS (Assistant Regional Administrator) 
has made a preliminary determination that the subject EFP application 
contains all the required information and warrants further 
consideration. The Assistant Regional Administrator has also made a 
preliminary determination that the activitiesauthorized under the EFP 
would be consistent with the goals and objectives of the Summer 
Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP). 
However, further review and consultation may be necessary before a 
final determination is made to issue the EFP. Therefore, NMFS announces 
that the Assistant Regional Administrator proposes to recommend that an 
EFP be issued that would allow two vessels to conduct fishing 
operations that areotherwise restricted by the regulations governing 
the fisheries of the Northeastern United States. The EFP would allow 
for exemptions from the FMP as follows: Minimum mesh size in the 
southern Gear Restricted Area (GRA) for fishing for Loligo squid with a 
1 7/8-inch (4.8-cm) diamond mesh codend net; and scup landing limits 
for Winter I period.
    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 December 
1, 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 Loligo Gear Modification Study EFP Proposal.'' Comments 
may also besent via facsimile (fax) to (978) 281-9135.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Hooker, Fishery Management 
Specialist, phone 978-281-9220.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center 
submitted a complete application for an EFP on October 23, 2003. The 
experimental fishing application requests authorization to allow the 
quantitative assessment of the effectiveness of a 5 3/4-inch (14.6-cm) 
square mesh cylinder, installed as an extension of a Loligo squid net, 
in reducing scup bycatch and in retaining commercial quantities of 
Loligo squid. The study would be conducted during the month of January 
2004. Sampling would be conducted in the northern portion of the 
Southern GRA, approximately between 39[deg] 20' N lat. and 38[deg] 00' 
N lat., at locations where scup and Loligo co-occur. The depth range 
within the GRA sampling area is approximately 40 to 100 fathoms (73 to 
183 m). Stations would be located

[[Page 64610]]

across a range of depths to test the efficiency of the gear across a 
range of scup-Loligo densities. Samples would be within close proximity 
of one another to minimize steam time between stations. Estimated catch 
for the study period are as follows: Loligo squid, 96,000 lb (43,545 
kg); scup, 13,000 lb (6,078 kg); butterfish, 9,600 lb (4,354 kg); Illex 
squid, 2,800 lb (1,270 kg); summer flounder, 2,600 lb (1,179 kg); 
monkfish, 1,900 lb (862 kg); smooth dogfish, 1,000 lb (454 kg); spiny 
dogfish, 700 lb (318 kg); white hake, 600 lb (272 kg); john dory, 200 
lb (91 kg); black sea bass, 100 lb (45 kg); silver hake, 100 lb (45 
kg); and tilefish, 10 lb (5 kg). Squid and fish caught during the study 
would be sold by the vessel owners, in accordance with the requirements 
of the permits issued to them (with the exception of the requested 
exemption to the scup landing limit). The sale of fish is necessary to 
offset the costs of chartering the vessels for the study. The 
participating vessels would be required to comply with applicable state 
landing laws and report all landings on the Federal Fishing Vessel Trip 
Report.

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

    Dated: November 7, 2003.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-28547 Filed 11-13-03; 8:45 am]
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