[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 233 (Thursday, December 4, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67839-67840]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-30177]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 112603B]


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 activities authorized under the EFP 
would be consistent with the goals and objectives of the Northeast (NE) 
Multispecies 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 up to 60 commercial fishing vessels to conduct fishing operations 
that are otherwise restricted by the regulations governing the 
fisheries of the Northeastern United States. The EFP would allow for 
exemptions from the FMP as follows: The Georges Bank (GB) seasonal 
closure area; the Days-at-Sea (DAS) notification requirements; the 
effort-control program (DAS); and minimum fish size restrictions for 
the temporary retention of undersized fish for data collection 
purposes.
    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 
19, 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 Cod Tagging Study.'' Comments may also be sent via 
facsimile (fax) to (978) 281-9135.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen's 
Association submitted an application for an EFP to NMFS on November 13, 
2003. The application was complete as received. The experimental 
fishing application requests authorization to

[[Page 67840]]

allow the catch, tag, and release of Atlantic cod using rod and reel 
only. The primary goal of the study is to provide high quality 
scientific data on the current distribution and movement patterns of 
Atlantic cod on GB. In the long term, it is hoped that the improved 
understanding of the cod stock that may result from this study would 
enable better and more effective management of the cod fishery.
    The study proposes to catch, tag, and release 30,000 individual cod 
during 300 dedicated tagging trips, using up to 60 commercial fishing 
vessels. The participating vessels would catch cod using rod and reel, 
with treble hooks eliminated from the jigs, temporarily hold caught cod 
live in tanks aboard the vessel while processing and tagging the fish, 
and return the fish alive to the sea. Any other species caught would be 
released as soon as practicable. During the study, no fish of any 
species would be landed or retained for commercial sale. Cod would be 
tagged on dedicated tagging trips in four main areas: The Cape Cod/
Chatham area; the Great South Channel area; the Nantucket Shoals area; 
and the Coxes Ledge area. The study would likely have minimal impacts 
to the target species in the area due to the use of rod and reel as the 
catch method and efforts to minimize trauma and release all specimens 
alive. Tagging program staff would be on board the vessel for training 
purposes and to observe 20 percent of the dedicated trips to assist 
with tagging operations.
    The research study would occur between December 1, 2003, and June 
15, 2004, in the area defined by straight lines connecting the points 
42[deg]00' N. lat. 70[deg]00' W. long., the northern border of the 
Nantucket Lightship Closed Area at 70[deg]00' W. long., the northern 
border of the Nantucket Lightship Closed Area at 69[deg]00' W. long., 
the western border of Closed Area I at 69[deg]00' W. long., 42[deg]00' 
N. lat. at Loran C 13700, and then back to 42[deg]00' N. lat. 
70[deg]00' W. long. This area excludes the NE multispecies year-round 
closed areas but includes the GB Seasonal Closure Area (May 1-May 31). 
The rationale for needing to access this seasonal closure area is to 
capture and tag fish from aggregating schools of spawning cod prior to 
their post-spawning migration.
    Therefore, the EFP would allow for exemptions from the FMP as 
follows: the Georges Bank (GB) seasonal closure area specified at 50 
CFR 648.81(n); the DAS notification requirements specified at Sec.  
648.10; the effort-control program (DAS) as specified at Sec.  
648.82(a); and minimum fish-size restrictions specified at Sec.  
648.83(a) for the temporary retention of undersized fish for data 
collection purposes.

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

    Dated: November 28, 2003.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-30177 Filed 12-3-03; 8:45 am]
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