[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 60 (Monday, March 29, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 16233]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-6969]



[[Page 16233]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 032204I]


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 20 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 GOM Rolling Closure Areas; the 
Cashes Ledge and Western Gulf of Maine (WGOM) Closure Areas; 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 April 
13, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Comments on this notice may be submitted by e-mail. The 
mailbox address for providing e-mail comments is [email protected]. 
Include in the subject line of the e-mail comment the following 
document identifier: ``Comments on CCCHFA GOM Cod Tagging Study.'' 
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 
CCCHFA GOM 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 (CCCHFA) submitted an application for an EFP on March 8, 
2004. The application was complete as received. The experimental 
fishing application requests authorization to allow the catch, tagging, 
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 in the GOM. It is 
anticipated that the improved understanding of the cod stocks expected 
to result from this study will ultimately enable better and more 
effective management of the cod fishery.
    The study proposes to catch, tag, and release 2,000 individual cod 
during 20 dedicated tagging trips, using up to 20 commercial fishing 
vessels. The participating vessels would catch cod using rod and reel 
with treble hooks eliminated from the jigs, temporarily hold cod alive 
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 focused on, but not limited to, 
Jeffery's Ledge, Platt's Bank, Cashes Ledge, Massachusetts Bay, Race 
Point, and Cape Cod Bay. The study would likely have minimal impacts on 
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 April 15-December 31, 2004, 
in an area encompassed by the following coordinates: From the outer 
Cape Cod shoreline at 42[deg] N lat., 70[deg] W long.; east along 
42[deg] N lat. to 69[deg] W long; then north along 69[deg] W long. to 
43[deg]30' N; and then west along 43[deg]30' N lat. to the Maine 
coastline.
    This EFP would allow for exemptions from the Northeast (NE) 
Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP) as follows: The GOM Rolling 
Closure Areas specified at 50 CFR 648.81(g)(1)(i)-(v); the Cashes Ledge 
and Western Gulf of Maine (WGOM) Closure Areas specified at Sec.  
648.81(h)(1) and (i)(1); the Days-at-Sea (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: March 24, 2004.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 04-6969 Filed 3-26-04; 8:45 am]
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