[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 221 (Wednesday, November 17, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67324-67325]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E4-3191]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 110904B]


Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic 
Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits

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

ACTION: Notification of a proposal for permits 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

[[Page 67325]]

subject Exempted Fishing Permit (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 one 
commercial fishing vessel 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 Gulf of Maine (GOM) Rolling Closure Areas, the NE 
multispecies days-at-sea (DAS) effort control program, the NE 
multispecies DAS notification requirement, and the minimum mesh size 
for trawl gear. 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 must be received on or before December 2, 2004.

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 the GOM High Opening Raised Footrope Trawl for Haddock 
and Pollock.'' Comments may also be sent via fax to (978) 281-9135, or 
be submitted via e-mail to the following address: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Tasker, Fishery Management 
Specialist, phone 978-281-9273.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An application for an EFP was submitted on 
October 12, 2004, by Dr. Pingguo He of the University of New Hampshire 
(UNH) for a Northeast Consortium contract project. The primary goal of 
the research is to design and test a high opening haddock raised 
footrope trawl for potential use in B DAS programs in the GOM.
    The project, which is anticipated to be two years in duration, 
would include flume tank trials and 10 days of at-sea trials, per year. 
At-sea trials would consist of three to four 1-hour tows per sea day. 
Additionally, researchers would use remote underwater video observation 
and acoustic gear geometry monitoring to assess the success of the net 
during at-sea trials. The experimental net would consist of long drop-
chains hanging between the fishing line and the sweep (raised 
footrope), creating a space for cod, flounders, and other benthic 
animals to escape or fall under the fishing line. The trawl would 
incorporate large meshes in the wings and belly, and kites in the 
square near the headline. Kites may also be used near the wingends to 
expand the trawl. Researchers have requested a small mesh exemption to 
allow for the use of a second codend or a small mesh cover to collect 
fish released from the trawl to assess the effectiveness of the 
separator trawl.
    All specimens caught would be sampled and measured. All undersized 
fish will be returned to the sea as quickly as practical after 
measurement and examination. The overall fishing mortality is estimated 
to be 30 percent of the average commercial fishing mortality on a DAS. 
The researcher anticipates that a total of 5,217 lb (2,366.4 kg) of 
fish, including 1,300 lb (589.7 kg) of cod, would be harvested 
throughout the course of the study. Other species that are anticipated 
to be caught are haddock, dab, yellowtail flounder, winter flounder, 
grey sole, white hake, and pollock. All legal-sized fish, within the 
possession limit, would be sold, with the proceeds returned to the 
project for the purpose of enhancing future research.
    Year one of the study would take place from May 1, 2005, to April 
30, 2006. All at-sea research during year one would be conducted from 
one fishing vessel. During the second year of the project, two vessels 
would conduct at-sea research. The trials would occur in the area north 
of 43[deg]00' N. lat. and west of 69[deg]00' W. long., especially in 
the inshore GOM, excluding the Western GOM Closure Area. Researchers 
have asked for an exemption to the regulations establishing the Western 
GOM Rolling Closure Areas because they believe that an optimal mixture 
of haddock and cod for testing this gear is present in the Western GOM 
waters during May and June. Because the aim of the project is to 
develop gear that could separate haddock and cod before the fish are 
brought onboard, an exemption from the Western GOM Rolling Closure 
Areas is important to the success of the study. Exemption from 10 DAS 
is also requested to conduct the experiment because a commercial DAS 
level of effort would not likely be realized due to the additional time 
that would be necessary to weigh, measure, and sort the catch, and to 
adjust underwater video and acoustic monitoring systems.

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

    Dated: November 10, 2004.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E4-3191 Filed 11-16-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-S