[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 63 (Monday, April 4, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17069-17070]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-6598]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 032805A]


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Environmental Assessment; 
Exempted Fishing Permits

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

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the availability of an Environmental Assessment 
(EA) prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act to 
analyze the potential impacts associated with exempting six pelagic 
longline vessels from existing area closures and other regulations for 
the purpose of evaluating whether gear modifications and/or various 
fishing techniques can avoid/reduce bycatch and associated regulatory 
discards of juvenile highly migratory species (HMS) in the Gulf of 
Mexico, Florida East Coast, South Atlantic Bight, Mid-Atlantic Bight, 
and Northeast Coastal statistical areas of the Atlantic Ocean. The EA 
examines alternatives available to authorize activities otherwise 
prohibited by regulations for the conduct of scientific research and 
the investigation of bycatch, consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), and 
other relevant Federal laws. NMFS is requesting comments on the 
alternatives outlined in the EA.

DATES: Written comments on this action must be received no later than 5 
p.m., local time, on April 11, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the EA can be obtained by contacting Heather 
Stirratt (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) or by viewing the 
document online at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/.
    Comments regarding the EA and issuance of Exempted Fishing Permits

[[Page 17070]]

(EFPs) can be submitted by any of the following methods:
     Email: [email protected]. Include in the subject line the 
following identifier: I.D.032805A.
     Mail: Heather Stirratt, NMFS Highly Migratory Species 
Management Division, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
     Fax: (301) 713-1917.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Heather Stirratt at (301) 713-2347.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EFPs are requested and issued under the 
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) and/or 
the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.). Regulations 
at 50 CFR 600.745 and 635.32 govern scientific research activity, 
exempted fishing, and exempted educational activity with respect to 
Atlantic HMS.
    Six operators of permitted Atlantic pelagic longline vessels have 
requested exemptions from certain regulations applicable to the harvest 
and landing of HMS in order to conduct bycatch reduction research in 
the following regions of the Atlantic Ocean: North of Cape Hatteras, 
South of Cape Hatteras, and Gulf of Mexico (GOM). Specifically, the 
vessels propose to test gear modifications and/or various fishing 
techniques to avoid incidentally-caught white marlin, blue marlin, 
bluefin tuna, and sea turtles, while allowing for the targeted catches 
of allowed species.
    To conclusively demonstrate the effectiveness of gear 
modifications, in the shortest timeframe, it is necessary to test 
bycatch reduction measures in those areas where pelagic longlines are 
most likely to encounter the bycatch species of concern (i.e., juvenile 
HMS). As such, it is necessary to conduct comparison experiments both 
inside and outside of existing closed areas. Restricted access within 
existing closed areas has been proposed by the applicants as terms and 
conditions of the proposed research in order to minimize or eliminate 
the potential for gear and/or fishing grounds conflicts. Within the GOM 
region, two pelagic longline vessels propose to conduct 100 compensated 
bycatch reduction fishing sets (approximately 750 hooks/set) during a 
limited time period (late April through September). Within the North of 
Cape Hatteras region, two pelagic longline vessels propose to conduct 
50 compensated bycatch reduction fishing sets (approximately 680 hooks/
set) during a limited time period (June through August). Within the 
South of Cape Hatteras region, two pelagic longline vessels propose to 
conduct 50 compensated bycatch reduction fishing sets (approximately 
556 hooks/set) during a limited time period (late April through June).
    This research may benefit all interested parties by providing 
fishery managers with additional gear modifications and/or fishing 
techniques that reduce or avoid incidental capture/bycatch mortality of 
HMS in the research areas as proposed above.
    The regulations that would prohibit the proposed activities include 
requirements for size limits (50 CFR 635.20), commercial retention 
limits for sharks and swordfish (50 CFR 635.24), and definitions as 
they apply to closed areas (50 CFR 635.2).
    NMFS invites comments from interested parties on potential concerns 
should these EFPs be issued. Copies of the EA are now available for 
review and comment (see ADDRESSES).

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: March 30, 2005.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 05-6598 Filed 3-30-05; 1:47 pm]
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