[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 88 (Monday, May 9, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 24397]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-9147]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 032805A]


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Exempted Fishing Permits

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: NMFS has decided not to proceed at this time with issuing 
exempted fishing permits (EFPs) for conducting bycatch reduction 
research in the following regions of the Atlantic Ocean: North of Cape 
Hatteras, South of Cape Hatteras, and Gulf of Mexico (GOM) until such 
time as an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) can be prepared to 
further assess the impacts associated with fishing in existing pelagic 
longline closed areas.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Heather Stirratt, 301-713-2347; fax: 
301-713-1917.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EFPs are requested and issued under the 
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 
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 50 CFR 
635.32 govern scientific research activity, exempted fishing, and 
exempted educational activity with respect to Atlantic Highly Migratory 
Species (HMS).
    Six Atlantic pelagic longline vessels requested exemptions from 
certain regulations applicable to the harvest and landing of Atlantic 
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 GOM. Specifically, the permitted pelagic longline vessels 
proposed 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. The proposal included research in areas currently closed to 
pelagic longline fishing.
    NMFS has considered the public comments received, as requested in 
the Federal Register (70 FR 17069) on April 4, 2005, and has decided 
not to proceed with issuing exempted fishing permits until such time as 
an EIS can be prepared to further assess the impacts associated with 
fishing in existing pelagic longline closed areas. NMFS believes that 
bycatch reduction research in the pelagic longline fishery is important 
to compare or evaluate different bycatch reduction fishing 
methodologies, explore new bycatch reduction gear technologies, and 
investigate ways to tailor and refine existing time/area closures. 
Thus, NMFS will proceed with bycatch reduction research in areas 
currently open to pelagic longline fishing. Bycatch reduction 
information will be gathered via research efforts conducted outside of 
closed areas, consistent with a NMFS-issued cooperative research grant. 
Further consideration of bycatch reduction research inside of closed 
areas may occur upon completion of an EIS.

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

    Dated: May 3, 2005.
John H. Dunnigan
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-9147 Filed 5-3-05; 4:16 pm]
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