[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 125 (Thursday, June 29, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 37059]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-10190]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 062306A]


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: Notice; proposal for an exempted fishing permit to conduct 
experimental fishing; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional 
Administrator) has made a preliminary determination that the subject 
exempted fishing permit (EFP) application from the East Coast Pelagic 
Association (ECPA) that would allow herring vessels to possess haddock 
while testing modified mid-water herring trawls designed to reduce 
haddock bycatch contains all the required information and warrants 
further consideration. The 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 Atlantic 
Herring and Northeast (NE) Multispecies Fishery Management Plans 
(FMPs). However, further review and consultation may be necessary 
before a final determination is made to issue the EFP.

DATES: Comments on this document must be received on or before July 14, 
2006.

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 ECPA EFP Proposal for Modifications 
to Herring Midwater Trawls to Increase Escapement of Non-Target 
Species.'' 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 ECPA EFP Proposal for Modifications to Herring Midwater 
Trawls to Increase Escapement of Non-Target Species.'' Comments may 
also be sent via facsimile (fax) to (978) 281-9135.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ryan Silva, Fishery Management 
Specialist, phone: 978-281-9326, fax: 978-281-9135.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As part of an experiment titled, ``Research 
Project to Examine Modifications to Herring Midwater Trawls to Increase 
Escapement of non-target species (i.e., haddock),'' exempted vessels 
would test trawl modifications designed to reduce haddock bycatch in 
the herring fishery and research the vertical distribution and behavior 
of herring and haddock during the seasonal and spatial overlap that 
occurs between these species on Georges Bank. The experiment is being 
coordinated by the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) on behalf of 
several research partners. The EFP application was submitted by one of 
the project partners, the ECPA. If approved, the EFP would authorize 
participating vessels to possess haddock during research activities. 
Haddock would not be marketed for human consumption. All catch of 
herring would be reported and accounted for through vessel trip reports 
(VTR) and interactive voice reporting (IVR). Incidental catch of 
haddock would be estimated using the NMFS Observer Program sampling 
protocols established for the herring fishery, and reported to NMFS 
following each research trip. Both herring and haddock catch would be 
deducted from the total allowable catch (TAC) specifications for 
herring Management Area 3 and the 0.2 percent haddock TAC as proposed 
in Framework 43 to the NE Multispecies FMP, respectively. The herring 
catch for this project is estimated at 3,500 [dash] 5,000 mt. The 2006 
haddock catch cap allocated to the herring fishery under Framework 43 
is 73.2 mt (161,377 lb). If the overall haddock catch cap is harvested, 
the project would be stopped.
    The applicant intends to compare bycatch rates of 2 modified trawl 
designs and a standard midwater herring trawl. At any given time during 
the requested 26 research days, up to 4 vessels would conduct normal 
fishing activity in herring Management Area 3. Nets would be deployed 
by a combination of vessels, including up to two sets of midwater pair 
trawl vessels and two single midwater trawl vessels. The number of tows 
made per day would be dependent on weather, proper gear deployment and 
availability of herring, but can be estimated at 3-5 per day. Average 
duration of each tow is 3-4 hours at an estimated speed of 3.5 - 4 
knots. In addition, participating vessels would research the vertical 
distribution and reaction behavior of herring and haddock during the 
seasonal and spatial overlap that occurs between these species on 
Georges Bank. Research is proposed for the period July 15 [dash] 
October 30, 2006.
    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. The applicant may place requests for minor modifications 
and extensions to the EFP throughout the year. EFP modifications and 
extensions may be granted without further notice if they are deemed 
essential to facilitate completion of the proposed research and minimal 
so as not to change the scope or impact of the initially approved EFP 
request.

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

    Dated: June 23, 2006.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-10190 Filed 6-28-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S