[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 147 (Tuesday, August 1, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43446-43447]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-12271]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 072606J]


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

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

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable 
Fisheries, Northeast Region, NMFS (Assistant Regional Administrator) 
has made a preliminary determination that the subject Exempted Fishing 
Permit (EFP) application from the University of New Hampshire (UNH) for 
an exemption from the days-at-sea (DAS) requirements of the Northeast 
(NE) Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP), for the purpose of 
testing the ability of specific fish traps to catch haddock, contains 
all of 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 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 issue an EFP that would allow 
vessels to conduct fishing operations that are otherwise restricted by 
the regulations governing the fisheries of the Northeastern United 
States.
    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 August 16, 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 UNH Haddock Trap (DA6-210).'' 
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 
UNH Haddock Trap (DA6-210).'' Comments may also be sent via facsimile 
(fax) to (978) 281-9135.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Moira Kelly, Fishery Management 
Specialist, phone: (978) 281-9218, fax: (978) 281-9135.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A complete application for an EFP was 
submitted by Dr. Ken La Valley of the University of New Hampshire, on 
July 7, 2006. The EFP would exempt one federally permitted commercial 
fishing vessel from the following requirement of the FMP: NE 
multispecies DAS requirements, specified at 50 CFR 648.82(a). This 
project is funded by the Northeast Consortium.
    UNH has requested an exemption from the DAS requirements in order 
to test the effectiveness of two demersal fish trap designs, i.e., 
Pacific and Norwegian cod pots, modified for catching Atlantic haddock 
of a larger size and condition for use in the live fish market. A DAS 
exemption is requested in order to allow the exempted fishing vessel to 
economically assist in this research, because no fish will be retained 
or landed.
    The Norwegian two-chamber fish pot has two fairly wide entrance 
funnels leading into the lower chamber, with a narrow entrance leading 
to an upper chamber. Typically, a bait bag is fixed with squid for cod 
on a string or longline at varying depths. This fish trap would be 
modified to use vertical mounted triggers to allow easy entrance while 
providing an increased internal volume available for fish compared to 
the Norwegian design. The Pacific cod pot is a 6 ft x 6 ft x 3 ft (1.83 
m x 1.83 m x .91 m) design that has triggers on three sides of the pot 
to allow increased opportunities to enter the trap, with shallow leads 
leading to the tunnel eye. The Pacific trap would be modified to a 
collapsible version that would also

[[Page 43447]]

incorporate vertical mounted triggers instead of horizontal triggers 
typically used for cod.
    Haddock specific baits would also be tested during the project. In 
addition, an underwater video camera would be used to document haddock 
behavior in and around each trap design. The camera would be deployed 
with an onboard auxiliary group from a significant distance from test 
site, so as not to influence behavior with the lights.
    A total of 12 traps would be deployed, and 10-14 hauls would be 
made, with an average soak time of 24 hrs, over 10 days. The gear 
testing would take place in the Gulf of Maine (GOM), northeast of the 
Western GOM Closure Area.
    The researchers intend to target haddock, but anticipate some 
incidental catch of Atlantic cod, pollock, redfish, and spiny dogfish. 
Once caught, fish would be sorted by species, measured, weighed, and 
returned to the water. No fish, shellfish, or other animals would be 
retained. The researchers estimate that less than 1,000 lb (453.59 kg) 
of haddock and less than 500 lb (226.80 kg) of all incidental species 
would be collected and returned to the water. The intent is for this 
project to take place between August and November 2006.
    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 result 
in only a minimal change in the scope or impact of the initially 
approved EFP request. In accordance with NOAA Administrative Order 216-
6, a Categorical Exclusion or other appropriate NEPA document would be 
completed prior to the issuance of the EFP. Further review and 
consultation may be necessary before a final determination is made to 
issue the EFP. After publication of this document in the Federal 
Register, the EFP, if approved, may become effective following a 15-day 
public comment period.

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

    Dated: July 26, 2006.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-12271 Filed 7-31-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S