[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 159 (Thursday, August 17, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47488-47489]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-13551]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 081106B]


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

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

ACTION: Notification of a proposal for an EFP to conduct experimental 
fishing; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional 
Administrator) has made a preliminary determination that the subject 
Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) application 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 Sea Scallop 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 Regional Administrator proposes to issue an EFP that 
would allow one or more vessels 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 
certain Atlantic sea scallop possession and landings restrictions.

DATES: Comments on this document must be received on or before 
September 1, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted by any of the following 
methods:
     Mail: Patricia A. Kurkul, Regional Administrator, NMFS, 
Northeast Regional Office, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. 
Mark the outside of the envelope, ``Comments on Coonamessett Farm Inc. 
EFP Proposal (DA6-187);''
     E-mail: [email protected], include ``Comments on 
Coonamessett Farm Inc. EFP Proposal'' in the subject line of the e-
mail;
     Fax: (978) 281-9135.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This project would attempt to observe, using 
video surveillance, how sea turtles interact with two scallop dredge 
designs. The control dredge would be a standard 13-ft (3.9-m) New 
Bedford-style scallop dredge. The experimental dredge will be a 13-ft 
(3.9-m) New Bedford-style scallop dredge with modifications to the 
cutting bar and bale strengthening bars to reduce the likelihood of 
turtle entrapment in the area between the depressor plate and the 
cutting bar.
    The proposed research activity would occur between August 1, 2006, 
and July 31, 2007. The exempted vessel(s) would fish in areas open to 
general category vessels on the continental shelf off the coasts of New 
Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia. The vessel would be allowed to fish a 
maximum of 20 days under this EFP, with a total scallop catch not to 
exceed 8000 lb (3,629 kg) (400 lb/day) / (181 kg/day)). The vessel 
would conduct approximately 150 tows ranging from 15 - 49 minutes each, 
at speeds around 4 knots. Previous research in this area has shown 
bycatch to be limited. It is expected that fish bycatch may consist of 
5,000 lb (2,268 kg) of little skate, less than 50 lb (22.7 kg) of 
monkfish, and approximately 300 lb (136 kg)of flatfish. All marketable 
scallops, and allowed retention of multispecies and monkfish, would be 
sold. Vessels will not be allowed to exceed the possession limit for 
any species other than sea scallops. All other incidental catch would 
be returned to the sea.
    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.


[[Page 47489]]


    Dated: August 11, 2006.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-13551 Filed 8-16-06; 8:45 am]
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