[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 177 (Wednesday, September 13, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54029-54030]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-15192]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 090806A]


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Coastal Migratory Pelagics off the Southern Atlantic States

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

ACTION: Notice of receipt of an application for an exempted fishing 
permit; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the receipt of an application for an exempted 
fishing permit (EFP) from Dr. William Patterson and Captain Ben Hartig. 
If granted, the EFP would authorize the applicants, with certain 
conditions, to collect limited numbers of undersized and out-of-season 
king mackerel in South Atlantic Federal waters off the coast of 
Florida. The purpose of the study is to estimate temporal and spatial 
variability between migratory king mackerel groups in the winter mixing 
zone off the southeast coast of Florida.

[[Page 54030]]


DATES: Comments must be received no later than 5 p.m., eastern standard 
time, on October 13, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the application may be sent via fax to 727-824-
5308 or mailed to: Sarah DeVido, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 263 
13\th\ Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. Comments may also 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 
document the following text: Comment on Patterson-Hartig EFP 
Application. The application and related documents are available for 
review upon written request to the address above or the e-mail address 
below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarah DeVido, 727-824-5305; fax 727-
824-5308; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EFP is requested under the authority of 
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 
1801 et seq.), and regulations at 50 CFR 600.745(b) concerning exempted 
fishing.
    The described research is part of the cooperative research program 
(NMFS Cooperative Research Program Grant NA06NMF45400601). The 
Cooperative Research Program is a means of involving commercial and/or 
recreational fishermen in the collection of fundamental fisheries 
information. Resource collection efforts support the development and 
evaluation of fisheries management and regulatory options.
    The proposed collection for scientific research involves activities 
otherwise prohibited by regulations implementing the Fishery Management 
Plan for the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the South Atlantic 
Region. The applicants require authorization to harvest and possess 
undersized and out-of-season king mackerel for scientific research 
activities during the period from October 1, 2006, through July 31, 
2008. Specimens would be collected from Federal waters off the 
southeast coast of Florida by trolling artificial lures and rigged dead 
baits during the specified sampling period. Sampling would occur year 
round when migratory fish are present, collecting up to 500 fish per 
year. Biological samples would be extracted from the specimens. Data 
collections for this study will support estimations of growth and age 
(from otolith thin sections), analyses of reproductive biology (from 
gonadal thin sections), and population and mixing dynamics (from shape 
and chemical analyses of otoliths).
    NMFS finds this application warrants further consideration. Based 
on a preliminary review, NMFS intends to issue an EFP. Possible 
conditions the agency may impose on this permit, if it is indeed 
granted, include but are not limited to: The use of only artificial 
lures and rigged dead baits during trolling sampling trips; and 
prohibition of conducting research within marine protected areas, 
marine sanctuaries, or special management zones, or over artificial 
reefs, without additional authorization. A final decision on issuance 
of the EFP will depend on a NMFS review of public comments received on 
the application, consultations with the affected states, the South 
Atlantic Fishery Management Council, and the U.S. Coast Guard, and a 
determination that it is consistent with all applicable laws.

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

    Dated: September 8, 2006.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. E6-15192 Filed 9-12-06; 8:45 am]
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