[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 186 (Tuesday, September 26, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56107-56108]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-15685]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 092006A]


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; proposal 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 submitted by the Gulf of 
Maine Research Institute (GMRI) 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) and the Northeast 
Multispecies FMP. However, further review and consultation may be 
necessary before a final determination is made to issue the

[[Page 56108]]

EFP. Therefore, NMFS announces that the Regional Administrator proposes 
to issue an EFP that would allow general category scallop vessels to 
conduct fishing operations that are otherwise restricted by the 
regulations governing the fisheries of the northeastern United States. 
The EFP would exempt vessels from certain gear restrictions, minimum 
fish size possession restrictions, and seasonal area restrictions.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 11, 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 Scallop RSA EFP Proposal;''
    Email: [email protected], include ``Comment on EFP Proposal'' in 
the subject line of the e-mail; or
    Fax: (978) 281-9135.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In response to the Request for Proposals 
issued to solicit research proposals under the Atlantic Sea Scallop 
Research Set Aside (RSA) Program, GMRI submitted a proposal on November 
18, 2005, entitled, ``Testing Bycatch in an Observer-based Experimental 
Scallop Fishery Outside the Gulf of Maine (GOM) Scallop Dredge 
Exemption Area and within Statistical Area 521 and 526.'' The grant was 
approved on August 4, 2006, as NOAA Award No. NA06NMF4540262. An EFP 
application was submitted September 7, 2006.
    The project would survey the Great South Channel Dredge Exemption 
Area (GSC) over a 10-month period to quantify catch rates of scallops 
and finfish bycatch across multiple seasons using the general category 
regulated 3.2 m (10.5-ft) scallop dredge. From March through June, 
project investigators would identify the sex and maturity stage of 
captured yellowtail flounder to improve spawning data. Since portions 
of the GSC are closed seasonally to protect spawning yellowtail 
flounder, vessels would require an exemption from regulations at 50 CFR 
648.80(a)(18)(ii)(C) and (D).
    Vessels would conduct a total of 264 tows over 66 days in the study 
area. Each trip would be 1 day in length. Approximately four 30-minute 
tows would be made per day. Tow length and vessel speed, as well as all 
other gear characteristics, would match the standards employed by the 
general category fleet. For each tow, environmental data, including 
water temperature, wind, sea state, and weather, would be recorded. 
Total weight of the scallop catch would be obtained. All other species 
would be identified, weighed, measured, and returned to the sea as 
quickly as possible to minimize mortality. Since project investigators 
would retain fish below the minimum fish size to collect data, vessels 
would require exemption from minimum fish size regulations at Sec.  
648.83(a). Only marketable scallops would be retained for sale.
    On approximately one third of the total number of tows, vessels 
would cover the 25-cm (10-inch) mesh twine top to collect dredge 
selectivity information, thus requiring exemption from gear 
requirements at Sec.  648.51(b)(2).
    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: September 20, 2006.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-15685 Filed 9-25-06; 8:45 am]
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