[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 240 (Thursday, December 14, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75233-75234]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-21275]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 121106A]


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; receipt of exempted fishing permit application.

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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 contains all 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 Northeast (NE)

[[Page 75234]]

Multispecies 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 Assistant Regional 
Administrator proposes to recommend that an EFP be issued that would 
allow three commercial fishing vessels to conduct fishing operations 
that are otherwise restricted by the regulations governing the 
fisheries of the Northeastern United States. The EFP, which would 
enable researchers to investigate the efficacy of an experimental trawl 
designed to reduce the bycatch of cod while maintaining selectivity for 
haddock, would allow for exemptions from the FMP as follows: U.S./
Canada Management Area gear requirements for trawl nets, U.S./Canada 
Management Area harvest control regulations, and NE multispecies 
possession restrictions. 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 December 29, 2006.

ADDRESSES: 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 the Massachusetts Haddock Trawl Study.'' Comments may 
also be sent via facsimile (fax) to (978) 281-9135, or submitted via e-
mail to the following address: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tobey Curtis, Fishery Management 
Specialist, (978) 281-9273, fax (978) 281-9135.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A complete application for an EFP was 
submitted on November 15, 2006, by David Chosid and Michael Pol of the 
Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF). The project was 
funded by the DMF/University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, School for 
Marine Science and Technology, Marine Fisheries Institute grant 
program. The primary goal of the research is to test the effectiveness 
of a sweepless raised footrope trawl, designed to minimize the catch of 
Atlantic cod while maximizing the catch of haddock. The intent of the 
researchers is that the experimental net, if successful, could 
potentially be an acceptable alternative trawl design to be used in the 
groundfish fishery.
    The project is a continuation of research previously conducted in 
2006 by DMF, which has preliminarily shown that this new trawl net 
design significantly reduces the bycatch of cod, as compared to the 
standard legal trawl. Specifically, DMF will test the effectiveness of 
a sweepless (no ground gear) raised footrope, semi-pelagic trawl, 
referred to as the ``5-point trawl.'' The net was designed to exploit 
the differences in behavior of haddock and cod in relation to towed 
gears. Similar to the haddock separator trawl, this experimental net 
proposes to reduce cod mortality; however, it avoids some of the 
complexities associated with separator trawls, since the cod would not 
pass through meshes, or encounter grids or escape vents. Although this 
study would focus on reducing cod-haddock interactions, this net may 
also reduce the bycatch of flatfish species such as winter flounder, 
yellowtail flounder, witch flounder, and American plaice.
    The species of principal interest in the study are cod and haddock, 
but the study will also have implications for flatfishes, including 
yellowtail flounder, winter flounder, witch flounder, and American 
plaice. All fish would be sorted and weighed, and fish of legal size 
would be retained for sale. All discards would be released as quickly 
as practicable to reduce incidental mortality. Based on catch data from 
previous experimental tows with this net design, the researchers 
anticipate that a total of 34 mt (74,957 lb) of fish would be harvested 
throughout the course of the study. All proceeds from the sale of the 
fish would be returned to DMF for the purpose of enhancing future 
research.
    All at-sea research would be conducted from three fishing vessels. 
The vessels intend to fish in the Eastern and Western U.S./Canada 
Management Areas. The vessel would fish exclusively outside of all 
closed areas. A total of 21 days would be used for testing the 
experimental trawls, carried out under NE multispecies Category A Days-
at-Sea. An anticipated 120, 2-hour tows, using a twin trawl rig, would 
be conducted during that time. This effort would result in a total of 
240 hours of bottom time for the experimental trawls. DMF staff would 
be aboard the vessel at all times during testing.
    Based on preliminary review of this project, and in accordance with 
NOAA Administrative Order 216-6, a Categorical Exclusion from 
requirements to prepare either an Environmental Impact Statement or an 
Environmental Assessment under the National Environmental Policy Act 
appears to be justified. The applicant may request 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 have 
minimal impacts that do not change the scope or impact of the initially 
approved EFP request.

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

    Dated: December 11, 2006.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. E6-21275 Filed 12-13-06; 8:45 am]
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