[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 46 (Friday, March 9, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 10711]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-4258]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 030107G]


Fisheries in the Western Pacific; Western Pacific Pelagic 
Fisheries; American Samoa Longline Limited Entry Program

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

ACTION: Notice; availability of permit upgrades.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is soliciting applications for American Samoa longline 
limited entry permit upgrades. Fourteen (14) permit upgrades will be 
available in 2007 for Class A vessel permit holders to upgrade to 
larger vessel size classes (B-1, C-1, or D-1) in the American Samoa 
pelagic longline fishery. The permit upgrades are available only to 
Class A permit holders who participated in the fishery before March 22, 
2002, and the highest priority for receiving a permit upgrade will be 
given to the person with the earliest date of documented participation.

DATES: Completed permit upgrade applications must be received by NMFS 
by May 8, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Applicants should send completed applications to NMFS 
Pacific Islands Region (PIR), ATTN: ASLE Permit Upgrade, 1601 Kapiolani 
Blvd., Suite 1110, Honolulu, HI 96814-4700.
    Application forms may be obtained from NMFS PIR, ATTN: ASLE Permit 
Upgrade, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1110, Honolulu, HI 96814-4700, or 
from the NMFS PIR Web site: http://www.fpir.noaa.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Walter Ikehara, NMFS PIR (808)944-
2275.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 25, 2005, NMFS published a final rule 
(70 FR 29646) that established a limited entry program for the pelagic 
longline fishery based in American Samoa, under Amendment 11 to the 
Fishery Management Plan for Pelagic Fisheries in the Western Pacific 
Region. American Samoa longline limited entry permits were established 
for four vessel size classes, based on length:
     Class A: less than or equal to 40 ft (12.2 m),
     Class B and B-1: over 40 ft (12.2 m) to 50 ft (15.2 m) 
inclusive,
     Class C and C-1: over 50 ft (15.2 m) to 70 ft (21.3 m) 
inclusive, and
     Class D and D-1: over 70 ft (21.3 m).
    A total of 60 initial American Samoa longline limited entry permits 
were issued, 22 in Class A, five in Class B, 12 in Class C, and 21 in 
Class D. These numbers are the vessel size class limits on the number 
of allowed American Samoa longline limited entry permits, as defined by 
the regulations setting the maximum limit on permits under the limited 
entry program.
    The limited entry program allows for a total of 26 permit upgrades 
to be made available for the exclusive use of permit holders in Class 
A, distributed over a four-year period following the issuance of 
initial limited entry permits. In 2006, eight permit upgrades were 
available (four in Class B-1, two in Class C-1, and two in Class D-1), 
but only one Class B-1 upgrade and one Class D-1 upgrade were issued, 
leaving six unissued. In 2007, 14 permit upgrades will be available 
(four new and three unissued in Class B-1, two new and two unissued in 
Class C-1, and two new and one unissued in Class D-1). The Regional 
Administrator may initially issue Class B-1, C-1 and D-1 permit 
upgrades only to persons who hold a Class A permit and who participated 
in the American Samoa pelagic longline fishery before March 22, 2002. 
The highest priority will be given to those with the earliest date of 
documented participation. Those receiving upgraded permits must 
surrender their Class A permits and the surrendered permits are 
deducted from the allowed Class A permit total.
    This notice announces the availability of permit upgrades and 
solicits applications for the upgrades. Complete applications must 
include the completed and signed application form (available from 
NMFS), legible copies of documents supporting historical participation 
in the American Samoa pelagic longline fishery, and payment for the 
non-refundable application processing fee. Documents supporting fishery 
participation should show that fishing was conducted using longline 
gear. Properly completed applications must be received by NMFS (see 
ADDRESSES) by May 8, 2007 to be considered for eligibility for the 2007 
permit upgrades.
    Authoritative additional information on the American Samoa longline 
limited entry program may be found at 50 CFR part 665.

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

    Dated: March 5, 2007.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-4258 Filed 3-8-07; 8:45 am]
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