[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 69 (Wednesday, April 11, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 18208]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-6876]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 030107C]


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Exempted Fishing Permits; 
Extension of Time for Comments

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

ACTION: Notice; request for an exempted fishing permit; extension of 
comment period.

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SUMMARY: This notice extends the comment period for 14 days on an March 
13, 2007, Federal Register notice regarding a request for an exempted 
fishing permit (EFP) to collect fisheries data in the East Florida 
Coast and Charleston Bump closed areas. Due to extensive comments 
received from the public, the Agency is extending the comment period to 
allow for additional comments to be received prior to making a 
determination on the application.

DATES: The deadline for the receipt of written comments on the March 
13, 2007 (72 FR 11327), notice has been extended from April 11 to no 
later than 5 p.m. on April 25, 2007.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     E-mail: [email protected]. Include in the subject line 
the following identifier: ``I.D. 030107C''.
     Mail: Michael Clark, Highly Migratory Species Management 
Division (F/SF1), NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 
20910. Please mark the outside of the envelope ``Comments on EFP 
Application.''
     Fax: (301)713-1917

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Clark, by phone: (301) 713-
2347; fax: (301)713-1917.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EFPs are requested and issued under the 
authority of the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA) (16 U.S.C. 971 et 
seq.) and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
(1601 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), which regulate fishing activities of tunas, 
swordfish, sharks, and billfish. Regulations at 50 CFR 635.32 govern 
scientific research activity, exempted fishing, and exempted 
educational activity with respect to Atlantic Highly Migratory Species 
(HMS).
    On March 13, 2007 (72 FR 11327), NMFS published a notice announcing 
receipt of an application to conduct fishing activities from Pelagic 
Longline (PLL) vessels in portions of the East Florida Coast and 
Charleston Bump closed areas. The objectives of this EFP request have 
not changed. The applicant states that these data would provide 
information on circle hook performance, target and bycatch species 
composition, and allow comparative analysis with historical pelagic 
longline logbook and observer program data. The applicant states that 
the goals of these fishing activities are to determine if 
implementation of new pelagic longline fishing practices justify the 
resumption of PLL fishing in the selected areas and to catch more of 
the United States swordfish quota. The proposed activities would occur 
in Federal waters of the Atlantic Ocean off Florida and South Carolina 
from the date of issuance through April 2008. NMFS is extending the 
original comment period by 14 days because of the extensive number of 
comments received from the public to date and to ensure that all 
comments may be considered prior to the Agency making a determination 
on the application.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: April 6, 2007.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. E7-6876 Filed 4-10-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S