[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 83 (Tuesday, April 29, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 23195]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-9392]



[[Page 23195]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XH34


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. Nineteen (19) permit upgrades will be 
available in 2008 for Class A vessel (i.e., less than or equal to 40 
ft, or 12.2 m, in length) permit holders to upgrade to larger vessel 
size classes. 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 applications for permit upgrades must be received by 
NMFS by June 30, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Send completed applications to NMFS Pacific Islands Region 
(PIR), ATTN: ASLE Permit Upgrade, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1110, 
Honolulu, HI 96814-4700.
    Application forms are available from NMFS Pacific Islands Region, 
ATTN: Permits, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1110, Honolulu, HI 96814-
4700, or the Pacific Islands Region website at www.fpir.noaa.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Walter Ikehara, NMFS PIR, Tel 808-944-
2275, Fax 808-973-2941, or e-mail [email protected].

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).
    The limited entry program allows for 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 2008, 19 permit upgrades will be available 
(11 in Class B-1, six in Class C-1, and two in Class D-1). The Regional 
Administrator may initially issue permit upgrades only to persons who 
hold Class A permits 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 
PIR, see ADDRESSES), 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 participation should show that fishing was conducted using 
longline gear. Applications must be received by NMFS by June 30, 2008 
to be considered for eligibility for the 2008 permit upgrades.
    Authoritative additional information on the American Samoa limited 
entry program may be found in Title 50 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations, part 665.

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

    Dated: April 23, 2008.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-9392 Filed 4-28-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S