[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 90 (Thursday, May 8, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 26084]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-10176]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG95


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: Notification and clarification of a proposal to conduct 
exempted fishing; request for comments.

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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 that would authorize the harvest of set-aside 
herring awarded to Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) through the 
2008/2009 Atlantic Herring (herring) Research Set-Aside (RSA) Program 
should be issued for public comment. 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 Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan (FMP). 
However, further review and consultation may be necessary before a 
final determination is made.

DATES: Comments on this document must be received on or before May 23, 
2008.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by e-mail to: 
[email protected]. Include in the subject line of the e-mail comment 
the following document identifier: ``Comments on GMRI herring EFP.'' 
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 
GMRI herring EFP.'' Comments may also be sent via facsimile (fax) to 
(978) 281-9135.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ryan Silva, Cooperative Research 
Program Specialist, phone: 978-281-9326, fax: 978-281-9135.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pending final approval by NOAA's Grants 
Management Division, the Science and Research Director for NMFS's 
Northeast Fisheries Science Center has preliminarily selected an 
Atlantic Herring RSA proposal submitted by GMRI to conduct a study 
entitled ``Effects of Fishing on Herring Aggregations,'' which would 
assess the effects of midwater trawling on herring aggregations. GMRI 
submitted a separate EFP request for research activities, which 
published in the Federal Register for public comment on March 10, 2008 
(73 FR 12707). A final determination on the research EFP is pending.
    GMRI was awarded the following total allowable catch (TAC) set-
asides for both 2008 and 2009 to fund the proposed research and to 
compensate compensation fishing vessels: Management Area 1A/2,976,240 
lb (1,350 mt); and Management Area 1B/661,380 lb (300 mt). The subject 
EFP would exempt vessels conducting compensation fishing from herring 
Management Area 1A, 1B, 2, and 3 quota closures, and herring trip 
possession limits, as specified at 50 CFR 648.201 and 648.204, 
respectively. All compensation trips would be completed prior to the 
end of the fishing year from which the compensation was awarded. GMRI 
proposes to combine some research and compensation fishing trips, 
although compensation trips would also occur separately from research 
activities. If a TAC set aside allocation limit is caught while on a 
compensation/research trip, research activities would be required to 
cease in order to prevent the project from exceeding a set-aside 
allocation. If the research project is terminated for any reason prior 
to completion, any unused funds collected from catch sold to pay for 
research expenses may be required to be refunded to NOAA.
    The quota closure and possession limit exemptions would apply only 
to the 2008 fishing year. A subsequent EFP application would need to be 
approved prior to any 2009 compensation fishing.
    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: May 2, 2008.
Emily H. Menashes
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-10176 Filed 5-7-08; 8:45 am]
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