[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 96 (Friday, May 16, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28435-28436]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-11016]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XH63


Permits; Foreign Fishing

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

ACTION: Notice of receipt of foreign fishing application; request for 
comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS publishes for public review and comment information 
regarding a foreign fishing application submitted under provisions of 
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery

[[Page 28436]]

Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).

DATES: Comments must be received by May 30, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Send comments or requests for a copy of the application to 
NMFS, Office of International Affairs, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910.
    Comments on this notice may also be submitted by e-mail to 
[email protected]. Include in the subject line the following 
document identifier: RIN 0648-XH63.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher Rogers, Office of 
International Affairs, (301) 713-9090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Section 204(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1824(d)) 
provides, among other things, that the Secretary of Commerce 
(Secretary) may issue a transshipment permit which authorizes a vessel 
other than a vessel of the United States to engage in fishing 
consisting solely of transporting fish or fish products at sea from a 
point within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) or, with the 
concurrence of a state, within the boundaries of that state to a point 
outside the United States. In addition, Public Law 104-297, sec. 105(e) 
directs the Secretary to issue section 204(d) permits for up to 14 
Canadian transport vessels to receive Atlantic herring harvested by 
United States fishermen within the boundaries of the State of Maine or 
within the portion of the EEZ east of the line 69 degrees 30 minutes 
west and within 12 nautical miles from the seaward boundary of that 
State.
    Section 204(d)(3)(D) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act provides that an 
application may not be approved until the Secretary determines that 
``no owner or operator of a vessel of the United States which has 
adequate capacity to perform the transportation for which the 
application is submitted has indicated ... an interest in performing 
the transportation at fair and reasonable rates.'' NMFS is publishing 
this notice as part of its effort to make such a determination with 
respect to the application described below.

Summary of Application

    NMFS has received an application requesting authorization for 11 
Canadian transport vessels to receive transfers of herring from U.S. 
purse harvesting vessels for the purpose of transporting the herring to 
processing plants in Canada. The transshipment operations will occur 
within the boundaries of the State of Maine or within the portion of 
the exclusive economic zone east of the line 69 degrees 30 minutes west 
and within 12 nautical miles from the seaward boundary of that State.
    Interested U.S. vessel owners and operators may obtain a copy of 
the complete application from NMFS (see ADDRESSES).

    Dated: May 9, 2008.
Rebecca Lent,
Director, Office of International Affairs, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. E8-11016 Filed 5-15-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S