[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 99 (Wednesday, May 21, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29483-29484]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-11421]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XH96


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Snapper and Grouper Off the Southern Atlantic States

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

ACTION:  Notice of receipt of an application for an exempted fishing 
permit; request for comments.

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SUMMARY:  NMFS announces the receipt of an application for an exempted 
fishing permit (EFP) from the Gulf and South Atlantic Fisheries 
Foundation, Inc.. If granted, the EFP would authorize the applicants, 
with certain conditions, to collect limited numbers of undersized and 
out-of-season snapper and grouper in South Atlantic Federal waters. 
This study is intended to characterize catch and discard mortality 
within the South Atlantic commercial hook and line snapper-grouper 
fishery.

DATES:  Comments must be received no later than 5 p.m., eastern time, 
on June 20, 2008.

ADDRESSES:  You may submit comments on the application by any of the 
following methods:
     E-mail: [email protected]. Include in the subject 
line of the e-mail comment the following document identifier: ``FND--
EFP''.
     Mail: Steve Branstetter, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 
263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
     Fax: 727-824-5308.
    The application and related documents are available for review upon 
written request to any of the above addresses.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Steve Branstetter, 727-824-5305; fax:

[[Page 29484]]

727-824-5308; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EFP is requested under the authority of 
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 
1801 et seq.), and regulations at 50 CFR 600.745(b) concerning exempted 
fishing.
    The described research is part of a Cooperative Research Program 
Grant. The Cooperative Research Program is a means of involving 
commercial and recreational fishermen in the collection of fundamental 
fisheries information. Resource collection efforts support the 
development and evaluation of fisheries management and regulatory 
options.
    The proposed collection for scientific research involves activities 
otherwise prohibited by regulations implementing the Fishery Management 
Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region. The 
applicants require authorization to possess undersized and out-of-
season snapper and grouper for scientific research activities during 
the period July 1, 2008, through September 30, 2009. Specimens would be 
collected from Federal waters off the east coast of Florida and Federal 
waters off the coasts of Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. 
Sampling would occur during normal fishing operations of the commercial 
snapper-grouper vertical hook-and-line fishery. Sampling would occur 
year-round, collecting up to 500 fish during the course of the 
sampling. Data collections for this study would support improved 
information about the catch, bycatch, discards, and discard mortality 
for species in the snapper-grouper complex. These data would provide 
insight on a stock's resilience to fishing, and would help refine 
estimates of long-term biological productivity of the stocks. 
Currently, these data are unavailable, and it is anticipated project 
results would yield valuable data within this fishery.
    NMFS finds this application warrants further consideration. Based 
on a preliminary review, NMFS intends to issue an EFP. Possible 
conditions the agency may impose on this permit, if it is indeed 
granted, include but are not limited to, a prohibition of conducting 
research within marine protected areas, marine sanctuaries, or special 
management zones, without additional authorization. Additionally, NMFS 
may prohibit the possession of Nassau or goliath grouper, and require 
any sea turtles taken incidentally during the course of fishing or 
scientific research activities to be be handled with due care to 
prevent injury to live specimens, observed for activity, and returned 
to the water. A final decision on issuance of the EFP will depend on a 
NMFS review of public comments received on the application, 
consultations with the affected states, the South Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council, and the U.S. Coast Guard, and a determination that 
it is consistent with all applicable laws.

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

    Dated: May 15, 2008.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-11421 Filed 5-20-08; 8:45 am]
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