[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 28, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4942-4943]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-1727]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XM69


Fisheries in the Western Pacific; American Samoa Pelagic Longline 
Limited Entry Program

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

ACTION: Notice; availability of permits.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is soliciting applications for American Samoa pelagic 
longline limited entry permits. At least 22 permits of various class 
sizes will be available for 2009. Longline fishermen with the earliest 
documented participation on a Class A vessel (less than or equal to 40 
feet (12.2 m) in length) have the highest priority to qualify for a 
permit. Fishermen with the earliest documented participation in larger 
size class vessels (in order of size) receive the next priority to 
qualify for permits. This notice is intended to announce the 
availability of permits and to solicit applications for the permits.

DATES: Completed permit applications must be received by NMFS by May 
28, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Request blank application forms from NMFS Pacific Islands 
Region (PIR), 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1110, Honolulu, HI 96814-
4733, or the PIR website www.fpir.noaa.gov.
    Mail completed applications and payment to NMFS PIR, ATTN: ASLE 
Permits, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1110, Honolulu, HI 96814-4733.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Walter Ikehara, Sustainable Fisheries, 
NMFS PIR, tel 808-944-2275, fax 808-973-2940, or e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 25, 2005, NMFS published a final rule 
that established a limited entry program for the pelagic longline 
fishery based in American Samoa (70 FR 29646). American Samoa longline 
limited entry permits were established for four vessel size classes, 
based on length:
    a. Class A - less than or equal to 40 ft (12.2 m);
    b. Class B (and B-1) - over 40 ft (12.2 m) to 50 ft (15.2 m) 
inclusive;
    c. Class C (and C-1) - over 50 ft (15.2 m) to 70 ft (21.3 m) 
inclusive; and
    d. Class D (and D-1) - over 70 ft (21.3 m).
    A total of 60 initial American Samoa longline limited entry permits 
were issued: 22 in Class A, five in Class B, 12 in Class C, and 21 in 
Class D. These numbers represent the maximum number of vessels allowed 
in each size class, pursuant to the regulations implementing the 
limited entry program at title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations, 
part 665.36 (i.e., 50 CFR 665.36). The limited entry program allows for 
new permits to be issued if the numbers of permits in each size class 
fall below the maximum. To date, not all permit holders have renewed 
their permits, invalidating those permits, and making 22 permits 
available for issuance (note that the number of available permits may 
change before the application period closes). Of the 22 available 
permits, thirteen are for

[[Page 4943]]

vessel size Class A, four for Class B, four for Class C, and one for 
Class D.
    Persons with the earliest documented participation in the fishery 
on a Class A sized vessel will receive the highest priority for 
obtaining permits in any size class, followed by persons with the 
earliest documented participation in Classes B, C, and D, in that 
order. If there is a tie in priority, the person with the second 
earliest documented participation will be ranked higher in priority.
    Complete applications must include the completed and signed 
application form, legible copies of documents supporting historical 
participation in the American Samoa pelagic longline fishery, and 
payment for the non-refundable permit application processing fee, in 
accordance with the regulations at 50 CFR 665.13. Applications must be 
received by NMFS (see ADDRESSES) by May 28, 2009 to be considered for a 
permit; applications will not be accepted if received after that date.
    Authoritative additional information on the American Samoa limited 
entry program may be found in 50 CFR part 665.

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

    Dated: January 22, 2009.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. E9-1727 Filed 1-27-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S