[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 54 (Monday, March 23, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12115-12116]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-6349]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XO19


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 permit application for transshipment of Atlantic herring by 
Canadian vessels, submitted under provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).

DATES: Comments must be received by April 6, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Send comments or requests for a copy of the application to 
Mi Ae Kim, Trade and Marine Stewardship Division, Office of 
International Affairs, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD. 
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-XO19.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mi Ae Kim, Office of International 
Affairs, (301) 713-9090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Section 204(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1824(d)) 
authorizes the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to issue a 
transshipment permit authorizing 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 United States 
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, section 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 and to be used in sardine processing. Transshipment 
must occur from 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.
    Section 204(d)(3)(B) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act provides that an 
application may not be approved until the Secretary determines that 
``the applicant will comply with the requirements described in section 
201(c)(2) with respect to activities authorized by any permit issued 
pursuant to the application.'' Section 201(c)(2) identifies multiple 
requirements related to monitoring, compliance, and enforcement, such 
as allowing authorized officers to board and inspect vessels, 
installation and use of position-fixing and identification equipment, 
and stationing of observers.

Summary of Application

    NMFS received an application requesting authorization for 10 
Canadian transport vessels to receive transfers of herring from United 
States purse seine vessels, stop seines, and weirs for the purpose of 
transporting the herring to Canada for processing. The transshipment 
operations will occur 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.
    Interested U.S. vessel owners and operators may obtain a copy of 
the complete application from NMFS (see ADDRESSES).


[[Page 12116]]


    Dated: March 18, 2009.
Rebecca Lent,
Director, Office of International Affairs, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. E9-6349 Filed 3-20-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S