[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 73 (Friday, April 17, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 17821]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-8890]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XO29


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: Notice; 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 an Exempted Fishing Permit 
(EFP) application contains all of the required information and warrants 
further consideration. The Assistant Regional Administrator has made a 
preliminary determination that the activities authorized under this EFP 
would be consistent with the goals and objectives of the Monkfish 
Fishery Management Plan (FMP). However, further review and consultation 
may be necessary before a final determination is made to issue an EFP. 
Therefore, NMFS announces that the Assistant Regional Administrator 
proposes to recommend that an EFP be issued that would allow 24 
commercial fishing vessels to conduct compensation fishing operations 
that are otherwise restricted by the regulations governing the 
fisheries of the Northeastern United States. This EFP, which would 
enable vessels to harvest monkfish granted through the Monkfish 
Research Set-Aside (RSA) Program, would grant exemptions from the 
monkfish days-at-sea (DAS) possession limits in the Southern and 
Northern Fishery Management Areas.
    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.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 4, 2009.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by any of the following 
methods:
     Email: [email protected]. Include in the subject line 
``Comments on Monkfish RSA Harvest EFP.''
     Mail: Patricia A. Kurkul, Regional Administrator, NMFS, NE 
Regional Office, 1 Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the 
outside of the envelope ``Comments on monkfish RSA harvest EFP, DA9-
071.''
     Fax: (978) 281-9135.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Emily Bryant, Fishery Management 
Specialist, 978-281-9244.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An application for an EFP was submitted by 
Gulf of Maine Research Institute on March 5, 2009, for a project 
selected under the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management 
Councils' Monkfish RSA Program. The project itself will investigate a 
multi-method approach for determining age in monkfish through lab 
trials utilizing monkfish samples obtained through a previously issued 
Letter of Authorization. This EFP would grant an exemption from 
monkfish possession limits to 24 vessels for the purpose of harvesting 
RSA to fund this research project (i.e. compensation fishing). Funds 
generated by the compensation fishing will be used to pay for 
laboratory equipment, as well as salaries and stipends for principal 
investigators.
    Compensation fishing for this research would occur from May 2009 
through April 2010. The 24 fishing industry collaborators would have 
access to 203 monkfish DAS that will be awarded to the project through 
the Monkfish RSA Program. The applicant states that these vessels must 
be able to land at least 3,000 lb (1,361 kg) of whole monkfish (904 lb 
(410 kg) tail weight) per trip to achieve the goal of $2,800 per RSA 
DAS. In order to achieve this target catch, these fishing activities 
would require an exemption from monkfish DAS possession limits at 50 
CFR 648.94(b)(2). This exemption would provide these 24 vessels with 
the flexibility they need to generate sufficient income to meet 
projected costs of the research activity, while minimizing operating 
expenses. Based on the preliminary award of 203 DAS, this would require 
a total catch of 609,000 lb (276,238 kg) of whole monkfish (183,434 lb 
(83,204 kg) tail weight). Operating under this total landings cap, 
compensation fishing would continue until the required goal of 609,000 
lb (276,238 kg) of whole monkfish is met, or until the awarded DAS have 
been fully utilized, whichever occurs first. Aside from this exemption, 
fishing activity would be conducted under normal commercial practices.
    The applicant may request 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 have minimal impacts 
that do not change the scope or impact of the initially approved EFP 
request. Any fishing activity conducted outside the scope of the 
exempted fishing activity would be prohibited. 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 refunded 
to NOAA.

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

    Dated: April 13, 2009.
Kristen C. Koch,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-8890 Filed 4-16-09; 8:45 am]
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