[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 107 (Friday, June 5, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27018-27019]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-13175]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XO10


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Snapper-Grouper Fishery off the Southern Atlantic States and Coral and 
Coral Reefs Fishery in the South Atlantic; Exempted Fishing Permit

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 Patricia L. McNeese, on behalf of the North 
Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources Aquariums 
Division (NC Aquariums). If granted, the EFP would authorize NC 
Aquariums to collect, with certain conditions, various species of reef 
fish and live rock in Federal waters, along the North Carolina coast. 
The specimens would be used in educational exhibits displaying North 
Carolina native species at aquariums located on Pine Knoll Shores, 
Roanoke Island, and Fort Fisher, NC.

DATES: Comments must be received no later than 5 p.m., Eastern standard 
time, on July 6, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the application may be sent via fax to 727-824-
5308 or mailed to: Nikhil Mehta, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 263 
13\th\ Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. Comments may also be 
submitted by e-mail. The mailbox address for providing e-mail comments 
is [email protected]. Include in the subject line of the e-mail 
document the following text: Comment on NC Aquariums EFP Application. 
The application and related documents are available for review upon 
written request to the address above or the e-mail address below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nikhil Mehta, 727-824-5305; fax 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.
    This action involves activities covered by regulations implementing 
the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the 
South Atlantic Region. The applicant requires authorization to collect 
a variety of reef fish, including those in the snapper-grouper complex, 
and live rock (Table 1).

 Table 1--Common name and total number of fish, and amount of live rock
          to be harvested over a 2-year period by NC Aquariums.
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16 Speckled Hind
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16 Red Hind
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16 Rock Hind
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16 Red Grouper
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16 Gag
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16 Scamp
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26 Red Snapper
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16 Red Porgy
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9 Yellowfin Grouper
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16 Yellowmouth Grouper
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12 Snowy Grouper
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2 Warsaw Grouper
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9 Yellowedge Grouper
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16 Graysby
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16 Coney
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84 Yellowtail Snapper
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[[Page 27019]]

 
26 Schoolmaster Snapper
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300 lbs. (136 kg) Live Rock
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16 Silk Snapper
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78 Vermilion Snapper
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200 Tomtate
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100 Small-mouth Grunt
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5 Common Hogfish
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5 Spanish Hogfish
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5 Cuban Hogfish
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200 Cottonwick
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6 Blue Angelfish
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6 Queen Angelfish
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6 Grey Angelfish
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6 French Angelfish
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6 Stoplight Parrotfish
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6 Blue Parrotfish
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6 Midnight Parrotfish
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6 Dwarf Goatfish
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6 Yellow Goatfish
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    Specimens would be collected in Federal waters from 3 miles (4.8 
km) offshore out to 100 fathoms (182 m), from 33[deg]10' N lat. to 
36[deg]30' N lat. along the coast of North Carolina. The project 
proposes to use hook-and-line gear, and standard traps (for example, 
black sea bass and minnow traps) to collect fish, and SCUBA to collect 
live rock by hand. The collections would be conducted year-round for a 
period of 2 years, commencing on the date of issuance of the EFP.
    The overall intent of the project is to incorporate North Carolina 
native species into the educational exhibits at the three aquariums 
located on Pine Knoll Shores, Roanoke Island, and Fort Fisher, NC. The 
aquariums use these displays of native North Carolina habitats and 
species to teach the visiting public (over 1 million a year) about 
conservation of these resources.
    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, special 
management zones, or artificial reefs 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 handled with 
due care to prevent injury to live specimens, observed for activity, 
and returned to the water. The harvest of live rock would have to be 
replaced by an equivalent amount of new rock substrate, or obtained 
from a commercial (aquaculture) source. A final decision on issuance of 
the EFP will depend on NMFS review of public comments received on the 
application, consultations with the affected state, 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: June 1, 2009.
Kristen C. Koch
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-13175 Filed 6-5-09; 8:45 am]
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