[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 132 (Monday, July 13, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33415-33416]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-16528]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XQ06


Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic 
Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits

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

ACTION: Notification of a proposal to conduct exempted fishing; 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 the subject Exempted Fishing 
Permit (EFP) application that was submitted by the

[[Page 33416]]

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County (CCE) warrants further 
consideration and should be issued for public comment. The EFP would 
exempt participating vessels from summer flounder size restrictions and 
summer flounder minimum mesh size regulations. The Assistant Regional 
Administrator has also made a preliminary determination that the 
activities authorized under the EFP would be consistent with the goals 
and objectives of the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery 
Management Plan (FMP). However, further review and consultation may be 
necessary before a final determination is made.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 28, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by e-mail to: [email protected]. 
Include in the subject line of the e-mail comment the following 
document identifier: ``Comments on CCE Inshore Fluke Discard EFP.'' 
Written comments should be sent to Patricia A. Kurkul, Regional 
Administrator, NMFS, Northeast Regional Office, 55 Great Republic 
Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope, 
``Comments on CCE Inshore Fluke Discard EFP.'' Comments may also be 
sent via facsimile (fax) to (978) 281-9135.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anna Macan, Fishery Management 
Specialist, phone: 978-281-9165, fax: 978-281-9135.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 2007, the Science and Research Director 
for NMFS's Northeast Fisheries Science Center selected the proposal 
submitted by the CCE under the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea 
Bass Research Set-Aside (RSA) titled: ``Evaluation of Summer Flounder 
Discard Mortality in the Bottom Trawl Fishery.'' The research was 
conducted to improve and enhance fishery information relative of 
discard mortality of summer flounder in the bottom trawl fishery. An 
extension to utilize available funds was granted to CCE, so an EFP to 
conduct additional research trips is being requested.
    This EFP would allow for additional research trips to further 
enhance the existing data on mortality of trawl-caught summer flounder. 
The research would be carried out from July 2009 through July 2010, up 
to a total of 10 research trips, and would be in conjunction with 
normal fishing operations of the mixed trawl fishery. Only one vessel 
would be used for each trip, but up to six vessels could be used, 
depending on availability. Vessels would be compensated to make three 
specific tows for summer flounder to assess trawl mortality. Duration 
of these tows would be 1, 2, and 3 hours. Summer flounder from each tow 
would be culled and sorted between live and dead. Sorting would occur 
at predetermined time intervals until the deck is cleared of fish. The 
fish would then be weighed and, as time allows, scale and otolith 
samples from both groups would be collected. The research trips would 
be conducted inshore along the coast of southern Long Island from Jones 
Inlet to Montauk Point, reaching depths of 240 ft (73 m). Areas sampled 
would include NMFS statistical areas 611, 612, and 613. In order to 
conduct the research, the vessels would need exemptions from the summer 
flounder minimum fish size and mesh size regulations at Sec. Sec.  
648.103 and 648.104(a)(1), respectively. These exemptions are needed to 
retain the fish on deck for the purpose of scientific research. 
Additionally, since the research trips may be conducted during a 
commercial squid trip, an exemption from the summer flounder minimum 
mesh size regulation is also needed in order for the vessels to retain 
more than the incidental limit of 100 lb (45.4 kg) of summer flounder. 
After the research, is conducted the fish would be returned to sea, 
unless the vessel is currently allocated 2009 research set- aside and 
has been issued a current and separate EFP to harvest research set-
aside quota.
    Regulations under the Magnuson ndash;Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act require publication of this notification to provide 
interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for 
proposed EFPs. The applicant may place requests for 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 minimal 
so as not to change the scope or impact of the initially approved EFP 
request.

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

    Dated: July 8, 2009.
Kristen C. Koch
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-16528 Filed 7-10-09; 8:45 am]
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