[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 132 (Monday, July 13, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 33414]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-16666]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XP76


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Reef Fish of the Gulf of Mexico; 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 the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation 
Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. This study would 
place observers aboard vessels of opportunity in the Gulf of Mexico 
recreational for-hire fishery to collect reef fish for determination of 
age structure and sex composition and to tag and release reef fish to 
evaluate discard mortality. If granted, the EFP would authorize the 
applicant, within certain conditions, to collect and possess reef fish 
that would otherwise be prohibited because of existing fishing 
regulations.

DATES: Comments must be received no later than 5 p.m., eastern time, on 
August 12, 2009.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the application by any of the 
following methods:
     E-mail: [email protected]. Include in the subject 
line of the e-mail comment the following document identifier: ``FFWCC--
EFP''.
     Mail: Rich Malinowski, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 
263 13\th\ Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
     Fax: 727-824-5308.
    The application and related documents are available for review upon 
written request to any of the above addresses.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rich Malinowski, 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.
    The described research is part of a Cooperative Research Program 
Grant and the Emergency Disaster Relief Program. The Cooperative 
Research Program is a means of involving commercial and/or recreational 
fishermen in the collection of fundamental fisheries information. 
Resource collection efforts support the development and evaluation of 
fisheries management and regulatory options. The Emergency Disaster 
Relief Program is administered by the Gulf States Marine Fisheries 
Commission, to assist in an assessment of the status of the for-hire 
fishery fleets operating in counties impacted by the 2005 hurricane 
season.
    The proposed collection for scientific research involves activities 
otherwise prohibited by regulations implementing the Fishery Management 
Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico. The applicants 
require authorization to harvest and possess snapper and grouper 
species for scientific research activities during the period from June 
15, 2009, through June 15, 2012. Specimens would be collected from 
Federal waters off the west coast of Florida. Sampling would occur 
during normal fishing operations of the recreational for-hire fishery. 
Data collections for this study would support improved information 
about the catch, bycatch, discards, discard mortality, age structure 
and sex determinations for species in the reef fish complex. These data 
would provide insight on a stock's resilience to fishing and would help 
refine estimates of long-term biological productivity of the stocks. It 
is anticipated project results would yield valuable data within this 
fishery.
    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, or special 
management zones, without additional authorization. Additionally, NMFS 
may prohibit the possession of Nassau or goliath grouper and would 
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. A final decision on issuance of the EFP will depend on a 
NMFS review of public comments received on the application, 
consultations with the affected states, the Gulf of Mexico 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: July 8, 2009.
Kristen C. Koch
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-16666 Filed 7-10-09; 8:45 am]
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