[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 174 (Thursday, September 10, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46568-46569]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-21879]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XR12


Fisheries in the Western Pacific; Western Pacific Pelagic 
Fisheries; American Samoa Longline Limited Entry Program

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

ACTION: Notice; availability of permit upgrades.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is soliciting applications for American Samoa longline 
limited entry permit upgrades. Nineteen (19) permit upgrades will be 
available for Class A vessel (less than or equal to 40 ft (12.2 m) in 
length) permit holders to upgrade to larger vessel size classes (B-1 or 
C-1). The permit upgrades are available only to Class A permit holders 
who participated in the fishery before March 22, 2002, and the highest 
priority for receiving a permit upgrade will be given to the person 
with the earliest date of documented participation.

DATES: Completed permit upgrade applications must be received by NMFS 
by November 9, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Application forms are available from NMFS Pacific Islands 
Region (PIR), Attn: Permits, 1601

[[Page 46569]]

Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1110, Honolulu, HI 96814-4700, or the Pacific 
Islands Region website at www.fpir.noaa.gov.
    Send completed applications to NMFS PIR, Attn: ASLE Permit Upgrade, 
1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1110, Honolulu, HI 96814-4700.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Walter Ikehara, NMFS PIR, Tel 
(808)944-2275, Fax (808) 973-2940.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 25, 2005, NMFS published a final rule 
that established a limited entry program for the pelagic longline 
fishery based in American Samoa, under Amendment 11 to the Fishery 
Management Plan for Pelagic Fisheries in the Western Pacific Region (70 
FR 29646). American Samoa longline limited entry permits were 
established for four vessel size classes, based on length:
    a. Class A - less than or equal to 40 ft (12.2 m),
    b. Class B (and B-1) - over 40 ft (12.2 m) to 50 ft (15.2 m) 
inclusive,
    c. Class C (and C-1) - over 50 ft (15.2 m) to 70 ft (21.3 m) 
inclusive, and
    d. Class D (and D-1) - over 70 ft (21.3 m).
    A total of 60 American Samoa longline limited entry permits is 
allowed in this limited access fishery. The limited entry program 
allowed for a total of 26 permit upgrades to be made available for the 
exclusive use of permit holders in Class A, distributed over a four-
year period following the issuance of initial limited entry permits in 
late 2005, and 2009 is the last year of the upgrade program. Nineteen 
permit upgrades are available: 13 for vessel Class B-1 and six for 
Class C-1.
    The Regional Administrator may issue Class B-1 and C-1 permit 
upgrades only to persons who currently hold a Class A permit and who 
participated in the American Samoa pelagic longline fishery before 
March 22, 2002. The highest priority will be given to those with the 
earliest date of documented participation. Those receiving upgraded 
permits must surrender their Class A permits and the surrendered 
permits are deducted from the allowed Class A permit total. This notice 
announces the availability of permit upgrades and solicits applications 
for the upgrades.
    On January 28, 2009, NMFS published a notice soliciting 
applications for American Samoa longline permits (70 FR 4942). In 
August 2009, NMFS issued permits to certain applicants, and the holders 
of Class A permits issued in August 2009 may now apply for upgrades.
    Complete applications must include the completed and signed 
application form (see ADDRESSES), legible copies of documents 
supporting historical participation in the American Samoa pelagic 
longline fishery, and payment for the non-refundable application 
processing fee. Documents supporting participation should show that 
fishing was conducted using longline gear. Applications must be 
received by NMFS by November 9, 2009 to be considered for eligibility 
for the 2009 permit upgrades. Applications will not be accepted if 
received after that date.
    Authoritative additional information on the American Samoa limited 
entry program may be found in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 
50, part 665.

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

    Dated: September 2, 2009.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. E9-21879 Filed 9-9-09; 8:45 am]
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