[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 51 (Wednesday, March 17, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 12729]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-5741]



[[Page 12729]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XU95


Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; 
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Application for an Exempted Fishing 
Permit

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

ACTION:  Notice; receipt of EFP applications; request for comments.

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SUMMARY:  NMFS announces the receipt of exempted fishing permit (EFP) 
applications, and is considering issuance of EFPs for vessels 
participating in the EFP fisheries. The EFPs are necessary to allow 
activities that are otherwise prohibited by Federal regulations. The 
EFPs will be effective no earlier than April 1, 2010, and would expire 
no later than April 31, 2011, but could be terminated earlier under 
terms and conditions of the EFPs and other applicable laws.

DATES:  Comments must be received no later than 5 p.m., local time on 
April 1, 2010.

ADDRESSES:  You may submit comments, identified by 0648-XU95, by any 
one of the following methods:
     Fax: 206-526-6736, Attn: Kevin Duffy.
     Mail: Barry A. Thom, Acting Administrator, Northwest 
Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115-0070, Attn: 
Kevin Duffy.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  To view copies of the 2010 EFP 
applications, visit the Pacific Council website at www.pcouncil.org and 
browse the ``November 2009 Briefing Book''; or contact Kevin Duffy 
(Northwest Region, NMFS), phone: 206-526-4743, fax: 206-526-6736.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This action is authorized by the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act provisions at 50 CFR 
600.745, which states that EFPs may be used to authorize fishing 
activities that would otherwise be prohibited. At the November 2009 
Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) meeting in Costa Mesa, CA, 
the Council considered applications for five EFPs from: (1) The Nature 
Conservancy (TNC) and their collaborators; (2) the California 
Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) and Golden Gate Fisherman's 
Association; (3) the Oregon RFA; (4) Steven Fosmark; and (5) the Oregon 
Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). An opportunity for public 
testimony was provided during the Council meeting. For more details on 
these EFP applications and to view copies of the applications, see the 
Pacific Council's website at www.pcouncil.org and browse the ``November 
2009 Briefing Book.'' The Council recommended that NMFS consider 
issuing the following EFPs. The Council also recommended a change from 
the previous years to allow some EFPs, if approved, to span across a 
calendar year for business and logistical reasons. EFP reporting 
requirements, in these cases, will be adjusted to ensure reporting 
consistent with past practice, and an EFP will not be valid for more 
than 12 consecutive months.

Community-Based Fishing Association EFP

    TNC submitted a proposal for a 2010 EFP, along with their 
collaborators: City of Morro Bay Harbor Department; Port San Luis 
Commercial Fishermen's Association; Port San Luis Harbor District; 
California Department of Fish and Game; Morro Bay Commercial 
Fishermen's Organization, Inc.; and Environmental Defense. The primary 
purpose of the EFP is to test whether establishing a cooperatively 
managed, community-based fishing association can provide economic and 
environmental performance benefits.

Recreational Chilipepper EFP

    The California RFA and the Golden Gate Fishermen's Association 
submitted an application for a 2010 EFP. The primary purpose of the EFP 
is to do an area-based recreational fishing study to test if hook-and-
line fishing gear can be used to access underutilized chilipepper 
rockfish seaward of the non-trawl RCA, while keeping bycatch of 
overfished species low.

Recreational Yellowtail EFP

    The Oregon RFA submitted an application for a 2010 EFP. The primary 
purpose of the EFP is to test if recreational fishing gear, fitted with 
a long leader to keep gear up off the ocean floor, can be used to 
access underutilized yellowtail rockfish, while keeping bycatch of 
overfished species low.

Commercial Chilipepper EFP

    Steven Fosmark submitted an application for a 2010 EFP. The primary 
purpose of the EFP is to test if a specific longline gear configuration 
can be used in the commercial fishery to target underutilized 
chilipepper rockfish, while keeping bycatch of overfished species low.

ODFW EFP

    An EFP sponsored by the ODFW will allow selected Oregon 
charterboats to retain incidentally-caught yelloweye rockfish to be 
forfeited to the state. The objective of this EFP is to collect 
biological samples to inform future yelloweye rockfish stock 
assessments.

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

    Dated: March 11, 2010.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-5741 Filed 3-16-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S