[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 215 (Monday, November 8, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 68604]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-28058]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XZ91


National Saltwater Angler Registry Program Designation of 
Exempted States

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: NMFS has designated the states of Rhode Island, North 
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Washington, 
and Guam as exempted states for anglers, spear fishers and for-hire 
fishing vessels. NMFS has designated the state of Maryland as an 
exempted state for for-hire fishing vessels pursuant to 50 CFR 600.

DATES: The designation of the states as exempted states is effective on 
November 8, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Gordon C. Colvin, Fishery Biologist, NMFS ST-12453, 1315 
East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gordon C. Colvin, Fishery Biologist; 
(301) 713-2367 x175; e-mail: [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The final rule implementing the National 
Saltwater Angler Registry Program, 50 CFR Subpart P, was published in 
the Federal Register on December 30, 2008. The final rule requires 
persons who are angling, spear fishing or operating a for-hire fishing 
vessel in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone or for anadromous species to 
register annually with NOAA. However, persons who are licensed or 
registered by, or state residents who are not required to register or 
hold a license issued by, a state that is designated as an exempted 
state are not required to register with NOAA. The final rule sets forth 
the requirements for states to be designated as exempted states. 
Generally, exempted states must agree to provide to NMFS names, 
addresses, dates of birth and telephone numbers of the persons licensed 
or registered under a qualifying state license and/or registry program, 
or to provide catch and effort data from a qualifying regional survey 
of recreational fishing, and enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with 
NMFS to formalize the data reporting agreement.
    NMFS has received proposals for providing license/registry and/or 
regional survey catch and effort data from the states listed below, has 
determined that the states' programs qualify for exempted state 
designation under the provisions of the final rule, and has entered 
into Memoranda of Agreement with each of the states. Therefore, 
pursuant to 50 CFR 600.1415(b)(3), notice is hereby given that the 
following states are designated as exempted states under 50 CFR Subpart 
P: Rhode Island, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, 
Mississippi, Washington, and Guam. Persons who hold a valid fishing 
license or registration issued by these exempted states for angling, 
spear fishing or operating a for-hire fishing vessel in tidal waters 
are not required to register with NOAA under 50 CFR 600.1405(b). 
Persons who are residents of these exempted states who are not required 
to hold a fishing license, or to be registered to fish under the laws 
of these exempted states, also are not required to register with NOAA. 
Further, pursuant to 50 CFR 600.1415(b)(3), notice is hereby given that 
the following state is designated as an exempted state only for for-
hire fishing vessels: Maryland. Persons who hold a valid license or 
registration issued by this exempted state for operating a for-hire 
fishing vessel in tidal waters are not required to register with NOAA 
under 50 CFR 600.1405(b).

    Dated: November 1, 2010.
Eric C. Schwaab,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-28058 Filed 11-5-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P