[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 83 (Monday, April 30, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25407-25408]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-10372]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA935


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Coral and Coral Reefs Off the Southern Atlantic States; 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 South Carolina Aquarium. If granted, the 
EFP would authorize the South Carolina Aquarium to collect, with 
certain conditions, various species of reef fish, crabs, and lobsters 
in Federal waters off South Carolina and North Carolina. The specimens 
would be used in educational exhibits displaying South Carolina native 
species at the South Carolina Aquarium located in Charleston, SC.

DATES: Comments must be received no later than 5 p.m., e.t., on May 30, 
2012.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the application by either of the 
following methods:
     Email: [email protected]; include in the subject line 
of the email comment the following document identifier: South Carolina 
Aquarium EFP.
     Mail: Kate Michie, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 263 
13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
    The application and related documents are available for review upon 
written request to any of the above addresses.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kate Michie, 727-824-5305; email: 
[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 proposed specimen collection involves activities otherwise 
prohibited by regulations at 50 CFR part 622, as they pertain to 
species managed by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council 
(Council) including snapper-grouper, golden crab, wreckfish, coastal 
migratory pelagics, dolphin and wahoo, spiny lobster, and shrimp. The 
applicant requires authorization to collect 1,615 live fish, crabs, 
lobsters, and shrimp in Federal waters off South Carolina, and 
sporadically in Federal waters off North Carolina. The federally-
managed species to be collected over a 5-year period, listed by common 
name with the collection total, include: Black snapper (10); cero (12); 
cobia (6); coney (10); dolphin (50); golden crab (5); graysby (10); 
groupers Epinephelus spp. including, misty, red hind, rock hind, snowy, 
yellowedge (40); groupers Myctoperca spp. including black grouper, gag, 
yellowmouth, yellowfin, and scamp (50); grunts Haemulon spp. including 
cottonwick, margate, sailors choice, Spanish, tomtate, and white grunt 
(250); hogfish (8); jacks (200); king mackerel (15); little tunny (25); 
longspine porgy (50); triggerfish (22); porgies (65); queen snapper 
(2); red porgy (25); scup (50); sea bass (100); white shrimp (200); 
pink and brown shrimp (200); gray snapper (75); Spanish mackerel (15); 
spiny lobster (25); vermilion snapper (75); wahoo (5); and yellowtail 
snapper (15).
    The project proposes to use vertical hook-and-line gear with 
artificial and natural baits, black sea bass pots, spiny lobster traps, 
golden crab traps, habitat traps, octopus traps, dip nets, and bait 
traps (bait traps would be used and tended while SCUBA diving). This 
EFP would authorize sampling operations to be conducted on four vessels 
designated by the South Carolina Aquarium including: F/V ON THE CLOCK 
SC-5264-BW; F/V CUB SCOUT SC-9288-BF; F/V MISTRESS SC-5326-BS; and a 25 
ft (7.62 m) Parker NC5836P. The specimens would be opportunistically 
collected year-round for a period of 5 years, commencing on July 2, 
2012. This EFP would not authorize the collection of species with an 
annual catch limit of zero (red snapper, warsaw grouper, speckled hind, 
goliath grouper, and Nassau grouper).
    The overall intent of the project is to incorporate South Carolina 
native species into educational exhibits at the South Carolina 
Aquarium. The aquarium uses these displays of native South Carolina 
species to teach the public about stewardship and habitat preservation.
    NMFS finds this application warrants further consideration. Based 
on a

[[Page 25408]]

preliminary review, NMFS intends to issue an EFP. Possible conditions 
the agency may impose on this permit, if it is granted, include but are 
not limited to, a prohibition of collection of specimens within marine 
protected areas, marine sanctuaries, special management zones, or 
artificial reefs without additional authorization. Additionally, NMFS 
prohibits the possession of Nassau grouper, goliath grouper, red 
snapper, speckled hind or warsaw grouper, and requires 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 NMFS' review 
of public comments received on the application, consultations with the 
affected states, the Council, and the U.S. Coast Guard, as well as a 
determination that the EFP is consistent with all applicable laws.

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

    Dated: April 25, 2012.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-10372 Filed 4-27-12; 8:45 am]
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