[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 100 (Wednesday, May 23, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 30507]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-12516]



[[Page 30507]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA847


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Reef Fish Fishery 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 Louisiana Department of Wildlife and 
Fisheries (LDWF). If granted, the EFP would authorize the applicant to 
collect and retain red snapper that would otherwise be prohibited from 
possession and retention. This study, to be conducted in the exclusive 
economic zone (EEZ) of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf), is intended to better 
document the age structure and life history of fish associated with 
offshore platforms and artificial reefs in Louisiana coastal waters.

DATES: Comments must be received no later than 5 p.m., eastern time, on 
June 22, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the application by any of the 
following methods:
     Email: [email protected]. Include in the subject 
line of the email comment the following document identifier: ALDWF--
EFP@.
     Mail: Steve Branstetter, 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: Steve Branstetter, 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 described research is part of a new research program by LDWF. 
The research is intended to involve recreational fishermen in the 
collection of fundamental biological information of Gulf red snapper. 
The proposed collection for scientific research involves activities 
that could otherwise be prohibited by regulations at 50 CFR part 622, 
as they pertain to reef fish managed by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery 
Management Council (Council). The applicant requires authorization 
through the EFP to collect these Council-managed species that may be 
taken as part of the normal fishing activities of the recreational 
sector of the Gulf reef fish fishery. LDWF has requested an EFP from 
July through October 2012, to monitor red snapper caught during 
recreational fishing tournaments held in Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, and 
Florida subsequent to the closure of the 2012 recreational red snapper 
season. LDWF is requesting that selected participants, in as many as 
seven recreational fishing tournaments, be allowed to retain and tag 
the first red snapper caught during a fishing trip. Participants would 
also complete and submit a data sheet regarding other red snapper 
caught and released during the fishing trip. Fish collected under this 
EFP would be surrendered to LDWF personnel or other state fishery 
biologists, and sampled for length, weight, otoliths, and gonads. LDWF 
would be responsible for providing all data collected under the EFP to 
NMFS for use in the next stock assessment. The intent is to better 
document the age structure and life history of red snapper in the Gulf 
of Mexico. If approved, the EFP would authorize the take of 
approximately 1,600 red snapper during the five-month period. Such fish 
collected as biological samples would not be subject to seasonal 
closures or size limits.
    NMFS finds this application warrants further consideration. 
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. A report 
on the research would be due at the end of the collection period, to be 
submitted to NMFS and reviewed by the Council.
    A final decision on issuance of the EFP will depend on NMFS's 
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 it is consistent with all applicable laws.

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

    Dated: May 17, 2012.
Carrie Selberg,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-12516 Filed 5-22-12; 8:45 am]
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