[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 103 (Tuesday, May 29, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31586-31587]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-12961]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC022


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 Florida Sea Grant. If granted, the EFP would 
exempt Florida Sea Grant agents from regulations at Sec.  622.41(m)(3), 
requiring the use of venting tools when releasing regulatory discarded 
fish back to the water from July 1, 2012, through July 1, 2013. This 
study, to be conducted in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Gulf 
of Mexico (Gulf) off Florida, is intended to better document the 
efficacy and practicality of various recompression gear methods.

DATES: Comments must be received no later than 5 p.m., eastern time, on 
June 28, 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: 
``FL Sea Grant EFP''.
     Mail: Rich Malinowski, 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: Rich Malinowski, 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 Florida 
Sea Grant. The research is intended to involve recreational fishermen 
in the collection of fundamental biological information of Gulf reef 
fish. The

[[Page 31587]]

proposed sampling 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 not vent these Council-managed species using 
recompression gears as part of the normal fishing activities of the 
recreational sector of the Gulf reef fish fishery. Florida Sea Grant is 
requesting that selected participants use various types of 
recompression gears instead of venting tools as currently required by 
regulation. The goal of the research is to provide evaluation of the 
various recompression gears for industry use.
    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 22, 2012.
Carrie Selberg,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-12961 Filed 5-25-12; 8:45 am]
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