[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 125 (Thursday, June 28, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38585-38586]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-15892]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC070


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 Dr. Chris Koenig (Florida State University) 
and Dr. Chris Stallings (University of South Florida). If granted, the 
EFP would authorize the applicants to use trained for-hire fishermen to 
be able to temporarily possess goliath grouper for non-lethal sampling 
during the course of their normal fishing activities. This non-lethal 
sampling would include measuring, tagging, and removing a portion of 
the goliath grouper dorsal fin rays before releasing the live fish. The 
intent of this study is to provide regional age structure of recovering 
goliath grouper populations for fish stock assessments.

DATES: Comments must be received no later than 5 p.m., eastern time, on 
July 13, 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: ``FSU--EFP''.
     Mail: Peter Hood, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 263 
13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.

[[Page 38586]]

    The application and related documents are available for review upon 
written request to any of the above addresses.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Hood, 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 life history study of goliath 
grouper and includes a regional age structure study. This research is 
funded by NOAA through the Marine Fisheries Initiative (cooperative 
agreement number NA11NMF4330123). The research is intended to involve 
federally permitted for-hire fishermen in the collection of biological 
information on goliath grouper. 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 and to snapper-grouper 
managed by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils (Councils). 
Specific, otherwise prohibited, Federal regulations that the EFP would 
authorize include regulations at Sec.  622.32(b)(2)(ii) and (b)(3)(ii) 
(Prohibited and limited harvest species) and Sec.  622.39(b)(ii) and 
(d)(ii)(D) (Bag and possession limits).
    The applicant requests authorization through the EFP to allow for-
hire fishermen to temporarily possess goliath grouper for non-lethal 
sampling during the course of their normal fishing activities in the 
Federal waters off Florida. The sampling would occur both state and 
Federal waters off Florida in both the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) and the 
South Atlantic. For sampling in Florida state waters, the applicants 
have received a permit to non-lethally sample goliath grouper from the 
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. To participate in 
this study, for-hire fishermen would be trained by the applicants on 
how to sample goliath grouper with minimal harm to the fish. Sampling 
includes measuring, tagging, and removing a portion of the dorsal fin 
rays before releasing the live fish. The EFP would apply to 
specifically designated fishers in Gulf Federal waters who would be 
required to possess a valid Federal Gulf reef fish charter vessel/
headboat permit and to designated fishers in South Atlantic Federal 
waters who would be required to possess a valid South Atlantic snapper-
grouper charter vessel/headboat permit.
    The goal of the research is to provide better life history 
information for the next stock assessment. Because the possession of 
goliath grouper is prohibited in Federal waters, obtaining biological 
samples through dockside sampling cannot be done. The EFP, if approved, 
would authorize the sampling of no more than 1,000 goliath grouper from 
both state and Federal waters from the date of issuance of the EFP 
through August 28, 2014. These fish would be released alive immediately 
after sampling. The condition (alive or dead) of the released fish 
would be assessed after release from the vessel by the crew. The EFP 
would no longer be valid if there is a mortality of 10 or more fish as 
a result of the activities taken through this EFP.
    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 councils.
    A final decision on issuance of the EFP will depend on NMFS' review 
of public comments received on the application, consultations with 
appropriate fishery management agencies of the affected states, the 
Councils, 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: June 25, 2012.
Carrie Selberg,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-15892 Filed 6-27-12; 8:45 am]
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