[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 181 (Tuesday, September 18, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57557-57558]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-23003]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC169


Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic 
Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permit

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

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable 
Fisheries, Northeast Region, NMFS (Assistant Regional Administrator), 
has made a preliminary determination that an Exempted Fishing Permit 
(EFP) application submitted by the Nature Conservancy contains all of 
the required information and warrants further consideration. The EFP 
would exempt participating vessels from minimum fish size and 
possession limits of Atlantic halibut.
    Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act require publication of this notification to provide 
interested parties the opportunity to comment on EFP applications.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 3, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by any of the following 
methods:
     Email: [email protected]. Include in the subject line 
``Comments on Nature Conservancy EFP.''
     Mail: John K. Bullard, Regional Administrator, NMFS, NE 
Regional Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark 
the outside of the envelope ``Comments on Nature Conservancy EFP.''
     Fax: (978) 281-9135.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brett Alger, Fisheries Management 
Specialist, 978-675-2153, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Nature Conservancy submitted a complete 
application for an EFP on August 6, 2012, to enable data collection 
activities that the regulations on commercial fishing would otherwise 
restrict. The EFP would exempt four federally permitted commercial 
fishing vessels from minimum halibut size and possession limits (41 
inches and 1 halibut per trip) for the purpose of tagging and releasing 
Atlantic halibut during commercial fishing operations while operating 
under a project managed by the Nature Conservancy and the Cape Cod 
Commercial Hook Fishermen's Association. The co-managed project is 
attempting to reduce halibut assessment uncertainties such as 
catchability in fishery-independent surveys, stock structure, and 
regional growth rates.
    Fishing operations would occur within the Gulf of Maine and Georges 
Bank Regulated Mesh Areas. Vessels would use approximately 900 hooks 
per set, make an average trip of 6 to 12 sets per day, with an average 
soak time of 3 to 4 hr per set. Each vessel would record halibut size, 
time and location of capture, whether it was retained or released, gear 
used, depth fished, bait type, and condition upon release. Fish would 
be tagged with a wire ``spaghetti'' tag, each marked with a unique 
number and recorded; all participants would complete a training program 
in the tagging and release of halibut.
    Participating vessels would expect to encounter a mix of groundfish 
species, skates, dogfish, and other non-commercial fish species as they 
target primarily haddock and cod. Any undersized Atlantic halibut 
caught would be tagged and released. In addition, all other undersized 
and non-commercial fish would be handled per normal fishing operations 
and returned to sea as quickly as possible. There would be no landing 
of non-compliant fish on board the vessels. All catch of stocks 
allocated to Sectors by vessels on a Sector trip would be deducted from 
the Sector's Annual Catch Entitlement for each Northeast multispecies 
stock, including halibut. Because the current commercial catch rates of 
halibut are relatively low, tagging would be done opportunistically, 
and there is no target number of halibut to tag for the project. The 
participating vessels would be required to comply with all other 
applicable requirements and restrictions specified at 50 CFR part 648, 
unless specifically exempted in this EFP.
    If approved, the applicant may request minor modifications and 
extensions to the EFP throughout the year. EFP modifications and 
extensions may be granted without further notice if they are deemed 
essential to facilitate completion of the proposed research and have 
minimal impact that do not change the scope or impact of the initially 
approved EFP request. Any fishing activity conducted outside the scope 
of the exempted fishing activity would be prohibited.

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


[[Page 57558]]


    Dated: September 13, 2012.
Lindsay Fullenkamp,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-23003 Filed 9-17-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P