[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 33 (Tuesday, February 19, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 11628]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-03777]



[[Page 11628]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC414


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; 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. John R. Gold (Texas A&M University). If 
granted, the EFP would authorize the applicant to use the captain and 
crew of a charter vessel to collect a total of 125-150 adult red 
snapper, south of the Florida Keys and near the Dry Tortugas, FL. 
Samples would be collected over multiple trips using conventional hook-
and-line gear from deep water. Small pieces of fin tissue and otoliths 
would be collected from the fish for genetic analysis, and age and 
growth studies. Additional information on the geographic origin, degree 
of connectivity, and life history of red snapper would provide the 
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) and NMFS data that 
may be used for future management of red snapper stocks in the South 
Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico (Gulf). Collections would occur from April 
1, 2013, to March 31, 2014.

DATES: Comments must be received no later than 5 p.m., eastern time, on 
March 21, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by RIN 0648-XC414, 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: ``John Gold EFP 
2013''.
     Mail: Nikhil Mehta, 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: Nikhil Mehta, 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 Marine Fisheries Initiative 
funded study titled, ``Stock structure, connectivity, and effective 
population size of red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) in U.S. waters of 
the Gulf of Mexico.'' Objectives of the study are to: (i) Further 
refine a geographic stock model in areas from southern Texas to the 
southwest coast of Florida; (ii) quantify historical and present 
connectivity (genetic migration) among sampled locations in the Gulf 
and South Atlantic; and (iii) utilize recently developed algorithms to 
estimate the effective number of breeding adult red snapper at each 
sample location.
    If granted, the EFP would authorize the applicant and the captain 
and crew of a charter vessel to collect a total of 125-150 red snapper 
using conventional hook-and-line gear from deep water (200-240 ft (61-
73 m)). Red snapper would be collected over multiple 2-3 day trips 
south of the Florida Keys and near the Dry Tortugas, FL. The fish would 
be placed on ice and the fins removed at the end of each fishing day. 
Small pieces of red snapper fin tissue would be placed into sample 
tubes containing a non-flammable, non-explosive fixative. Upon reaching 
the dock, all the fish and tubes with fin clips would be collected by a 
NMFS port sampler. After a total of 125-150 red snapper have been 
sampled, the fin clips would be shipped to the laboratory at Texas A&M 
University in College Station, TX, for genetic analysis. Otoliths would 
also be removed from the collected red snapper by the NMFS port sampler 
to facilitate age and growth studies.
    The proposed collection for scientific research involves activities 
that would otherwise be prohibited by regulations at 50 CFR part 622, 
as they pertain to red snapper managed by the Council. The EFP would 
exempt this research activity from Federal regulations at Sec.  
622.32(b)(3)(vi) (Prohibited and limited harvest species) and Sec.  
622.37(e)(v) (Size limits).
    NMFS finds this application warrants further consideration. 
Possible conditions the agency may impose on this permit, if it is 
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' review 
of public comments received on the application, consultations with 
appropriate fishery management agencies of 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: February 13, 2013.
Kara Meckley,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-03777 Filed 2-15-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P