[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 104 (Thursday, May 30, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 32375]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-12864]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC597


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

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

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable 
Fisheries, Northeast Region, NMFS (Assistant Regional Administrator), 
has made a preliminary determination that an exempted fishing permit 
application contains all of the required information and warrants 
further consideration. This exempted fishing permit would exempt 
vessels from monkfish days-at-sea possession limits to commercially 
harvest monkfish during compensation fishing in support of a project 
funded under the 2012 Monkfish Research Set-Aside Program. The primary 
goal of the research is to validate monkfish aging methods and would be 
conducted by the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, School for 
Marine Science and Technology.
    Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act require publication of this notification to provide 
interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for 
proposed exempted fishing permits.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 14, 2013.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jason Berthiaume, Fishery Management 
Specialist, 978-281-9177.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, 
School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST) submitted a complete 
application for an exempted fishing permit (EFP) on January 7, 2013, to 
conduct fishing activities that the regulations would otherwise 
prohibit. The EFP would exempt compensation fishing vessels from 
monkfish days-at-sea (DAS) possession limits in the Northern and 
Southern Monkfish Fishery Management Areas (NFMA and SFMA). Fishing 
activity would otherwise be conducted under normal monkfish commercial 
fishing practices. The vessels would use standard commercial gear and 
land monkfish for sale. Compensation fishing may occur through April 
2014.
    SMAST has been awarded 129 monkfish DAS under the 2012 Monkfish 
Research Set-Aside (RSA) Program to conduct research that focuses on 
validating the age of monkfish by incorporating a chemical marker into 
the age structures in a laboratory study and examining the influence of 
temperature. To facilitate compensation fishing in support of this 
research, the applicant has requested exemptions from monkfish DAS 
possession limits at 50 CFR 648.94(b)(1) and (2). The applicant stated 
that these exemptions would provide the vessels with flexibility to 
fulfill the financial needs of the project, while minimizing vessel 
operating expenses.
    Monkfish EFPs that waive possession limits were first issued in 
2007, and each year thereafter through 2011. The EFPs were approved to 
increase operational efficiency and to optimize research funds 
generated from RSA DAS. To ensure that the amount of monkfish harvested 
by vessels operating under the EFPs was similar to the amount of 
monkfish that was anticipated to be harvested under the 500 RSA DAS 
set-aside by the New England Fishery Management Council, NMFS has used 
3,600 lb (1,633 kg) of whole monkfish per RSA DAS. This amount of 
monkfish was the equivalent of a double possession limit of Permit 
Category A and C vessels fishing in the SFMA. This was deemed a 
reasonable approximation because it was reflective of how the standard 
monkfish commercial fishery operates. It is likely that RSA grant 
recipients optimize their RSA DAS award by utilizing this possession 
limit.
    SMAST developed its RSA proposal and budget in a manner that was 
consistent with previously approved EFPs. However, prior to submission 
of the RSA proposal, NMFS implemented Amendment 5 to the Monkfish FMP. 
Amendment 5 adjusted the tail-to-whole-weight conversion factor from 
3.32 to 2.91, which essentially reduced the whole weight possession 
limits. Because this project was originally awarded DAS in fishing year 
2012 and the budget was designed using 3,600 lb (1,633 kg) per DAS, the 
EFP, if approved, would allow this project to continue operating under 
this limit until the project's conclusion on April 30, 2014. This 
project was awarded 129 DAS. Therefore, participating vessels could use 
up to 129 DAS, catch up to 464,400 lb (210,648 kg) whole monkfish, or 
fish under the EFP until April 30, 2014, whichever comes first.
    When applicable, or as required by the regulations, participating 
vessels may also concurrently use Northeast multispecies DAS while 
conducting monkfish compensation fishing. All catch of Northeast 
multispecies would be accounted for under applicable Northeast 
multispecies quotas.
    If approved, the applicant may request minor modifications to the 
EFP throughout the year. EFP modifications may be granted without 
further notice if they are deemed essential to facilitate completion of 
the proposed research and have minimal impacts 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.

    Dated: May 24, 2013.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-12864 Filed 5-29-13; 8:45 am]
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