[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 124 (Thursday, June 27, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 38693]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-15474]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC720


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 facilitate 
compensation fishing under the monkfish Research Set-Aside Program by 
exempting vessels from monkfish days-at-sea possession limits. The 
compensation fishing is in support of a 2013 Monkfish Research Set-
Aside project that is attempting to validate monkfish aging methods. 
The project is being 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 July 12, 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 an 
application for an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) on May 14, 2013, 
requesting exemptions from the monkfish days-at-sea (DAS) possession 
limits to facilitate research that proposes to investigate monkfish 
large-scale movement patterns using data storage tags and to validate 
monkfish aging. The study was awarded 327 DAS under the 2013 Monkfish 
Research Set-Aside (RSA) Program.
    The EFP would exempt vessels from the monkfish possession limits in 
the Southern (SFMA) and Northern Monkfish Fishery Management Areas. Up 
to 50 vessels could conduct monkfish compensation fishing under the 
requested EFP. 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, with a possible extension through 
April 2015.
    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 and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management 
Councils, NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service associates 3,200 lb 
(1,451 kg) of whole monkfish per RSA DAS. This amount is double the 
possession limit of Permit Category A and C vessels fishing in the 
SFMA. This was deemed a reasonable approximation because it is 
reflective of how the standard monkfish commercial fishery operates. It 
is likely that RSA grant recipients would optimize their RSA DAS award 
by utilizing this possession limit. Therefore, if approved, 
participating vessels could use up to 327 DAS, or up to 1,046,400 lb 
(474,639 kg) of whole monkfish, under the EFP, whichever comes first.
    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 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: June 24, 2013.
Kelly Denit,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-15474 Filed 6-26-13; 8:45 am]
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