[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 124 (Thursday, June 27, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38692-38693]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-15480]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC719


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.

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

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 and that the activities authorized under this 
Exempted Fishing Permit would be consistent with the goals and 
objectives of the Monkfish Fishery Management Plan. However, further 
review and consultation may be necessary before a final determination 
is made to issue an Exempted Fishing Permit. The Exempted Fishing 
Permit would grant exemptions from monkfish days-at-sea possession 
limits. The primary goal of this study, by the University of Maryland 
Eastern Shore, is to investigate the influence of temperature on 
monkfish distribution and abundance.
    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 UMES Monkfish RSA 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 UMES monkfish RSA EFP.''
     Fax: (978) 281-9135.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The University of Maryland Eastern Shore 
(UMES) submitted a complete application for an Exempted Fishing Permit 
(EFP) on May 20, 2013, to conduct fishing activities that the 
regulations would otherwise prohibit. The EFP would exempt vessels from 
monkfish days-at-sea (DAS) possession limits in the Northern and 
Southern Monkfish Fishery Management Areas (SFMA). The applicants have 
identified eight vessels that would conduct monkfish compensation 
fishing under the requested EFP. Compensation fishing may occur through 
April 2014, with a possible extension through April 2015.
    This study was awarded 99 DAS under the 2013 Monkfish Research Set-
Aside (RSA) Program. The primary goal of this study is to investigate 
the influence of temperature on monkfish distribution and abundance. 
This study is intended to provide information on the biology of 
monkfish that could be used to enhance the management of this species. 
Participating vessels will receive temperature and depth loggers to 
attach to their gillnets during RSA compensation fishing trips. The 
loggers would collect temperature and depth at intervals of 1 hour, and 
would be downloaded approximately every 2 months. Catch data (number 
and size of monkfish) from panels with probes would be recorded by 
collaborating fishermen, along with information on location, depth 
fished, water currents, and lunar cycle. UMES plans to collect 
histological samples on board the fishing vessels from a subset of 
trips for analysis of reproductive condition. Weights and length 
measurements would be taken each trip from a minimum of 25 randomly 
selected monkfish from the nets with attached temperature probes to 
gain information about fish distribution. Fishing activity would 
otherwise be conducted under normal monkfish commercial fishing 
practices. The vessels would use standard commercial gear and land 
monkfish for sale.
    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

[[Page 38693]]

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 99 DAS, or up to 316,800 lb (143,698 kg) of whole monkfish, 
under the EFP, whichever comes first.
    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. 2013-15480 Filed 6-26-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P