[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 130 (Monday, July 8, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 40697]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-16299]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC743


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 Regional Administrator, Southwest Region, NMFS, has made a 
preliminary determination that an application for an Exempted Fishing 
Permit (EFP) warrants further consideration. The application was 
submitted by members of the Pacific sardine fishing industry who 
request an exemption from seasonal closures of the sardine directed 
fishery to conduct a survey designed to estimate the population size of 
Pacific sardine. NMFS requests public comment on the application.

DATES: Comments must be received by July 23, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this notice identified by 0648-
XC743 by any one of the following methods:
     Mail: Rodney R. McInnis, Regional Administrator, Southwest 
Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802.
     Fax: (562) 980-4047, Attn: Joshua Lindsay.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: A copy of the application can viewed 
at the following Web site http://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/fmd/cps/; or by 
contacting Joshua Lindsay, Southwest Region, NMFS, (562) 980-4034.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 17, 2013, NMFS published a final 
rule to implement the harvest guideline (HG) and annual specifications 
for the 2013 Pacific sardine fishing season off the U.S. West Coast (78 
FR 36117). As part of these management measures, 3,000 metric tons (mt) 
of the maximum harvest guideline (HG) was subtracted and set aside for 
potential EFPs. This 3,000 mt set-aside was intended to allow for 
potential research fishing in the second seasonal period (July 1-
September 14, 2013) to occur if that period's directed fishery 
allocation is reached and directed fishing is closed.
    An EFP would allow the fishing activities proposed by the 
applicants to occur when directed fishing is not allowed. At the March 
2013, Council meeting, the Council recommended that NMFS issue an EFP 
for the total 3,000 mt of the 3,000 mt initially set aside. The 
applicants proposed the use of 3,000 mt to replicate summer surveys 
conducted under EFP's approved in 2009-2012.
    One of the goals set forth in the EFP application is the 
development of an index of biomass for Pacific sardine, with the desire 
that this index be included in the subsequent Pacific sardine stock 
assessment. If NMFS does not issue this EFP, then the set-aside will be 
re-allocated to the third period's directed harvest allocation. 
Likewise any amount of the set-aside allocated to an EFP for use during 
the closed fishing time in the second allocation period (prior to 
September 15), but not utilized, will roll into the third allocation 
period's directed fishery.

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

    Dated: July 2, 2013.
Kelly Denit,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-16299 Filed 7-5-13; 8:45 am]
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