[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 177 (Thursday, September 12, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56217-56218]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-22215]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC859


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Shrimp Fisheries of the Gulf of Mexico and Southern Atlantic States

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 the Gulf and South Atlantic Fisheries 
Foundation, Inc (Foundation). If granted, the EFP would authorize the 
applicant, with certain conditions, to collect and retain limited 
numbers of specimens that would otherwise be prohibited from possession 
and retention. This study, to be conducted in the exclusive economic 
zone (EEZ) of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) and South Atlantic, is intended 
to characterize catch and bycatch within the shrimp fisheries of the 
Gulf and South Atlantic.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 15, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by ``NOAA-NMFS-2013-
0141'', by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to 
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2013-0141, click the 
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or 
attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to Susan Gerhart, Southeast 
Regional Office, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
    Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, 
may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the 
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business 
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily 
by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous 
comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to

[[Page 56218]]

remain anonymous). Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted 
in Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats only.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Gerhart, 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 applicant proposes research as part of the Cooperative Research 
Program, which is intended to involve commercial fishermen in the 
collection of fundamental fisheries information. The described research 
is part of a long-term observer program that began in 1992, and that 
can be expected to continue in the future. Resource collection efforts 
support the development and evaluation of fisheries management and 
regulatory options.
    The EFP would exempt the activities described herein from 
regulations at 50 CFR part 622, as they affect fish and invertebrates 
managed by the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Fishery Management 
Councils (Councils). The EFP covers these Council-managed species that 
may be taken during standard fishing activities of the commercial 
shrimp fishery of the southeast United States. The EFP would exempt 
personnel from the Foundation from fishery regulations such as bag 
limits, size limits, quotas, seasonal restrictions, and gear 
authorizations as specified in 50 CFR part 622, Subparts A through R 
for reef fish, red drum, coastal migratory pelagics, and spiny lobster 
in the Gulf of Mexico, and snapper-grouper, coastal migratory pelagics, 
dolphin and wahoo, and spiny lobster in the South Atlantic.
    The EFP would authorize Foundation observers aboard commercial 
shrimp vessels to temporarily possess all necessary specimens from the 
catch for documentation and to permanently retain approximately 500 
specimens of federally-managed finfishes and invertebrates that would 
otherwise be prohibited from possession and retention through December 
31, 2018. The described research is part of a long-term observer 
program that began in 1992, and that can be expected to continue in the 
future, therefore, the 5-year time period for the EFP is appropriate 
for this research effort. Specimens would be collected from Federal 
waters of the Gulf and South Atlantic, and sampling would occur during 
normal fishing operations of the trawl gear component of the penaeid 
shrimp commercial sector. Sampling would occur year-round. These 
species would be retained only in the event of the need for subsequent 
shore-side identification or as documentation of quality assurance in 
the data collection process. Data collection for this study would 
support improved information about the catch, bycatch, discards, and 
the ability to reduce bycatch for species taken by the shrimp fisheries 
of the Gulf and South Atlantic. These data would provide insight on a 
stock's resilience to fishing, and would help improve estimates of 
long-term biological productivity of the stocks. Currently, these data 
are unavailable, and it is anticipated that project results will yield 
valuable data within these fisheries.
    NMFS finds this application warrants further consideration. Based 
on a preliminary review, NMFS intends to issue an EFP. The limited 
sampling program and associated methodology listed in the EFP is not 
expected to impact the fishery stocks; the estimated 500 specimens to 
be retained through the duration of the EFP represents a small fraction 
of average annual landings.
    Conditions the agency will 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. Additionally, NMFS 
will prohibit the possession of Nassau or goliath grouper, and require 
any sea turtles taken incidentally during the course of fishing or 
scientific research activities to be handled with due care to prevent 
injury to live specimens, observed for activity, and returned to the 
water. All Foundation-associated personnel who conduct onboard sampling 
activities have undergone formal sea turtle handling training through 
NMFS, and are considered NMFS-designated agents while conducting work 
under the identified Cooperative Agreements.
    A final decision on issuance of the EFP will depend on a NMFS 
review of public comments received on the application, consultations 
with the affected states, the Councils, and the U.S. Coast Guard, and a 
determination that the EFP is consistent with all applicable laws.

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

    Dated: September 9, 2013.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-22215 Filed 9-11-13; 8:45 am]
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