[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 56 (Tuesday, March 24, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15554-15555]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-06661]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD816


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Exempted Fishing Permit

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 Mississippi Department of Marine 
Resources (MS DMR). If granted, the

[[Page 15555]]

EFP would authorize the applicant to collect red drum in Federal waters 
using state of MS-licensed charter and headboat vessels (for-hire 
vessels). The purpose of this study is to collect population data 
specific to the genetics, age and growth, reproduction, and food habits 
of adult red drum in Federal waters where harvest is currently 
prohibited. The data would then be used to support future stock 
assessment information for red drum.

DATES: Comments must be received no later than April 23, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the application by any of the 
following methods:
     Email: [email protected]. Include in the 
subject line of the email comment the following document identifier: 
``MS Red Drum_EFP''.
     Mail: Steve Branstetter, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 
263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
    The application and related documents are available for review upon 
written request to any of the above addresses.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Branstetter, 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 harvest and possession of red drum in the Federal waters of the 
Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) has been prohibited since 1988 (53 FR 24662, June 
29, 1988). The harvest and possession prohibition was implemented to 
protect the Gulf red drum stock from overfishing. The Gulf of Mexico 
Fishery Management Council (Council) is currently discussing whether to 
modify or remove this harvest and possession prohibition, but data 
regarding the adult red drum in Gulf Federal waters is limited. The 
existing population data is not representative of the Gulf red drum 
population as a whole as it mainly consists of younger and smaller red 
drum samples obtained from state waters where harvest is permitted.
    The proposed collection for scientific research involves activities 
that would be prohibited by regulations at 50 CFR part 622, as they 
pertain to red drum managed by the Council. Specifically, the EFP 
requests exemption from Federal regulations at Sec.  622.92 (Prohibited 
species) that prohibit the harvest and possession of red drum in Gulf 
Federal waters.
    The applicant requests authorization through the EFP to allow state 
of MS-licensed for-hire vessels to have a recreational bag and 
possession limit of one red drum per person per trip from Federal 
waters. There would be no size limits applicable for the red drum 
collected through this EFP. Additionally, the red drum bag and 
possession limits for captain and crew of any for-hire vessel 
participating in this study would be zero.
    Beginning in the fall of 2015, the applicant requests to collect a 
maximum of 30,000 lb (13,608 kg) of red drum during a 2-year period. 
The 30,000 lb (13,608 kg) is equivalent to approximately 2,000 red drum 
or about 1,000 red drum per each year of the study. According to MS 
DMR, as many as 70 for-hire vessels would be a part of the study. For 
any vessel trip that plans to harvest red drum, the vessel would be 
required to hail-in and hail-out with a representative of MS DMR using 
an existing MS DMR electronic reporting format. A representative of MS 
DMR would then meet the vessel that has red drum onboard harvested from 
Federal waters to collect sample information. The applicant would 
monitor the amount of red drum collected to ensure that the 30,000 lb 
(13,608 kg) sample limit is not exceeded. After biological sampling by 
MS DMR is completed for each red drum landed by participating for-hire 
vessels, recreational fishers from the for-hire vessel would be allowed 
to retain the red drum as recreational harvest. All red drum collected 
through this study would be harvested during regular for-hire trips 
using hook-and-line gear in Gulf Federal waters. A MS-licensed for-hire 
vessel would not be permitted to fish for or possess either Gulf reef 
fish species or coastal migratory pelagic species unless that vessel 
also had a Federal charter vessel/headboat permit for the applicable 
species. It is not anticipated that the study will increase any overall 
fishing effort in the Gulf.
    Samples to be collected by the applicant include biological 
material for red drum population genetics, age and growth, 
reproduction, and food habits analyses of adult red drum in Federal 
waters. Some specific information to be collected include using 
molecular techniques to identify possible meta-populations and genetic 
structure, stomach content analysis, tissue analysis, several length 
measurements, otolith sampling, and histology analysis.
    The research data are intended to provide better life history 
information to assist with any future red drum stock assessments and to 
assist the Council with future management decisions.
    NMFS finds this application warrants further consideration. 
Possible conditions the agency may impose on this permit, if it is 
indeed 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. A report 
on the research would be due at the end of the collection period, to be 
submitted to NMFS and reviewed by the Council.
    A final decision on issuance of the EFP will depend on NMFS' review 
of public comments received on the application, consultations with 
appropriate fishery management agencies of the affected states, the 
Council, and the U.S. Coast Guard, as well as a determination that it 
is consistent with all applicable laws.

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

    Dated: March 18, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-06661 Filed 3-23-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P