[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 44 (Wednesday, March 8, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12930-12931]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-04543]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF150


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
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 South Carolina Aquarium. If granted, the 
EFP would authorize the South Carolina Aquarium to collect, with 
certain conditions, various species of snapper-grouper, dolphin, wahoo, 
cobia, king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, golden crab, shrimp, and spiny 
lobster in the Federal waters off South Carolina and North Carolina in 
the South Atlantic. The specimens would be used in educational exhibits 
displaying native marine species at the South Carolina Aquarium located 
in Charleston, SC.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before April 7, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by ``NOAA-NMFS-2017-
0008'', 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-2017-0008, click the 
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or 
attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to Nikhil Mehta, Southeast 
Regional Office, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
    Instructions: Comments sent by any other method (including email), 
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 remain 
anonymous).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nikhil Mehta, 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 proposed specimen collection involves activities otherwise 
prohibited by regulations at 50 CFR part 622, as they pertain to 
species managed by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council 
(Council) including snapper-grouper, golden crab, coastal migratory 
pelagics, dolphin, wahoo, spiny lobster, and shrimp. The applicant 
requires authorization to collect 1,799 live fish, crabs, lobsters, and 
shrimp in the Federal waters off South Carolina, and sporadically off 
North Carolina. The federally-managed species to be collected by the 
applicant per year, over a 5-year period, listed by common name with 
the collection total, are: Black snapper (10); cobia (6); coney (10); 
dolphin (50); golden crab (5); graysby (10); groupers (Epinephelus spp. 
and Hyporthodus spp. including red, misty, red hind, rock hind, snowy, 
and yellowedge) (40); groupers (Myctoperca spp. and Cephalopholis spp. 
including black grouper, gag, yellowmouth, yellowfin, and scamp) (50); 
grunts (Haemulon spp. including cottonwick, margate, sailors choice, 
tomtate, and white) (250); hogfish (8); jacks including greater 
amberjack, almaco jack, banded rudderfish, bar jack, and lesser 
amberjack(200); king mackerel (15); little tunny (25); longspine porgy 
(50); ocean triggerfish (5); porgies including knobbed, jolthead, 
whitebone, and saucereye (65); porkfish (15); queen snapper (2); red 
porgy (25); red snapper (25); sand tilefish (10); sea basses including 
black, bank, and rock (100); scup (50); Atlantic spadefish (50); 
triggerfish (20); white shrimp (200); pink or brown shrimp (200); 
snappers excluding red snapper, but including yellowtail, gray, mutton, 
lane, cubera, silk, and blackfin (75); Spanish mackerel (15); spiny 
lobster (25); vermilion snapper (75); wahoo (5); and yellowtail snapper 
(15).
    The project would use vertical hook-and-line gear with artificial 
and natural baits, black sea bass pots, spiny lobster traps, golden 
crab traps, habitat traps, octopus traps, hand nets, dip nets, and bait 
traps. Bait traps and minnow traps would be deployed by hand by divers 
using SCUBA gear. Most of the sample collection would be done in less 
than 300 ft (91 m) of water. No more than 5 each, black sea bass pots, 
lobster pots, golden crab traps, minnow traps, and bait traps would be 
deployed with a soak time of no more than 5 hours at a time, and will 
not be tied together on a groundline. Up to 10 habitat traps will also 
be utilized with a soak time of 7 days up to no more than 30 days. All 
trap and pot gear will be deployed either by hand by divers using SCUBA 
or through using individual nylon lines with buoys. All gear types 
would be utilized for the collection of requested species. This EFP 
would authorize sampling operations to be conducted on three vessels 
designated by the South Carolina Aquarium including: F/V REEL SCIENCE 
SC-9152-DE; F/V CUB SCOUT SC-9288-BF; and F/V MISTRESS SC-5326-BS.
    All attempts would be made (venting, controlled ascent and descent, 
etc.) to release all non-targeted bycatch species alive. During each 
year of sampling requested through this EFP, there would be no traps or 
pots deployed from November 1 through April 30, to avoid interactions 
with North Atlantic right

[[Page 12931]]

whales during their calving season. This EFP would not authorize the 
collection of warsaw grouper, speckled hind, goliath grouper, and 
Nassau grouper.
    The overall intent of the project is to incorporate native species 
into educational exhibits at the South Carolina Aquarium. The aquarium 
uses these displays of native South Carolina species to teach the 
public about stewardship and habitat preservation.
    NMFS finds this application warrants further consideration. 
Possible conditions the agency may impose on this permit, if it is 
granted, include but are not limited to, a prohibition of collection of 
specimens within marine protected areas, marine sanctuaries, special 
management zones, or artificial reefs without additional authorization. 
Currently, NMFS prohibits the possession of Nassau grouper, goliath 
grouper, speckled hind, warsaw grouper, and red snapper but intends to 
authorize collection of red snapper as requested in the application. 
NMFS would 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.
    A final decision on issuance of the EFP will depend on NMFS' review 
of public comments received on the application, consultations with the 
affected states, the Council, and the U.S. Coast Guard, and a 
determination that it is consistent with all applicable laws.

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

    Dated: March 3, 2017.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-04543 Filed 3-7-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P