[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 101 (Friday, May 24, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24103-24104]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-10920]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG988


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Snapper-Grouper Fishery Off the Southern Atlantic States, Dolphin and 
Wahoo Fishery Off the Atlantic States, and Coral and Coral Reefs 
Fishery in the 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 Julie Johnson, on behalf of the North 
Carolina Aquariums at Roanoke Island, Pine Knoll Shores, Fort Fisher, 
and Jennette's Pier, North Carolina. If granted, the EFP would 
authorize North Carolina Aquariums to collect, with certain conditions, 
various species of snapper-grouper, dolphin, and live rock in Federal 
waters along the North Carolina coast. The specimens would be used in 
educational exhibits displaying North Carolina native species at the 
aquariums.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before June 24, 2019.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by ``NOAA-NMFS-2019-
0051'', 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-2019-0051, click the 
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or 
attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to Frank Helies, 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 remain 
anonymous).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank Helies, 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 North Carolina Aquariums have completed identical work under a 
previous EFP that was issued by NMFS on April 30, 2014, and recently 
expired on April 30, 2019. NMFS did not receive any public comments on 
the previous EFP notice of receipt of an application (79 FR 16301; 
March 25, 2014).
    This action involves activities covered by regulations implementing 
the Fishery Management Plans (FMP) for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of 
the South Atlantic Region, the Dolphin and Wahoo Fishery of the 
Atlantic Region, and the FMP for Coral, Coral Reefs and

[[Page 24104]]

Live/Hardbottom Habitat of the South Atlantic Region. The applicant 
requests authorization to collect a variety of species in the snapper-
grouper complex, dolphin, and live rock. Specific species and 
quantities of each species, listed by common name, to be collected each 
year of a 5-year period include a maximum of 16 red hind, 16 rock hind, 
16 graysby, 24 red porgy, 24 black sea bass, 16 coney, 16 scamp, 3 
snowy grouper, 16 red grouper, 16 gag grouper, 9 yellowedge grouper, 9 
yellowfin grouper, 16 yellowmouth grouper, 36 vermilion snapper, 20 red 
snapper, 36 yellowtail snapper, 24 amberjack (lesser and greater 
amberjack combined), 24 almaco jack, 100 bar jack, 24 dolphin, and 50 
lb (22.7 kg) of live rock.
    Specimens would be collected in Federal waters from 3 miles (4.8 
km) offshore out to 100 fathoms (182 m), from 33[deg]10' N lat. to 
36[deg]30' N lat. along the coast of North Carolina. The EFP would 
authorize sampling operations to be conducted on vessels to be named by 
the North Carolina Aquariums and designated in the EFP. The project 
proposes to use hook-and-line gear, no more than 5 black sea bass pots 
and 10 minnow traps to collect fish, and SCUBA to collect live rock by 
hand. Most collections would be conducted year-round for a period of 5 
years, commencing on the date of issuance of the EFP. Black sea bass 
pots and minnow traps would be deployed from the months of May through 
October each year of the EFP. The soak time for both pots and traps 
would vary from 4 to 8 hours up to 2 days. The majority of the pots and 
traps would be set in the morning and retrieved at the end of the same 
day; however, if the weather is suitable, the pots and traps may be 
left overnight for no more than one night at a time. Pots and traps 
would be retrieved by hand to reduce barotrauma, and would be deployed 
in hard bottom and ledge habitats offshore.
    The intent of the request is to incorporate North Carolina native 
species into the educational exhibits at four state aquariums located 
on Roanoke Island, Pine Knoll Shores, Fort Fisher, and Jennette's Pier, 
North Carolina. The aquariums use these displays of native North 
Carolina habitats and species to teach the public about conservation of 
these resources.
    NMFS finds this application warrants further consideration. Based 
on a preliminary review, NMFS intends to issue an EFP. 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, special 
management zones, or artificial reefs without additional authorization. 
Additionally, NMFS will 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. To acquire live rock for the 
aquariums, the applicant has the option to either purchase aquacultured 
live rock from a commercial source, or if the EFP is issued, the 
applicant may collect up to 50 lb (22.7 kg) of live rock from the 
Federal waters off North Carolina, but immediately replace it with an 
equal weight of substrate suitable to support the culture of live rock. 
A final decision on issuance of the EFP will depend on NMFS' review of 
public comments received on the application, consultations with the 
affected state, the South Atlantic Fishery Management 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: May 21, 2019.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-10920 Filed 5-23-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P