[Federal Register: June 18, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 117)]
[Notices]
[Page 34137-34138]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18jn04-66]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 061004B]
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic
Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permits (EFPs)
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
Notification of a proposal for an EFP to conduct experimental
fishing; request for comments.
SUMMARY: The Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional
Administrator) has made a preliminary determination that the subject
EFP application requested by the National Fisheries Institute (NFI) and
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (Rutgers), for a study to
conduct a supplemental finfish trawl survey (survey) under the Mid-
Atlantic Fishery Management Council Research Set-Aside (RSA) Program
contains all the required information and warrants further
consideration. The Regional Administrator has also made a preliminary
determination that the activities authorized under the EFP would be
consistent with the goals and objectives of the Summer Flounder, Scup,
and Black Sea Bass, Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish, and
Bluefish Fishery Management Plans. However, further review and
consultation may be necessary before a final determination is made to
issue the EFP. Therefore, NMFS announces that the Regional
Administrator proposes to issue an EFP that would allow one vessel to
conduct fishing operations that are otherwise restricted by the
[[Page 34138]]
regulations governing the fisheries of the Northeastern United States.
Regulations under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act require publication of this notification to provide
interested parties the opportunity to comment on applications for
proposed EFPs.
DATES: Comments on this document must be received on or before July 6,
2004.
ADDRESSES: Comments on this notice may be submitted by e-mail. The
mailbox address for providing e-mail comments is DA327A@noaa.gov.
Include in the subject line the following document identifier:
``Comments on supplemental finfish trawl survey.'' Written comments
should be sent to Patricia A. Kurkul, Regional Administrator, NMFS,
Northeast Regional Office, 1 Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930.
Mark the outside of the envelope ``Comments on supplemental finfish
trawl survey.'' Comments may also be sent via fax to (978) 281-9135.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Perra, Fishery Policy Analyst,
phone: 978-281-9153, fax: 978-281-9135.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The requested EFP would expand work allowed
under an existing EFP for the vessel to conduct additional research
trawls in November along two offshore transects: one each at Alvin and
Poor Man's Canyons.
Work under the existing EFP currently allows the vessel to conduct
two trawl transects (one east of Hudson Canyon and one south of
Baltimore Canyon) in January, May, and November, and along six offshore
transects, one each near Alvin, Hudson, Baltimore, Poor Man's,
Washington, and Norfolk Canyons in March. NFI and Rutgers have
requested that, during November, the transects at Alvin and Poor Man's
Canyons also be sampled. This would expand the scope of work under the
project's current EFP from two transects to four transects during
November. Therefore, a new EFP is required for the November portion of
the project.
The EFP would allow for exemptions from summer flounder fishery
regulations at 50 CFR 648.101(a) and (b); summer flounder gear
restrictions at Sec. 648.104; scup trimester quota closures at Sec.
648.121(a); scup time and area restrictions at Sec. 648.122(a) and
(b); scup trawl gear restrictions at Sec. 648.123; black sea bass trip
limits at Sec. 648.140(b)(2); black sea bass gear restrictions at
Sec. 648.144(a); Loligo squid and Atlantic mackerel closures at Sec.
648.22(a) and (c); and bluefish closures at Sec. 648.161(a) and (b).
In addition, in order to collect individual size measurements and other
data, the EFP for the research vessel would grant exemptions from the
following regulations: Minimum size for summer flounder at Sec.
648.103(a), (b), and (c), for scup at Sec. 648.124(a), for black sea
bass at Sec. 648.143, for monkfish at Sec. 648.93, for spiny dogfish
at Sec. 648.233, for yellowtail flounder and winter flounder at Sec.
648.83, and for lobster at Sec. 697.20(b); from spiny dogfish closures
at Sec. 648.231; and from Northeast multispecies regulated mesh,
restrictions on gear, and methods of fishing at Sec. 648.80.
The general trawl sampling procedures in November would remain
similar to what is described in the original EFP. Sampling would be
conducted at trawl stations along each transect from depths near 40,
60, 80, 125, 150, 200, and 225 fathoms (73, 109, 146, 228, 274, 366,
and 411 meters, respectively), with four additional trawl sites added
along each of the transects based on the catches of the target species.
Primary target species would be summer flounder, scup, black sea bass,
monkfish, and spiny dogfish, and secondary target species would be
skates, yellowtail flounder, winter flounder, lobster, and Loligo
squid. One tow would be conducted at each station over a distance of
0.5 to 2 nautical miles, with a tow speed of 3 to 3.2 knots. Careful
records would be kept of all gear descriptions so that consistent gear
can be used on subsequent surveys. A four-seam box net would be used
with a 2.4 inch (6.1 cm) mesh codend. Sampling protocol for handling
the catch from the trawl survey would follow standard NOAA Fisheries
survey methods. Every effort would be made to weigh the entire catch,
or to put in baskets the entire catch and weigh a subsample of the
baskets. Lengths would be obtained for target species. If time does not
permit sampling between tows, fish sorted for length measurement would
be placed in labeled containers and stored until processing can occur.
Temperature, salinity, and depth profiles would be taken for each tow.
Pre- and post-cruise meetings would be held to confirm study logistics
and conduct retrospective analysis of cruise activities. Scientific
research personnel would be on board the vessel at all times when the
survey is conducted.
The participating vessel would be required to report all landings
in its Vessel Trip Reports.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: June 14, 2004.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E4-1378 Filed 6-17-04; 8:45 am]
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