[Federal Register: April 1, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 63)] [Notices] [Page 17326-17327] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr01ap08-40] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648-XG74 Permits; Foreign Fishing AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of receipt of foreign fishing application. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS publishes for public review and comment information regarding a foreign fishing application submitted under provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson- Stevens Act). DATES: Comments must be received by April 15, 2008. ADDRESSES: Send comments or requests for a copy of the application to NMFS, Office of International Affairs, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Comments on this notice may also be submitted by e-mail to nmfs.foreignfishing@noaa.gov. Include in the subject line the following document identifier: RIN 0648-XG74. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher Rogers, Office of International Affairs, (301) 713-9090. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Section 204(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1824(d)) provides, among other things, that the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) may issue a transshipment permit which authorizes a vessel other than a vessel of the United States to engage in fishing consisting solely of transporting fish or fish products at sea from a point within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) or, with the concurrence of a state, within the boundaries of that state to a point outside the United States. Section 204(d)(3)(D) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act provides that an application may not be approved until the Secretary determines that ``no owner or operator of a vessel of the United States which has adequate capacity to perform the transportation for which the application is submitted has indicated ... an interest in performing the transportation at fair and reasonable rates.'' NMFS is publishing this notice as part of its effort to make such a determination with respect to the application described below. [[Page 17327]] Summary of Application NMFS has received an application requesting authorization for five Mexican vessels to receive, within the Pacific waters of the U.S. EEZ south of 34[deg]00' N. lat. and east of 121[deg]00' W. long., transfers of live tuna from U.S. purse seiners for the purpose of transporting the tuna alive to an aquaculture facility located in Baja California, Mexico. Interested U.S. vessel owners and operators may obtain a copy of the complete application from NMFS (see ADDRESSES). Dated: March 26, 2008. Dean Swanson, Acting Director, Office of International Affairs, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E8-6698 Filed 3-31-08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-S