[Federal Register: November 16, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 221)]
[Notices]
[Page 66751-66752]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16no06-40]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 101706B]
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic;
Snapper and Grouper Off the Southern Atlantic States
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 Gulf and South Atlantic Fisheries
Foundation, Inc. If granted, the EFP would authorize the applicants,
with certain conditions, to collect limited numbers of undersized and
out-of-season snapper and grouper in South Atlantic Federal waters.
This study is intended to characterize catch and discard mortality
within the South Atlantic commercial hook and line snapper-grouper
fishery.
DATES: Comments must be received no later than 5 p.m., eastern time, on
December 18, 2006.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the application by any of the
following methods:
E-mail: Steve.Branstetter@noaa.gov. Include in the subject
line of the e-mail comment the following document identifier: ``FND--
EFP''.
Mail: Steve Branstetter, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS,
263 13\th\ Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
Fax: 727-824-5308.
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; fax:
727-824-5308; e-mail: Steve.Branstetter@noaa.gov.
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 described research is part of a Cooperative Research Program
Grant (Cooperative Agreement No. NA06NMF4540059). The Cooperative
Research Program is a means of involving commercial and/or recreational
fishermen in the collection of fundamental fisheries information.
Resource collection efforts support the development and evaluation of
fisheries management and regulatory options.
The proposed collection for scientific research involves activities
otherwise prohibited by regulations implementing the Fishery Management
Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region. The
applicants require authorization to harvest and possess undersized and
out-of-season snapper and grouper for scientific research
[[Page 66752]]
activities during the period from November 1, 2006, through May 31,
2008. Specimens would be collected from Federal waters off the east
coast of Florida and Federal waters off the coasts of Georgia, South
Carolina, and North Carolina. Sampling would occur during normal
fishing operations of the commercial snapper-grouper vertical hook-and-
line fishery. Sampling would occur year-round, collecting up to 500
fish during the course of the sampling. Data collections for this study
would support improved information about the catch, bycatch, discards,
and discard mortality for species in the snapper-grouper complex. These
data would provide insight on a stock's resilience to fishing, and
would help refine estimates of long-term biological productivity of the
stocks. Currently, these data are unavailable, and it is anticipated
project results would yield valuable data within this fishery.
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, or special
management zones, without additional authorization. Additionally, NMFS
may prohibit the possession of Nassau or goliath grouper, and 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 a NMFS
review of public comments received on the application, consultations
with the affected states, 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: November 9, 2006.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. E6-19394 Filed 11-15-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S