[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 59 (Monday, March 28, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 17109]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-7239]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA285


Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic 
Fisheries; Extension for Exempted Fishing Permit

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable 
Fisheries, Northeast Region, NMFS, has made a preliminary determination 
that the subject exempted fishing permit (EFP) application contains all 
the required information and warrants further consideration. This EFP 
extension would exempt four commercial fishing vessels from the 
restriction on fishing for, catching, possessing, landing, and selling 
female red crabs in excess of one standard tote for the purpose of 
research on an experimental female red crab fishery that is being 
conducted in conjunction with the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean 
Sciences.
    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 must be received on or before April 12, 2011.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by any of the following 
methods:
    <bullet> E-mail: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#69070c1b06470c0f192907060808470e061f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c8a6adbaa7e6adaeb888a6a7a9a9e6afa7be">[email protected]</span></a>. Include in the subject line 
``Comments on Red Crab EFP Extension.''
    <bullet> Mail: Patricia A. Kurkul, Regional Administrator, NMFS, NE 
Regional Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark 
the outside of the envelope ``Comments on Red Crab EFP Extension.''
    <bullet> Fax: (978) 281-9135.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carly Knoell, Fisheries Management 
Specialist, 978-281-9224, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9ddefceff1e4b3d6f3f2f8f1f1ddf3f2fcfcb3faf2eb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="521133203e2b7c193c3d373e3e123c3d33337c353d24">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An application for an EFP extension was 
submitted on February 28, 2011, by Dr. Richard Wahle of the Bigelow 
Laboratory for Ocean Sciences; Dr. Yong Chen of the School of Marine 
Sciences, University of Maine; and Mr. Jon Williams of the New England 
Red Crab Harvesters' Association to conduct commercial fishing 
activities that the regulations would otherwise restrict. The EFP would 
authorize four vessels to catch, possess, land, and sell female red 
crabs in excess of one standard tote of female red crab, as specified 
at 50 CFR 648.263(a)(3). Vessels would remain subject to all other 
commercial fishing regulations, including red crab possession limits 
and days-at-sea restrictions.
    The primary goal of the experimental fishery is to harvest non-egg-
bearing females to expand the red crab market and increase efficiency 
in the harvesting process. In addition, an experimental fishery that 
includes non-egg-bearing females has provided an opportunity to conduct 
at-sea sampling, renewed tagging, and model development to better 
evaluate the growth and reproductive performance of the population, as 
well as the impact of current and proposed harvesting on yields and egg 
production. This aspect of the project is conducted by an onboard 
researcher under the direction of Dr. Wahle.
    The EFP was initially issued July 23, 2009, for 1 year, expiring 
July 22, 2010. An extension was granted July 26, 2010, through the end 
of the fishing year (February 28, 2011). A subsequent extension is now 
being requested due to initial logistical delays and additional time to 
complete research and funding components of this study. No additional 
exemptions will be included in the extension of this EFP and the 
activities of the study remain consistent with the Atlantic Deep-Sea 
Red Crab Fishery Management Plan.
    If approved, the applicant may request minor modifications and 
extensions to the EFP throughout the year. EFP modifications and 
extensions may be granted without further notice if they are deemed 
essential to facilitate completion of the proposed research and have 
minimal impacts that do not change the scope or impact of the initially 
approved EFP request. Any fishing activity conducted outside the scope 
of the exempted fishing activity would be prohibited.

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

    Dated: March 23, 2011.
Margo Schulze-Haugen,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-7239 Filed 3-25-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P


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