2960 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 13 / Friday, January 20, 2012 / Notices 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

RIN 0648–XA847 

Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of 

Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish 

Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; 

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. 

SUMMARY: NMFS announces the receipt 

of an application for an exempted 

fishing permit (EFP) from the Louisiana 

Department of Wildlife and Fisheries 

(LDWF). If granted, the EFP would 

authorize the applicant to collect and 

retain red snapper that would otherwise 

be prohibited from possession and 

retention. This study, to be conducted 

in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of 

the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) off Louisiana, 

is intended to better document the age 

structure and life history of fish 

associated with offshore platforms and 

artificial reefs in Louisiana coastal 

waters. 

DATES: Comments must be received no 

later than 5 p.m., eastern time, on 

February 21, 2012. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

on the application by any of the 

following methods: 

• Email: Steve.Branstetter@noaa.gov. 

Include in the subject line of the email 

comment the following document 

identifier: ‘‘LDWF_EFP’’. 

• Mail: Steve Branstetter, Southeast 

Regional Office, NMFS, 263 13th 

Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. 

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; 

email: 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 

new research program by LDWF. The 

research is intended to involve 

recreational fishermen in the collection 

of fundamental biological information 

on Gulf red snapper. The proposed 

collection for scientific research 

involves activities that could otherwise 

be prohibited by regulations at 50 CFR 

part 622, as they pertain to reef fish 

managed by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery 

Management Council (Council). The 

applicant requires authorization through 

the EFP to collect these Councilmanaged species that may be taken as 

part of the normal fishing activities of 

the recreational sector of the Gulf reef 

fish fishery. LDWF is requesting that 

selected participants in as many as 

seven Louisiana recreational fishing 

tournaments during the summer of 2012 

be allowed to bring red snapper to port. 

The EFP would only be applicable if the 

2012 recreational red snapper season 

has closed because the recreational 

quota was projected to be met. These 

fish would be turned over to LDWF 

personnel, and sampled for otoliths and 

gonads. LDWF would be responsible for 

providing all data collected under the 

EFP to NMFS for use in the next red 

snapper stock assessment. 

The goal of the research is to provide 

a more robust data base on Gulf red 

snapper for the next stock assessment. 

The EFP, if approved, would authorize 

the take of as many as 1,400 federallymanaged red snapper from July 1, 2012, 

through September 30, 2012. Such fish, 

collected as biological samples, would 

not be subject to seasonal closures or 

recreational bag limits. 

NMFS finds this application warrants 

further consideration. 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. 

A report on the research would be due 

at the end of the collection period, to be 

submitted to NMFS and reviewed by the 

Council. 

A final decision on issuance of the 

EFP will depend on NMFS’s review of 

public comments received on the 

application, consultations with the 

affected states, the Council, and the U.S. 

Coast Guard, as well as a determination 

that it is consistent with all applicable 

laws. 

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

Dated: January 17, 2012. 

Steven Thur, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–1145 Filed 1–19–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

RIN 0648–XA942 

Fisheries of the Gulf of Mexico; 

Southeast Data, Assessment, and 

Review (SEDAR); Pre-Workshop 

Webinar for HMS Blacktip Sharks 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of SEDAR 29 preworkshop webinar for HMS blacktip 

sharks. 

SUMMARY: The SEDAR assessment of the 

HMS stocks of Gulf of Mexico blacktip 

sharks will consist of one workshop and 

a series of webinars. See SUPPLEMENTARY

INFORMATION. 

DATES: The SEDAR pre-Workshop 

webinar will take place February 14, 

2012 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Central 

time. The established time may be 

adjusted as necessary to accommodate 

the timely completion of discussion 

relevant to the assessment process. Such 

adjustments may result in the meeting 

being extended from, or completed prior 

to the time established by this notice. 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held 

via webinar. The webinar is open to 

members of the public. Those interested 

in participating should contact Julie A. 

Neer at SEDAR (See FOR FURTHER

INFORMATION CONTACT) to request an 

invitation providing webinar access 

information. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie 

Neer, SEDAR Coordinator, 4055 Faber 

Place Drive, Suite 201, North 

Charleston, SC 29405; telephone: (843) 

571–4366; email: Julie.neer@safmc.net 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gulf 

of Mexico, South Atlantic, and 

Caribbean Fishery Management 

Councils, in conjunction with NOAA 

Fisheries and the Atlantic and Gulf 

States Marine Fisheries Commissions 

have implemented the Southeast Data, 

Assessment and Review (SEDAR) 

process, a multi-step method for 

determining the status of fish stocks in 

the Southeast Region. SEDAR is a multistep process including: (1) Data/ 

Assessment Workshop, and (2) a series 

of webinars. The product of the Data/ 

Assessment Workshop is a report which 

compiles and evaluates potential 

datasets and recommends which 

datasets are appropriate for assessment 

analyses, and describes the fisheries, 

evaluates the status of the stock, 

estimates biological benchmarks, 


wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 13 / Friday, January 20, 2012 / Notices 2961 

projects future population conditions, 

and recommends research and 

monitoring needs. Participants for 

SEDAR Workshops are appointed by the 

Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, and 

Caribbean Fishery Management 

Councils and NOAA Fisheries Southeast 

Regional Office, HMS Management 

Division, and Southeast Fisheries 

Science Center. Participants include 

data collectors and database managers; 

stock assessment scientists, biologists, 

and researchers; constituency 

representatives including fishermen, 

environmentalists, and NGO’s; 

International experts; and staff of 

Councils, Commissions, and state and 

federal agencies. 

During the SEDAR 29 pre-data 

workshop webinar participants will 

present summary data, and discuss data 

needs and treatments. 

Although non-emergency issues not 

contained in this agenda may come 

before this group for discussion, those 

issues may not be the subject of formal 

action during this meeting. Action will 

be restricted to those issues specifically 

listed in this notice and any issues 

arising after publication of this notice 

that require emergency action under 

section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens 

Fishery Conservation and Management 

Act, provided the public has been 

notified of the Council’s intent to take 

final action to address the emergency. 

Special Accommodations 

The meeting is physically accessible 

to people with disabilities. Requests for 

sign language interpretation or other 

auxiliary aids should be directed to the 

Council office (see ADDRESSES) at least 

10 business days prior to each 

workshop. 

Dated: January 17, 2012. 

Tracey L. Thompson, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–1037 Filed 1–19–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

RIN 0648–XA943 

Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management 

Council (MAFMC); Public Meeting 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of a public meeting. 

SUMMARY: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery 

Management Council’s (Council) 

Tilefish Advisory Panel (AP) will meet 

with the Council’s Social and Economic 

Sub-committee of the Scientific and 

Statistical Committee (SSC). 

DATES: The meeting will be held on 

February 7, 2012 at 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at 

Ocean Place Resort, One Ocean Blvd., 

Long Branch NJ 07740; telephone: (732) 

571–4000. 

Council address: Mid-Atlantic Fishery 

Management Council, 800 N. State 

Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901; 

telephone: (302) 674–2331. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Christopher M. Moore Ph.D., Executive 

Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery 

Management Council, 800 N. State 

Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901; 

telephone: (302) 526–5255. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

purpose of this meeting is to review 

fishery performance and create an AP 

Fishery Performance Report for Tilefish. 

Although non-emergency issues not 

contained in this agenda may come 

before this group for discussion, those 

issues may not be the subject of formal 

action during this meeting. Action will 

be restricted to those issues specifically 

listed in this notice and any issues 

arising after publication of this notice 

that require emergency action under 

section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens 

Fishery Conservation and Management 

Act, provided the public has been 

notified of the Council’s intent to take 

final action to address the emergency. 

Special Accommodations 

The meeting is physically accessible 

to people with disabilities. Requests for 

sign language interpretation or other 

auxiliary aids should be directed to M. 

Jan Saunders at the Mid-Atlantic 

Council Office, (302) 526–5251, at least 

5 days prior to the meeting date. 

Dated: January 17, 2012. 

Tracey L. Thompson, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–1038 Filed 1–19–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

RIN 0648–XA945 

North Pacific Fishery Management 

Council; Public Meeting 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Meeting of the North Pacific 

Fishery Management Council Golden 

King Crab Price Formula Workgroup. 

SUMMARY: The North Pacific Fishery 

Management Council (Council) Golden 

King Crab Price Formula Workgroup is 

meeting in February in Seattle, WA. 

DATES: The meeting will be held on 

February 7, 2012 at 2 p.m. 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at 

1201 3rd Avenue, Suite 4800, Seattle, 

WA 98121–3099. 

Council address: North Pacific 

Fishery Management Council, 605 W. 

4th Ave., Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 

99501–2252. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Mark Fina, Council staff; telephone: 

(907) 271–2809. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

Committee is meeting concerning the 

arbitration system that is part of the 

Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands crab 

rationalization program. The committee 

will give specific attention to the 

development of the price formula for 

golden king crab under the arbitration 

system. Additional information is 

posted on the Council Web site: 

http://www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/

npfmc/. 

Although non-emergency issues not 

contained in this agenda may come 

before this group for discussion, those 

issues may not be the subject of formal 

action during this meeting. Action will 

be restricted to those issues specifically 

listed in this notice and any issues 

arising after publication of this notice 

that require emergency action under 

section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens 

Fishery Conservation and Management 

Act, provided the public has been 

notified of the Council’s intent to take 

final action to address the emergency. 

Special Accommodations 

The meeting is physically accessible 

to people with disabilities. Requests for 

sign language interpretation or other 

auxiliary aids should be directed to Gail 

Bendixen at (907) 271–2809 at least 7 

working days prior to the meeting date. 

Dated: January 17, 2012. 

Tracey L. Thompson, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–1127 Filed 1–19–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 


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