48720 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 184 / Thursday, September 24, 2009 / Notices 

consistent with the goals and objectives 

of the Summer Flounder, Scup, and 

Black Sea Bass Fishery Management 

Plan (FMP). However, further review 

and consultation may be necessary 

before a final determination is made. 

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before October 9, 2009. 

ADDRESSES: Comments may be 

submitted by e-mail. The mailbox 

address for providing e-mail comments 

is nero.efp@noaa.gov. Include in the 

subject line of the e-mail comment the 

following document identifier: 

‘‘Comments on CCE Offshore Fluke 

Discard EFP.’’ Written comments should 

be sent to Patricia A. Kurkul, Regional 

Administrator, NMFS, Northeast 

Regional Office, 55 Great Republic 

Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the 

outside of the envelope, ‘‘Comments on 

CCE Offshore Fluke Discard EFP.’’ 

Comments may also be sent via 

facsimile (fax) to (978) 281–9135. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Sarah Bland, Fishery Management 

Specialist, (978) 281–9257. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A 

complete application for an EFP was 

submitted by CCE on August 31, 2009, 

for a study that would evaluate summer 

flounder discard mortality in the 

offshore winter trawl fishery off Long 

Island, NY. The EFP would be issued to 

an initial list of seven vessels. 

Research trips would be conducted as 

normal fishing operations, modified 

only by standardized tow times and 

deck cull times, in the offshore winter 

trawl fishery off Long Island, NY. 

Research trips would occur south and 

east of Long Island, NY, between Veatch 

Canyon and Hudson Canyon, in 

statistical areas 616, 526, 537, 613, and 

611. One to two trips would be made 

each month, beginning in October 2009, 

and continuing through April 2010, for 

a total of eight trips. Four trips would 

occur during normal fishing operations 

targeting Loligo squid using small-mesh 

gear, and four trips would target 

summer flounder using large-mesh gear. 

Trips are expected to take 2 days due to 

steaming time to and from winter 

fishing grounds; however, poor weather 

conditions may lengthen trip times. 

For each trip, vessels would conduct 

three tows of 1, 2, and 3–hr durations. 

For each tow, two culls would be 

performed; an immediate cull and a 

delayed 30–min cull. Ten legal-sized 

summer flounder and 10 sub-legal sized 

summer flounder would be randomly 

collected from each cull, for a total of 

20 fish per tow. If there are not 10 sublegal sized summer flounder available, 

additional legal-sized summer flounder 

would be kept to maintain the random 

sampling at 20 fish per tow. Summer 

flounder would be randomly selected 

using sub-sampling and random 

sampling guidelines established by the 

NMFS At-Sea Observer Program. In 

addition to the random sample, 10 

jumbo market category summer flounder 

(greater than 4 lb (1.81 kg) or 55 cm) 

would be collected per tow. 

Summer flounder collected would be 

measured, weighed, and their physical 

condition noted. Fish would be tagged 

at the dorsal area of the eyed-side 

anterior of the caudal peduncle with a 

Floy-FD–94 Super Heavy Duty T-Bar 

Anchor Tag and transferred to an onboard holding tank. During the time it 

takes to clear the deck of catch, summer 

flounder would be sorted into live and 

dead components on set time intervals, 

in addition to immediate and delayed 

cull times. Information on tow duration, 

location, boat and gear specifics, fishing 

speed, total volume of the catch and 

discards, depth and surface water 

temperatures, and on-deck air 

temperature would be recorded. The 

applicant anticipates that catch species 

would include a mix of summer 

flounder, scup, black sea bass, 

butterfish, whiting, and Loligo squid. 

Collected fish would be transported 

from the on-board holding tanks to the 

Multi Aquaculture Systems, Inc., 

facility. Fish would be monitored for a 

14–day period. Any fish still alive after 

the monitoring period would be 

examined and ranked according to a 

health index, and blood would be 

drawn for cortisol analysis. These fish 

would then be released into Gardiners 

Bay from the holding facility. The 

applicant anticipates that, although fish 

would be released inshore during winter 

or early spring, some of these fish would 

survive. Scales and otoliths would be 

taken from those fish not surviving the 

monitoring period. Up to 180 fish would 

be landed for the extended mortality 

monitoring period, and the applicant 

anticipates the mortality rate would be 

between 75 and 90 percent. 

The applicant has requested an 

exemption from the summer flounder 

size restrictions at § 648.103 to allow 

sub-legal sized fish to be retained for 

data collection purposes. The applicant 

has also requested an exemption from 

the summer flounder mesh size 

restrictions at § 648.104(a)(1) to allow 

vessels targeting squid in the smallmesh fishery to retain more than the 

incidental limit of summer flounder. In 

addition, the applicant requested an 

exemption from the summer flounder 

fishery closure restrictions at 

§ 648.101(a) and (b) to allow summer 

flounder to be landed during a closure 

and transported to the Multi 

Aquaculture Systems facility for 

mortality observations. However, the 

regulations at § 648.12(a)(2) prevent 

NMFS from issuing an EFP that would 

cause a quota to be exceeded; therefore, 

unless research set-aside quota is made 

available to this project, no exemption 

from fishery closure restrictions would 

be granted. 

The applicants may request minor 

modifications and extensions to the EFP 

throughout the course of research. EFP 

modifications and extensions may be 

granted without further public notice if 

they are deemed essential to facilitate 

completion of the proposed research 

and result in only a minimal change in 

the scope or impacts of the initially 

approved EFP request. 

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

Dated: September 21, 2009. 

Emily H. Menashes, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. E9–23064 Filed 9–23–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

RIN 0648–XR76 

Marine Mammals; File No. 605–1904 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit 

amendment. 

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that 

the Whale Center of New England 

(WCNE), [Mason Weinrich, Principal 

Investigator], P.O. Box 159, Gloucester, 

MA 01930, has been issued an 

amendment to scientific research Permit 

No. 605–1904. 

ADDRESSES: The amendment and related 

documents are available for review 

upon written request or by appointment 

in the following offices: 

Permits, Conservation and Education 

Division, Office of Protected Resources, 

NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 

13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone 

(301)713–2289; fax (301)713–0376; 

Northeast Region, NMFS, 55 Great 

Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930; 

phone (978)281–9300; fax (978)281– 

9333; and 

Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th 

Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, Florida 

33701; phone (727)824–5312; fax 

(727)824–5309. 


srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 184 / Thursday, September 24, 2009 / Notices 48721 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Amy Hapeman or Kristy Beard, 

(301)713–2289. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 

4, 2008, notice was published in the 

Federal Register (73 FR 45217) that an 

amendment to Permit No. 605–1904, 

issued February 21, 2008 (73 FR 10744), 

had been requested by the above-named 

organization. The requested amendment 

has been granted under the authority of 

the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 

1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et 

seq.), the regulations governing the 

taking and importing of marine 

mammals (50 CFR part 216), the 

Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 

amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), 

and the regulations governing the 

taking, importing, and exporting of 

endangered and threatened species (50 

CFR parts 222–226). 

Permit No. 605–1904 authorizes the 

WCNE to harass humpback (Megaptera 

novaengliae), fin (Balaenoptera 

physalus), and sei (Balaenoptera 

borealis) whales along the U.S. Atlantic 

coast during close approaches for vessel 

surveys, photo-identification, tracking, 

and incidental harassment annually. 

During approaches, researchers may 

suction-cup tag and/or biopsy sample 

whales greater than six months of age. 

A subset of approached humpback and 

fin whale calves three to six months of 

age may also be biopsy sampled. This 

amendment authorizes the WCNE to 

harass up to 75 North Atlantic right 

whales (Eubalaena glacialis) annually 

during close vessel approaches for 

photo-identification, behavioral 

observation, and prey sampling. This 

work would continue long-term 

population monitoring to determine 

status and trends of this species in the 

North Atlantic. The amendment is valid 

until the permit expires on February 15, 

2013. 

In compliance with the National 

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 

U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an environmental 

assessment was prepared analyzing the 

effects of the permitted activities. After 

a Finding of No Significant Impact, the 

determination was made that it was not 

necessary to prepare an environmental 

impact statement. 

Issuance of this permit, as required by 

the ESA, was based on a finding that 

such permit: (1) was applied for in good 

faith; (2) will not operate to the 

disadvantage of such endangered 

species; and (3) is consistent with the 

purposes and policies set forth in 

section 2 of the ESA. 

Dated: September 18, 2009. 

P. Michael Payne, 

Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education 

Division, Office of Protected Resources, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. E9–23065 Filed 9–23–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

RIN: 0648–XR79 

New England Fishery Management 

Council; Public Meetings 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of public meetings. 

SUMMARY: The New England Fishery 

Management Council(s (Council) 

Habitat Committee and Habitat 

Advisory Panel will hold meetings to 

consider actions affecting New England 

fisheries in the exclusive economic zone 

(EEZ). 

DATES: The meetings will be held in 

October, 2009. For specific dates and 

times, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. 

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at 

the Holiday Inn, 31 Hampshire Street, 

Mansfield, MA 02048; telephone: (508) 

339–2200; fax: (508) 339–1040. 

Council address: New England 

Fishery Management Council, 50 Water 

Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul 

J. Howard, Executive Director, New 

England Fishery Management Council; 

telephone: (978) 465–0492. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

advisory panel and committee meeting 

schedules and agendas are as follows: 

1. Joint Habitat Committee and Advisory 

Panel Meeting - Tuesday, October 13, 

2009 beginning at 9 a.m. 

The committee and advisory panel 

will review Swept Area Seabed impact 

(SASI) model. They will also solicit 

Committee and Advisory Panel input on 

model components and discuss terms of 

reference for upcoming Scientific and 

Statistical Committee review of SASI. 

The Committee and Advisory Panel may 

also consider other topics at their 

discretion. 

2. Habitat Committee Meeting - 

Wednesday, October 14, 2009 beginning 

at 9 a.m. 

The Committee will discuss 

alternatives to minimize the effects of 

fishing on essential fish habitat (EFH) 

and will also review a timeline for 

completion of Omnibus EFH 

Amendment 2. 

Although non-emergency issues not 

contained in this agenda may come 

before these groups for discussion, those 

issues may not be the subject of formal 

action during this meeting. Action will 

be restricted to those issues specifically 

identified 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 

These meetings are physically 

accessible to people with disabilities. 

Requests for sign language 

interpretation or other auxiliary aids 

should be directed to Paul J. Howard 

(see ADDRESSES), at least 5 working days 

prior to the meeting date. 

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

Dated: September 21, 2009. 

William D. Chappell, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. E9–23019 Filed 9–23–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

RIN: 0648–XR80 

Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management 

Council; Public Meetings 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of a public meeting. 

SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery 

Management Council (Council) will 

convene its Law Enforcement Advisory 

Panel (LEAP). 

DATES: The meeting will convene at 1:30 

p.m. on Tuesday, October 13, 2009 and 

conclude no later than 5 p.m. 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at 

the IP Casino Resort, 850 Bayview Ave., 

Biloxi, MS 39530. 

Council address: Gulf of Mexico 

Fishery Management Council, 2203 

North Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, 

FL 33607. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. 

Richard Leard, Deputy Executive 

Director, Gulf of Mexico Fishery 


srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES