[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 21 (Thursday, February 1, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 4691]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-440]



[[Page 4691]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 011907C]


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Exempted Fishing Permits

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: NMFS has decided not to proceed with issuing exempted fishing 
permits (EFPs) to collect data during Atlantic billfish tournaments to 
evaluate the impacts of J-style fishing hooks (J-hooks) and heavy 
tackle on Atlantic blue marlin. NMFS may consider potential strategies 
or mechanisms to mitigate impacts on tournaments in the future.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Russell Dunn or Randy Blankinship, 
727-824-5399; fax: 727-824-5398.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EFPs are requested and issued under the 
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 
Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) and/or the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act 
(16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.). Regulations at 50 CFR 600.745 and 635.32 
govern scientific research activity, exempted fishing, and exempted 
educational activity with respect to Atlantic Highly Migratory Species 
(HMS). NMFS received EFP applications from five Atlantic billfish 
tournament operators on behalf of 15 tournaments requesting exemptions 
from requirements for anglers fishing from HMS permitted vessels and 
participating in Atlantic billfish tournaments to use non-offset circle 
hooks when using natural bait and natural bait/artificial lure 
combinations. The requests were received for tournaments that would 
operate in the U.S. Southeast Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.
    NMFS has considered public comment received on the final 
Environmental Impact Statement for the final Consolidated HMS Fishery 
Management Plan (October 2, 2006; 71 FR 58058); comment received during 
the October 3-4, 2006, Highly Migratory Species Advisory Panel meeting 
(August 30, 2006; 71 FR 51577); and public comment received in response 
to a notice of intent to issue EFPs (November 27, 2006; 71 FR 68558). 
Comments received expressed concern over the difficulty of 
standardizing fishing gear type and use in a tournament setting. 
Comments also expressed concern over the quality of data collected in a 
tournament setting and the data's scientific applicability given the 
fishing characteristics of tournaments (fast paced activity, focus on 
catching and retaining specific species and/or size classes, and 
varying tournament rules). Finally, comments were received that 
expressed a general lack of support for conducting research and/or data 
collection in tournaments for the reasons stated above. NMFS worked 
with billfish tournament constituents to address the concerns over 
study design and data collection; however, difficulty continued in 
resolving many of the concerns.
    As a result, NMFS has determined that collection of data to 
evaluate the impacts of J-hooks and heavy tackle on Atlantic blue 
marlin during billfish tournaments in the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of 
Mexico would be problematic because of the varying conditions and 
methodologies discussed above that would likely occur within 
tournaments and between tournaments. NMFS will consider potential 
strategies and mechanisms other than EFPs to mitigate the impacts of 
specific hook requirements on Atlantic billfish tournaments and 
tournament participants in future rulemaking.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: January 29, 2007.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 07-440 Filed 1-29-07; 2:25 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S