[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 58 (Friday, March 27, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13420-13421]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-6895]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XN99


Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; 
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Application for an Exempted Fishing 
Permit

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

ACTION: Notice; receipt of exempted fishing permit applications; 
request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS announces the receipt of exempted fishing permit (EFP) 
applications, and is considering issuance of EFPs for vessels 
participating in the EFP fisheries. The EFPs are necessary to allow 
activities that are otherwise prohibited by Federal regulations. The 
EFPs will be effective no earlier than April 27, 2009, and would expire 
no later than December 31, 2009, but could be terminated earlier under 
terms and conditions of the EFPs and other applicable laws.

DATES: Comments must be received no later than 5 p.m., local time on 
April 27, 2009.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by 0648-XN99 by any one 
of the following methods:
    <bullet> Fax: 206-526-6736, Attn: Gretchen Arentzen.
    <bullet> Mail: D. Robert Lohn, Administrator, Northwest Region, 
NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115-0070, Attn: Gretchen 
Arentzen.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To view copies of the 2009 EFP 
applications, visit the Pacific Council website at www.pcouncil.org and 
browse the September 2008 Briefing Book; or contact Gretchen Arentzen 
(Northwest Region, NMFS), phone: 206-526-6147, fax: 206-526-6736.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This action is authorized by the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act provisions at 50 CFR 
600.745, which states that EFPs may be used to authorize fishing 
activities that would otherwise be prohibited. At the September 2008 
Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) meeting in Boise, Idaho, 
the Council considered applications for four EFPs from: (1) The Nature 
Conservancy and their collaborators; (2) the California Recreational 
Fishing Alliance and Golden Gate Fisherman's Association; (3) the 
Oregon Recreational Fishing

[[Page 13421]]

Alliance; and (4) Steven Fosmark. An opportunity for public testimony 
was provided during the Council meeting. For more details on these EFP 
applications and to view copies of the applications, see the Pacific 
Council's website at www.pcouncil.org and browse the September 2008 
Briefing Book. The Council recommended that NMFS consider issuing the 
following EFPs.

Community Based Fishing Association EFP

    The Nature Conservancy (TNC) submitted a proposal for a 2009 EFP, 
along with their collaborators: City of Morro Bay Harbor Department; 
Port San Luis Commercial Fishermen's Association; Port San Luis Harbor 
District; California Department of Fish and Game; Morro Bay Commercial 
Fishermen's Organization, Inc.; and Environmental Defense. The primary 
purpose of the EFP is to test whether establishing a cooperatively 
managed, community based fishing association can provide economic and 
environmental performance benefits.

Recreational Chilipepper EFP

    The California Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) and the Golden 
Gate Fishermen's Association submitted an application for a 2009 EFP. 
The primary purpose of the EFP is to do an area-based recreational 
fishing study to test if hook and line fishing gear can be used to 
access underutilized chilipepper rockfish seaward of the non-trawl RCA, 
while keeping bycatch of overfished species low.

Recreational Yellowtail EFP

    The Oregon RFA submitted an application for a 2009 EFP. The primary 
purpose of the EFP is to test if recreational fishing gear, fitted with 
a long leader to keep gear up off the ocean floor, can be used to 
access underutilized yellowtail rockfish, while keeping bycatch of 
overfished species low.

Commercial Chilipepper EFP

    Steven Fosmark submitted an application for a 2009 EFP. The primary 
purpose of the EFP is to test if a specific longline gear configuration 
can be used in the commercial fishery to target underutilized 
chilipepper rockfish, while keeping bycatch of overfished species low.

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

    Dated: March 23, 2009.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. E9-6895 Filed 3-26-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S