[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 155 (Monday, August 11, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46591-46592]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-18406]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XJ53


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

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

ACTION: Notification of a proposal to conduct exempted fishing; request 
for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable 
Fisheries, Northeast Region, NMFS (Assistant Regional Administrator), 
has made a preliminary determination that the subject exempted fishing 
permit (EFP) application submitted by the Gulf of Maine Research 
Institute (GMRI), which would exempt Atlantic sea scallop (scallop) 
vessels from small dredge program gear restrictions, should be issued 
for public comment. The Assistant Regional Administrator has also made 
a preliminary determination that the activities authorized under the 
EFP would be consistent with the goals and objectives of the Atlantic 
Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan (FMP). However, further review and 
consultation may be necessary before a final determination is made.

DATES: Comments on GMRI's EFP application must be received on or before 
August 26, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by e-mail. The mailbox address for 
providing e-mail comments is <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#99eafaf8f5f5f6e9b7fcffe9d9f7f6f8f8b7fef6ef"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e09383818c8c8f90ce858690a08e8f8181ce878f96">[email protected]</span></a>. Include in the 
subject line of the e-mail comment the following document identifier: 
``Comments on small dredge EFP.'' Written comments should be sent to 
Patricia A. Kurkul, Regional Administrator, NMFS, Northeast Regional 
Office, 1 Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of 
the envelope, ``Comments on small dredge EFP.'' Comments may also be 
sent via facsimile (fax) to (978) 281-9135.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ryan Silva, Cooperative Research 
Liaison, phone: 978-281-9326, fax: 978-281-9135.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In response to the 2008 Atlantic Sea Scallop 
RSA Program request for proposals, NOAA's National Marine Fisheries 
Service received a proposal from GMRI entitled, ``An assessment of 
hanging ratio and mesh orientation of twine-tops on selectivity and 
bycatch in the general category scallop dredge fishery in scallop 
limited access areas.'' The grant approved by NOAA Grants on July 26, 
2008, as NOAA Award No. NA08NMF4540667. GMRI proposes to determine if 
changes to the dredge twine-top configuration would affect the 
selectivity of a 10.5-ft general category scallop dredge.
    Under this award, GMRI was awarded 70,565 lb of scallops from the 
Elephant Trunk Access Area (ETAA) and 33 days-at-sea (DAS), with the 
proceeds from sold scallops compensating participating vessel owners 
and defraying research costs. Small dredge program restrictions at 50 
CFR 648.51(e) require a vessel enrolled in the small dredge program to 
fish with one dredge

[[Page 46592]]

no more than 10.5 ft in width. GMRI would like to contract a vessel 
enrolled in the small dredge program to harvest their set-aside scallop 
allocation. GMRI requests this vessel be authorized to fish two dredges 
(max combined width of 31 ft) to harvest the set-aside scallops, 
thereby requiring exemption from the small dredge program dredge size 
restrictions. GMRI claims that this exemption would allow the vessel to 
harvest the set-aside scallops more efficiently, thus reducing vessel 
operating expenses and increasing the portion of proceeds supporting 
the research project.
    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. The applicant may place requests for 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 minimal 
so as not to change the scope or impact of the initially approved EFP 
request.

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

    Dated: August 4, 2008.
James P. Burgess
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-18406 Filed 8-8-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S


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