Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 201 / Thursday, October 16, 2008 / Notices 61397 

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 Gulf 

Fishermen’s Association. If granted, the 

EFP would authorize the applicants, 

with certain conditions, to collect 

limited numbers of undersized and out– 

of–season reef fish in Gulf of Mexico 

Federal waters. It would also allow a 

limited number of red snapper to be 

collected outside the Gulf of Mexico 

Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) program. 

This study is intended to provide 

detailed information and disposition of 

reef fish discards by the eastern Gulf of 

Mexico commercial reef fish fishery. 

DATES: Comments must be received no 

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

November 17, 2008. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

on the application by any of the 

following methods: 

• E–mail: Peter.Hood@noaa.gov. 

Include in the subject line of the e–mail 

comment the following document 

identifier: ‘‘GFAlEFP’’. 

• Mail: Peter Hood, Southeast 

Regional Office, NMFS, 263 13th

Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. 

• Fax: 727–824–5308. 

The application and related 

documents are available for review 

upon written request to any of the above 

addresses. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Peter Hood, 727–824–5305; fax: 727– 

824–5308; e–mail: 

Peter.Hood@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 

Cooperative Research Program Grant 

(Cooperative Agreement No. 

NA08NMF4540401). The Cooperative 

Research Program is a means of 

involving commercial and recreational 

fishermen in the collection of 

fundamental fisheries information. 

Resource collection efforts support the 

development and evaluation of fisheries 

management and regulatory options. 

The proposed collection for scientific 

research involves activities otherwise 

prohibited by regulations implementing 

the Fishery Management Plan for the 

Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of 

Mexico. The applicants require 

authorization to harvest and possess 

undersized and out–of–season snapper 

and grouper for scientific research 

activities during a 1-year period 

beginning late in 2008. It would also 

allow the applicants to land red snapper 

outside of the current IFQ program over 

this same time period. Specimens 

would be collected from Federal waters 

off the west coast of Florida, in three 

geographical areas: NMFS’ Gulf of 

Mexico statistical grids 2–4, 5–7, and 8– 

10. Sampling would occur during 

normal fishing operations of the 

commercial reef fish longline and 

vertical hook–and–line fishery. The 

applicant intends to use 10 longline and 

10 vertical hook–and–line gear vessels 

to randomly collect up to 300 reef fish 

from each of the three geographical 

areas. The applicant also intends to 

retain 100 percent of the catch during 

two fishing trips within each of three 

geographical areas. Fish from these 

portions of the study will be provided 

to NMFS personnel for length and life 

history information to better 

characterize the discards in the 

commercial fishery. Finally, the 

applicants will use logbooks and video 

monitors to test methods for real–time 

catch reporting and at–sea observation. 

Data collections for this study would 

support improved information about the 

catch, bycatch, discards, and discard 

mortality for reef fish species. 

Accurate estimates of bycatch and the 

level of discards is a persistent problem 

for assessing Gulf of Mexico reef fish 

stocks. Using fisheries dependant data 

accompanied by independent video 

monitoring would help establish 

reliability of current bycatch 

information and provide a higher level 

of confidence from various constituents 

interested in this fishery. Additionally, 

this information would assist fishery 

managers in developing more effective 

regulations to reduce bycatch and 

discard mortality. 

NMFS finds this application warrants 

further consideration. Based on a 

preliminary review, NMFS intends to 

issue an EFP. 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. Additionally, NMFS may 

prohibit the possession of Nassau or 

goliath grouper, and require any sea 

turtles taken incidentally during the 

course of fishing or scientific research 

activities to be handled with due care to 

prevent injury to live specimens, 

observed for activity, and returned to 

the water. A final decision on issuance 

of the EFP will depend on a NMFS 

review of public comments received on 

the application, consultations with the 

affected states, the Gulf of Mexico 

Fishery Management Council, and the 

U.S. Coast Guard, and a determination 

that it is consistent with all applicable 

laws. 

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

Dated: October 9, 2008. 

Emily H. Menashes, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. E8–24541 Filed 10–15–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

RIN 0648–XL19 

Marine Mammals; File No. 13614 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application. 

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that 

Sea World, Inc., 9205 South Park Circle, 

Suite 400, Orlando, FL 32819, has 

applied in due form for a permit to 

import one pilot whale (Globicephala 

melas) for the purposes of public 

display. 

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments 

must be received on or before November 

17, 2008. 

ADDRESSES: The application 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) 427–2521; and 

Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West 

Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, 

CA 90802–4213; phone (562)980–4001; 

fax (562)980–4018. 

Written comments or requests for a 

public hearing on this application 

should be mailed to the Chief, Permits, 

Conservation and Education Division, 

F/PR1, Office of Protected Resources, 

NMFS, 1315 East–West Highway, Room 

13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Those 

individuals requesting a hearing should 

set forth the specific reasons why a 

hearing on this particular request would 

be appropriate. 

Comments may also be submitted by 

facsimile at (301)427–2521, provided 

the facsimile is confirmed by hard copy 
61398 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 201 / Thursday, October 16, 2008 / Notices 

submitted by mail and postmarked no 

later than the closing date of the 

comment period. 

Comments may also be submitted by 

e–mail. The mailbox address for 

providing e–mail comments is 

NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Include 

in the subject line of the e–mail 

comment the following document 

identifier: File No. 13614. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Jennifer Skidmore or Kristy Beard, 

(301)713–2289. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

subject permit is requested under the 

authority of the Marine Mammal 

Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 

U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), and the regulations 

governing the taking and importing of 

marine mammals (50 CFR part 216). 

The applicant requests authorization 

to import one male pilot whale from the 

Lisbon Zoo (Jardim Zoolo ́gico de 

Lisboa), Estrada de Benfica, 158 - 160, 

1549 - 004, Lisboa, Portugal to Sea 

World of California. The applicant 

requests this import for the purpose of 

public display. The receiving facility, 

Sea World of California, 1720 South 

Shores Road, San Diego, CA 92109– 

7995 is: (1) open to the public on 

regularly scheduled basis with access 

that is not limited or restricted other 

than by charging for an admission fee; 

(2) offers an educational program based 

on professionally accepted standards of 

the AZA and the Alliance for Marine 

Mammal Parks and Aquariums; and (3) 

holds an Exhibitor’s License, number 

93–C–0069, issued by the U.S. 

Department of Agriculture under the 

Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2131 - 59). 

In addition to determining whether 

the applicant meets the three public 

display criteria, NMFS must determine 

whether the applicant has demonstrated 

that the proposed activity is humane 

and does not represent any unnecessary 

risks to the health and welfare of marine 

mammals; that the proposed activity by 

itself, or in combination with other 

activities, will not likely have a 

significant adverse impact on the 

species or stock; and that the applicant’s 

expertise, facilities and resources are 

adequate to accomplish successfully the 

objectives and activities stated in the 

application. 

In compliance with the National 

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 

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

determination has been made that the 

activity proposed is categorically 

excluded from the requirement to 

prepare an environmental assessment or 

environmental impact statement. 

Concurrent with the publication of 

this notice in the Federal Register, 

NMFS is forwarding copies of this 

application to the Marine Mammal 

Commission and its Committee of 

Scientific Advisors. 

Dated: October 10, 2008. 

P. Michael Payne, 

Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education 

Division, Office of Protected Resources, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. E8–24596 Filed 10–15–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

RIN 0648–XL21 

Marine Mammals; File No. 633–1763 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for 

amendment. 

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that 

the Center for Coastal Studies (CCS) has 

requested an amendment to scientific 

research Permit No. 633–1763. 

DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e–mail 

comments must be received on or before 

November 17, 2008. 

ADDRESSES: The application and related 

documents are available for review by 

selecting ‘‘Records Open for Public 

Comment’’ from the Features box on the 

Applications and Permits for Protected 

Species (APPS) home page, https:// 

apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/index.cfm, and 

then selecting File No. 633–1763 from 

the list of available applications. These 

documents are also available upon 

written request or by appointment in the 

following office(s): 

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)427–2521. 

Northeast Region, NMFS, One 

Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 

01930–2298; phone (978)281–9300; fax 

(978)281–9394; and 

Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th 

Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, Florida 

33701; phone (727)824–5312; fax 

(727)824–5309. 

Written comments or requests for a 

public hearing on this request should be 

submitted to the Chief, Permits, 

Conservation and Education Division, 

F/PR1, Office of Protected Resources, 

NMFS, 1315 East–West Highway, Room 

13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Those 

individuals requesting a hearing should 

set forth the specific reasons why a 

hearing on this particular amendment 

request would be appropriate. 

Comments may also be submitted by 

facsimile at (301)427–2521, provided 

the facsimile is confirmed by hard copy 

submitted by mail and postmarked no 

later than the closing date of the 

comment period. 

Comments may also be submitted by 

e–mail. The mailbox address for 

providing e–mail comments is 

NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Include 

in the subject line of the e–mail 

comment the following document 

identifier: File No. 633–1763. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Kristy Beard or Kate Swails, (301)713– 

2289. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

subject amendment to Permit No. 633– 

1763, issued on April 21, 2005 (70 FR 

22299) is requested 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), and the 

Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 

amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). 

Permit No. 633–1763 authorizes the 

permit holder to harass North Atlantic 

right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) 

during close approaches for aerial and 

vessel surveys with associated photo– 

identification and behavioral 

observations in the Gulf of Maine, Cape 

Cod Bay, Great South Channel, and 

Georgia Bight, and the collection and 

export of sloughed right whale skin. The 

original application submitted by CCS 

included a request to collect biopsy 

samples from North Atlantic right 

whales. At the time of permit issuance, 

takes for biopsy samples were not 

authorized. NMFS is now reviewing the 

biopsy sample portion of the request as 

an amendment to Permit No. 633–1763. 

CCS requests authorization to biopsy 

sample up to 30 North Atlantic right 

whales annually during close vessel 

approaches for photo-identification and 

behavioral observation; authorization is 

requested to biopsy up to 10 of these 

right whales two times to contribute to 

individual whale’s health assessments. 

This work would continue long-term 

population monitoring to determine 

status and trends of this species in the 

North Atlantic. The amendment would 

be valid until the permit expires on May 

1, 2010. 

Concurrent with the publication of 

this notice in the Federal Register, 

NMFS is forwarding copies of this 

application to the Marine Mammal 

Commission and its Committee of 

Scientific Advisors.