[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 101 (Thursday, May 24, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30995-30996]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-12682]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC034


Permits; Foreign Fishing

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

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS publishes for public review and comment information 
regarding a permit application for transshipment of Atlantic herring by 
Canadian vessels, submitted under provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).

DATES: Written comments must be received by June 7, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on this action, identified by RIN 0648-
XC034, should be sent to MiAe Kim in the NMFS Office of International 
Affairs at 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (phone: 
(301) 427-8365, fax: (301) 713-2313, email: mi.ae.kim@noaa.gov).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: MiAe Kim at (301) 427-8365 or by email 
at mi.ae.kim@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Section 204(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1824(d)) 
authorizes the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to issue a 
transshipment permit authorizing a vessel other than a vessel of the 
United States to engage in fishing consisting solely of transporting 
fish or fish products at sea from a point within the United States 
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) or, with the concurrence of a state, 
within the boundaries of that state, to a point outside the United 
States. In addition, Public Law 104-297, section 105(e) directs the 
Secretary to issue section 204(d) permits for up to 14 Canadian

[[Page 30996]]

transport vessels to receive Atlantic herring harvested by United 
States fishermen and to be used in sardine processing. Transshipment 
must occur from within the boundaries of the State of Maine or within 
the portion of the EEZ east of the line 69 degrees 30 minutes west and 
within 12 nautical miles from Maine's seaward boundary.
    Section 204(d)(3)(D) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act provides that an 
application may not be approved until the Secretary determines that 
``no owner or operator of a vessel of the United States which has 
adequate capacity to perform the transportation for which the 
application is submitted has indicated * * * an interest in performing 
the transportation at fair and reasonable rates.'' NMFS is publishing 
this notice as part of its effort to make such a determination with 
respect to the application described below.

Summary of Application

    NMFS received an application requesting authorization for five 
Canadian transport vessels to receive transfers of herring from United 
States purse seine vessels, stop seines, and weirs for the purpose of 
transporting the herring to Canada for processing. The transshipment 
operations will occur within the boundaries of the State of Maine or 
within the portion of the EEZ east of the line 69[deg]30' W longitude 
and within 12 nautical miles from Maine's seaward boundary.

    Dated: May 18, 2012.
Rebecca Lent,
Director, Office of International Affairs, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-12682 Filed 5-23-12; 8:45 am]
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