[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 144 (Thursday, July 26, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43809-43810]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-18302]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC108


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

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

ACTION: Notice; request for comments

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SUMMARY: The Regional Administrator, Southwest Region, NMFS, has made a 
preliminary determination that an application for an Exempted Fishing 
Permit (EFP) warrants further consideration. The application was 
submitted by members of the Pacific sardine fishing industry who 
request an exemption from seasonal closures of the directed fishery to 
conduct a survey designed to estimate the population size of Pacific 
sardine. NMFS requests public comment on the application.

DATES: Comments must be received by August 10, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this notice identified by 0648-
XC108 by any one of the following methods:
     Mail: Rodney R. McInnis, Regional Administrator, Southwest 
Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802.
     Fax: (562)980-4047, Att: Joshua Lindsay

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: A copy of the application can viewed 
at the following Web site http://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/fmd/cps/; or by 
contacting Joshua Lindsay, Southwest Region, NMFS, (562) 980-4034.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 3, 2012, NMFS published a proposed 
rule to implement the harvest guideline (HG) and annual specifications 
for the 2012 Pacific sardine fishing season off the U.S. West Coast (77 
FR 19991). As part of these management measures the Pacific Fishery 
Management Council recommended, and NMFS proposed, that 3,000 metric 
tons (mt) of the maximum harvest guideline (HG) be initially subtracted 
and set aside for potential industry-based research projects or EFPs. 
The 3,000 mt set-aside was intended to allow for potential research 
fishing in the second seasonal period (July 1--September 14, 2012) to 
occur if that period's directed fishery allocation is reached and 
directed fishing is closed.
    An EFP would allow the fishing activities proposed by the 
applicants to occur when directed fishing is not allowed. At the April 
2012 Council meeting, the Council recommended that NMFS issue an EFP 
for the total 3,000 mt of the 3,000 mt initially set aside. The 
applicants proposed the use of 3,000 mt to replicate summer surveys 
conducted under EFPs approved in 2009, 2010, and 2011.
    One of the goals set forth in the EFP application is the 
development of an index of biomass for Pacific sardine, with the desire 
that this index be included in the subsequent Pacific sardine stock 
assessment. If NMFS does not issue this EFP, then the set-aside will be 
re-allocated to the third period's directed harvest allocation. 
Likewise,

[[Page 43810]]

any amount of the set-aside allocated to an EFP for use during the 
closed fishing time in the second allocation period (prior to September 
15), but not utilized, will roll into the third allocation period's 
directed fishery.

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

    Dated: July 23, 2012.
Emily H. Menashes
Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-18302 Filed 7-25-12; 8:45 am]
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