[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 33 (Tuesday, February 19, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 11628]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-03777]
[[Page 11628]]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XC414
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic;
Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; Exempted Fishing Permit
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of an application for an exempted fishing
permit; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the receipt of an application for an exempted
fishing permit (EFP) from Dr. John R. Gold (Texas A&M University). If
granted, the EFP would authorize the applicant to use the captain and
crew of a charter vessel to collect a total of 125-150 adult red
snapper, south of the Florida Keys and near the Dry Tortugas, FL.
Samples would be collected over multiple trips using conventional hook-
and-line gear from deep water. Small pieces of fin tissue and otoliths
would be collected from the fish for genetic analysis, and age and
growth studies. Additional information on the geographic origin, degree
of connectivity, and life history of red snapper would provide the
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) and NMFS data that
may be used for future management of red snapper stocks in the South
Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico (Gulf). Collections would occur from April
1, 2013, to March 31, 2014.
DATES: Comments must be received no later than 5 p.m., eastern time, on
March 21, 2013.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by RIN 0648-XC414, on
the application by any of the following methods:
Email: [email protected]. Include in the subject line
of the email comment the following document identifier: ``John Gold EFP
2013''.
Mail: Nikhil Mehta, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 263
13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
The application and related documents are available for review upon
written request to any of the above addresses.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nikhil Mehta, 727-824-5305; email:
[email protected].
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 Marine Fisheries Initiative
funded study titled, ``Stock structure, connectivity, and effective
population size of red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) in U.S. waters of
the Gulf of Mexico.'' Objectives of the study are to: (i) Further
refine a geographic stock model in areas from southern Texas to the
southwest coast of Florida; (ii) quantify historical and present
connectivity (genetic migration) among sampled locations in the Gulf
and South Atlantic; and (iii) utilize recently developed algorithms to
estimate the effective number of breeding adult red snapper at each
sample location.
If granted, the EFP would authorize the applicant and the captain
and crew of a charter vessel to collect a total of 125-150 red snapper
using conventional hook-and-line gear from deep water (200-240 ft (61-
73 m)). Red snapper would be collected over multiple 2-3 day trips
south of the Florida Keys and near the Dry Tortugas, FL. The fish would
be placed on ice and the fins removed at the end of each fishing day.
Small pieces of red snapper fin tissue would be placed into sample
tubes containing a non-flammable, non-explosive fixative. Upon reaching
the dock, all the fish and tubes with fin clips would be collected by a
NMFS port sampler. After a total of 125-150 red snapper have been
sampled, the fin clips would be shipped to the laboratory at Texas A&M
University in College Station, TX, for genetic analysis. Otoliths would
also be removed from the collected red snapper by the NMFS port sampler
to facilitate age and growth studies.
The proposed collection for scientific research involves activities
that would otherwise be prohibited by regulations at 50 CFR part 622,
as they pertain to red snapper managed by the Council. The EFP would
exempt this research activity from Federal regulations at Sec.
622.32(b)(3)(vi) (Prohibited and limited harvest species) and Sec.
622.37(e)(v) (Size limits).
NMFS finds this application warrants further consideration.
Possible conditions the agency may impose on this permit, if it is
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. A report on the
research would be due at the end of the collection period, to be
submitted to NMFS and reviewed by the Council.
A final decision on issuance of the EFP will depend on NMFS' review
of public comments received on the application, consultations with
appropriate fishery management agencies of the affected states, the
Council, and the U.S. Coast Guard, as well as a determination that it
is consistent with all applicable laws.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: February 13, 2013.
Kara Meckley,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-03777 Filed 2-15-13; 8:45 am]
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