Coral, Golden Crab, Shrimp, Spiny Lobster, Red Drum, Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources, and Snapper-Grouper Fisheries of the South Atlantic

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 102497B]

Coral, Golden Crab, Shrimp, Spiny Lobster, Red Drum, Coastal

Migratory Pelagic Resources, and Snapper-Grouper Fisheries of the South

Atlantic

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 Mr. Bruce Hecker, Director of Husbandry &

Operations, South Carolina Aquarium (applicant). If granted, the EFP

would authorize, over a period of 2 years, a collection for public

display of an average of 25 specimens each of 76 species of marine

invertebrates and 221 species of marine fish from Federal waters off

South Carolina.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before December 8, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the application must be mailed to the Southeast

Regional Office, NMFS, 9721 Executive Center Drive N., St. Petersburg,

FL 33702.

The application and related documents are available for review upon

written request to the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Georgia Cranmore, 813-570-5305.

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 concerning ``Scientific

research activity, exempted fishing permits, and exempted educational

activity.''

The South Carolina Aquarium (SCA), located in Charleston, is

scheduled to open to the public in 1999. According to the applicant,

SCA is a public, non-profit, self-supporting institution devoted to the

understanding and conservation of South Carolina's natural aquatic

habitats and will become a major educational and conservation

institution with free admission to school children in groups and

extensive field study and outreach programs. While the SCA is being

built, specimens will be maintained in an off-site warehouse.

The applicant intends, over a period of 2 years, to collect for

public display an average of 25 specimens each of 76 species of marine

invertebrates and 221 species of marine fish from Federal waters off

South Carolina, using a variety of fishing gears and the immobilizing

chemical, quinaldine. A total of 25 specimens per species would be an

average, and it may differ from species to species.

The proposed collection for public display involves activities

otherwise prohibited by regulations implementing the Fishery Management

Plans for Coral, Coral Reefs, and Live/Hard Bottom Habitats, Golden

Crab, Shrimp, Spiny Lobster, Red Drum, Coastal Migratory Pelagics, and

Snapper-Grouper Fisheries of the South Atlantic region. The applicant

requires authorization to harvest and possess corals, live rock, golden

crab, rock shrimp, red drum, wreckfish, Nassau grouper, and jewfish

taken from Federal waters off South Carolina. In addition,

authorization is required to use quinaldine in a coral area and to

posses spiny lobster, bluefish, cobia, king and Spanish mackerel,

groupers and snappers, greater amberjack, hogfish, and red porgy below

the minimum size limit, in excess of established bag limits, or taken

with prohibited gear.

The applicant also intends to collect a large number of species

that either are not subject to Federal fishery management in the South

Atlantic region or are included under a fishery management plan that

contains no management measures restricting possession or harvest.

The applicant is also applying to NMFS for a separate authorization

to collect highly migratory species, such as sharks and tunas, for

public display purposes.

Based on a preliminary review, NMFS finds that this application

warrants further consideration and intends to issue an EFP. A final

decision on issuance of the EFP will depend on a NMFS review of public

comments received on the application, conclusions of environmental

analyses conducted pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act,

and consultations with South Carolina, the South Atlantic Fishery

Management Council, and the U.S. Coast Guard.

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

Dated: November 3, 1997.

Bruce C. Morehead,

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine

Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 97-29506 Filed 11-6-97; 8:45 am]

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