Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Application for an Exempted Fishing Permit

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NMFS announces receipt of an application for an exempted fishing permit (EFP) from the California Department of Fish and Game. This EFP application applies to vessels with valid California State delivery permits fishing for flatfish with small footrope trawl gear in Federal waters off the state of California. If awarded, the EFP would allow vessels with a Federal limited entry permit to land federally managed groundfish species in excess of cumulative trip limits and to sell flatfish catch for profit, provided that the vessels carry state- sponsored observers. Observers would collect data that are otherwise not available shoreside. This EFP proposal is intended to promote the objectives of the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) by providing data that can be used to enhance management of the groundfish fishery.