Environmental Assessment, Issuance of a Scientific Research Permit to the National Marine Fisheries Service Southeast Fisheries Science Center for Resource Assessment Surveys and Conservation Engineering Research

The proposed action is NMFS SER under NMFS policy directive 01-108 would provide the SEFSC a Scientific Research Permit as an acknowledgement of their plans to conduct scientific research. The subject SRP would authorize annual collection activities to sample approximately 7,000 stations in the exclusive economic zone of the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and South Atlantic; Appendix 1 describes the proposed projects in detail. The proposed surveys will take place on NOAA ships Pisces, Gordon Gunter, Oregon II, R/V Caretta and Grayling, and contracted commercial vessels. The results of these surveys and studies will be made available to the appropriate Fishery Management Councils for management purposes and will continue to be provided to these organizations in the future. The research is intended to improve the scientific data supporting fisheries management, improve monitoring, and fishing opportunities for the region, and create an overall benefit to the nation