[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 9 (Thursday, January 14, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 2466]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-840]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[I.D. 010599A]
New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Public meeting.
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SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold
a 2-day public meeting to consider actions affecting New England
fisheries in the exclusive economic zone.
DATES: The meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 27, 1999, at 9:30
a.m. and on Thursday, January 28, 1999, at 8:30 a.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Sheraton Harborside
Portsmouth, 250 Market Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801; telephone (603)
431-2300. Requests for special accommodations should be addressed to
the New England Fishery Management Council, 5 Broadway, Saugus, MA
01906-1036; telephone: (781) 231-0422.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director,
New England Fishery Management Council; telephone (781) 231-0422.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Wednesday, January 27, 1999
The meeting will begin with reports on recent activities from the
Council Chairman; the Executive Director; the NMFS Acting Regional
Administrator, Northeast Region; Northeast Fisheries Science Center and
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council liaisons; and representatives
of the Coast Guard, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission,
and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Following reports, the Chairman
of the Whiting Committee will ask for approval of descriptions of
measures and the summary of impacts for final submission of Amendment
12 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Northeast Multispecies
Fishery. Following the Scientific and Statistical Committee's review,
the Dogfish Committee will seek approval of an overfishing definition,
of a stock rebuilding schedule, and of the Spiny Dogfish FMP for
submission to the Secretary of Commerce.
During the afternoon session, the Council will continue its
discussion on dogfish and possible approval of a recommendation for
emergency or interim action to become effective by May 1, 1999. The
Social Sciences Advisory Committee will report on recommendations on
information to be included in the Stock Assessment and Fishery
Evaluation reports and the social and economic impacts analyses
included in the Council FMPs. There will be a Stock Assessment Public
Review Workshop on the status of Cape Cod yellowtail flounder, white
hake, Georges Bank winter flounder, American plaice and Southern New
England/mid-Atlantic winter flounder.
Thursday, January 28, 1999
The Council will take final action on Framework Adjustment 27 to
the Northeast Multispecies FMP. Management measures in Framework
Adjustment 27 would reduce fishing mortality on Gulf of Maine cod and
Georges Bank cod to achieve the 1999 fishing year rebuilding objectives
and might include area closures, trip limits, adjustments to days-at-
sea, or gear/mesh modifications. During the afternoon session, the
Groundfish Committee will consider recommendations on priorities for
Council action during 1999 to address latent fishing effort/permits,
employment of displaced fishermen in scientific/gear research programs
under economic assistance programs, changing the annual Northeast
Multispecies FMP adjustment schedule to a calendar year, and/or other
measures to address overfishing of identified stocks. The Council also
intends to approve initial action on a framework adjustment to the
Northeast Multispecies FMP that would adjust regulations to comply with
the Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Plan. Discussion of any other
business will take place before the close of the meeting.
Although other issues not contained in this agenda may come before
this Council for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management Act, those issues may not be the
subject of formal Council action during this meeting. Council action
will be restricted to those issues specifically listed in this notice.
Special Accommodations
This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities.
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids
should be directed to Paul J. Howard (see ADDRESSES) at least 5 days
prior to the meeting date.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: January 8, 1999.
Bruce Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries.
[FR Doc. 99-840 Filed 1-13-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
