2018-01002. Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

AGENCY:

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION:

Notice of public meeting (webinar).

SUMMARY:

The Groundfish Subcommittee of the Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council's) Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will hold a meeting via webinar to review 2019 and 2020 groundfish harvest specifications, particularly revised harvest specifications for lingcod. The SSC Groundfish Subcommittee will also discuss the groundfish research and data needs for the Pacific Council's 2018 Research and Data Needs document that will be finalized this year. The webinar meeting is open to the public.

DATES:

The SSC Groundfish Subcommittee webinar will be held Thursday, February 8, 2018 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Pacific Standard Time or until business for the day has been completed.

ADDRESSES:

The SSC's Groundfish Subcommittee meeting will be held by webinar. To attend the webinar, (1) join the meeting by visiting this link https://www.gotomeeting.com,, (2) enter the webinar ID: 728-365-997, and (3) enter your name and email address (required). After logging into the webinar, please (1) dial this TOLL number: 1-312-757-3121 (not a toll-free number); (2) enter the attendee phone audio access code: 728-365-997; and (3) then enter your audio phone pin (shown after joining the webinar). Note: We have disabled mic/speakers as an option and require all participants to use a telephone or cell phone to participate. Technical Information and System Requirements: PC-based attendees are required to use Windows® 7, Vista, or XP; Mac®-based attendees are required to use Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer; Mobile attendees are required to use iPhone®, iPad®, Android^TM phone or Android tablet (See the https://www.gotomeeting.com/​webinar/​ipad-iphone-android-webinar-apps). You may send an email to Mr. Kris Kleinschmidt at [e-mail] or contact him at [phone], extension 411 for technical assistance. A public listening station will also be available at the Pacific Council office.

Council address: Pacific Fishery Management Council, 7700 NE Ambassador Place, Suite 101, Portland, OR 97220.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. John DeVore, Staff Officer, Pacific Fishery Management Council; telephone: [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The purpose of the SSC Groundfish Subcommittee meeting is to review groundfish harvest specifications that will inform management decisions for 2019 and beyond. The review will focus on revised projections of lingcod harvest specifications. An error was discovered in the lingcod harvest specifications adopted by the Pacific Council in November 2017 requiring SSC review of the revised harvest specifications. Additionally, the SSC Groundfish Subcommittee will review draft sections relevant to groundfish management of the Pacific Council's 2018 Research and Data Needs document.

No management actions will be decided by the SSC's Groundfish Subcommittee. The SSC Groundfish Subcommittee members' role will be development of recommendations and reports for consideration by the SSC and Pacific Council at the March meeting in Rohnert Park, CA.

Although nonemergency issues not contained in the meeting agendas may be discussed, those issues may not be the subject of formal action during these meetings. Action will be restricted to those issues specifically listed in this notice and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, provided the public has been notified of the intent of the SSC Groundfish Subcommittee to take final action to address the emergency.

Special Accommodations

These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Mr. Kris Kleinschmidt [phone] at least 10 days prior to the meeting date.

Dated: January 17, 2018.

Tracey L. Thompson,

Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.