[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 17 (Thursday, January 25, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2230-2231]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-1124]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[I.D. 011696A]
New England Fishery Management Council; 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 begin on Thursday, January 25, 1996, at 10 a.m.
and on Friday, January 26, 1996, at 8:30 a.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the King's Grant Inn, Route 128
and Trask Lane, Danvers, MA; telephone: (617) 231-0422.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Douglas G. Marshall, Executive
Director, New England Fishery Management Council (617) 231-0422.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
January 25, 1996
The January 25 session will begin with a report on the 21st Stock
Assessment Workshop presented by the staff of the Northeast Fisheries
Science Center. Analyses will be reviewed for the following species/
stocks: Long-finned squid (Loligo); short-finned squid (Illex),
Atlantic herring, winter flounder, and the northeast groundfish
complex.
The afternoon agenda will include reports from the Council's Sea
Scallop, Marine Mammal, and Northeast Multispecies (Groundfish)
Committees. The Sea Scallop Committee will discuss Framework Adjustment
7 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The
Council will also review public hearing comments on, and possibly
approve, Amendment 6 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop FMP. The amendment
would establish a temporary experimental use area 10 miles (18.5 km)
south of Martha's Vineyard for sea scallop research, enhancement, and
aquaculture. The Marine Mammal Committee will discuss Framework
Adjustment 13 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP. The Groundfish
Committee will consider final approval of Amendment 7 to the Northeast
Multispecies FMP, a program that would rebuild severely overfished cod,
haddock, and yellowtail flounder and other depleted groundfish stocks.
Late in the afternoon, the Council will discuss and provide input to
NOAA on
[[Page 2231]]
the pending Fishing Capacity Reduction Program.
Abbreviated Rulemaking--Atlantic Sea Scallops
At the recommendation of its Scallop Committee, the Council will
consider final action on Framework Adjustment 7 to the Atlantic Sea
Scallop FMP under the framework for abbreviated rulemaking procedure
contained in 50 CFR 650.40. The Council proposes to extend the current
rule specifying a maximum crew size of seven until a plan amendment
allows the consolidation of days-at-sea now allocated to individual
scallop vessels, or until the Council changes the crew size through
other action.
Abbreviated Rulemaking Action--Northeast Multispecies
The Council will consider final action on Framework Adjustment 13
to the Northeast Multispecies FMP under the framework for abbreviated
rulemaking procedure contained in 50 CFR 651.40. The action is intended
to further reduce the bycatch of harbor porpoise in the Gulf of Maine
sink gillnet fishery by initiating time-area closures in the mid-coast
and southern New England regions during the spring.
The Council will consider public comments at a minimum of two
Council meetings prior to making any final recommendations to the
Director, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional Director), under the
provisions for abbreviated rulemaking cited above. If the Regional
Director concurs with the measures proposed by the Council, he will
publish them as a final rule in the Federal Register.
January 26, 1996
If necessary, the Council will begin the January 26 session with
further discussion of Amendment 7 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP.
Other items of business involving groundfish management include NMFS
consultation with the Council concerning decisions on small mesh
fisheries certification as defined in the Northeast Multispecies FMP
and initial discussion of a program to consolidate fishing effort in
the groundfish fleet.
The afternoon agenda will conclude with reports from the Council
Chairman, Council Executive Director, NMFS Regional Director, Northeast
Fisheries Science liaison, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council
liaison, and representatives from the Department of State, Coast Guard,
Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries
Commission. Any other outstanding business will be addressed at this
time.
Special Accommodations
This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities.
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids
should be directed to Douglas G. Marshall (see ADDRESSES) at least 5
days prior to the meeting date.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: January 19, 1996.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-1124 Filed 1-22-96; 1:37 pm]
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