99-1875. Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting  

  • [Federal Register Volume 64, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 27, 1999)]
    [Notices]
    [Page 4074]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 99-1875]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
    
    National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
    [I.D. 012199B]
    
    
    Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
    
    AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
    Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
    
    ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
    
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    SUMMARY: The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Groundfish 
    Management Team (GMT) will hold a public meeting in conjunction with a 
    workshop to review new information on groundfish harvest rates.
    
    DATES: The GMT meeting will be held on Monday, February 22, 1999 
    beginning at 1:00 p.m. and may go into the evening until business for 
    the day is completed. The meeting will reconvene from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 
    p.m. on Tuesday, February 23, and from 8:00 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, 
    February 24. At 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 24, the workshop on 
    groundfish harvest policies will convene. The workshop will continue on 
    Thursday, February 25 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Friday, 
    February 26, from 8:00 a.m. to noon or as necessary.
    
    ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Hatfield Marine Science 
    Center, Meeting Room #9, 2030 S. Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR; 
    telephone: (541) 867-0249.
        Council address: Pacific Fishery Management Council, 2130 SW Fifth 
    Avenue, Suite 224, Portland, OR 97201.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Glock, Groundfish Fishery 
    Management Coordinator; telephone: (503) 326-6352.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the GMT meeting is to develop 
    a work plan for 1999 and to prepare technical advice and reports to 
    support Council decisions throughout the year. Specific agenda items 
    will include: (1) appoint representatives to track assessments in the 
    stock assessment review process; (2) prepare a work plan for 1999 GMT 
    activities; (3) review methodology for developing inseason catch 
    projections and potential open access trip limit adjustments; (4) 
    evaluate data and analysis requirements related to lingcod and rockfish 
    allocation and management; (5) review program cost estimates for an 
    observer program; (6) review new information related to the status of 
    the Pacific whiting stock and develop an acceptable biological catch/
    optimum yield recommendation; and (7) discuss the review of harvest 
    policies.
        Starting on Wednesday, February 24, 1999, the GMT and other 
    participants at the harvest policy workshop will hear recent 
    information regarding appropriate harvest rates for various groundfish 
    species. Some investigations indicate current harvest policies 
    (F35% and F40%) may not adequately protect stocks 
    and may not produce the maximum sustainable yield. This workshop will 
    primarily be a presentation of new information and analysis. A follow-
    up workshop will be held in March 1999, after which the GMT will 
    prepare specific recommendations and a final report to the Council on 
    appropriate harvest rates.
        Although other issues not contained in this agenda may come before 
    this Team for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens 
    Fishery Conservation and Management Act, those issues may not be the 
    subject of formal action during this meeting. Action will be restricted 
    to those issues specifically listed in this notice.
    
    Special Accommodations
    
        The meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
    Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
    should be directed to Mr. John Rhoton at (503) 326-6352 at least 5 days 
    prior to the meeting date.
    
        Dated: January 21, 1999.
    Richard W. Surdi,
    Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
    Fisheries Service.
    [FR Doc. 99-1875 Filed 1-26-99; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 3510-22-F