2018-02736. Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Notice of a public meeting and hearing.

SUMMARY:

The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a meeting of its American Samoa Archipelago Ecosystem Plan (FEP) Advisory Panels (AP) to discuss and make recommendations on fishery management issues in the Western Pacific Region.

DATES:

The American Samoa Archipelago FEP AP will meet on Thursday, March 1, 2018, between 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. All times listed are local island times. For specific times and agendas, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

ADDRESSES:

The American Samoa Archipelago FEP AP will meet at the Pacific Petroleum Conference Room, Utulei Village, American Samoa, 96799.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director, Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; telephone: [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public comment periods will be provided in the agenda. The order in which agenda items are addressed may change. The meetings will run as late as necessary to complete scheduled business.

Schedule and Agenda for the American Samoa Archipelago FEP AP Meeting

Thursday, March 1, 2018, 4:30 p.m.-6 p.m.

1. Welcome and Introductions

2. Report on Previous Council Action Items

3. Council Issues

A. Action Items

i. Precious Corals Essential Fish Habitat Refinement Options

ii. Options for an Aquaculture Management Program

iii. U.S. Territory Longline Bigeye Specification

iv. American Samoa Large Vessel Prohibited Area

v. American Samoa Swordfish Trip Limit

vi. American Samoa Marine Conservation Plan

B. Other Council Issues

4. American Samoa Archipelago FEP Community Activities

5. American Samoa Archipelago FEP AP Issues

A. Report of the Subpanels

i. Island Fisheries Subpanel

ii. Pelagic Fisheries Subpanel

iii. Ecosystems and Habitat Subpanel

iv. Indigenous Fishing Rights Subpanel

B. Other Issues

6. Public Comment

7. Discussion and Recommendations

8. Other Business

Special Accommodations

These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Kitty M. Simonds, [phone] (voice) or [phone] (fax), at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

Dated: February 7, 2018.

Tracey L. Thompson,

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