[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 33 (Friday, February 19, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8330-8331]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-4138]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 021299D]
New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce
ACTION: Notice of public meetings.
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SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is
scheduling a number of public meetings of its oversight committees and
advisory panels in March, 1999 to consider actions affecting New
England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations
from these groups will be brought to the full Council for formal
consideration and action, if appropriate.
DATES: The meetings will be held between March 9 and March 26, 1999.
See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times.
ADDRESSES: Meetings will be held in Peabody, MA, and Mansfield, MA. See
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director,
New England Fishery Management Council; (781) 231-0422. Requests for
special accommodations should be addressed to the New England Fishery
Management Council, 5 Broadway, Saugus, MA 01906-1036; telephone: (781)
231-0422.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Meeting Dates and Agendas
Tuesday, March 9, 1999, 9:30 a.m.--Joint meeting of the Habitat
Oversight Committee and Advisors
Location: Holiday Inn, One Newbury Street (Rt. 1 North), Peabody,
MA 01960, Phone: (978) 535-4600; Fax: (978) 535-8238.
The committee and advisors will discuss and review habitat-related
[[Page 8331]]
issues concerning access to the current Georges Bank groundfish closed
areas for scallop fishing.
Monday, March 22, 1999, 9:30 a.m.--Groundfish Advisory Panel
Meeting
Location: Holiday Inn, One Newbury Street (Rt. 1 North), Peabody,
MA 01960, Phone: (978) 535-4600; Fax: (978) 535-8238.
The panel will review draft proposals and analysis for Framework
Adjustment 29 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan
(FMP), and advise the Groundfish Committee on a preferred alternative
for consideration by the Council at its April 14-15 meeting. Framework
Adjustment 29 would modify the FMP regulations pertaining to closed
areas on Georges Bank and the Nantucket Lightship area to allow
controlled access by scallop dredge vessels. The panel will also review
and advise the committee on draft proposals for Framework Adjustment
30, for Council consideration at its April meeting, to reduce the
fishing mortality rate on Georges Bank cod to below the management
target level. The panel will also discuss and advise the committee on
issues and measures to be included in a public hearing document for
Amendment 13 to the FMP, including but not limited to: action to
rebuild all stocks in the fishery management unit as needed under new
overfishing definitions; managing fleet fishing capacity, including
possible implementation of a two-tier permit system to address latent
fishing permits; proposals for industry support systems involving
scientific research and conservation engineering programs; modification
of the annual adjustment schedule and possible change to the fishing
year; and other issues that may be identified during the scoping
process.
Tuesday, March 23, 1999, 9:30 a.m.--Groundfish Committee Meeting
Location: Holiday Inn, One Newbury Street (Rt. 1 North), Peabody,
MA 01960, Phone: (978) 535-4600; Fax: (978) 535-8238.
Review of draft proposals and analysis for Framework Adjustment 29
to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP), and
recommendation of a preferred alternative for consideration by the
Council at its April 14-15 meeting. Framework Adjustment 29 would allow
controlled access by scallop dredge to closed areas on Georges Bank and
the Nantucket Lightship area. The committee also will review and draft
proposals and analysis for Framework Adjustment 30, and recommend a
preferred alternative for Council consideration at its April meeting
Framework Adjustment 30 will reduce the fishing mortality rate on
Georges Bank cod to below the management target level. The committee
will also discuss and take public comment on the scope of issues to be
considered and possible measures to be included in a public hearing
document for Amendment 13 to the FMP, including but not limited to:
action to rebuild all stocks in the fishery management unit as needed
under new overfishing definitions; managing fleet fishing capacity,
including possible implementation of a two-tier permit system to
address latent fishing permits; proposals for industry support systems
involving scientific research and conservation engineering programs;
modification of the annual adjustment schedule and possible change to
the fishing year; and other issues that may be identified during the
scoping process
Thursday, March 25, 1999, 9:30 a.m.--Whiting Advisory Panel Meeting
Location: Holiday Inn, Mansfield, MA 02048, Phone: (508) 339-2200;
Fax: (508) 339-1040
Discussion of possible bycatch and/or discard issues associated
with the measures in Amendment 12 (for whiting, offshore hake, and red
hake) as well as possible framework action for any other unresolved
issues that emerged during the development of Amendment 12; review and
discussion of data and information needs in the context of the first
Whiting Monitoring Committee meeting (October/November 2000) and the
Year 4 default measure (May 1, 2002); discussion of the potential for
industry-based gear research and information collection.
Friday, March 26, 1999, 9:30 a.m.--Whiting Committee Meeting
Location: Holiday Inn, Mansfield, MA 02048, Phone: (508) 339-2200;
Fax: (508) 339-1040
Discussion of possible bycatch and/or discard issues associated
with the measures in Amendment 12 (for whiting, offshore hake, and red
hake) as well as possible framework action for any other unresolved
issues that emerged during the development of Amendment 12; review and
discussion of data and information needs in the context of the first
Whiting Monitoring Committee meeting (October/November 2000) and the
Year 4 default measure (May 1, 2002); discussion of the potential for
industry-based gear research and information collection.
Although other issues not contained in this agenda may come before
these groups for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management Act, those issues may not be the
subject of formal discussion during these meetings. Action will be
restricted to those issues specifically listed in this notice.
Special Accommodations
These meetings are 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 dates.
Dated: February 12, 1999.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-4138 Filed 2-18-99; 8:45 am]
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