04-6858. Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Public Workshop

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Notice of workshop.

SUMMARY:

NMFS will present a workshop on proposed catch-monitoring standards for catcher processors that intend to participate in fisheries for crab species managed under the Fishery Management Plan for the Commercial King and Tanner Crab Fisheries in the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands (Crab FMP).

DATES:

Tuesday, May 4, 2004, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Pacific local time (P.l.t.)

ADDRESSES:

The workshop will be held at the Nordby Center, located in Fishermen's terminal, 1711 W. Nickerson Street, Seattle, WA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Alan Kinsolving, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

NMFS and the State of Alaska Department of Fish and Game are developing proposed regulations to implement a quota-based program for the crab fisheries covered by the Crab FMP. One aspect of this process is the development of catch monitoring, weighing, and accounting standards for catcher processors that catch and process crab. NMFS is conducting a workshop on May 4, 2004, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., P.l.t., so that interested industry members may provide guidance to NMFS on the development and implementation of these standards.

This workshop is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Alan Kinsolving (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).

Dated: March 22, 2004.

Alan D. Risenhoover,

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