2023-08973. South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Notice of a public meeting.

SUMMARY:

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a meeting of its Habitat Protection and Ecosystem-Based Management Advisory Panel (Habitat AP) in Charleston, SC.

DATES:

The Habitat AP will meet on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.; Wednesday, May 17, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Thursday, May 18, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

ADDRESSES:

Council address: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, N Charleston, SC 29405.

Meeting address: The meeting will be held at the Town and Country Inn, 2008 Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC 29407; phone: [phone].

The meeting is open to the public and will also be available via webinar. Registration is required. Webinar registration, an online public comment form, and briefing book materials will be available two weeks prior to the meeting at: https://safmc.net/​advisory-council-meetings/​.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kim Iverson, Public Information Officer, SAFMC; phone: [phone] or toll free: (866) SAFMC–10; fax: [phone]; email: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Habitat AP meeting agenda includes the following: NOAA Fisheries South Atlantic Climate Vulnerability Assessment; NOAA Fisheries Habitat Conservation Division's Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) 5-Year Review including EFH Designation History and the EFH User Guide; Research Needs for EFH Review and Council Research Plan Update; review and input on revisions to the Council's Beach Dredge and Fill and Large-Scale Coastal Engineering Policy Statement; and an overview of the East Coast Climate Change Scenario Planning Initiative.

The AP will also receive updates on the following: Renewable Energy (Offshore Wind) Development in the South Atlantic; Development of a revision to the Council's energy policy; progress on the South Atlantic Council's Habitat Blueprint; and an update from NOAA Fisheries Habitat Conservation Division on EFH consultations over the past year. The AP will develop recommendations for consideration by the Council's Habitat Protection and Ecosystem-Based Management Committee.

Special Accommodations

These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for auxiliary aids should be directed to the Council office (see ADDRESSES ) 5 days prior to the meeting.

Note:

The times and sequence specified in this agenda are subject to change.

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

Dated: April 24, 2023.

Rey Israel Marquez,

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