[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 91 (Wednesday, May 12, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 25472]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-12031]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[I.D. 050399D]
New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Public meeting.
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SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold
a 2-day public meeting on May 26 and 27, 1999, to consider actions
affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone.
DATES: The meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 26, 1999, at 9:30
a.m. and on Thursday, May 27, 1999, at 8:30 a.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Sheraton Plymouth Inn, 180
Water Street, Plymouth, MA 02360; telephone (508) 747-4900. Requests
for special accommodations should be addressed to the New England
Fishery Management Council, 5 Broadway, Saugus, MA 01906-1036;
telephone: (781) 231-0422. Copies of framework adjustment documents may
be obtained from the Council.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director,
New England Fishery Management Council (781) 231-0422.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Wednesday, May 26, 1999
After introductions, the Executive Director of the South Atlantic
Fishery Management Council will discuss the Atlantic Coastal
Cooperative Statistics Program process from a Council perspective.
During the Groundfish Committee Report which follows, the committee
will make recommendations to the Council regarding approval of
Framework Adjustment 31 (FWA 31) to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery
Management Plan (FMP). Possible management measures on FWA 31 would
require vessels in the multispecies fishery to remove four 30-day
blocks out of their fishing time in the fishery to achieve the FMP
objectives for Georges Bank cod and minimize impacts on other regulated
species. Other possible measures in this framework include eliminating
the Gulf of Maine cod trip limit program running clock, raising the cod
minimum size to 21 inches (0.5 m), and reducing the number of hooks and
gillnets fished by fixed gear vessels on Georges Bank. The Groundfish
Committee also will provide the Council with an update on the
development Amendment 13 to the FMP. The discussion of groundfish
issues will continue throughout the rest of the afternoon.
Thursday, May 27, 1999
The meeting will commence with reports from the Council Chairman,
Executive Director, Acting NMFS Regional Administrator, Northeast
Fisheries Science Center and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council
liaisons, and representatives of the Coast Guard and the Atlantic
States Marine Fisheries Commission. During the Scallop Committee
Report, the Council will identify issues to be addressed by Amendment
10 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop FMP, including rotational area
management. Additionally, the Council will issue recommendations to the
Acting Regional Administrator for specific research proposals utilizing
the 1 percent scallop Total Allowable Catch set-aside from Closed Area
II. During the Whiting Committee Report, the committee will recommend
ways to modify the mesh size/possession limit enrollment program and
expand the use of net strengtheners to the 2.5 inch (0.06 m) category
in the whiting fishery. Any recommendations approved by the Council may
be submitted to NMFS for its consideration as a public comment on
Amendment 12 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan. The
Council will discuss industry-based gear research and information
collection opportunities during years 1 and 2 of plan implementation.
During the afternoon session, the Interspecies Committee will report on
and ask for approval of committee priorities, including vessel permit
consistency and upgrading issues and recommendations for changing the
start dates of the fishing years. The committee will report on their
discussions about vessel capacity management. The Habitat, Enforcement,
Dogfish, Herring, and Ad-hoc Vessel Buyback Committees will update the
Council on their activities.
Although other issues not contained in this agenda may come before
this Council for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management Act, those issues may not be the
subject of formal Council action during this meeting. Council action
will be restricted to those issues specifically listed in this notice.
Documents pertaining to framework adjustment actions are available
for public review 7 days prior to a final vote by the Council. Copies
of the documents may be obtained from the Council (see ADDRESSES).
Special Accommodations
This meeting is 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 date.
Dated: May 6, 1999.
Bruce Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-12031 Filed 5-11-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
