[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 88 (Monday, May 6, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 20207-20208]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-11134]
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Parts 651, 650, and 649
[I.D. 042596C]
New England Fishery Management Council; Public Hearings
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Public hearings; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold
four public hearings on measures to reduce gear conflicts in the
Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the exclusive economic zone. The
Council proposes to amend the Northeast Multispecies, Atlantic Sea
Scallop, and American Lobster Fishery Management Plans (FMPs) to
include a framework adjustment procedure that would allow gear conflict
disputes to be resolved through regulatory action. The Council also is
soliciting written comments to accommodate people unable to attend a
hearing or wishing to provide additional comments.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before May 30, 1996. The
hearings are scheduled as follows:
1. May 21, 1996, 7:30 p.m., Warwick, RI.
2. May 22, 1996, 7 p.m., Riverhead, NY.
3. May 23, 1996, 7:30 p.m., Buzzards Bay, MA.
4. May 28, 1996, 7:30 p.m., Portsmouth, NH.
ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the proposal and written comments
should be sent to Douglas C. Marshall, Executive Director, New England
Fishery Management Council, 5 Broadway, Saugus, MA 01906. When sending
written comments, clearly mark the outside of the envelope ``Gear
Conflict Amendment Comments.'' The hearings will be held at the
following locations:
1. Warwick--Holiday Inn at the Crossings, 801 Greenwich Avenue,
Warwick, RI
2. Riverhead--Ramada Inn, Long Island Expressway and Route 25,
Riverhead, NY
3. Buzzards Bay--Massachusetts Maritime Academy, 101 Academy Drive,
Buzzards Bay, MA
4. Portsmouth--Urban Forestry Center, 45 Elwyn Road, Portsmouth, NH
[[Page 20208]]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Douglas G. Marshall, Executive
Director, New England Fishery Management Council, (617) 231-0422.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Council proposes to amend the FMPs to
include a framework procedure that would provide a process for
resolving gear conflicts involving several fisheries under the
management authority of the Council. If necessary, the Council will
modify objectives of the FMPs to make future gear conflict regulations
consistent with the FMPs.
The measures listed below and any others now included in the FMPs,
along with a public process for development of those measures, would
constitute the framework adjustment procedure. The preferred
alternative includes the following generic management measures to each
FMP: (1) Mandatory monitoring of a radio channel by fishing vessels,
(2) fixed gear location reporting and plotting requirements, (3)
standards of operation when gear conflicts occur, (4) fixed gear
marking and setting practices, (5) gear restrictions for specific areas
(including time and area closures), (6) vessel monitoring systems, (7)
restrictions on the number of fishing vessels or amount of gear, and
(8) special permit conditions.
The intent of the framework procedure is to allow local groups of
competing types of fishermen to request management assistance and,
through the Council, recommend changes to the boundaries or rules for
fishing in specific gear management areas. This procedure would enable
the Council to respond quickly to gear conflicts by making simultaneous
regulatory adjustments to one or more of the existing plans.
In a ``no action'' alternative, the Council would continue its
efforts to facilitate voluntary compromises and agreements on fishing
rules. Recent efforts, however, have been unsuccessful.
Additionally, the Council proposes to recommend that this type of
framework procedure be considered by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery
Management Council, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission,
and other agencies, so that gear conflict can be resolved via
regulations, regardless of the management authority for an affected
fishery.
These hearings are physically accessible to people with
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed to Douglas G. Marshall (see
ADDRESSES) at least 5 days prior to the hearing dates.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: April 30, 1996.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-11134 Filed 5-3-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
