[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 127 (Wednesday, July 2, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35787-35788]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-17298]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 062597A]
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 to consider actions affecting New England
fisheries in the exclusive economic zone.
DATES: The meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 9, 1997, at 10 a.m.,
and on Thursday, July 10, 1997, at 8:30 a.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Colonial Hilton, 427 Walnut
Street (Route 128 South), Wakefield, MA; telephone (617) 245-9300.
Requests for special accommodations should be addressed to the New
England Fishery Management Council, 5 Broadway, Saugus, MA 01906-1097;
telephone: (617) 231-0422.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director,
New England Fishery Management Council (617) 231-0422.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
July 9, 1997
Following introductions, the Scallop Committee's Plan Development
Team will provide a report on the effectiveness of the Council's sea
scallop management program, including management recommendations. The
Interspecies Committee will review its efforts to develop protocols for
reopening areas closed to fishing activities. The Responsible Fishing
Committee will report on its continuing discussion of a fishermen's
Code of Conduct and also issues related to bycatch in Council-managed
fisheries. During the afternoon session, the Atlantic Sea Herring
Committee will discuss and ask for Council approval of a public
information/scoping document that will identify major issues to be
considered during the fishery management plan development. There will
be an update on progress to finalize (monkfish) Amendment 9 to the
Northeast Multispecies Fisheries Management (FMP). Before adjourning
for the day, there will be reports from the Council Chairman; Executive
Director; Regional Administrator, Northeast Region, 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.
The Regional Administrator will consult the Council regarding a
proposal from the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) to
conduct an experimental small-mesh trawl fishery for whiting from
September 1 through December 31, 1997. There will be a discussion and
opportunity for public comment. This proposal builds on last fall's
successful experimental fishery in Cape Cod Bay where the DMF-developed
``raised footrope'' trawl effectively captured whiting with minimal by-
catch. DMF has requested the time and area of the experimental fishery
be expanded to enable vessels to fish in additional specified areas off
Massachusetts in Massachusetts Bay, Cape Cod Bay, and waters east of
Cape Cod that have historically produced profitable catches of whiting.
The experiment is intended to demonstrate the efficacy of the raised-
footrope trawl in reducing the bycatch of non-target species,
particularly in reducing the bycatch of regulated multispecies to below
5 percent, and to evaluate the gear over a wider area than in last
year's experiment.
July 10, 1997
NMFS will hold a Stock Assessment Public Review Workshop
immediately after the Council reconvenes on Thursday. It will present
an advisory on the stock status of Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank cod,
Georges Bank haddock, and Georges Bank and Southern New England
yellowtail flounder. Following the workshop a groundfish subcommittee
will report on its progress to develop area closures as an alternative
to the cod trip limit in the Multispecies Plan. During the remainder of
the Groundfish Committee's report, there will be further discussion of
a framework adjustment to the FMP which would modify the Gulf of Maine
cod trip limit to account for overages. Specific measures would a)
require vessels fishing under the trip limit to call a (cod hailing)
telephone number upon off-loading and at least once every 14 days; and
b) allow vessels exceeding the trip limit to resume fishing only when
the days-at-sea for that trip equate to their cod landings. NMFS will
provide information on trip limit enforcement efforts. The Council also
plans to develop comments on a proposed experimental longline fishery
for halibut in the northern Gulf of Maine. The afternoon session will
include reports from the Aquaculture, Gear Conflict, and Lobster
Committees. The Aquaculture Committee will provide an update on the
development of a Council aquaculture policy. The Gear Conflict
Committee will discuss progress to date on the resolution of the
northern Georges Bank conflict between otter trawl gear and lobster
traps. The Lobster Committee will present its recommendations on
management measures proposed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries
Commission. The Council will adjourn the meeting after the conclusion
of any other outstanding business.
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.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
[[Page 35788]]
Dated: June 26, 1997.
Bruce Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-17298 Filed 7-1-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
