[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 143 (Tuesday, July 27, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 40545]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-19170]
[[Page 40545]]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[I.D. 071999A]
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 August 10-11, 1999, to consider actions
affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
DATES: The meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 10, 1999, at 9:30
a.m. and on Wednesday, August 11, 1999, at 8:30 a.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Sheraton Four Points Hotel,
Route 132 and Bearse's Way, Hyannis, MA 02601; telephone (508) 771-
3000. Requests for special accommodations should be addressed to the
New England Fishery Management Council, 5 Broadway, Saugus, MA 01906-
1036; telephone: (781) 231-0422.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director,
New England Fishery Management Council (781) 231-0422.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Tuesday, August 10, 1999
The meeting will begin with an advisory report from the Northeast
Fisheries Science Center on the status of sea scallops and witch
flounder and updated assessments of all multispecies finfish, including
10-year rebuilding projections. During the afternoon session the
Groundfish Committee will ask the Council to consider approval of
initial action on a framework adjustment to the Northeast Multispecies
Fishery Management Plan (FMP) to modify the Gulf of Maine cod fishery
management program to address the 1999 cod discard problem and
implement management measures for the 2000-2001 fishing year. A measure
would also be included that would modify the mechanism in Georges Bank
cod trip limit program (currently under NMFS review in Framework
Adjustment 30 to the FMP) that provides authority to the Administrator,
Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) to reduce the trip
limit based on an evaluation of the risk of exceeding the annual catch
target. The Groundfish Committee report also will include
recommendations for measures to be considered in the development of
Amendment 13 to the FMP. The process to identify specific management
options will occur between now and the November Council meeting.
Wednesday, August 11, 1999
As the first agenda item, the Council will elect its 1999-2000
officers. Reports will follow from the Council Chairman, Executive
Director, the NMFS Regional Administrator, Northeast Fisheries Science
Center and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council liaisons, and
representatives of the Coast Guard, the Atlantic States Marine
Fisheries Commission and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The
Enforcement Committee will ask for approval of the enforcement
guidelines developed for Council use during the selection of measures
to be included in fishery management plans. The Enforcement Report will
conclude with an update by NOAA General Counsel on the status of civil
penalty cases in the Northeast. During the afternoon portion of the
meeting the Interspecies Committee will ask the Council to consider
approval of a control date to apply to the use of days-at-sea (DAS)
allocated through the Northeast Multispecies, Sea Scallop, and Monkfish
FMPs. Fishing effort which occurs after publication of the control date
may be treated differently than fishing effort expended prior to that
date if the Council chooses to constrain future DAS usage based on more
recent levels of use. The meeting will adjourn after the Council
addresses any other outstanding business.
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.
Special Accommodations
This meeting is accessible to people with physical 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: July 21, 1999.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-19170 Filed 7-26-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
