[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 164 (Wednesday, August 25, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46354-46355]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-22050]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 081799B]
New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public meetings.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is
scheduling a number of public meetings of its oversight committees and
advisory panels in September, 1999 to consider actions affecting New
England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations
from these groups will be brought to the full Council for formal
consideration and action, if appropriate.
DATES: The meetings will be held between September 7 and September 29,
1999. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times.
ADDRESSES: Meetings will be held in Danvers, MA and Warwick, RI. See
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific locations.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director,
New England Fishery Management Council (781) 231-0422. Requests for
special accommodations should be addressed to the New England Fishery
Management Council, 5 Broadway, Saugus, MA 01906-1036; telephone: (781)
231-0422.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Meeting Dates and Agendas
Tuesday, September 7, 1999, at 9:30 a.m.--Habitat Committee and
Advisors Meeting.
Location: Sheraton Ferncroft Hotel, 50 Ferncroft Road, Danvers, MA
01923; telephone: 978-777-2500.
The committee and advisors will discuss proposed Mid-Atlantic
Fishery Management Council Tilefish Fishery Management Plan (FMP)
research criteria and objectives for Great South Channel area reserve;
review the status of the draft inshore Gulf of Maine habitat area of
particular concern and Long Island Sound essential fish habitat
framework adjustment.
Wednesday, September 8, 1999, 10:00 a.m.--Whiting Committee meeting
Location: Sheraton Ferncroft Hotel, 50 Ferncroft Road, Danvers, MA
01923; telephone: 978-777-2500.
The Committee will develop a framework adjustment to the Northeast
Multispecies FMP that may include options for a whiting mesh size/
possession limit category telephone call-in enrollment system as well
as options for allowing the use of net strengtheners with 2.5-inch
mesh. The Committee also will begin to review and discuss possible
issues to be addressed in an upcoming amendment to the Northeast
Multispecies FMP, which would remove whiting, red hake, and offshore
hake from the Multispecies FMP and establish a separate FMP for these
small mesh species.
Thursday, September 9, 1999, 9:30 a.m.--Groundfish Committee and
Groundfish Advisory Panel Joint Meeting
Location: Sheraton Ferncroft Hotel, 50 Ferncroft Road, Danvers, MA
01923; telephone: (978) 777-2500.
The committee and panel will review and finalize alternatives, and
recommend a preferred alternative for a framework adjustment to the
Northeast Multispecies FMP to implement mid-season adjustments to the
management program for the Gulf of Maine cod fishery that could also
carry forward to the 2000-2001 fishing year. The framework action will
also modify the Georges Bank cod trip limit adjustment mechanism. The
Council held the initial meeting for this framework adjustment on
August 10-11, 1999, and identified options for consideration. It will
hold the final meeting, to select measures for submission to the
Secretary of Commerce, on September 21 -23, 1999.
Thursday, September 9, 1999, 10:00 a.m. -- Scallop Advisory Panel
Meeting
Location: Sheraton Ferncroft Hotel, 50 Ferncroft Road, Danvers, MA
01923; telephone: 978-777-2500.
The advisory panel will consider management adjustments for the
2000 fishing year, beginning March 1, 2000, based on biological,
economic, and other information in the Stock Assessment and Fishery
Evaluation (SAFE) report. Adjustments are needed to achieve the FMP
objectives including preventing overfishing, rebuilding stock biomass,
and producing optimum yield.
Friday, September 10, 1999, 9:30 a.m. -- Scallop Committee Meeting
Location: Sheraton Ferncroft Hotel, 50 Ferncroft Road, Danvers, MA
01923; telephone: 978-777-2500.
The Scallop Plan Development Team will present the annual
monitoring SAFE report and from this information and advisor
recommendations, the committee will develop management alternatives for
consideration at the first framework meeting, scheduled for September
21-23, 1999. Adjustments are needed to achieve the FMP objectives
including preventing overfishing, rebuilding stock biomass, and
producing optimum yield.
Thursday, September 16 and Friday, September 17, 1999, at 8:00 a.m.
-- Scientific and Statistical Committee Meeting
Location: New England Fishery Management Council Office, 5
Broadway, Saugus, MA 01906; telephone: 781-231-0422.
The Scientific and Statistical Committee will review the 1999 SAFE
Report for Atlantic Sea Scallops, including the Scallop Plan
Development Team recommendations for the annual adjustment to the
Atlantic Sea Scallop FMP. The Committee will report its findings to the
Council at the September 21-23, 1999 Council meeting in New Bedford,
MA.
Tuesday and Wednesday, September 28-29, 1999, 9:30 a.m.-Scallop
Committee Meeting
Location: Radisson Hotel, 2081 Post Road, Warwick, RI 02886;
telephone: 401-739-3000.
Following an initial framework meeting where the Council will
identify management alternatives for framework action, the committee
will define and specify these alternatives for the Final Framework 12
document. After analysis by the plan development team, the alternatives
will be considered for approval at a final framework meeting, scheduled
on November 16-18, 1999.
Although other issues not contained in this notice may be discussed
at these meetings, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act, those issues may not be the subject of
formal Council action during these meetings. Action will be restricted
to those issues specifically listed in this notice.
Special Accommodations
These meetings are 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 dates.
[[Page 46355]]
Dated: August 19, 1999.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-22050 Filed 8-20-99; 3:19 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F