[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 178 (Thursday, September 15, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-22864]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: September 15, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 090994C]
New England Fishery Management Council; Meeting
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
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SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold
a 2-day public meeting on September 21-22, 1994, to consider actions
affecting the New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone
(EEZ).
The meeting will be held at the Newagen Seaside Inn, Route 27
south, Southport Island, Cape Newagen, ME; telephone: (617) 231-0422.
The meeting will begin on September 21, at 8:30 a.m. and on September
22, at 8:00 a.m.
The Council meeting will begin on September 21 with a report from
the Groundfish Committee. Subjects scheduled for discussion include:
(1) The establishment of objectives and management options for
groundfish in view of the recent stock assessments,
(2) Resubmission of the winter flounder state waters exception,
(3) Reporting requirements for the bait fishery,
(4) Impacts of fishing with small mesh,
(5) Impacts of beam trawling on groundfish stocks,
(6) Groundfish bycatch in other fisheries, and
(7) A request for an experimental fishery for northern shrimp.
Late in the morning, the Council will be briefed on the
reauthorization of the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management
Act. The Lobster Committee will provide an update on the progress made
by the Effort Management Teams during the early afternoon session.
Abbreviated Rulemaking Action--Atlantic Sea Scallops
The meeting will continue with consideration of final action on
adjustments to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan (FMP)
under the framework for abbreviated rulemaking contained in Amendment 4
to the plan (59 FR 2757, January 19, 1994). The Council will consider
public comments in making its recommendations to the Regional Director
for the Northeast Region (Regional Director) under the provisions for
abbreviated rulemaking cited above. If the Regional Director concurs
with the measures proposed by the Council, he will publish them as a
final rule in the Federal Register.
The Council will consider public comments and final action on the
following: A framework measure that would exempt fishermen from several
of the gear restrictions mandated by Amendment 4 to the Scallop FMP and
allow them to participate in state waters sea scallop fisheries under
state rules.
The Amendment 4 program controls the number of days fishermen may
harvest sea scallops, mandates gear restrictions by limiting dredge
width and ring size and requires data reporting and vessel tracking
devices. Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts have separate stocks
of sea scallops within their jurisdiction and various state rules to
govern those fisheries, some of which are more restrictive than the
Federal regulations. Since these stocks were not factored in when the
days-at-sea limits were developed, the Council currently allows
fishermen operating in state waters to participate in these traditional
fisheries without accruing days which apply to fishing for scallops in
the EEZ.
A problem arises, however, because anyone who possesses a Federal
permit must abide by Federal regulations regardless of where the
fishery takes place--whether in state or Federal waters. If these rules
apply during the upcoming scallop season in state waters, fishermen
holding a Federal permit and fishing in Maine, for example, must use
3\1/4\ inch rings in their gear while a fisherman who holds a Maine
State permit only, may use 3-inch rings. The larger ring size allows
more scallops to escape and affords those using 3-inch rings a much
greater harvesting advantage.
The Council proposes to remedy this situation with an exemption to
several of the Amendment 4 gear provisions. Fishermen operating in
state waters and who hold a Federal sea scallop limited-access permit
must adhere to the sea scallop regulations of that state and must have
a vessel tracking system onboard and in operation while they are in the
state program. Vessels fishing under a general permit may possess up to
400 lb (0.18 metric tons) of sea scallops per day and also will qualify
for the exemption.
Any other pending business will then be addressed by the Council at
this time.
On September 22, Council discussion and possible action will focus
entirely on general management goals. This will further refine or
modify the list of goals developed at the most recent meeting of the
Interspecies Committee. The intended result is a statement of what the
Council would like to see the fisheries and the industry look like
several years in the future. Such a statement would serve as a guide
for selection of management strategies and measures and as a yard stick
to monitor the level of management success.
The purpose of this session will be to allow expression of Council
members' opinions and arguments. Comments from the floor will be
limited, but may be accepted if time permits.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Douglas G. Marshall, Executive
Director, New England Fishery Management Council, 5 Broadway, Saugus,
MA 01906; telephone: (617) 231-0422.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This meeting is physically accessible to
people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or
other auxiliary aids should be directed to Douglas G. Marshall (617)
231-0422, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.
Dated: September 9, 1994.
David S. Crestin,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-22864 Filed 9-14-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
