[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 178 (Monday, September 15, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 48207-48208]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-24410]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[I.D. 090897E]
New England Fishery Management Council; 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, October 1, 1997, at 10
a.m. and on Thursday, October 2, 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 (781) 245-9300.
Requests for special accommodations should be addressed to the New
England Fishery Management Council, 5 Broadway, Saugus, MA 01906-1097;
telephone: (781) 231-0422.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director,
New England Fishery Management Council, (781) 231-0422.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
October 1, 1997
At the recommendation of the Monkfish Committee, the Council may
request that the Secretary of Commerce implement interim management
measures for the monkfish fishery. The Council also will continue work
on the monkfish amendment to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery
Management Plan (FMP). Following this discussion, there will be reports
from the Council Chairman, Executive Director, NMFS Regional
Administrator, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Mid-Atlantic Fishery
Management Council liaisons, and representatives of the Coast Guard and
the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. Groundfish issues to
be discussed during the afternoon session include the timetable in the
Northeast Multispecies FMP that requires an annual review and
evaluation of plan measures. Currently, any modifications or new
measures considered necessary to meet the plan objectives must be
developed as a framework adjustment to the plan and must be submitted
to NMFS by February 1 of each year. There also will be an update on
progress to develop whiting management measures.
Prior to adjourning for the day both the Mid-Atlantic Fishery
Management Council and the New England Council will hold a joint
scoping hearing to solicit comments on the management of spiny dogfish.
October 2, 1997
The morning session will begin with a presentation of the results
of the most recent Stock Assessment Workshop, with an advisory on the
status of summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and Gulf of Maine
northern shrimp. The Marine Mammal Committee will recommend that the
Council endorse its comments on the interim final rule implementing the
Large Whale Take Reduction Plan and the proposed rule to implement a
take reduction plan for harbor porpoise in the Gulf of Maine. The
Scallop Committee will report on its discussions about an alternative
approach to the development of Amendment 7 to the Sea Scallop Fishery
Management Plan (Sea Scallop FMP). The amendment was initially proposed
only to address effort consolidation (transfer of days-at-sea between
vessels with sea scallop permits), but may now include a framework
adjustment process to open and close areas to enhance scallop
conservation as well as revisions to other Sea Scallop FMP provisions
so as to be in compliance with the Sustainable Fisheries Act. The
Chairman of the Herring Committee will update the Council on the recent
scoping hearings and plans for the development of a Herring Fishery
Management Plan.
Dr. Pamela Mace, Ocean Fishery Resources Division, NMFS, will
provide a briefing on an initiative by the United Nation's Food and
Agriculture Organization to address management of fishing capacity,
seabird bycatch and mortality in longline fisheries, and shark
conservation and management. The Interspecies Committee will recommend
approval of measures to eliminate inconsistencies in vessel permit,
upgrading, and replacement provisions in different fishery management
plans for purposes of preparing a public hearing document. The Chairman
also will review the committee's discussion of criteria for exempted
fisheries. Finally there will be a report on the measures adopted by
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission for inclusion in Amendment
3 to the American Lobster Fishery Management Plan. The Council will
adjourn the meeting after the
[[Page 48208]]
conclusion of 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 identified in the
agenda listed in this notice.
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.
Dated: September 9, 1997.
Bruce Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-24410 Filed 9-12-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
