[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 189 (Friday, September 27, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 50796-50797]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-24745]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 648
[I.D. 091996C]
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 on October 2 and 3, 1996, to consider actions
affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone.
DATES: The meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 2, 1996, at 10
a.m., and on Thursday, October 3, 1996, at 8:30 a.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the King's Grant Inn, Route 128
and Trask Lane, Danvers, MA; telephone (508) 774-6800. 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: Christopher B. Kellogg, Acting
Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: After introductions, the October 2 session
will begin with a report by the Groundfish Committee. Issues to be
considered include final action on Framework Adjustment 18 to the
Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP), which pertains to
mid-water trawling in areas closed to groundfish fishing. Other
discussion items include mobile gear night closures to protect spawning
groundfish, a framework adjustment to modify the existing effort
reduction measures for gillnet vessels, and an exemption for general
category scallop permit holders who use small dredges and are unable to
fish under the current groundfish regulations. During the Gear Conflict
Committee report that will follow, the Council will discuss final
action on Framework Adjustment 1, proposed to reduce gear-related
disputes in the offshore waters of Southern New England. The October 2
session will conclude with a report by NMFS Chief of the Highly
Migratory Species Management Division, Dr. William Hogarth, who will
discuss a variety of issues related to swordfish, shark and tuna
management. At that time, the Council plans to develop comments on an
advanced notice of proposed rulemaking to adjust
[[Page 50797]]
management measures for Atlantic bluefin tuna.
The October 3 session will begin with reports from the Council
Chairman, Vice Chairman, Executive Director, NMFS Regional
Administrator, and representatives from the NMFS Northeast Fisheries
Science Center, Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, U.S. Coast
Guard, and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. The Responsible
Fishing Practices Committee will present its draft comments on NMFS'
proposed Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. The Monkfish
Committee will provide an update on the development of a public hearing
document and accompanying draft Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement. The October 3 session will conclude with a status report on
the reauthorization of the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management
Act, a briefing on the recent North Atlantic Fisheries Organization
meeting and a discussion of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management
Council's proposed regulatory amendment to the Fishery Management Plan
for Summer Flounder and the Scup Fishery. Any other outstanding
business also will be addressed.
Abbreviated Rulemaking--Northeast Multispecies
At the recommendation of its Groundfish Committee, the Council will
consider final action on Framework Adjustment 18 to the Northeast
Multispecies FMP under the framework for abbreviated rulemaking
procedure contained in 50 CFR 648.90. The adjustment would allow
herring and mackerel fishing with pelagic mid-water trawls in areas of
Georges Bank now closed to all gear capable of catching groundfish.
The Council will consider public comments at a minimum of two
Council Meetings prior to making any final recommendations to the NMFS
Regional Administrator under the provisions for abbreviated rulemaking
cited above. If the Regional Administrator concurs with the measures
proposed by the Council, he will publish them as a final rule in the
Federal Register.
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 (see ADDRESSES) at least 5
days prior to the meeting date.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: September 20, 1996.
Gary Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 96-24745 Filed 9-24-96; 12:05 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
