[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 51 (Wednesday, March 16, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-6183]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: March 16, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[I.D. 030494A]

 

New England Fishery Management Council; Meeting

AGENCIES: 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 will hold a public 
meeting on Thursday, March 17, 1994, to consider actions affecting the 
New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone.

DATES: The meeting will begin on Thursday, March 17, 1994, at 9 a.m. 
and will not adjourn until business for the day is completed.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will take place at the Holiday Inn, Rt. 1 and 
Rt. I-95, Peabody, MA 01906; telephone: 508-535-4600.

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: The Council meeting will begin with a report 
from the Groundfish Committee. Recommendations scheduled for 
consideration include adjustments to the Northeast Multispecies 
(Groundfish) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) under the framework for 
abbreviated rulemaking contained in Amendment 5 to the FMP (50 CFR 
651.40). The Marine Mammal Committee will discuss and ask for Council 
approval of time/area closures to reduce the bycatch of harbor porpoise 
in the Gulf of Maine sink gillnet fishery. The meeting will conclude 
with consideration of final action on adjustments to the Sea Scallop 
FMP under the framework for abbreviated rulemaking contained in 
Amendment 4 to the FMP (59 FR 2757, January 19, 1994).

Abbreviated Rulemaking Actions--Northeast Multispecies

    The Council will discuss and listen to public comments on two 
measures. One measure is a proposed adjustment that would result in a 
10-day time-out from groundfishing in May, 1994, for vessels in the 
effort-reduction program. Under the current implementation of the FMP, 
a vessel participating in either the individual days-at-sea program or 
the fleet days-at-sea program must declare a 20-day time-out in May, 
1994, when it will be out of the groundfish fishery. The Council's 
original proposal required a 20-day time-out from groundfishing during 
March, April or May, but since the effort-reduction program will not be 
implemented until May, this first-year requirement falls within a 
single month instead of within a 3-month span.
    Another measure is a proposed adjustment to limit groundfish 
allowed on board vessels fishing with mesh smaller than the regulated 
size to 100 pounds (45.4 kg) per day. In other words, if a vessel is on 
a 4-day small-mesh trip, it may have on board a maximum of 400 pounds 
(181.4 kg) of groundfish. Under Amendment 5, vessels not in the days-
at-sea program and vessels fishing with mesh smaller than the regulated 
minimum size may possess up to 500 pounds (226.8 kg) combined weight of 
the large-mesh groundfish species. This provision was intended to allow 
vessels in the small-mesh fisheries to retain some groundfish bycatch; 
however, the Council has since learned that a number of vessels intend 
to use small-mesh gear to direct their fishing on groundfish stocks to 
land up to 500 pounds (226.8 kg) per day.

Abbreviated Rulemaking Actions--Atlantic Sea Scallops

    The Council will consider public comments and final action on 
several measures. A framework measure is proposed that would reduce the 
maximum crew limit aboard scallop vessels from nine to seven persons 
and is intended to protect small scallops. If approved, this measure 
would be implemented as soon as possible and last through December, 
1994. Also, a framework measure is proposed to implement the reductions 
in days-at-sea on an annual basis, starting with the period March 1, 
1994, through February 28, 1995. For example, this measure would allow 
full-time scallop vessels to fish for scallops 204 days during this 
period. Under the current regulation, they are allowed to fish 204 days 
from March 1, 1994, to December 31, 1994, and may be able to increase 
their fishing effort. Also, a framework measure to adjust gear 
restrictions, including triple linking in the dredge bottom, rules for 
allowing vessels to carry a spare dredge onboard, and clarification of 
rules governing the configuration of rings in the dredge, is proposed.
    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 at 617-213-0422 at least 5 
days prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: March 11, 1994.
David S. Crestin,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-6183 Filed 3-14-94; 2:54 pm]
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