[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]
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