[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 204 (Monday, October 24, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-26225]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: October 24, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Parts 649, 650, and 651

[I.D. 101494B]

 

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 26-27, 1994, to consider actions 
affecting the New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone 
(EEZ).

DATES: The meeting will begin on October 26 at 10:00 a.m. and on 
October 27 at 8:30 a.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the King's Grant Inn, Route 128 
and Trask Lane, Danvers, MA 01923; telephone: (508) 774-6800. Requests 
for special accommodations should be addressed to New England Fishery 
Management Council, 5 Broadway, Saugus, MA 01906; telephone: (617) 231-
0422.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Douglas G. Marshall, Executive 
Director, New England Fishery Management Council.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Council meeting will take place on 
October 26 with a report from the Sea Scallop Committee. Subjects 
scheduled for discussion include:
    (1) A request to conduct a sea scallop enhancement project in the 
EEZ;
    (2) A review of consolidation alternatives;
    (3) Whether to maintain a seven-person crew size limit as part of 
the current management program; and
    (4) A recommendation about the use of area closures to protect 
small scallops.
    The Groundfish Committee will review the results of its discussions 
about biological targets and timetables to address declines of key 
groundfish stocks and possible interim action to prevent further 
decreases in stock size.
    The Monkfish Committee will review its progress on the development 
of a fishery management plan (FMP).
    The afternoon session will conclude with reports from the Council 
Chairman, Council Executive Director, NMFS Regional Director (RD), 
Northeast Fishery Science Center liaison, Mid-Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council liaison, and Coast Guard.
    The October 27 session of the Council meeting will begin with a 
briefing by the Council's U.S. State Department representative on the 
status of various management policies affecting high-seas fishing 
activities. The Lobster Committee report will follow and will include 
the actions summarized below.

Abbreviated Rulemaking Action--American Lobster

    The Council may take action on adjustments to the American Lobster 
FMP under the framework for abbreviated rulemaking contained in 50 CFR 
649.43. The Council will consider public comments in making its 
recommendations to the RD under the provisions for abbreviated 
rulemaking cited above. If the RD concurs with the measures proposed by 
the Council, he will publish them as a final rule in the Federal 
Register.
    The measures proposed would further restrict eligibility for 
applicants who held federally-endorsed state lobster permits but not 
Federal permits, as of March 25, 1991. These applicants would be 
required to show proof of ownership of a fishing vessel and of having 
landed lobsters prior to March 25, 1991. Additionally, the lobster 
landings must have come from the qualifying vessel. This may be 
demonstrated by providing landings receipts in the name of the vessel. 
If such evidence is not available, an applicant must submit an 
affidavit stating that lobsters were landed with the vessel which has 
met the ownership requirement.
    The framework adjustment document also would allow NMFS to delay 
issuing limited-access permits to resolve eligibility problems and 
require that NMFS make available a list of limited- access permit 
holders on a periodic basis, if requested.
    The Council also will discuss and accept public comments on an 
additional framework adjustment to the Lobster FMP under abbreviated 
rulemaking. Issues concerning uniformity in Federal versus state permit 
requirements will be discussed to ensure that anyone with a history of 
fishing for lobsters in the EEZ may qualify for a Federal limited-
access lobster permit.

Abbreviated Rulemaking Action--Northeast Multispecies, Atlantic Sea 
Scallops and American Lobster

    Within the context of the Interspecies Committee report, the 
Council may consider action on adjustments to the Multispecies, Scallop 
and Lobster FMPs under the framework for abbreviated rulemaking 
contained in 50 CFR 650.43 and 651.40. The Council will accept comments 
and consider final action on framework adjustment measures that would 
allow an applicant for Federal limited-access permits for multispecies, 
scallops or lobsters to obtain fishing rights and to qualify for a 
limited-access permit for 1994 and subsequent years even though the 
applicant may not currently own title to a vessel. The permit would be 
limited to plan-specified characteristics of the vessel for which the 
fishing rights were established. If the RD concurs with the Council's 
recommendation, he will publish them as a proposed rule in the Federal 
Register.
    Under current regulations, eligibility for limited-access permits 
requires ownership of a vessel that qualifies under the various 
moratorium criteria for the above-named fisheries. In addition, 
applicants must obtain a permit in 1994 to be eligible for a limited-
access permit in future years. The situation might lead to a permanent 
loss of fishing privileges by anyone who holds fishing rights under the 
various moratorium provisions but does not own a vessel.
    Also, the Council will discuss and accept comments on an additional 
framework adjustment to the Multispecies FMP in accordance with the 
provisions cited above. The proposed measure would exempt from the 
permit splitting prohibition those vessels subject to having 
multispecies permits cancelled which were acquired prior to the 
implementation date of Amendment #5. This measure would retain the 
permit splitting prohibition from being implemented retroactively. This 
would be the initial Council meeting under the process for framework 
adjustments.
    The Interspecies Committee may continue a series of ongoing 
discussions about general management goals. If so, Council members' 
opinions and arguments will be given priority. Comments from the floor 
will be limited, but may be accepted if time permits. The meeting will 
conclude after other relevant business has been addressed.
    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.

    Dated: October 17, 1994.
Joe P. Clem,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-26225 Filed 10-21-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F