[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