[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 59 (Tuesday, March 26, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 13155]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-7183]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[I.D. 031896B]


North Pacific Fishery Management Council; Committee Meeting

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of meetings.

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SUMMARY: The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its 
advisory bodies will meet the week of April 15, 1996, in Anchorage, AK.

DATES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES: Anchorage Hilton Hotel, 500 W. 3rd Avenue, Anchorage, AK 
99501.
    Council address: North Pacific Fishery Management Council, 605 W. 
4th Ave., Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 99501-2252.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Council staff, telephone: 907-271-
2809.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Advisory Panel (AP) and the Scientific 
and Statistical Committee (SSC) will begin on April 15, 1996, at 9:00 
a.m. The SSC will conclude their meeting on April 17, and the AP will 
conclude their meeting by April 18. The Council will begin their 
meeting on April 17, at 8:00 a.m. and will conclude on April 22, 1996. 
Other committee and workgroup meetings may be held on short notice 
during the week; notices will be posted at the meeting site. All 
meetings are open to the public with the exception of Council executive 
sessions to discuss personnel, international issues, and litigation. An 
executive session is tentatively scheduled for 12:00 noon on April 18.
    The agenda for the meeting will include the following subjects:
    1. Reports from the National Marine Fisheries Service and Alaska 
Department of Fish and Game on the current status of the fisheries off 
Alaska, reports on enforcement and international fisheries, and a 
status report on the reauthorization of the Magnuson Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act.
    2. Initial review of Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands (BSAI) Pacific cod 
gear allocations, and a report on a ban on night trawling.
    3. Reports on crab bycatch issues and initial review of an analysis 
on crab caps and closures in Bristol Bay.
    4. Final action on a third party, pay-as-you-go observer program 
and review of a Request for Proposals for the third party entity.
    5. Final review of an amendment to the sablefish and halibut 
individual fishery quota (IFQ) program which would increase ``sweep-
up'' levels for blocked shares. Other IFQ issues on the agenda include 
initial review of two other amendments to the program - an increase in 
the Bering Sea halibut ownership cap, and permitting the use of 
longline pots for sablefish in the Bering Sea. The IFQ Research Team 
will give a preliminary report on the 1995 sablefish and halibut IFQ 
program.
    6. Progress report on measures to improve retention and utilization 
in the groundfish fisheries off Alaska.
    7. Review of the Proposed Rule for the groundfish and crab license 
limitation program, if available.
    8. Review consolidated regulations for groundfish and crab and a 
Proposed Rule to repeal the Salmon Fishery Management Plan (FMP).
    9. Under groundfish management, the following subjects will be 
discussed:
    (a) Final review of an amendment to delay the opening of the BSAI 
pollock ``B'' season;
    (b) Initial review of an amendment to overfishing definitions in 
the groundfish FMPs;
    (c) Definition of alternatives for a license limitation program for 
demersal shelf rockfish in the Gulf of Alaska; and (d) Review of a 
request for an experimental fishing permit.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Helen Allen, 907-271-2809, at 
least 5 working days prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: March 19, 1996.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-7183 Filed 3-25-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F