[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 189 (Friday, September 27, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 50796-50797]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-24745]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 648

[I.D. 091996C]


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 2 and 3, 1996, to consider actions 
affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone.

DATES: The meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 2, 1996, at 10 
a.m., and on Thursday, October 3, 1996, at 8:30 a.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the King's Grant Inn, Route 128 
and Trask Lane, Danvers, MA; telephone (508) 774-6800. Requests for 
special accommodations should be addressed to the New England Fishery 
Management Council, 5 Broadway, Saugus, MA 01906-1097; telephone: (617) 
231-0422.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher B. Kellogg, Acting 
Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: After introductions, the October 2 session 
will begin with a report by the Groundfish Committee. Issues to be 
considered include final action on Framework Adjustment 18 to the 
Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP), which pertains to 
mid-water trawling in areas closed to groundfish fishing. Other 
discussion items include mobile gear night closures to protect spawning 
groundfish, a framework adjustment to modify the existing effort 
reduction measures for gillnet vessels, and an exemption for general 
category scallop permit holders who use small dredges and are unable to 
fish under the current groundfish regulations. During the Gear Conflict 
Committee report that will follow, the Council will discuss final 
action on Framework Adjustment 1, proposed to reduce gear-related 
disputes in the offshore waters of Southern New England. The October 2 
session will conclude with a report by NMFS Chief of the Highly 
Migratory Species Management Division, Dr. William Hogarth, who will 
discuss a variety of issues related to swordfish, shark and tuna 
management. At that time, the Council plans to develop comments on an 
advanced notice of proposed rulemaking to adjust

[[Page 50797]]

management measures for Atlantic bluefin tuna.
    The October 3 session will begin with reports from the Council 
Chairman, Vice Chairman, Executive Director, NMFS Regional 
Administrator, and representatives from the NMFS Northeast Fisheries 
Science Center, Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, U.S. Coast 
Guard, and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. The Responsible 
Fishing Practices Committee will present its draft comments on NMFS' 
proposed Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. The Monkfish 
Committee will provide an update on the development of a public hearing 
document and accompanying draft Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement. The October 3 session will conclude with a status report on 
the reauthorization of the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management 
Act, a briefing on the recent North Atlantic Fisheries Organization 
meeting and a discussion of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management 
Council's proposed regulatory amendment to the Fishery Management Plan 
for Summer Flounder and the Scup Fishery. Any other outstanding 
business also will be addressed.

Abbreviated Rulemaking--Northeast Multispecies

    At the recommendation of its Groundfish Committee, the Council will 
consider final action on Framework Adjustment 18 to the Northeast 
Multispecies FMP under the framework for abbreviated rulemaking 
procedure contained in 50 CFR 648.90. The adjustment would allow 
herring and mackerel fishing with pelagic mid-water trawls in areas of 
Georges Bank now closed to all gear capable of catching groundfish.
    The Council will consider public comments at a minimum of two 
Council Meetings prior to making any final recommendations to the NMFS 
Regional Administrator under the provisions for abbreviated rulemaking 
cited above. If the Regional Administrator concurs with the measures 
proposed by the Council, he will publish them as a final rule in the 
Federal Register.
    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.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: September 20, 1996.
Gary Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 96-24745 Filed 9-24-96; 12:05 pm]
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