[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 15 (Thursday, January 23, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 3495]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-1655]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[I.D. 011397B]


New England Fishery Management Council; Meeting

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

ACTION: Public meeting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold 
a 2-day public meeting to consider actions affecting New England 
fisheries in the exclusive economic zone.

DATES: The meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 29, 1997, at 10 
a.m., and on Thursday, January 30, 1997, 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. 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: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, 
New England Fishery Management Council, (617) 231-0422.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

January 29, 1997

    After introductions, the January 29 session will begin with a 
report on the 23rd Stock Assessment Workshop presented by the staff of 
the Northeast Fisheries Science Center. Analyses will be reviewed for 
the following species/stocks: Atlantic sea scallops, monkfish, and 
bluefish.
    At the afternoon session and on the following day, the Council will 
consider action on framework adjustments to the Fishery Management Plan 
for the Northeast Multispecies Fishery (FMP) under the framework for 
abbreviated rulemaking procedure contained in 50 CFR 648.90. This will 
be the final meeting to discuss and vote on Framework Adjustment 20 to 
the FMP (stock rebuilding measures for 1997). The range of options 
under consideration include area closures, gear modifications, and 
possible reductions in days-at-sea allocations. As part of this action, 
the Council will discuss effort reduction measures for gillnet vessels 
and alternatives to the current haddock trip limit. Measures to protect 
the 1992 year class of winter flounder also will be discussed and 
included in this action. Other adjustments included in Framework 
Adjustment 20 would allow operation of mussel dredges in Southern New 
England and would modify the bycatch allowances in the northern shrimp 
fishery.

January 30, 1997

    The January 30 session will begin with reports from the Council 
Chairman, Executive Director, NMFS Northeast Regional Administrator 
(Regional Administrator), Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Mid-
Atlantic Council Liaisons, representatives of the Atlantic States 
Marine Fisheries Commission and the U.S. Coast Guard. NMFS will follow 
with a briefing on the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act requirements concerning essential fish habitat.
    In the afternoon, the Council will hold the final meeting on a 
framework adjustment to consider measures that would restrict fixed 
gear in the Great South Channel area to protect right whales in 
critical habitat during high use periods.
    There will be a review of the Monkfish Committee's discussions on 
the Draft Environmental Impact Statement and the Draft FMP Amendment 
dealing with monkfish.
    The day will conclude with a discussion on the use of negotiated 
rulemaking to resolve gear conflicts in the highly migratory species 
fisheries. Any other outstanding business will also be discussed.

Special Accommodations

    This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Paul J. Howard (see ADDRESSES) at least 5 days 
prior to the meeting date.

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

    Dated: January 16, 1997.
Bruce Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-1655 Filed 1-22-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F