[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 127 (Wednesday, July 2, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35787-35788]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-17298]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 062597A]


New England Fishery Management Council; Public 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 to consider actions affecting New England 
fisheries in the exclusive economic zone.

DATES: The meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 9, 1997, at 10 a.m., 
and on Thursday, July 10, 1997, at 8:30 a.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Colonial Hilton, 427 Walnut 
Street (Route 128 South), Wakefield, MA; telephone (617) 245-9300. 
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:

July 9, 1997

    Following introductions, the Scallop Committee's Plan Development 
Team will provide a report on the effectiveness of the Council's sea 
scallop management program, including management recommendations. The 
Interspecies Committee will review its efforts to develop protocols for 
reopening areas closed to fishing activities. The Responsible Fishing 
Committee will report on its continuing discussion of a fishermen's 
Code of Conduct and also issues related to bycatch in Council-managed 
fisheries. During the afternoon session, the Atlantic Sea Herring 
Committee will discuss and ask for Council approval of a public 
information/scoping document that will identify major issues to be 
considered during the fishery management plan development. There will 
be an update on progress to finalize (monkfish) Amendment 9 to the 
Northeast Multispecies Fisheries Management (FMP). Before adjourning 
for the day, there will be reports from the Council Chairman; Executive 
Director; Regional Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional 
Administrator); Northeast Fisheries Science Center and Mid-Atlantic 
Fishery Management Council liaisons; and representatives of the Coast 
Guard and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.
    The Regional Administrator will consult the Council regarding a 
proposal from the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) to 
conduct an experimental small-mesh trawl fishery for whiting from 
September 1 through December 31, 1997. There will be a discussion and 
opportunity for public comment. This proposal builds on last fall's 
successful experimental fishery in Cape Cod Bay where the DMF-developed 
``raised footrope'' trawl effectively captured whiting with minimal by-
catch. DMF has requested the time and area of the experimental fishery 
be expanded to enable vessels to fish in additional specified areas off 
Massachusetts in Massachusetts Bay, Cape Cod Bay, and waters east of 
Cape Cod that have historically produced profitable catches of whiting. 
The experiment is intended to demonstrate the efficacy of the raised-
footrope trawl in reducing the bycatch of non-target species, 
particularly in reducing the bycatch of regulated multispecies to below 
5 percent, and to evaluate the gear over a wider area than in last 
year's experiment.

July 10, 1997

    NMFS will hold a Stock Assessment Public Review Workshop 
immediately after the Council reconvenes on Thursday. It will present 
an advisory on the stock status of Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank cod, 
Georges Bank haddock, and Georges Bank and Southern New England 
yellowtail flounder. Following the workshop a groundfish subcommittee 
will report on its progress to develop area closures as an alternative 
to the cod trip limit in the Multispecies Plan. During the remainder of 
the Groundfish Committee's report, there will be further discussion of 
a framework adjustment to the FMP which would modify the Gulf of Maine 
cod trip limit to account for overages. Specific measures would a) 
require vessels fishing under the trip limit to call a (cod hailing) 
telephone number upon off-loading and at least once every 14 days; and 
b) allow vessels exceeding the trip limit to resume fishing only when 
the days-at-sea for that trip equate to their cod landings. NMFS will 
provide information on trip limit enforcement efforts. The Council also 
plans to develop comments on a proposed experimental longline fishery 
for halibut in the northern Gulf of Maine. The afternoon session will 
include reports from the Aquaculture, Gear Conflict, and Lobster 
Committees. The Aquaculture Committee will provide an update on the 
development of a Council aquaculture policy. The Gear Conflict 
Committee will discuss progress to date on the resolution of the 
northern Georges Bank conflict between otter trawl gear and lobster 
traps. The Lobster Committee will present its recommendations on 
management measures proposed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries 
Commission. The Council will adjourn the meeting after the conclusion 
of any other outstanding business.

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.


[[Page 35788]]


    Dated: June 26, 1997.
Bruce Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-17298 Filed 7-1-97; 8:45 am]
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