[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 153 (Friday, August 8, 1997)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 42737-42738] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-20955] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 648 [I.D. 073197B] New England Fishery Management Council; Public 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, August 20, 1997, at 10 a.m., and on Thursday, August 21, 1997, at 8:30 a.m. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Colonial Hilton, 427 Walnut Street [[Page 42738]] (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: August 20, 1997 The election of 1996-1997 Council officers is scheduled to take place immediately after introductions by the Chairman. After the election, the Monkfish Committee will provide an update on committee progress to finalize (monkfish) Amendment 9 to the Northeast Multispecies Fisheries Management Plan (FMP). During the Scallop Committee Report, the Council will initiate action on a framework adjustment to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan that would further reduce fishing mortality on the sea scallop resource (following on the Plan Development Team's scheduled evaluation of the current management measures). The committee will provide an update on the Amendment 7 (fishing effort consolidation) public hearing document and Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. There also will be an update on discussions to allow scallop fishing in areas now closed for groundfish conservation. The Aquaculture Committee will discuss policy development, project selection criteria, and procedures for Council review of aquaculture proposals. Before the meeting is adjourned for the day, there will be reports from the Council Chairman, Executive Director, 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. August 21, 1997 The Groundfish Committee will recommend management of Atlantic halibut under the Northeast Multispecies FMP. The Council will take final action on Framework Adjustment 24 to the FMP, which contains measures that would modify the Gulf of Maine cod trip limit system, allow vessels to carry-over a maximum of 10 days-at-sea (DAS) to the following fishing year, and provide exemptions for vessels fishing in the NAFO Regulated Area. The Lobster Committee Report will forward recommendations on management measures proposed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. The Gear Conflict Committee will report on efforts to facilitate resolution of the otter trawl and lobster trap conflict in the Gulf of Maine. The Professional Standards and Practices Committee will propose development of a fishermen's logbook that would contain a fishing year calendar to track DAS, important management information and other facts useful to mariners such as tides, lunar phases, etc. A scoping document that would identify issues and suggest proposals to eliminate inconsistencies in vessel permit, upgrading, and replacement provisions in different fishery management plans will be discussed by the Interspecies Committee. There will be an update on plans for Council scoping hearings on Atlantic herring management. The Council will also develop a recommendation on applications for herring joint ventures (JVs) and total allowable levels of foreign fishing (TALFF) from Lithuania and Estonia. There will be a recommendation from the Mid-Atlantic Plans Committee on the management of the mahogany quahog fishery in the Gulf of Maine (proposed for inclusion in Amendment 10 to the Surf Clam and Ocean Quahog Fishery Management Plan). The committee will also present its recommendations on applications for mackerel JV and TALFF from Lithuania and Estonia and on the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's annual squid, mackerel, and butterfish specifications, including the issue of mackerel JV. 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 otherauxiliary 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: August 4, 1997 Bruce Morehead, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 97-20955 Filed 8-7-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F