[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 157 (Thursday, August 14, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 43515]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-21457]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 080697E]


Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council 
(Council) will hold its 93rd meeting.

DATES: The meeting will be held August 18-21, 1997. See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Ala Moana Hotel, Honolulu, 
Hawaii; telephone: (808) 955-4811.
    Council address: Western Pacific Fishery Management Council, 1164 
Bishop St., Suite 1405, Honolulu, HI, 96813.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director; 
telephone 808-522-8220.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    August 18, 1997, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
    The Pacific Insular Areas Fishing Agreement (PIAFA) Working Group 
will meet.
    August 18, 1997, 2:00 - 5:00 p.m.
     The Fisheries Data Coordinating Committee will meet.
    August 19, 1997, beginning at 7:30 a.m.
    The Council's Standing Committees will meet.
    August 20-21, 1997, beginning at 9:00 a.m. each day
    The full Council will meet.
    August 20 at 4:00 p.m.
    A Fishermen's Forum
    The Council will discuss and take possible action on the following 
agenda items:
    1. Enforcement issues, including:
    a. Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) scoping report for American 
Samoa;
    b. Report on the Hawaii VMS Program;
    c. Progress with international VMS systems;
    d. VMS data confidentiality issues;
    e. Use of VMS data for fisheries research; and
    f. Standing committee recommendations;
    2. Pelagic fishery issues, including:
    a. Status of the fishery;
    b. Pelagic fisheries research;
    c. Summaries of international meetings including possible 
participation in international management regime for tuna for the 
western and central Pacific Ocean;
    d. Bycatch/incidental take issues (albatross, turtles, sharks);
    e. American Samoa longline fishery management recommendations;
    f. Joint Advisory Panel/Plant Team recommendations;
    g. Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) recommendations; and
    h. Standing Committee recommendations;
    3. Crustacean (lobster) fishery management issues, including:
    a. Report on 1997 lobster season for the Northwestern Hawaiian 
Islands (NWHI), including harvest guidelines;
    b. NMFS annual research cruise;
    c. NWHI lobster research program;
    d. Use of VMS for data transmission and catch reporting;
    e. Regulatory inconsistencies with Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI);
    f. Discussion of areas not included in the fishery management plan 
(Northern Mariana Islands (NMI), Palmyra, Johnston, Kingman);
    g. Hawaii Plan Team recommendations;
    h. SSC recommendations; and
    i. Standing Committee recommendations;
    4. Bottomfish management issues, including:
    a. Status of the fishery and the State of Hawaii's plan for dealer 
reporting;
    b. Status report on Department of Land and Natural Resources' 
regulations for over-fished MHI onaga and ehu fisheries and Federal 
considerations;
    c. NWHI bottomfish management system including draft amendment for 
Mau Zone limited entry program, Task Force report, and status of new 
entry into the Hoomalu Zone;
    d. Armorhead fisheries;
    e. Public hearing;
    f. Hawaii Bottomfish Plan Team/Advisory Panel recommendations;
    g. SSC recommendations; and
    h. Standing committee recommendations;
    5. Native and Indigenous fishing issues, including:
    a. Report of the PIAFA Working Group;
    b. PIAFA marine conservations plans and the Western Pacific 
Sustainable Fisheries Fund Marine Conservation Plan;
    c. Status of the Advisory Panel for Western Pacific Demonstration 
Projects;
    d. Report on the NMI turtle study;
    e. Standing Committee recommendations; and
    f. Advisory Panel recommendations;
    6. Ecosystems and Habitat management issues including:
    a. Final region-wide coral reef assessment;
    b. Report on progress with draft amendments for Essential Fish 
Habitat;
    c. Summary of recent activities in Hawaii, Guam and Commonwealth of 
the Northern Mariana Islands;
    d. Public hearing;
    e. Advisory Panel recommendations;
    f. SSC recommendations; and
    g. Standing Committee recommendations;
    7. Precious Corals management including:
    a. Status of the fishery at Makapuu;
    b. Draft amendment for framework process;
    c. Advisory Panel/Ecosystem & Habitat recommendations;
    d. SSC recommendations; and
    e. Standing committee recommendations;
    8. Program planning issues, including progress on Magnuson-Stevens 
Act requirements, including draft amendments to fisheries management 
plans regarding:
    a. Essential Fish Habitat;
    b. Bycatch;
    c. Overfishing;
    d. Fishing sectors; and
    e. Fishing communities; and
    9. Other business as required.

Special Accommodations

    This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Kitty M. Simonds, 808-522-8220 (voice) or 808-
522-8226 (fax), at least 5 days prior to meeting date.

    Dated: August 8, 1997.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-21457 Filed 8-11-97; 8:54 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F