[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 178 (Monday, September 15, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 48207-48208]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-24410]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[I.D. 090897E]


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 to consider actions affecting New England 
fisheries in the exclusive economic zone.

DATES: The meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 1, 1997, at 10 
a.m. and on Thursday, October 2, 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 (781) 245-9300. 
Requests for special accommodations should be addressed to the New 
England Fishery Management Council, 5 Broadway, Saugus, MA 01906-1097; 
telephone: (781) 231-0422.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, 
New England Fishery Management Council, (781) 231-0422.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

October 1, 1997

    At the recommendation of the Monkfish Committee, the Council may 
request that the Secretary of Commerce implement interim management 
measures for the monkfish fishery. The Council also will continue work 
on the monkfish amendment to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery 
Management Plan (FMP). Following this discussion, there will be reports 
from the Council Chairman, Executive Director, NMFS Regional 
Administrator, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Mid-Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council liaisons, and representatives of the Coast Guard and 
the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. Groundfish issues to 
be discussed during the afternoon session include the timetable in the 
Northeast Multispecies FMP that requires an annual review and 
evaluation of plan measures. Currently, any modifications or new 
measures considered necessary to meet the plan objectives must be 
developed as a framework adjustment to the plan and must be submitted 
to NMFS by February 1 of each year. There also will be an update on 
progress to develop whiting management measures.
    Prior to adjourning for the day both the Mid-Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council and the New England Council will hold a joint 
scoping hearing to solicit comments on the management of spiny dogfish.

October 2, 1997

    The morning session will begin with a presentation of the results 
of the most recent Stock Assessment Workshop, with an advisory on the 
status of summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and Gulf of Maine 
northern shrimp. The Marine Mammal Committee will recommend that the 
Council endorse its comments on the interim final rule implementing the 
Large Whale Take Reduction Plan and the proposed rule to implement a 
take reduction plan for harbor porpoise in the Gulf of Maine. The 
Scallop Committee will report on its discussions about an alternative 
approach to the development of Amendment 7 to the Sea Scallop Fishery 
Management Plan (Sea Scallop FMP). The amendment was initially proposed 
only to address effort consolidation (transfer of days-at-sea between 
vessels with sea scallop permits), but may now include a framework 
adjustment process to open and close areas to enhance scallop 
conservation as well as revisions to other Sea Scallop FMP provisions 
so as to be in compliance with the Sustainable Fisheries Act. The 
Chairman of the Herring Committee will update the Council on the recent 
scoping hearings and plans for the development of a Herring Fishery 
Management Plan.
    Dr. Pamela Mace, Ocean Fishery Resources Division, NMFS, will 
provide a briefing on an initiative by the United Nation's Food and 
Agriculture Organization to address management of fishing capacity, 
seabird bycatch and mortality in longline fisheries, and shark 
conservation and management. The Interspecies Committee will recommend 
approval of measures to eliminate inconsistencies in vessel permit, 
upgrading, and replacement provisions in different fishery management 
plans for purposes of preparing a public hearing document. The Chairman 
also will review the committee's discussion of criteria for exempted 
fisheries. Finally there will be a report on the measures adopted by 
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission for inclusion in Amendment 
3 to the American Lobster Fishery Management Plan. The Council will 
adjourn the meeting after the

[[Page 48208]]

conclusion of any other outstanding business.
    Although other issues not contained in this agenda may come before 
this Council for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act, those issues may not be the 
subject of formal Council action during this meeting. Council action 
will be restricted to those issues specifically identified in the 
agenda listed in this notice.

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: September 9, 1997.
Bruce Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-24410 Filed 9-12-97; 8:45 am]
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