[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 14, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2217-2218]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-803]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 010798A]


Magnuson Act Provisions; Effects of Fishing on Essential Fish 
Habitat; Public Meetings

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

ACTION: Public meetings.

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SUMMARY: NMFS will hold public meetings to brief the Fishery Management 
Councils (Councils) and interested parties on the results of a 
synthesis of available scientific information on fishing gear impacts 
on habitat entitled: The Indirect Effects of Fishing by Peter J. Auster 
and Richard W. Langton. Following a presentation there will be an 
opportunity for questions and comments. NMFS requests that comments be 
limited to those concerning the adequacy of the synthesis, i.e., what 
scientific studies are missing, and any disagreements with the 
scientific conclusions.

DATES: The meetings are scheduled to be held from January 20 to 
February 5, 1998. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates, 
locations, and times.

ADDRESSES: Requests for special accommodations should be addressed to 
Office of Habitat Conservation, Attention: Gear Impacts, NMFS, 1315 
East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3282; telephone: 301/713-
2325.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Thomas, NMFS, 301/713-2325.


[[Page 2218]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
(Magnuson-Stevens Act), as amended by the Sustainable Fisheries Act of 
1996, requires that the Councils minimize, to the extent practicable, 
adverse effects of fishing on habitat. The Magnuson-Stevens Act further 
stipulates that fishers and other interested parties be involved in 
this process. The purpose of these meetings is to inform the Councils 
and to involve interested parties early in the process of addressing 
the effects of fishing on habitat. The process begins with a synthesis 
that surveys and assesses all available information through the 
scientific literature concerning adverse effects of fishing. The draft 
synthesis is being presented and discussed at these public meetings. 
The final synthesis document will be available to Councils and other 
interested parties for use in addressing adverse impacts from fishing 
gear within fishery management plans.

Public Meetings

    1. Tuesday, January 20, 1998, in conjunction with New England 
Fishery Management Council Habitat Committee meeting, from 9:30 a.m. to 
5:00 p.m. EST at Peabody Marriott, 8A Centennial Drive, Peabody, MA; 
telephone 978/977-9700.
    2. Tuesday, January 20, 1998, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. CST at 
Marriott Grand Hotel, Azalea Ballroom, 1 Grand Boulevard, Point Clear, 
AL, 36564; telephone 813/228-2815.
    3. Tuesday, January 27, 1998, in conjunction with Mid-Atlantic 
Fishery Management Council Habitat Committee meeting, from 1:00 p.m. to 
5:00 p.m. EST at the Sheraton Atlantic City West, 6821 Blackhorse Pike, 
Atlantic City West, NJ; telephone 609/272-0200.
    4. Thursday, February 5, 1998, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. PST at 
the NMFS Pacific Environmental Laboratory, Conference Room, 1352 
Lighthouse Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA 93950; telephone 408/646-3311.
    5. Wednesday, February 4, 1998, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. AST at 
the Anchorage Hilton Hotel, Room to be announced, 500 West 3rd Avenue, 
Anchorage, AK 99501; telephone 907/271-2809.

Special Accommodations

    Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Jim Thomas (see ADDRESSES) at least 5 days prior 
to the meeting date.

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

    Dated: January 8, 1998.
James P. Burgess,
Director, Office of Habitat Conservation, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-803 Filed 1-13-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F