[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 27 (Tuesday, February 10, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 6701-6702]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-3332]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[I.D. 020398A]
New England Fishery Management Council; 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 on February 25 and 26, 1998, to consider actions
affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone.
DATES: The meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 25, 1998, at 10
a.m., and on Thursday, February 26, 1998, at 8:30 a.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Sheraton Portsmouth Hotel,
250 Market Street, Portsmouth, New Hampshire 03801; telephone (603)
431-2300. Requests for special accommodations should be addressed to
the New England Fishery Management Council, 5 Broadway, Saugus,
Massachusetts 01906-1097; telephone: (781) 231-0422.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director,
New
[[Page 6702]]
England Fishery Management Council (781) 231-0422.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Wednesday, February 25, 1998
After introductions, the Monkfish Committee will review public
hearing comments and approve the final monkfish management measures for
Amendment 9 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan
(FMP). During the afternoon session, results of a synthesis of
available scientific information about fishing gear impacts on habitat
will be presented by Dr. Peter Auster, Science Director of the National
Undersea Research Center at the University of Connecticut. This will be
followed by an update on progress to develop essential fish habitat
designations for Council-managed species and a review of the Dogfish
Committee's recent meeting. The discussion will include consideration
and approval of a dogfish fishery control date (which may be used in
the future to establish rules to limit participation in this fishery).
Next, the Whiting Committee will discuss the development of a whiting
management program and its recommendations concerning several whiting
exempted fisheries proposals. Prior to adjournment for the day, a
scoping hearing to solicit comments on whiting management will conclude
the Council meeting. The Council will ask the public to identify major
issues to be considered in the development of management measures for
silver hake (whiting), offshore hake, and red hake.
Thursday, February 26, 1998
The Groundfish Committee Report may approve initial action on a
framework adjustment to the Northeast Multispecies FMP that would
restrict the use of ``streetsweeper'' trawl gear. The Council may also
consider including alternative measures to protect Gulf of Maine cod
(contained in a proposal forwarded by the Gulf of Maine Fishermen's
Alliance) in this action. The proposal would establish 2 vessel
categories (inshore/offshore and offshore/trip limit exemption area),
trip limits, area closures, and incentives to fish outside the Gulf of
Maine. Finally, the Groundfish Committee will review progress on a plan
amendment to address the Sustainable Fisheries Act (SFA) requirements.
In addition to a briefing on the recent U.S./Canada industry meeting,
the Herring Committee may ask the Council to approve management
alternatives for public hearing purposes (including, but not limited
to, controlled access, spawning area closures, vessel/dealer/operator
permit requirements, area management, a target total allowable catch
level, vessel size limits, a prohibition on fishing for the purpose of
meal production, limits on fishing time, and restrictions on fishing
for roe). The Thursday agenda will include reports from the Council
Chairman, Executive Director, Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS
(Regional Administrator), Northeast Fisheries Science Center and Mid-
Atlantic Fishery Management Council liaisons, and representatives of
the Coast Guard, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, and
of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Interspecies Committee will
update the Council on efforts to eliminate inconsistencies in vessel
upgrading, replacement, and permit-splitting restrictions, including
asking the Council to approve measures to eliminate upgrading
restrictions on boats less than 30 ft (9.1 m). It will review comments
on the Atlantic States Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program fishing
vessel logbook form and discuss the development of a policy on
harvesting innovations and new fisheries technology. The Overfishing
Definition Review Panel will review the overfishing definitions for sea
herring, silver hake, and possibly other species. The Sea Scallop
Committee will discuss its progress on a plan amendment to address SFA
requirements, the development of criteria for opening and closing
management areas and on its discussions of days-at-sea leasing and an
industry-funded vessel buyout program.
The Regional Administrator will consult with the Council regarding
a proposal from Soren Henriksen of the Westport Scalloping Corporation
to conduct an experimental fishery to harvest seed scallops with a
small mesh-lined scallop dredge in the Nantucket Lightship Closed Area
(NLCA). There will be a discussion and opportunity for public comment.
This proposal authorizes additional activities to facilitate the sea
scallop aquaculture research project approved last winter under
Amendment 5 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan. The
applicant cites problems with harvesting seed scallops from distant
areas and off-loading to the test site (20 hours steam). The 1997 NMFS
sea scallop survey indicates the presence of mixed scallop beds
containing seed within the northeast part of the NLCA (survey stations
#238-241). The area is currently closed to scallop dredge vessels under
the northeast multispecies regulations. The experiment would authorize
one limited access scallop vessel to catch and retain a maximum of 1500
bushels (528.6 hl) of seed scallops with a small mesh-lined scallop
dredge from the NLCA and off-load to the Scallop Experimental Fishing
Area (five hours steam). The vessel would be given a 2-day exemption
from the days-at-sea reporting requirements while collecting seed
scallops in the NLCA. The experiment is intended to allow the
harvesting of seed scallops to support the ongoing sea scallop
aquaculture research project aimed at developing techniques and
practices that could allow the scallop fishery to evolve from one based
exclusively on wild-capture to an industry that also incorporates
modern husbandry, enhancement, and open-ocean cage culture. The Council
meeting will adjourn after the conclusion of any other outstanding
Council 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 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: February 4, 1998.
Gary Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-3332 Filed 2-9-98; 8:45 am]
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