[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 35 (Monday, February 23, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 8959]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-4536]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 021398E]


Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

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SUMMARY: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) and its 
Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Committee (with Economists); Dogfish 
Committee; Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Committee; Habitat 
Committee; Large Pelagics Committee; Committee Chairmen; Executive 
Committee; Comprehensive Management Committee; and the Information & 
Education (I & E) Committee will hold public meetings.

DATES: The meetings will be held on Monday, March 9, 1998 to Thursday, 
March 12, 1998. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and 
times.

ADDRESSES: These meetings will be held at the Wyndham Garden Hotel-
Annapolis, 173 Jennifer Road, Annapolis, MD; telephone: 410-266-3131.
    Council address: Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 300 S. 
New Street, Dover, DE 19904; telephone: 302-674-2331.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David R. Keifer, Executive Director, 
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; telephone: 302-674-2331.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On Monday, March 9, the Surfclam and Ocean 
Quahog Committee (with Economists) will meet from 10:00 a.m. until 
noon. The Dogfish Committee will meet from 1:00-5:00 p.m. On Tuesday, 
March 10, the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Committee will 
meet from 8:00 until noon. The Habitat Committee (with Advisors and the 
Science & Statistical Committee) will meet from 1:00-3:30 p.m. The 
Large Pelagics Committee will meet from 3:30-4:30 p.m. The Committee 
Chairmen will meet from 4:30-6:00 p.m. On Wednesday, March 11, the 
Executive Committee will meet from 8:00-9:00 a.m. The Comprehensive 
Management Committee will meet from 9:00-11:00 a.m. Council will meet 
from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. On Thursday, March 12, Council will 
meet from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. The I & E Committee will meet from 
2:00-3:00 p.m.
    Agenda items include surfclam and Ocean Quahog demand forecasting; 
review of potential surfclam and ocean quahog committee advisors; 
possible adoption to the Council's surfclam and ocean quahog quota 
setting policy; review results from the March 5 Dogfish Technical 
Committee meeting; discuss and possibly adopt goals and objectives for 
the Dogfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP); possible discussion of the 
dogfish definition of overfishing, possible discussion of qualifying 
criteria for limited entry for dogfish; possible adoption of dogfish 
control date; discuss alternative mackerel entry limitation programs; 
review progress of Atlantic Herring FMP development and limited entry 
programs being considered for the Herring FMP; possible review of fleet 
analysis and economic analyses of commercial Atlantic mackerel fishery; 
possible adoption of essential habitat criteria; possible delineation 
and specification of bluefish essential fish habitat; review possible 
management changes for large pelagics and comment on proposed rules; 
review of 1998 work schedule by committee chairs; vessel replacement 
criteria; comprehensive management matrix; possible adoption of the 
Monkfish FMP; view demonstration of the Council's web site; and 
amendment of Statement of Organization, Practices, and Procedures 
concerning the replacement of chairman and other matters.
    The agenda items may not be taken in the order in which they appear 
and are subject to change as necessary; other items may be added. This 
meeting may also be briefly closed at any time to discuss employment or 
other internal administrative matters.
    Although other issues not contained in this agenda may come before 
these groups for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act, those issues may not be the 
subject of formal action during these meetings. Action will be 
restricted to those issues specifically identified in the agenda listed 
in this notice.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Joanna Davis at the Council (see 
ADDRESSES) at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: February 17, 1998.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-4536 Filed 2-20-98; 8:45 am]
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