[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 121 (Wednesday, June 24, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 34358-34359]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-16785]



[[Page 34358]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[I.D. 061698D ]


New England Fishery Management Council; Public Hearings

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

ACTION: Public hearings; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold 
a series of public hearings to solicit comments on proposals to be 
included in Amendment 9 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the 
Northeast Multispecies Fishery, Amendment 7 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop 
FMP, the Atlantic Herring FMP, and in a single amendment that brings 
all Council FMPs (Multispecies, Sea Scallop, Herring, Monkfish and 
Atlantic Salmon) into compliance with essential fish habitat (EFH) 
requirements of the Sustainable Fisheries Act (SFA).

DATES: Written comments will be accepted through July 15, 1998, for 
Amendment 9 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP, through July 31, 1998, 
for the EFH amendment, and through August 3, 1998, for Amendment 7 to 
the Atlantic Sea Scallop FMP and the Atlantic Herring FMP. The hearings 
will begin June 29, 1998, and end July 22, 1998. See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION for specific dates.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, New 
England Fishery Management Council, 5 Broadway, Saugus, MA 01906-1097. 
Hearings will be held in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode 
Island, Connecticut; New Jersey, Virginia, and North Carolina. 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 specific locations, see SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, (781) 231-0422.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Council proposes to take action to 
address the new and revised requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act, as amended by the SFA of 1996. 
The Council will consider comments from fishermen, interested parties, 
and the general public on the proposals and alternatives described in 
four separate public hearing documents. These documents have been 
prepared for amendments to the Northeast Multispecies and Sea Scallop 
FMPs, the Herring FMP, and an amendment for compliance with EFH, which 
will amend the previously mentioned plans as well as the Monkfish and 
Atlantic Salmon FMPs. Once it has considered public comments, the 
Council will approve final measures and prepare submission packages for 
NMFS. There will be additional opportunities for public comments when 
the proposed rules for these actions are published in the Federal 
Register.

Amendment 9 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP

    The Council is presenting the following items for public review and 
comment: (1) Proposed new or revised overfishing definitions for 12 
species in the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Unit 
(excluding silver hake and red hake, which the Council will address in 
a separate amendment); (2) a revised specification of optimum yield 
(OY) from the fishery; (3) the inclusion of Atlantic halibut in the 
Multispecies FMP, with measures to stop overfishing and rebuild the 
halibut stocks; (4) modification of the rules allowing the use of 
square mesh nets by otter trawl vessels; (5) a 1-inch increase in the 
minimum size for winter flounder; (6) a possession limit for the 
Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic winter flounder fisheries; (7) 
adjustments to trip limit management methods; (8) postponement of the 
Vessel Monitoring Systems requirement beyond the scheduled 
implementation date of May 1, 1999; (9) a prohibition on the use of 
``streetsweeper'' trawl gear; and (10) a framework adjustment process 
for approval of aquaculture projects in the EEZ. The Council will 
consider all comments received on these proposals until the end of the 
comment period on July 15, 1998.

Amendment 7 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop FMP

    The following proposals will be discussed in the public hearing 
document: (1) A new overfishing definition and rebuilding targets for 
Atlantic sea scallops; (2) a revised specification of OY from the 
fishery; (3) a 10-year rebuilding schedule as the preferred alternative 
and a 7-year schedule as a non-preferred alternative; (4) options for 
increasing the minimum mesh size of the twine top portion of scallop 
dredges to reduce the bycatch of finfish; (5) continuation of mid-
Atlantic closed areas (unless opened under specific reopening criteria 
adopted as part of the amendment); (6) a system for closing areas to 
improve yield per recruit; (7) annual monitoring and adjustment of 
measures to rebuild the resource; and (8) a provision to allow the 
following measures to be implemented through the framework adjustment 
process: (a) leasing of scallop DAS; (b) scallop size restrictions; and 
(c) aquaculture enhancement measures. Measures to end overfishing and 
rebuild the scallop resource will require substantial reductions in 
fishing in the next several years. Although the proposals are expected 
to have positive long-term economic impacts, they also are expected to 
have severely negative short-term economic, social, and fishing 
community impacts. These impacts are summarized in the public hearing 
document, which will be available at the hearings. The Council will 
consider all comments received until the end of the comment period on 
August 3, 1998.

Atlantic Herring FMP

    Major elements of the proposals in the public hearing document 
include (1) a definition of overfishing and establishment of a total 
allowable catch (TAC); (2) various options to distribute the TAC; (3) 
options for controlling the catch, either through mandatory days out of 
the fishery (an open access fishery) or through a controlled access 
system; (4) alternatives for addressing spawning restrictions; (5) the 
size of vessels in the fishery; (6) allowed uses for herring (such as 
for roe or meal); (7) regulations for joint venture and internal waters 
processing operations; and (8) administrative requirements such as 
vessel, dealer and operator permits, vessel and dealer reporting 
requirements, and observer/sea sampler provisions. These are joint 
Council/Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) public 
hearings. The ASMFC measures will be adopted in state waters, while the 
Council measures will apply to vessels holding Federal permits to fish 
in the EEZ. The Council will consider all comments received until the 
end of the comment period on August 3, 1998.

Essential Fish Habitat Amendment

    The Council will conduct hearings to consider public comment on 
management proposals to address the EFH requirements of the SFA and to 
submit measures to the Secretary of Commerce as an amendment to all 
Council FMPs. The following items will be available for public review 
and comment: (1) The identification and

[[Page 34359]]

description of EFH for Atlantic herring, sea scallops, Atlantic salmon, 
and 15 species of groundfish; (2) the identification of proposed 
habitat areas of particular concern (HAPC) for Atlantic cod and 
Atlantic salmon; (3) an assessment of fishing-related threats and 
impacts to EFH; (4) consideration of management measures to mitigate 
the adverse impacts of fishing activities on EFH and HAPC; (5) an 
assessment of non-fishing related threats and impacts to EFH; (6) 
conservation and enhancement measures and recommendations developed to 
mitigate the adverse impacts of non-fishing related activities on EFH 
and HAPC; (7) a provision to allow the revision of the EFH designations 
and additional management measures for the conservation of EFH to be 
implemented through the framework adjustment process; and (8) research 
and information requirements to improve the designation of EFH and 
better understand the impacts of fishing and non-fishing activities on 
EFH. The Council will consider all comments received until the end of 
the comment period on July 31, 1998.

Public Hearings

    The dates, times, locations and telephone numbers of the hearings 
are scheduled as follows:

Amendment 9 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP-

    Monday, June 29, 1998, 6:00 p.m.--Seaport Inn, 110 Middle Street, 
Fairhaven, MA 02719; telephone (508) 997-1281;
    Tuesday, June 30, 1998, 6:00 p.m.--Holiday Inn by the Bay, 88 
Spring Street, Portland, ME 04101; telephone (207) 775-2311;
    Wednesday, July 1, 1998, 6:00 p.m.--Holiday Inn, US Route 1 & 3, 
Ellsworth, ME 04605; telephone (207) 667-9341;
    Monday July 6, 1998, 6:00 p.m.--St. Peter's Club, 21-23 Main 
Street, Gloucester, MA 01930; telephone (978) 281-3160;
    Tuesday, July 7, 1998, 3:00 p.m.--Radisson Hotel, 35 Governor 
Winthrop Boulevard, New London, CT 06320; telephone (860) 443-7000;
    Wednesday, July 8, 1998, 3:00 p.m.--Holiday Inn, 290 Highway 37 
East, Tom's River, NJ 08753; telephone (732) 244-4000; and
    Monday, July 13, 1998, 3:00 p.m.--Ramada Inn, 1127 Route 132, 
Hyannis, MA 02601; telephone (508) 775-1153.

Amendment 7 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop FMP-

    Monday, June 29, 1998, 1:30 p.m.--Seaport Inn, 110 Middle Street, 
Fairhaven, MA 02719; telephone (508) 997-1281;
    Wednesday, July 1, 1998, 1:00 p.m.--Holiday Inn, US Route 1 & 3, 
Ellsworth, ME 04605; telephone (207) 667-9341;
    Monday, July 6, 1998, 3:00 p.m.--Department of Environment and 
Natural Resources, 943 Washington Square Mall, Washington, NC 27889; 
telephone (919) 946-6481;
    Tuesday, July 7, 1998, 3:00 p.m.--Holiday Inn Executive Center, 
5655 Greenwich Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23462; telephone (757) 499-
4400; and
    Wednesday, July 8, 1998, 1:00 p.m.-- Grand Hotel, 1045 Beach Drive, 
Cape May, NJ 08204; telephone (609) 884-5611.

Atlantic Herring FMP-

    Tuesday, June 30, 1998, 1:00 p.m.--Radisson Hotel, 2081 Post Road, 
Warwick, RI 03886; telephone (401) 739-3000;
    Wednesday July 1, 1998, 1:00 p.m.--Sawyer Free Library, 2 Dale 
Avenue, Gloucester, MA 01930; telephone (978) 281-9763;
    Monday, July 6, 1998, 1:00 p.m.--Maine Department of Marine 
Resources, 194 McKown Point Road, West Boothbay Harbor, ME 04575; 
telephone (207) 633-9500;
    Wednesday, July 8, 1998, 6:00 p.m.--Grand Hotel, 1045 Beach Drive, 
Cape May, NJ 08204; telephone (609) 884-5611; and
    Thursday, July 9, 1998, 2:00 p.m.--Holiday Inn Executive Center, 
5655 Greenwich Road, Virginia Beach, VA.

Essential Fish Habitat Amendment-

    Tuesday, July 14, 1998, 1:00 p.m.--Sawyer Free Library, 2 Dale 
Avenue, Gloucester, MA 01930; telephone (978) 281-9763;
    Wednesday, July 15, 1998, 6:00 p.m.--Maine Department of Marine 
Resources, 194 McKown Point Road, West Boothbay Harbor, ME 04575; 
telephone (207) 633-9500;
    Thursday, July 16, 1998, 1:00 p.m.--Urban Forestry Center, 45 Elwyn 
Road, Portsmouth, NH 03801; telephone (603) 436-9713;
    Friday, July 17, 1998, 1:00 p.m.--Massachusetts Maritime Academy, 
101 Academy Drive, Buzzards Bay, MA 02532; telephone (508) 830-5000;
    Monday, July 20, 1998, 1:00 p.m.--Holiday Inn, 290 Highway 37 East, 
Tom's River, NJ 08753; telephone (732) 244-4000; and
    Wednesday, July 22, 1998, 6:00 p.m.--Radisson Hotel, 2081 Post 
Road, Warwick, RI 02886; telephone (401) 739-3000.
    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

    These meetings are 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 dates.

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

    Dated: June 19, 1998.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-16785 Filed 6-23-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F