[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 128 (Monday, July 6, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36393-36394]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-17796]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 062598A]


Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Western Pacific Fishery Council (Council) will hold its 
69th meeting of its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) in 
Honolulu, HI.

DATES: The SSC meeting will be held on July 21-23, 1998, from 8:30 a.m. 
to 5:00 p.m., each day.

ADDRESSES: The 69th SSC meeting will be held at the Council office 
conference room, 1164 Bishop St., Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI; telephone: 
(808-522-8220).
    Council address: Western Pacific Fishery Management Council, 1164 
Bishop St., Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI, 96813.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director; 
telephone: 808-522-8220.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The SSC will discuss and may make 
recommendations to the Council on the agenda items below. The order in 
which agenda items will be addressed can change.
    Tuesday, July 21, 1998, 8:30 a.m.

A. Pelagics

    1. 2nd quarter 1998 report for longline fisheries in Hawaii & 
American Samoa;
    2. Final review of area closure framework measure for American 
Samoa;
    3. Reports on the 3rd Multilateral High-level Conference;
    4. Protected species interactions: albatross and turtles;
    5. Issues concerning shark finning in the western Pacific region;
    6. Report on universal minimum size limit for swordfish in the USA;
    7. Pelagic longline and charter interactions in Hawaii;
    8. Report on Pelagic Fisheries Research Program studies;
    9. Report on Secretariat of Pacific Community meetings;
    10. Summary of 1997 annual report; and
    11. Public Comment/Hearing.

B. Bottomfish

    1. Summary of 1997 annual report, including recommendations;
    2. Management of main Hawaiian Islands onaga, ehu and hauupuu; 
status of Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology genetic research on stock 
range, NMFS research activities in Hawaii, Guam and CNMI, 
implementation of Department of Land and Natural Resources' management 
plan and Federal management alternatives; and
    3. Public Comment.

C. Sustainable Fisheries Act (SFA)

    Final review of comprehensive SFA amendment for all fishery 
management plans regarding bycatch, fishing sectors, fishing 
communities, overfishing and designation of essential fish 
habitat(EFH), potential fishing and non-fishing threats to EFH, and 
conservation and enhancement measures to mitigate impacts to EFH; and 
environmental impact of SFA provisions. Copy of draft amendment is 
available for public review and comment by contacting the Council 
office.

[[Page 36394]]

    1. Plan Team/Advisory Panel recommendations; and
    2. Public comment/hearing.

D. Precious Corals

    Plan Team recommendations.
    Thursday, July 23, 1998, 8:30 a.m.

E. Crustaceans

    1. Annual allocation of bank-specific harvest guidelines including 
1998 bank-specific guidelines and draft framework regulatory measures 
for future bank-specific guidelines; and
    2. Public comment/hearing.

F. Ecosystems and Habitat

    1. Status of Enviromental Impact Statement on Farallon de 
Mendinilla, Northern Mariana Islands; and
    2. Current ecosystem and habitat issues.

G. Other 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 action during this meeting. Action will be restricted 
to those issues specifically identified in the agenda 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 Kitty M. Simonds, 808-522-8220 (voice) or 808-
522-8226 (fax), at least 5 days prior to meeting date.

    Dated: June 29, 1998.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-17796 Filed 7-2-98; 8:45 am]
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