[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 138 (Monday, July 20, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 38808]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-19159]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 071398B]


Highly Migratory Species and Billfish Advisory Panels; Public 
Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) and Billfish 
Advisory Panels (APs) will hold a joint meeting to discuss bycatch 
reduction issues in HMS fisheries, followed by a meeting of the HMS AP 
to discuss shark management measures for inclusion in the draft HMS 
fishery management plan (FMP).

DATES: The joint HMS/Billfish Advisory Panel meeting will be held 
Monday, July 27, 1998, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The HMS AP meeting 
will be held Monday, July 27, 1998, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. and Tuesday, 
July 28, 1998, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the meeting location. 
There will be a public comment period on issues that the APs are 
discussing on Monday, July 27, 1998, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The APs will meet at the Ramada Plaza Hotel, 901 N. Fairfax 
Street, Alexandria, Virginia. Written comments should be submitted to, 
and informational materials related to the AP meeting are available 
from, Liz Lauck, Highly Migratory Species Management Division, 1315 
East-West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Liz Lauck or Pat Wilbert, telephone: 
(301) 713-2347, fax: (301) 713-1917.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The HMS and Billfish APs were established 
under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act, 16 U.S.C. 1901 et seq. The APs will assist the 
Secretary of Commerce in collecting and evaluating information relevant 
to the development of an FMP for Atlantic tunas, swordfish, and sharks, 
and an amendment to the Billfish FMP. All AP meetings are open to the 
public and will be attended by members of the AP, including appointed 
members, representatives of the five fishery Management Councils that 
work with Atlantic HMS, and the Chair, or his representative, of the 
U.S. Advisory Committee to the International Commission for the 
Conservation of Atlantic Tunas. A public comment period is scheduled 
for Monday, July 27, 1998, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the meeting 
location. Comments are solicited on bycatch reduction measures and 
shark management measures that should be considered for inclusion in 
the draft FMP documents. See ADDRESSES to request informational 
materials related to the AP discussion or to submit public comments on 
bycatch reduction or shark management measures. Agenda items for the 
joint HMS/Billfish AP meeting to discuss bycath management include 
discussion of:
    1. Consideration of protected resource issues in bycatch management 
for HMS fisheries;
    2. Gear modifications that could be considered to reduce bycatch in 
HMS fisheries; and
    3. The possible use of time and area closures to reduce bycatch in 
HMS fisheries.
    Agenda items for the HMS AP meeting to discuss shark management 
include discussion of:
    1. A review of preliminary or final results from the June 1998 
Shark Evaluation Workshop;
    2. Rebuilding scenarios for the overfished large coastal shark 
management sub-unit;
    3. Issues related to operation of the commercial and recreational 
shark fisheries, which could include permitting and reporting, 
mitigating derby conditions in the fishery, and enforcement concerns;
    4. Research and management needs for the small coastal and pelagic 
shark management sub-units; and
    5. Current international management activities related to Atlantic 
sharks.

Special Accommodations

    This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Pat Wilbert, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910, phone (301) 713-2347; fax: (301) 713-1917, at least 7 
days prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: July 14, 1998.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-19159 Filed 7-14-98; 4:04 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F