[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 226 (Tuesday, November 24, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64942-64943]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-31370]


=======================================================================

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 111898A]


North Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of meetings of the North Pacific Fishery Management 
Council and its advisory bodies.

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

SUMMARY: The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its 
advisory committees will meet in Anchorage, Alaska the week of December 
6, 1998.

DATES: 1. The Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will meet 
beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, December 6, continuing through at 
least Wednesday, December 9, 1998.
    2. The Advisory Panel (AP) will begin meeting at 8:00 a.m. on 
Monday, December 7, and continue through Friday, December 11, 1998.
    3. The Council will meet beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, 
December 9, continuing through Monday, December 14, 1998.
    Other workgroup or committee meetings may be held during the week. 
Notices of these meetings will be posted at the hotel. All meetings are 
open to the public with the exception of Council executive sessions, 
which may be held during the noon hour during the meeting week, if 
necessary, to discuss personnel, international issues, or litigation.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Anchorage Hilton Hotel, 503 
W. Third Avenue, Anchorage, AK.
    Council address: North Pacific Fishery Management Council, 605 W. 
4th Ave., Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 99501-2252.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Council staff, telephone: 907-271-
2809.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    The agenda for the Council's plenary session will include the 
following issues. The Council may take appropriate action on any of the 
issues identified.
    1. Reports from NMFS and Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) 
on the current status of the fisheries off Alaska, enforcement reports 
from the United States Coast Guard and NMFS Enforcement, and report 
from NMFS on seabird bycatch in groundfish fisheries.
    2. Receive an update on Section 7 findings for Steller sea lions 
and provide input or take action as necessary. Discuss necessary 
follow-up amendments to fishery management plans for 2000.
    3. Review progress on 1999 implementation of the American Fisheries 
Act and provide guidance to staff for follow-up amendments.
    4. Receive a status report from the Council's Socioeconomic Data 
Committee.
    5. Approve appointments to the Council's AP and SSC for 1999.
    6. Review an initial performance report for the Improved Retention/
Improved Utilization Program in the groundfish fisheries and take final 
action on a regulatory amendment to the program.
    7. Groundfish amendments issues scheduled for discussion or action 
are as follows:
    a. Take final action on an amendment for demersal shelf rockfish 
retention in the Gulf of Alaska individual fishing quotas fisheries.
    b. Receive report on an experimental fishery conducted by the 
Groundfish Forum.
    8. The Council will receive the final Stock Assessment and 
Evaluation (SAFE) reports for the 1999 Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea 
and Aleutian Islands groundfish fisheries and approve final 1999 
harvest and bycatch allocations.
    9. The Council will review current staff tasking and provide 
guidance to staff.
    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 the meeting. 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 Helen Allen, 907-

[[Page 64943]]

271-2809, at least 7 working days prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: November 18, 1998.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-31370 Filed 11-23-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F