[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 9 (Thursday, January 14, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 2466]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-840]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[I.D. 010599A]


New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold 
a 2-day public meeting to consider actions affecting New England 
fisheries in the exclusive economic zone.

DATES: The meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 27, 1999, at 9:30 
a.m. and on Thursday, January 28, 1999, at 8:30 a.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Sheraton Harborside 
Portsmouth, 250 Market Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801; telephone (603) 
431-2300. Requests for special accommodations should be addressed to 
the New England Fishery Management Council, 5 Broadway, Saugus, MA 
01906-1036; telephone: (781) 231-0422.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, 
New England Fishery Management Council; telephone (781) 231-0422.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Wednesday, January 27, 1999

    The meeting will begin with reports on recent activities from the 
Council Chairman; the Executive Director; the NMFS Acting Regional 
Administrator, Northeast Region; Northeast Fisheries Science Center and 
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council liaisons; and representatives 
of the Coast Guard, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, 
and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Following reports, the Chairman 
of the Whiting Committee will ask for approval of descriptions of 
measures and the summary of impacts for final submission of Amendment 
12 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Northeast Multispecies 
Fishery. Following the Scientific and Statistical Committee's review, 
the Dogfish Committee will seek approval of an overfishing definition, 
of a stock rebuilding schedule, and of the Spiny Dogfish FMP for 
submission to the Secretary of Commerce.
    During the afternoon session, the Council will continue its 
discussion on dogfish and possible approval of a recommendation for 
emergency or interim action to become effective by May 1, 1999. The 
Social Sciences Advisory Committee will report on recommendations on 
information to be included in the Stock Assessment and Fishery 
Evaluation reports and the social and economic impacts analyses 
included in the Council FMPs. There will be a Stock Assessment Public 
Review Workshop on the status of Cape Cod yellowtail flounder, white 
hake, Georges Bank winter flounder, American plaice and Southern New 
England/mid-Atlantic winter flounder.

Thursday, January 28, 1999

    The Council will take final action on Framework Adjustment 27 to 
the Northeast Multispecies FMP. Management measures in Framework 
Adjustment 27 would reduce fishing mortality on Gulf of Maine cod and 
Georges Bank cod to achieve the 1999 fishing year rebuilding objectives 
and might include area closures, trip limits, adjustments to days-at-
sea, or gear/mesh modifications. During the afternoon session, the 
Groundfish Committee will consider recommendations on priorities for 
Council action during 1999 to address latent fishing effort/permits, 
employment of displaced fishermen in scientific/gear research programs 
under economic assistance programs, changing the annual Northeast 
Multispecies FMP adjustment schedule to a calendar year, and/or other 
measures to address overfishing of identified stocks. The Council also 
intends to approve initial action on a framework adjustment to the 
Northeast Multispecies FMP that would adjust regulations to comply with 
the Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Plan. Discussion of any other 
business will take place before the close of the meeting.
    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

    This meeting is 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 date.

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

    Dated: January 8, 1999.
Bruce Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries.
[FR Doc. 99-840 Filed 1-13-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F