[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 27, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 4074]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-1875]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 012199B]


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 Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Groundfish 
Management Team (GMT) will hold a public meeting in conjunction with a 
workshop to review new information on groundfish harvest rates.

DATES: The GMT meeting will be held on Monday, February 22, 1999 
beginning at 1:00 p.m. and may go into the evening until business for 
the day is completed. The meeting will reconvene from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 
p.m. on Tuesday, February 23, and from 8:00 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, 
February 24. At 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 24, the workshop on 
groundfish harvest policies will convene. The workshop will continue on 
Thursday, February 25 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Friday, 
February 26, from 8:00 a.m. to noon or as necessary.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Hatfield Marine Science 
Center, Meeting Room #9, 2030 S. Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR; 
telephone: (541) 867-0249.
    Council address: Pacific Fishery Management Council, 2130 SW Fifth 
Avenue, Suite 224, Portland, OR 97201.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Glock, Groundfish Fishery 
Management Coordinator; telephone: (503) 326-6352.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the GMT meeting is to develop 
a work plan for 1999 and to prepare technical advice and reports to 
support Council decisions throughout the year. Specific agenda items 
will include: (1) appoint representatives to track assessments in the 
stock assessment review process; (2) prepare a work plan for 1999 GMT 
activities; (3) review methodology for developing inseason catch 
projections and potential open access trip limit adjustments; (4) 
evaluate data and analysis requirements related to lingcod and rockfish 
allocation and management; (5) review program cost estimates for an 
observer program; (6) review new information related to the status of 
the Pacific whiting stock and develop an acceptable biological catch/
optimum yield recommendation; and (7) discuss the review of harvest 
policies.
    Starting on Wednesday, February 24, 1999, the GMT and other 
participants at the harvest policy workshop will hear recent 
information regarding appropriate harvest rates for various groundfish 
species. Some investigations indicate current harvest policies 
(F35% and F40%) may not adequately protect stocks 
and may not produce the maximum sustainable yield. This workshop will 
primarily be a presentation of new information and analysis. A follow-
up workshop will be held in March 1999, after which the GMT will 
prepare specific recommendations and a final report to the Council on 
appropriate harvest rates.
    Although other issues not contained in this agenda may come before 
this Team 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 listed in this notice.

Special Accommodations

    The meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Mr. John Rhoton at (503) 326-6352 at least 5 days 
prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: January 21, 1999.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-1875 Filed 1-26-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F