[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 27 (Wednesday, February 10, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 6595-6596]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-3246]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[I.D. 020299C]


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 on February 24 and 25, 1999, to consider actions 
affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone.

DATES: The meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 24, 1999, at 
9:00 a.m. and on Thursday, February 25, 1999, at 8:30 a.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Radisson Hotel, 35 Governor 
Winthrop Boulevard, New London, CT 06320; telephone (860) 443-7000. 
Requests for special accommodations

[[Page 6596]]

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 (781) 231-0422.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Wednesday, February 24, 1999

    Following introductions, the meeting will begin with reports on 
recent activities from the Council Chairman, Executive Director, the 
NMFS Acting Regional Administrator, 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 Gear Conflict Committee will make 
recommendations for resolving gear conflicts involving lobster traps 
and mobile gear in the offshore canyon areas. The Herring Committee 
will discuss possible measures to be included in the annual framework 
adjustment to the Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan (FMP). After 
a noon break, the Executive Director will review scientific information 
and research needs for 1999 and there will be a presentation on 
Overfishing Definition/Control Rule by staff members of the Council and 
the Northeast Fisheries Science Center. The day will conclude with the 
Marine Mammal Committee report during which the Council will approve 
final action on Framework Adjustment 28 to the Northeast Multispecies 
FMP. Framework Adjustment 28 would contain measures which would modify 
harbor porpoise regulations previously implemented by the Council to be 
consistent with the Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Plan recently 
implemented by NMFS.

Thursday, February 25, 1999

    The Council will consider initial action on Framework Adjustment 29 
to the Northeast Multispecies FMP. Framework Adjustment 29 contains 
measures which would modify the FMP regulations to allow scallop 
vessels controlled access to the Georges Bank groundfish closed areas 
and establish measures to reduce fishing mortality on Georges Bank cod 
by 22 percent to meet FMP target levels. Additionally, the Council will 
approve a range of measures to be considered at public hearings and for 
inclusion in Amendment 13 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP. Potential 
items include but are not limited to revised rebuilding programs as 
needed under new overfishing definitions for all multispecies stocks; 
implementation of a two-tier permit system to address latent fishing 
effort; quota management, managing fleet capacity, proposals for 
industry support systems involving scientific research and conservation 
engineering programs; modification of the annual adjustment schedule 
and possible change to the fishing year and development of an exemption 
certification for access to groundfish closed areas by groundfish 
vessels targeting specific species. The Office of General Counsel will 
make a presentation on conflict of interest issues. Following a noon 
break, the Scallop Committee will consider initial action on Framework 
Adjustment 11 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop FMP to establish measures for 
managing scallop vessel access to the Georges Bank groundfish closed 
areas. The day will conclude with the Spiny Dogfish Committee report 
which will discuss and seek possible approval of recommendations for an 
overfishing definition, rebuilding schedule, and interim management 
measures. 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.

    Dated: February 4, 1999.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-3246 Filed 2-9-99; 8:45 am]
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