[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 33 (Friday, February 19, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8330-8331]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-4138]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 021299D]


New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

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SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is 
scheduling a number of public meetings of its oversight committees and 
advisory panels in March, 1999 to consider actions affecting New 
England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations 
from these groups will be brought to the full Council for formal 
consideration and action, if appropriate.

DATES: The meetings will be held between March 9 and March 26, 1999. 
See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES: Meetings will be held in Peabody, MA, and Mansfield, MA. See

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, 
New England Fishery Management Council; (781) 231-0422. Requests for 
special accommodations should be addressed to the New England Fishery 
Management Council, 5 Broadway, Saugus, MA 01906-1036; telephone: (781) 
231-0422.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Meeting Dates and Agendas

    Tuesday, March 9, 1999, 9:30 a.m.--Joint meeting of the Habitat 
Oversight Committee and Advisors
    Location: Holiday Inn, One Newbury Street (Rt. 1 North), Peabody, 
MA 01960, Phone: (978) 535-4600; Fax: (978) 535-8238.
    The committee and advisors will discuss and review habitat-related

[[Page 8331]]

issues concerning access to the current Georges Bank groundfish closed 
areas for scallop fishing.
    Monday, March 22, 1999, 9:30 a.m.--Groundfish Advisory Panel 
Meeting
    Location: Holiday Inn, One Newbury Street (Rt. 1 North), Peabody, 
MA 01960, Phone: (978) 535-4600; Fax: (978) 535-8238.
    The panel will review draft proposals and analysis for Framework 
Adjustment 29 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan 
(FMP), and advise the Groundfish Committee on a preferred alternative 
for consideration by the Council at its April 14-15 meeting. Framework 
Adjustment 29 would modify the FMP regulations pertaining to closed 
areas on Georges Bank and the Nantucket Lightship area to allow 
controlled access by scallop dredge vessels. The panel will also review 
and advise the committee on draft proposals for Framework Adjustment 
30, for Council consideration at its April meeting, to reduce the 
fishing mortality rate on Georges Bank cod to below the management 
target level. The panel will also discuss and advise the committee on 
issues and measures to be included in a public hearing document for 
Amendment 13 to the FMP, including but not limited to: action to 
rebuild all stocks in the fishery management unit as needed under new 
overfishing definitions; managing fleet fishing capacity, including 
possible implementation of a two-tier permit system to address latent 
fishing permits; 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 other issues that may be identified during the scoping 
process.
    Tuesday, March 23, 1999, 9:30 a.m.--Groundfish Committee Meeting
    Location: Holiday Inn, One Newbury Street (Rt. 1 North), Peabody, 
MA 01960, Phone: (978) 535-4600; Fax: (978) 535-8238.
    Review of draft proposals and analysis for Framework Adjustment 29 
to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP), and 
recommendation of a preferred alternative for consideration by the 
Council at its April 14-15 meeting. Framework Adjustment 29 would allow 
controlled access by scallop dredge to closed areas on Georges Bank and 
the Nantucket Lightship area. The committee also will review and draft 
proposals and analysis for Framework Adjustment 30, and recommend a 
preferred alternative for Council consideration at its April meeting 
Framework Adjustment 30 will reduce the fishing mortality rate on 
Georges Bank cod to below the management target level. The committee 
will also discuss and take public comment on the scope of issues to be 
considered and possible measures to be included in a public hearing 
document for Amendment 13 to the FMP, including but not limited to: 
action to rebuild all stocks in the fishery management unit as needed 
under new overfishing definitions; managing fleet fishing capacity, 
including possible implementation of a two-tier permit system to 
address latent fishing permits; 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 other issues that may be identified during the 
scoping process
    Thursday, March 25, 1999, 9:30 a.m.--Whiting Advisory Panel Meeting
    Location: Holiday Inn, Mansfield, MA 02048, Phone: (508) 339-2200; 
Fax: (508) 339-1040
    Discussion of possible bycatch and/or discard issues associated 
with the measures in Amendment 12 (for whiting, offshore hake, and red 
hake) as well as possible framework action for any other unresolved 
issues that emerged during the development of Amendment 12; review and 
discussion of data and information needs in the context of the first 
Whiting Monitoring Committee meeting (October/November 2000) and the 
Year 4 default measure (May 1, 2002); discussion of the potential for 
industry-based gear research and information collection.
    Friday, March 26, 1999, 9:30 a.m.--Whiting Committee Meeting
    Location: Holiday Inn, Mansfield, MA 02048, Phone: (508) 339-2200; 
Fax: (508) 339-1040
    Discussion of possible bycatch and/or discard issues associated 
with the measures in Amendment 12 (for whiting, offshore hake, and red 
hake) as well as possible framework action for any other unresolved 
issues that emerged during the development of Amendment 12; review and 
discussion of data and information needs in the context of the first 
Whiting Monitoring Committee meeting (October/November 2000) and the 
Year 4 default measure (May 1, 2002); discussion of the potential for 
industry-based gear research and information collection.
    Although other issues not contained in this agenda may come before 
these groups for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act, those issues may not be the 
subject of formal discussion during these meetings. Action will be 
restricted to those issues specifically 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 Paul J. Howard (see ADDRESSES) at 
least 5 days prior to the meeting dates.

    Dated: February 12, 1999.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-4138 Filed 2-18-99; 8:45 am]
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