[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 56 (Wednesday, March 24, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14215-14216]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-7169]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 031799C]


New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

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

SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is 
scheduling public meetings of its Habitat Committee, including Advisors 
and Technical Team; Sea Scallop Committee; Social Sciences Advisory 
Committee; Herring Committee; Ad hoc Vessel Buyback Committee; 
Groundfish Committee and Advisory Panel in April, 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 held between Monday, April 5, 1999 and 
Thursday, April 22, 1999. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific 
dates and times.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held in Peabody, MA; Warwick, RI; 
Saugus, MA; Providence, RI; and Danvers, MA. See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION for specific locations.

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

    Monday, April 5, 1999, 9:30 a.m.--Joint Habitat Committee, Advisory 
Panel and Technical Team Meeting
    Location: Holiday Inn, One Newbury Street (Rt. 1 North), Peabody, 
MA; telephone: (978) 535-4600.
    Review of the 1999 Habitat Annual Review Report; identification and 
prioritization of habitat-related research and information needs; final 
review of habitat-related information pertaining to scalloping in areas 
closed for groundfish conservation; identification of habitat-related 
issues to be addressed during development of the next groundfish and 
sea scallop amendments.
    Thursday and Friday, April 8-9, 1999, 9:30 a.m. (day 1), 8:30 a.m. 
(day 2)--Sea Scallop Committee Meeting
    Location: Radisson Airport Hotel, 2081 Post Road, Warwick, RI; 
telephone: (401) 739-3000.
    Review of potential impacts of options under consideration for 
Framework Adjustment 11 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management 
Plan (FMP) and Framework Adjustment 29 to the Northeast Multispecies 
FMP, an action that would allow scallop vessels to fish in areas now 
closed to them for purposes of groundfish conservation --- Area II and 
the Nantucket Lightship Area; identification of issues to be addressed 
in Amendment 10 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop FMP, an action that would 
base scallop management on a series of rotating open and closed areas.
    Friday, April 9, 1999, 10:00 a.m.--Social Sciences Advisory 
Committee
    Location: New England Fishery Management Council Office, 5 
Broadway, Saugus, MA; telephone: (781) 231-0422.
    Evaluation of the socio-economic data and analyses contained in the 
Monkfish and the Northeast Multispecies FMPs for the purpose of 
recommending improvements.
    Tuesday, April 13, 1999, 10:00 a.m.--Herring Oversight Committee 
Meeting
    Location: Providence Biltmore Hotel, Kennedy Plaza, 11 Dorrance 
Street, Providence, RI 02903; telephone: (401) 421-0700.
    Review of proposals and related issues under consideration for a 
framework adjustment to the Atlantic Herring FMP; these may include, 
but are not limited to, possible changes to spawning closure boundaries 
in the Gulf of Maine; total allowable catch set-asides in Management 
Area 1 for various industry sectors; groundfish bycatch by mid-water 
trawlers; discussion of the establishment of a control date and a 
limited entry system for the herring fishery.
    Tuesday, April 20, 1999, 9:30 a.m.--Ad Hoc Vessel Buyback Committee
    Location: New England Fishery Management Council Office, 5 
Broadway, Saugus, MA; telephone: (781) 231-0422.
    Discussion of the Council's role in industry-generated vessel 
buyout proposals; development of recommendations concerning the 
specifics of Council involvement, the content of industry proposals and 
protocols for the selection of alternative proposals.
    Wednesday, April 21, 1999, 9:30 a.m.--Groundfish Advisory Panel 
Meeting

[[Page 14216]]

    Location: King's Grant Inn, Trask Lane and Route 128 (Exit 21N) 
Danvers, MA 01923; telephone: (978) 774-6800.
    Development of advice on issues and management measures proposed 
for public hearings on Amendment 13 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP 
(the amendment will contain rebuilding programs for overfished 
groundfish stocks pursuant to the Sustainable Fisheries Act and other 
measures identified during the scoping process, including the 
management of excess fishing capacity (latent permits) and minimizing 
the complexity of the FMP).
    Thursday, April 22, 1999, 8:30 a.m.--Groundfish Committee Meeting
    Location: King's Grant Inn, Trask Lane and Route 128 (Exit 21N) 
Danvers, MA 01923; telephone: (978) 774-6800.
    Development of recommendations to the Council on issues and 
management measures proposed for public hearings on Amendment 13 to the 
Northeast Multispecies FMP (the amendment will contain rebuilding 
programs for overfished groundfish stocks pursuant to the Sustainable 
Fisheries Act and other measures identified during the scoping process, 
including managing excess fishing capacity (latent permits) and 
minimizing the complexity of the FMP.
    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. 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: March 18, 1999.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-7169 Filed 3-23-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F