[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 81 (Wednesday, April 28, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22835-22836]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-10636]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 042199E]


New England 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 New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is 
scheduling a public meeting of its Groundfish Oversight Committee and 
Groundfish Advisory Panel in May, 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 meeting will be held on May 11, 1999. See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION for specific times.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in Peabody, 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 Agenda

    Tuesday, May 11, 1999, 9:30 a.m.--Groundfish Oversight Committee 
and Groundfish Advisory Panel Joint Meeting
    Location: Holiday Inn, One Newbury Street (Route 1 North), Peabody, 
MA 01960; telephone: (978) 535-4600.
    The committee and panel will review draft proposals and analysis 
for Framework Adjustment 31 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery 
Management Plan (FMP), and recommend a preferred alternative for 
consideration by the Council at its
    May 26-27 meeting. Framework Adjustment 31 would modify the FMP 
regulations pertaining to the Georges Bank cod fishery, including: a 
proposal for vessels to take a 30-day block out of the multispecies 
fishery during each quarter; reductions in the allowable number of 
hooks used by hook vessels and gillnets used by Day Gillnet category 
vessels; increasing the minimum size of cod to 21 inches; and 
eliminating the ``running clock'' provision of the Gulf of Maine cod 
trip limit program. The committee and panel will also discuss and 
advise the Council on issues and measures to be included in a public 
hearing document for Amendment 13 to the FMP, including but not limited 
to: management of the recreational and party/charter fishery, 
management policy and strategy for the commercial fishery, 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; the use of electronic vessel monitoring systems (VMS); and other 
issues that may be identified during the scoping process.
    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

    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 five days prior to the meeting dates.


[[Page 22836]]


    Dated: April 22, 1999.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-10636 Filed 4-27-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F