[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 143 (Tuesday, July 27, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 40545]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-19170]



[[Page 40545]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[I.D. 071999A]


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 August 10-11, 1999, to consider actions 
affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

DATES: The meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 10, 1999, at 9:30 
a.m. and on Wednesday, August 11, 1999, at 8:30 a.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Sheraton Four Points Hotel, 
Route 132 and Bearse's Way, Hyannis, MA 02601; telephone (508) 771-
3000. Requests for special accommodations 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:

Tuesday, August 10, 1999

    The meeting will begin with an advisory report from the Northeast 
Fisheries Science Center on the status of sea scallops and witch 
flounder and updated assessments of all multispecies finfish, including 
10-year rebuilding projections. During the afternoon session the 
Groundfish Committee will ask the Council to consider approval of 
initial action on a framework adjustment to the Northeast Multispecies 
Fishery Management Plan (FMP) to modify the Gulf of Maine cod fishery 
management program to address the 1999 cod discard problem and 
implement management measures for the 2000-2001 fishing year. A measure 
would also be included that would modify the mechanism in Georges Bank 
cod trip limit program (currently under NMFS review in Framework 
Adjustment 30 to the FMP) that provides authority to the Administrator, 
Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) to reduce the trip 
limit based on an evaluation of the risk of exceeding the annual catch 
target. The Groundfish Committee report also will include 
recommendations for measures to be considered in the development of 
Amendment 13 to the FMP. The process to identify specific management 
options will occur between now and the November Council meeting.

Wednesday, August 11, 1999

    As the first agenda item, the Council will elect its 1999-2000 
officers. Reports will follow from the Council Chairman, Executive 
Director, the NMFS 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. The 
Enforcement Committee will ask for approval of the enforcement 
guidelines developed for Council use during the selection of measures 
to be included in fishery management plans. The Enforcement Report will 
conclude with an update by NOAA General Counsel on the status of civil 
penalty cases in the Northeast. During the afternoon portion of the 
meeting the Interspecies Committee will ask the Council to consider 
approval of a control date to apply to the use of days-at-sea (DAS) 
allocated through the Northeast Multispecies, Sea Scallop, and Monkfish 
FMPs. Fishing effort which occurs after publication of the control date 
may be treated differently than fishing effort expended prior to that 
date if the Council chooses to constrain future DAS usage based on more 
recent levels of use. The meeting will adjourn after the Council 
addresses any other outstanding business.
    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 accessible to people with physical 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: July 21, 1999.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-19170 Filed 7-26-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F