[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 164 (Wednesday, August 25, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46354-46355]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-22050]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 081799B]


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 September, 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 September 7 and September 29, 
1999. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES: Meetings will be held in Danvers, MA and Warwick, RI. 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
    Tuesday, September 7, 1999, at 9:30 a.m.--Habitat Committee and 
Advisors Meeting.
    Location: Sheraton Ferncroft Hotel, 50 Ferncroft Road, Danvers, MA 
01923; telephone: 978-777-2500.
    The committee and advisors will discuss proposed Mid-Atlantic 
Fishery Management Council Tilefish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) 
research criteria and objectives for Great South Channel area reserve; 
review the status of the draft inshore Gulf of Maine habitat area of 
particular concern and Long Island Sound essential fish habitat 
framework adjustment.
    Wednesday, September 8, 1999, 10:00 a.m.--Whiting Committee meeting
    Location: Sheraton Ferncroft Hotel, 50 Ferncroft Road, Danvers, MA 
01923; telephone: 978-777-2500.
    The Committee will develop a framework adjustment to the Northeast 
Multispecies FMP that may include options for a whiting mesh size/
possession limit category telephone call-in enrollment system as well 
as options for allowing the use of net strengtheners with 2.5-inch 
mesh. The Committee also will begin to review and discuss possible 
issues to be addressed in an upcoming amendment to the Northeast 
Multispecies FMP, which would remove whiting, red hake, and offshore 
hake from the Multispecies FMP and establish a separate FMP for these 
small mesh species.
    Thursday, September 9, 1999, 9:30 a.m.--Groundfish Committee and 
Groundfish Advisory Panel Joint Meeting
    Location: Sheraton Ferncroft Hotel, 50 Ferncroft Road, Danvers, MA 
01923; telephone: (978) 777-2500.
    The committee and panel will review and finalize alternatives, and 
recommend a preferred alternative for a framework adjustment to the 
Northeast Multispecies FMP to implement mid-season adjustments to the 
management program for the Gulf of Maine cod fishery that could also 
carry forward to the 2000-2001 fishing year. The framework action will 
also modify the Georges Bank cod trip limit adjustment mechanism. The 
Council held the initial meeting for this framework adjustment on 
August 10-11, 1999, and identified options for consideration. It will 
hold the final meeting, to select measures for submission to the 
Secretary of Commerce, on September 21 -23, 1999.
    Thursday, September 9, 1999, 10:00 a.m. -- Scallop Advisory Panel 
Meeting
    Location: Sheraton Ferncroft Hotel, 50 Ferncroft Road, Danvers, MA 
01923; telephone: 978-777-2500.
    The advisory panel will consider management adjustments for the 
2000 fishing year, beginning March 1, 2000, based on biological, 
economic, and other information in the Stock Assessment and Fishery 
Evaluation (SAFE) report. Adjustments are needed to achieve the FMP 
objectives including preventing overfishing, rebuilding stock biomass, 
and producing optimum yield.
    Friday, September 10, 1999, 9:30 a.m. -- Scallop Committee Meeting
    Location: Sheraton Ferncroft Hotel, 50 Ferncroft Road, Danvers, MA 
01923; telephone: 978-777-2500.
    The Scallop Plan Development Team will present the annual 
monitoring SAFE report and from this information and advisor 
recommendations, the committee will develop management alternatives for 
consideration at the first framework meeting, scheduled for September 
21-23, 1999. Adjustments are needed to achieve the FMP objectives 
including preventing overfishing, rebuilding stock biomass, and 
producing optimum yield.
    Thursday, September 16 and Friday, September 17, 1999, at 8:00 a.m. 
-- Scientific and Statistical Committee Meeting
    Location: New England Fishery Management Council Office, 5 
Broadway, Saugus, MA 01906; telephone: 781-231-0422.
    The Scientific and Statistical Committee will review the 1999 SAFE 
Report for Atlantic Sea Scallops, including the Scallop Plan 
Development Team recommendations for the annual adjustment to the 
Atlantic Sea Scallop FMP. The Committee will report its findings to the 
Council at the September 21-23, 1999 Council meeting in New Bedford, 
MA.
    Tuesday and Wednesday, September 28-29, 1999, 9:30 a.m.-Scallop 
Committee Meeting
    Location: Radisson Hotel, 2081 Post Road, Warwick, RI 02886; 
telephone: 401-739-3000.
    Following an initial framework meeting where the Council will 
identify management alternatives for framework action, the committee 
will define and specify these alternatives for the Final Framework 12 
document. After analysis by the plan development team, the alternatives 
will be considered for approval at a final framework meeting, scheduled 
on November 16-18, 1999.
    Although other issues not contained in this notice may be discussed 
at these meetings, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act, those issues may not be the subject of 
formal Council action 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.


[[Page 46355]]


    Dated: August 19, 1999.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-22050 Filed 8-20-99; 3:19 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F