[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 182 (Tuesday, September 21, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51095-51096]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-24575]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 091499H]


North Pacific 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 North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its 
advisory committees will hold public meetings. The Council will also 
meet in joint session with the International Pacific Halibut Commission 
(IPHC).

DATES: The Council and its advisory bodies will meet in Seattle, WA the 
week of October 11, 1999. The Council will meet with the IPHC on 
Tuesday, October 12, beginning at 9:00 a.m , continuing until the 
agenda is complete. On the same day, immediately following the 
completion of the joint meeting, but not before 1:00 p.m., the Council 
will begin its regular plenary session and at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, 
October 13, continuing through Monday, October

[[Page 51096]]

18. All meetings are open to the public except Executive Sessions which 
may be held during the week to discuss litigation and/or personnel 
matters.

ADDRESSES: All meetings will be held at the Doubletree Hotel, Seattle 
Airport, 18740 Pacific Highway South, Seattle, WA.
    Council address: North Pacific Fishery Management Council, 605 W. 
4th Ave., Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 99501-2252.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Council staff; telephone: 907-271-
2809.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The agenda for the Council's joint session 
with the International Pacific Halibut Commission will include the 
following subjects:
    1. Halibut Bycatch
    2. Halibut Charterboat/Recreational Catch Issues
    3. Season Extension for Halibut
    4. Data for Local Area Management Plans
    5. Fee Collection Program
    6. Enforcement
    The agenda for the Council's normal plenary session will include 
the following issues. The Council may take appropriate action on any of 
the issues identified.
    1. Reports
    (a) Executive Director's Report
    (b) State Fisheries Report by Alaska Department of Fish and Game
    (c) NMFS Management Report
    (d) Enforcement and Surveillance Reports
    2. Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands (BSAI) Fixed Gear Pacific Cod 
Allocations-final approval
    3. American Fisheries Act
    (a) Performance report on 1999 co-ops: discuss expectations.
    (b) Review proposed regulations for crab processing sideboards.
    (c) Review report from the Processor Sideboard Committee.
    (d) Inshore co-op structure and processor sideboards: final action.
    (e) Review progress on amendment for excessive share caps (BSAI 
harvest and processing).
    (f) Update on meeting data requirements.
    (g) Review Committee report on Gulf of Alaska co-ops.
    (h) Management of red king crab catcher vessel sideboards: discuss.
    4. License Limitation Program
    (a) Progress report on implementation.
    (b) Pacific cod species and gear endorsements: preliminary 
analysis.
    (c) Crab license buyback: discussion.
    5. Multispecies Community Development Quotas (CDQ)
    (a) Review and comment on State of Alaska's 2000 pollock and 
associated bycatch CDQ allocations.
    (b) CDQ observer coverage: discussion.
    6. Recordkeeping & Reporting, & Observers
    (a) Observer program: status report.
    (b) Electronic shoreside reporting: status report.
    7. Steller Sea Lions
    (a) Status of litigation, emergency rules for 1999, and amendments 
for 2000.
    (b) Status of Reasonable and Prudent Alternatives and discussion of 
need for court-ordered revisions.
    (8) Groundfish Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement: scoping 
and further action.
    9. Halibut and Sablefish Management
    (a) Weighmaster program: further direction.
    (b) Halibut subsistence issue: status report and direction as 
appropriate.
    10. Essential Fish Habitat: preliminary review of habitat areas of 
particular concern.
    11. Joint Alaska Board of Fisheries/North Pacific Council 
Activities:
    (a) Review protocol and any other recommendations from joint 
committee.
    (b) Discuss possible amendments to clarify Category 1 and 3 
measures in the crab fishery management plan.
    12. Magnuson-Stevens Act Reauthorization: Update.
    13. Ecosystems Management: Committee Report
    14. Groundfish Amendments
    (a) Cook Inlet non-pelagic trawl ban: initial review.
    (b) Shark and skate management plan: initial review.
    (c) Pelagic trawl definition: joint committee report and further 
action.
    15. Groundfish Specifications for 2000
    (a) Specifications process: discussion.
    (b) Interim specification and associated analyses for 2000: 
approval.
    16. Crab Management
    (a) Plan team report and review of Stock Assessment and Fishery 
Evaluation report.
    (b) Bairdi rebuilding plan: final action.
    (c) Standdown alternatives: review joint committee recommendations.
    (d) Status of C. opilio stocks: staff report and Council direction 
on development of rebuilding plan.
    17. Staff Tasking: Review amendment proposals; give direction to 
staff.

Advisory Meetings

    The Halibut/Sablefish Individual Fishery Quota (IFQ) Committee will 
meet between 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 10, to review 
proposals for changes to the IFQ program.
    The Advisory Panel will meet beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, 
October 11, continuing through Thursday, October 14, 1999. The agenda 
for the Advisory Panel will mirror that of the Council listed above.
    The Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will meet beginning 
at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, October 11, continuing through Wednesday, 
October 13, 1999. The agenda for the SSC will address scientific issues 
on the Council agenda.
    The Gulf of Alaska Co-op Committee will meet Thursday, October 14, 
between 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. to continue discussions on forming 
cooperatives in the Gulf of Alaska fisheries.
    Other committees and workgroups may hold impromptu meetings 
throughout the meeting week. Such meetings will be announced during 
regularly-scheduled meetings of the Council, Advisory Panel, and SSC, 
and will be posted at the hotel.
    Although non-emergency 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 and any issues arising after publication of this notice that 
require emergency action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council's intent to 
take final action to address the emergency.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Ms. Helen Allen at 907-271-2809 at 
least 7 working days prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: September 15, 1999.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-24575 Filed 9-20-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F