[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 188 (Wednesday, September 29, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52490-52491]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-25241]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 092499B]


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 October, 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 October 4 and October 28, 
1999. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held in Danvers, Saugus and Mansfield, 
MA. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific locations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, 
New England Fishery Management Council (781) 231-0422.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Meeting Dates and Agendas

    Monday, October 4, 1999, 10 a.m.--Social Sciences Advisory 
Committee Meeting
    Location: New England Fishery Management Council Office, 5 Broadway 
(Route 1), Saugus, MA 01776; telephone: (781)-231-0422.
    Review of Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) Report for 
the Atlantic Sea Scallop fishery; development of recommendations 
concerning social and economic impact analyses in fishery management 
plans; development of recommendations for peer review of social and 
economic impact analyses.
    Tuesday, October 12, 1999, 9:30 a.m.--Experimental Fisheries and 
Research Steering Committee Meeting
    Location: New England Fishery Management Council Office, 5 Broadway 
(Route 1), Saugus, MA 01776; telephone: (781)-231-0422.
    Discussion of committee organization, purpose, tasks, process and 
information needs, followed by a report on the status of sea scallop 
total allowable catch research set-aside associated with the Closed 
Area II Georges Bank Exemption Program; committee discussion and 
development of recommendations on proposals submitted for funding 
through the scallop research set-aside and review of collaborative 
research opportunities available through the Disaster Assistance 
Program and other funding sources; briefing on the Massachusetts 
Recovery Commission's activities to develop research initiatives.
    Thursday, October 21, 1999, 9:30 a.m.--Whiting Advisory Panel 
Meeting
    Location: Holiday Inn, 31 Hampshire Street, Mansfield, MA 02048; 
telephone: (508) 339-2200.
    Review of alternatives proposed for Framework Adjustment 32 
(whiting management measures) to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery 
Management Plan (FMP) and development of comments and recommendations 
for consideration by the Whiting Committee. Measures in Framework 32 
include options for a mesh size/possession limit call-in enrollment 
system and options for the use of an outside net strengthener with 2.5-
inch mesh. The Advisory Panel also will discuss possible alternatives 
for a limited access program to manage small mesh species. The program 
would be included in an amendment to the Multispecies FMP which would: 
(a) remove whiting, red hake, offshore hake, and ocean pout from the 
Multispecies FMP and (b) establish a separate Small Mesh Species FMP.
    Thursday, October 28, 1999, 9:30 a.m.--Whiting Committee Meeting
    Location: Sheraton Ferncroft Hotel, 50 Ferncroft Road, Danvers MA 
01923; telephone: (978) 777-2500.
    The committee will review analyses forwarded by the Whiting Plan 
Development Team and recommendations from the Whiting Advisory Panel on 
the alternatives proposed for Framework Adjustment 32 (whiting 
management measures) to the Northeast Multispecies FMP. Measures in 
Framework 32 include options for a mesh size/possession limit call-in 
enrollment system and options for the use of an outside net 
strengthener with 2.5-inch mesh. The committee will develop preferred 
alternatives for recommendation to the Council. The committee also will 
continue development of limited access program alternatives to be 
included in the ``scoping'' process for an upcoming Multispecies FMP 
amendment. That action would remove whiting, red hake, offshore hake 
and ocean action would remove whiting, red hake, offshore hake and 
ocean pout from the Multispecies FMP and establish place them in a 
separate Small Mesh Species FMP.

[[Page 52491]]

    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this notice 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 the meetings. 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 Paul J. Howard (see ADDRESSES) at 
least 5 days prior to the meeting dates.

    Dated: September 23, 1999.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-25241 Filed 9-28-99; 8:45 am]
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