[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] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F