[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 202 (Wednesday, October 20, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 56487]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-27421]



[[Page 56487]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 101399F]


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 public meetings of its Scientific and Statistical Committee, 
Social Sciences Advisory Committee, Habitat Committee and Advisory 
Panel, Groundfish Committee and Advisory Panel, Sea Scallop Committee 
and Advisory Panel, Gear Conflict Committee and Enforcement Committee 
in November, 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 held between Thursday, November 4, 1999 and 
Monday, November 15, 1999. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific 
dates and times.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held in, Saugus, Peabody and Danvers, 
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, November 4, 1999, 10 a.m. and Friday, November 5, 8:30 
a.m.--Scientific and Statistical Committee Meeting
    Location: New England Fishery Management Council Office, 5 
Broadway, Saugus, MA 01906; telephone: (781) 231-0422.
    The committee will evaluate the scientific information and analyses 
used in the Northeast Multispecies Stock Assessment and Fishery 
Evaluation (SAFE) Report. The SAFE report will include the Multispecies 
Monitoring Committee Report which addresses the status of the 
multispecies finfish stocks, evaluates the effectiveness of management 
measures and estimates the potential impacts of possible management 
options that could be used to adjust the Northeast Multispecies Fishery 
Management Plan (FMP) for the 2000-01 fishing year.
    Friday, November 5, 1999, 10 a.m.--Social Sciences Advisory 
Committee Meeting
    The committee will finalize recommendations concerning improvements 
to the economic, social and community impact analyses in Council 
documents and review the SAFE Reports for the Scallop and the Northeast 
Multispecies fisheries. Any recommendations made at the last committee 
meeting will be revisited at this meeting for purposes of ensuring 
adequate public comment.
    Tuesday, November 9, 1999, 9:30 a.m.--Joint Habitat Committee and 
Advisory Panel Meeting
    Location: Sheraton Ferncroft Hotel, 50 Ferncroft Road, Danvers, MA 
01923; telephone: (978) 777-2500.
    The committee will review proposals for scallop fishing access to 
three groundfish closed areas (Closed Areas I and II on Georges Bank, 
and the Nantucket Lightship Closed Area). The committee will develop 
recommendations on this issue and also will discuss the NMFS 
``internal'' Essential Fish Habitat consultation process.
    Wednesday, November 10, 1999, 9:30 a.m.--Joint Groundfish Committee 
and Groundfish Advisory Panel Meeting
    Location: Sheraton Ferncroft Hotel, 50 Ferncroft Road, Danvers, MA 
01923; telephone: (978) 777-2500.
    The committee and panel will review the Northeast Multispecies SAFE 
Report, including the annual Multispecies Monitoring Committee Report 
and proposals from industry for management measures to be considered 
for the 2000-01 fishing year. The committee may recommend a preferred 
alternative to the Council for the Northeast Multispecies Plan annual 
framework adjustment. The committee and panel also will discuss 
proposals to allow scallop dredge vessel access to Closed Areas I and 
II and the Nantucket Lightship Closed Area, and may develop 
recommendations to the Council for measures to be included in the 
Northeast Multispecies FMP annual framework adjustment.
    Friday, November 12, 1999, 9:30 a.m.--Joint Scallop Committee and 
Scallop Advisory Panel Meeting
    Location: Sheraton Ferncroft Hotel, 50 Ferncroft Road, Danvers, MA 
01923; telephone: (978) 777-2500.
    The committee will review the impacts of the proposed annual 
framework adjustment alternatives for the Scallop FMP and will 
recommend a preferred management option to the Council at its November 
16-18, 1999 meeting. Final action on the framework adjustment is 
scheduled to occur at that time.
    As an addition to the committee agenda, members will discuss and 
recommend changes to the Sea Scallop Total Allowable Catch research 
set-aside mechanism that is currently in the Sea Scallop FMP.
    Monday, November 15, 1999, 9:30 a.m.--Gear Conflict Committee 
Meeting
    Location: New England Fishery Management Council Office, 5 
Broadway, Saugus, MA 01906; telephone: (781) 231-0422.
    The committee will develop recommendations concerning gear conflict 
issues to be considered by the Council when considering scallop vessel 
access to Closed Areas I and II on Georges Bank, and the Nantucket 
Lightship Closed Area. The committee also may discuss other gear 
conflict issues that are brought to its attention.
    Monday, November 15, 1999, 1 p.m.--Enforcement Committee Meeting
    Location: New England Fishery Management Council Office, 5 
Broadway, Saugus, MA 01906; telephone: (781) 231-0422.
    The committee will develop recommendations concerning enforcement 
issues related to scallop vessel access to Closed Areas I and II on 
Georges Bank, and the Nantucket Lightship Closed Area for the fishing 
year March-February, 2000-01. The committee may discuss other 
enforcement issues that are brought to its attention.
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come 
before this Council for discussion, those issues may not be the subject 
of formal Council action during these meetings. 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 Paul J. Howard (see ADDRESSES) at 
least 5 days prior to the meeting dates.

    Dated: October 15, 1999.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-27421 Filed 10-19-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F