[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 211 (Tuesday, November 2, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 59156-59157]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-28479]
[[Page 59156]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[I.D. 102599D]
New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce
ACTION: Public meeting.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold
a 3-day public meeting on November 16, 17, and 18, 1999, to consider
actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone
(EEZ).
DATES: The meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 16, 1999, at 9:00
a.m., and Wednesday and Thursday, November 17 and 18, at 8:30 a.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Tavern on the Harbor, 30
Western Avenue, Gloucester, Massachusetts 01930; telephone (978) 283-
4200. Requests for special accommodations or copies of documents
related to framework adjustment actions should be addressed to the New
England Fishery Management Council, 5 Broadway, Saugus, Massachusetts
01906-1036; telephone: (781) 231-0422.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director,
New England Fishery Management Council (781) 231-0422.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Tuesday, November 16, 1999
After introductions, the meeting will begin with several
presentations associated with the Stock Assessment and Fishery
Evaluation (SAFE) Report for the groundfish resource. Elements of the
report include the annual Multispecies Monitoring Committee Report,
economic and social baseline data and industry proposals for the yearly
adjustment of management measures in the Northeast Multispecies Fishery
Management Plan (FMP). The Science and Statistical Committee Chairman
and Social Sciences Advisory Committee Chairman will each present
committee evaluations of the SAFE Report. Following these
presentations, the Council will consider approval of initial action on
the yearly adjustment to management measures in the Northeast
Multispecies FMP for the 2000 fishing year (May 1, 2000-April 30,
2001). This will entail identification of options for analysis and
inclusion in the final framework adjustment document and action on
committee recommendations concerning exemptions to groundfish closed
area gear restrictions. Gears and fisheries under discussion include
recreational and party/charter vessels, raised footrope trawls, scallop
dredge vessels, and fishing gear currently listed as ``exempted'' in
the Northeast Multispecies FMP.
Wednesday, November 17, 1999
The Chairman of the Capacity Committee will begin this session of
the meeting by reviewing recent committee meeting discussions,
including the committee's purpose and objectives. During the Sea
Scallop Committee Report to follow, the Social Sciences Advisory
Committee will present its evaluation of the social and economic
information and analyses contained in the Sea Scallop SAFE Report. The
Council will then address issues related to possible approval of
Framework Adjustment 12 to the Sea Scallop FMP. The adjustment will
focus on two major management actions: (1) The yearly adjustment of
days-at-sea available to fish for the 2000 fishing year (March 1, 2000-
February 28, 2001); and (2) options for access to one or more of the
three Georges Bank groundfish closed areas by scallop dredge vessels.
Access to the closed areas may involve, but not be limited to the
following elements: separate scallop Total Allowable Catches (TACs) for
Closed I, Closed Area II, and the Nantucket Lightship Area; trip
allocations for each area; a days-at-sea offset or tradeoff for fishing
inside vs. outside the closed areas; trip limits with a trip
declaration and notice of landing requirements; area restrictions on
scallop fishing within the three closed areas to address bycatch, gear
conflicts, habitat, and enforcement issues; external buffer zones or
internal no fishing zones within the closed areas; gear restrictions to
reduce bycatch; a TAC set-aside to fund observer coverage and research
activities; and an adjustment to the 300-pound (136.1-kg) regulated
species possession limit to reduce discards. The Council will consider
the recommendations of the Groundfish, Habitat, Gear Conflict, and
Enforcement Committees before making a decision on Framework Adjustment
12.
Thursday, November 18, 1999
The day will begin with reports on recent activities from the
Council Chairman, Executive Director, the NMFS Regional Administrator,
Northeast Fisheries Science Center and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management
Council liaisons, and representatives of the Coast Guard and the
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. Following reports, the
Council will consider whether to submit a request to the Secretary of
Commerce asking for authority to manage deep sea red crab (Geryon
quinquedens). A number of other committee reports will follow this
agenda item. The Herring Committee will provide a briefing on their
progress to develop a scoping document that would serve to notify the
public and collect information about the possible implementation of a
controlled access program in the herring fishery. The Whiting Committee
will ask the Council to consider approval of final action on Framework
Adjustment 32 (whiting management measures) to the Northeast
Multispecies FMP. The action calls for changes to the whiting mesh
size/possession limit call-in enrollment system and options for the use
of a net strengthener with 2.5-inch (6.35-cm) mesh. The committee also
will review issues to be addressed in a new Small Mesh Species FMP,
including alternatives for a limited access program for whiting, red
hake, offshore hake, and ocean pout. The Social Sciences Advisory
Committee will present their recommendations for improving the use of
social and economic information in fisheries management. The Habitat
Committee will report on ongoing committee activities, including
consideration of designating a habitat research area and a structured
process for designating habitat areas of particular concern. The Spiny
Dogfish Committee will ask the Council to consider approval of annual
specifications for spiny dogfish for the 2000 fishing year (May 1,
2000-April 30, 2001). Measures could include a hard Total Allowable
Catch (TAC), quotas, trip limits, and/or any other measures specified
in the Spiny Dogfish FMP. The Council may also consider approval of an
alternative female biomass rebuilding target. The meeting will adjourn
after the Council addresses any other outstanding business.
Although other non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda
may come before this Council for discussion, those issues may not be
the subject of formal 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
[[Page 59157]]
take final action to address the emergency.
Documents pertaining to framework adjustment actions are available
for public review 7 days prior to a final vote by the Council. Copies
of the documents may be obtained from the Council (see ADDRESSES).
Special Accommodations
This meeting is 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 date.
Dated: October 26, 1999.
Bruce Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-28479 Filed 11-1-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F