[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]



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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.

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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

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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