[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 246 (Thursday, December 23, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72069-72070]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-33355]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 121499E]


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 for its Groundfish Advisory Panel and 
Groundfish Committee in January, 2000 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 Thursday, January 13, 2000, and Friday, 
January 14, 2000. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and 
times.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Holiday Inn, One Newbury 
Street (Route 1), Peabody, MA 01960; telephone: (978) 535-4600.
    Council Address: New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water 
Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950-2866.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, 
New England Fishery Management Council; (978) 465-0492.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Meeting Dates and Agendas

    Thursday, January 13, 2000, at 10 a.m.--Groundfish Advisory Panel 
Meeting
    The Advisory Panel will review options and analyses for the 
groundfish annual adjustment (Framework 33) and develop preferred 
alternatives to recommend to the Groundfish Committee. The options for 
the annual adjustment include: management measures to achieve fishery 
management plan (FMP) objectives for Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank cod 
stocks, including area closures, trip limits, increase in the minimum 
fish size and adjustments to the days-at-sea (DAS) system; adjustment 
of the Georges Bank haddock trip limit; decreasing the minimum mesh 
size for otter trawl vessels in the Large Mesh Permit Category and 
allowing for exit from the

[[Page 72070]]

program after one month; revision of the definition of exempted 
midwater trawl gear; an exemption for raised footrope trawl gear in 
part of the Gulf of Maine closed areas and for small scallop dredges in 
the Western Gulf of Maine Closed Area; a program to allow limited 
scallop dredge vessel access to Closed Areas I and II and the Nantucket 
Lightship Closed Area, including an exemption for General Category 
vessels to fish for scallops in Closed Areas I and II; and a 
requirement that multispecies party/charter vessels obtain an exemption 
certificate to fish in any or all of the Gulf of Maine closed areas. 
The Advisory Panel will also elect a chairman to serve for 2000-01.
    Friday, January 14, 2000, at 9:30 a.m.--Groundfish Committee 
Meeting
    The Groundfish Committee will review options, Plan Development Team 
analyses, and Advisory Panel recommendations for the groundfish annual 
adjustment (Framework 33) and develop preferred alternatives to 
recommend to the Council. The options for the annual adjustment 
include: management measures to achieve FMP objectives for Gulf of 
Maine and Georges Bank cod stocks, including area closures, trip 
limits, increase in the minimum fish size and adjustments to the DAS 
system; adjustment of the Georges Bank haddock trip limit; decreasing 
the minimum mesh size for otter trawl vessels in the Large Mesh Permit 
Category and allowing for exit from the program after one month; 
revision of the definition of exempted midwater trawl gear; an 
exemption for raised footrope trawl gear in part of the Gulf of Maine 
closed areas and for small scallop dredges in the Western Gulf of Maine 
Closed Area; a program to allow limited scallop dredge vessel access to 
Closed Areas I and II and the Nantucket Lightship Closed Area, 
including an exemption for General Category vessels to fish for 
scallops in Closed Areas I and II; and a requirement that multispecies 
party/charter vessels obtain an exemption certificate to fish in any or 
all of the Gulf of Maine closed areas.
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come 
before these groups for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, those issues may not 
be the subject of formal action during these meeting. Action will be 
restricted to those issues specifically listed in this notice and any 
issues arising after publication of this notie that require emergency 
action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act, provided the public has been notified 
of the intent to take final action to address the emergency.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are accessible to people with physical disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Paul J. Howard at the Council (see ADDRESSES) at 
least 5 days prior to the meeting dates.

    Dated: December 17, 1999.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-33355 Filed 12-22-99; 8:45 am]
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