[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 250 (Thursday, December 30, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 73506-73507]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-33999]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 648
[I.D. 122199D]
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 January 18, 19, and 20, 2000, to consider
actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone
(EEZ).
DATES: The meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 18, 2000, at 1:00
p.m., and Wednesday and Thursday, January 19 and 20, at 8:30 a.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Sheraton Ferncroft, 50
Ferncroft Road, Danvers, MA 01923; telephone (978) 777-2500. Requests
for special accommodations should be addressed to the New England
Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, The Tannery - Mill 2,
Newburyport, MA 01950; telephone: (978) 465-0492.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director,
New England Fishery Management Council (978) 465-0492.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Tuesday, January 18, 2000
After introductions, the meeting 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 U.S. Coast Guard and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries
Commission. Following the reports, the Council will receive an Advisory
Report on the status of the Northeast region skate complex. The Council
will then review and possibly approve a scoping document for an
amendment that will consider establishing a controlled access system in
the Atlantic herring fishery and consider approval of a Council request
that NMFS implement the permit and reporting requirements of the
Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Atlantic Herring Fishery through
an emergency rule.
Wednesday, January 19, 2000
The Chairman of the Groundfish Committee will begin this session of
the meeting by considering approval of final action on Framework
Adjustment 33, the annual adjustment to the Northeast Multispecies FMP,
including setting of target Total Allowable Catch (TAC) and management
measures for the 2000-2001 fishing year (May 1, 2000-April 30, 2001),
with possible extension into the following fishing year. Options under
consideration for the annual adjustment include: Management measures to
achieve Northeast Multispecies FMP objectives for Gulf of Maine and
Georges Bank cod stocks, including area closures, trip limits, an
increase in the minimum fish size and adjustments to days-at-sea (DAS);
an adjustment of the Georges Bank haddock trip limit; a decrease in the
minimum mesh size for otter trawl vessels in the Large Mesh Permit
Category and an allowance for exit from the program after one month; a
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; an exemption for small scallop dredges in the Western
Gulf of Maine Closed Area; and an exemption certificate for party/
charter vessels to fish in Gulf of Maine closed areas (vessels may not
fish on DAS while in possession of the certificate). The discussion of
groundfish issues will continue throughout the rest of the afternoon.
[[Page 73507]]
Thursday, January 20, 2000
The Chairman of the Scallop Committee will begin this session of
the meeting with approval of final action on Framework Adjustment 13 to
the Atlantic Sea Scallop FMP. The framework proposes access for scallop
vessels to Closed Area I, Closed Area II, and the Nantucket Lightship
Area during the 2000-2001 fishing year (March 1, 2000-February 28,
2001). The Council approved some provisions at the previous meeting on
Framework Adjustment 13, including scallop TAC, scallop possession
limit, initial trip allocations, and DAS tradeoffs. The Council will
consider approving TACs for yellowtail flounder, multispecies
possession limits, seasons to allow access, access by general category
scallop vessels, research TAC administration, and other related
measures.
During the afternoon portion of the meeting, the Whiting Committee
will ask the Council to approve a scoping document for an upcoming
action that may amend the Multispecies FMP by removing whiting, red
hake, offshore hake, and possibly ocean pout and establishing a
separate Small Mesh FMP for these species. The scoping document for
this action may include options for limiting access to small mesh
species fisheries, options for applying a TAC to small mesh fisheries,
and any other issues that the Council identifies. The Red Crab
Committee will seek approval of a scoping document for FMP development
and a control date for entry into the fishery. A number of other
committee reports will follow this agenda item. The Dogfish Committee
will provide a briefing on the fishing year 2000-2001 (May 1, 2000-
April 30, 2001) annual specification package to be submitted to the
NMFS Regional Administrator. The Research Steering Committee will
update the Council on its progress in the development of Regional
research priorities. The Capacity, Gear Conflict and Habitat Committees
will also report on ongoing activities. The Regional Administrator will
consult with the Council regarding an application received by NMFS for
an Experimental Fishery Permit to investigate the effects of a modified
dredge in the Atlantic Sea Scallop fishery to reduce yellowtail
flounder and barndoor skates bycatch will also be discussed. The
application is unusual because it requests a scallop days-at-sea
exemption while commercially harvesting scallops prior to the
implementation of a proposed program to allow quota set-aside for
research. There will be a discussion and opportunity for public
comment. The meeting will adjourn after the Council addresses any other
outstanding issues.
Although other non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda
may come before the 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 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 form 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: December 27, 1999
George H. Darcy,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-33999 Filed 12-29-99; 8:45 am]
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