[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 47 (Thursday, March 9, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12514-12515]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-5781]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 022900D]


New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold 
a 2-day public meeting on March 22 and 23, 2000, to consider actions 
affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

DATES: The meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 22, 2000, beginning 
at 9 a.m., and Thursday, March 23, at 8:30 a.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Tavern on the Harbor, 30 
Western Avenue, Gloucester, MA 01930; telephone (978) 283-4200. 
Requests for special accommodations should be addressed to the New 
England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, 
Newburyport, MA; telephone: (978) 465-0492.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Wednesday, March 22, 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 Coast Guard, NMFS Enforcement and the Atlantic States Marine 
Fisheries Commission.
    Following reports, there will be consideration and approval of a 
schedule of Council management actions for 2000, including approval of 
modifications to the joint fishery management plan development process. 
The Research Steering Committee Chairman will review recent committee 
activities including the development of groundfish research priorities, 
and cooperative efforts with NMFS to fund collaborative research 
through recent Congressional appropriations. The Spiny Dogfish 
Committee will review the results of the joint Mid-Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council (MAFMC)/New England Fishery Management Council 
(NEFMC) Scientific and Statistical Committee meeting concerning the 
2000-2001 annual specifications for the spiny dogfish fishery, the 
conclusions of the MAFMC/NEFMC Joint Spiny Dogfish Committee meeting, 
and the subsequent recommendations of the full MAFMC on the management 
of spiny dogfish. Following receipt of this information, the Council 
will consider and approve

[[Page 12515]]

its response to this management issue. The Sea Scallop Committee will 
review comments provided at the recent Sea Scallop FMP Amendment 10 
scoping hearings and approve the range of issues to be addressed in 
that amendment.

Announcement of Experimental Fishery Application

    The NMFS Regional Administrator will discuss during the reports 
portion of the agenda the receipt of an experimental fishing proposal 
submitted by the Maine Department of Marine Resources (MEDMR) to 
conduct an experimental fishery for Atlantic halibut. This announcement 
serves as public notification of the experimental fishing proposal. 
Specifically, the Regional Administrator is seeking comment on the 
provisions of the experimental fishing proposal in relation to the 
goals of management measures for Atlantic halibut contained in the 
Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP).
    The objective of the proposed experiment is to contribute to the 
protection and rebuilding of Atlantic halibut by enabling the 
collection and analyses of basic biological and ecological data 
essential for the long-term sustainable management of Atlantic halibut. 
The proposed experiment would collect data on the distribution, 
relative abundance, migration, stock definition, mortality rates, stock 
size, yield and other significant biological reference points for 
Atlantic halibut. The proposed experiment would also collect data on 
age and growth, size, sex composition, and rate of onset of sexual 
maturity.
    The experimental fishery has been proposed for April 15 through 
June 15 of each year through 2003 in the northern portion of the Gulf 
of Maine. The proposed experiment would allow eight vessels, selected 
by MEDMR, to participate and land up to six Atlantic halibut, 36 inches 
(66 cm) or greater, per day, for up to 60 days during each year. 
Halibut caught over the daily limit and those under 36 inches (66 cm) 
would be tagged and released. Participating vessel owners would be 
required to be trained in sampling scales, otoliths, stomachs and 
gonads. Vessel owners would also be required to accommodate observers, 
use tub trawl gear no longer than 100 hooks, use 1500 circle hooks 
only, and report catch and other relevant information on special 
logbooks devised by MEDMR.

Thursday, March 23, 2000

    The second day of the meeting will begin with a discussion and 
possible approval of recommended options for managing fishing capacity 
in New England fisheries. The Council also may agree to forward 
approved options to the appropriate oversight committees for further 
consideration. During the Groundfish Committee Report, the Council will 
provide guidance to the committee on objectives developed for Amendment 
13 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP. Additional input will focus on 
the resolution of overfishing definition issues and stock rebuilding 
timelines, alternatives developed to date by the committee and other 
issues identified for inclusion in the amendment. Northeast Fisheries 
Science Center staff will then present a report on Stock Definition of 
New England groundfish. Prior to addressing any other outstanding 
business, the Red Crab and Herring Committees will each brief the 
Council on the recent scoping hearings.
    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 Fishery 
Conservation and Management 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 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: March 3, 2000.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-5781 Filed 3-8-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F