[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 80 (Tuesday, April 25, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24184-24185]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-10303]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 041900B]


Mid-Atlantic 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 Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) and its 
Comprehensive Management Committee, Law Enforcement Committee, 
Information & Education Committee, Habitat Committee, Large Pelagics 
Committee, Executive Committee, and Demersal Committee as a Council 
Committee of the Whole together with the Atlantic States Marine 
Fisheries Commission's (ASMFC) Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea 
Bass Board, will hold a public meeting.

DATES: The meetings will be held on Tuesday, May 9, 2000 to Thursday, 
May 11, 2000. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and 
times.

ADDRESSES: These meetings will be held at the Sheraton Inn, N. duPont 
Highway, Dover, DE; telephone: 302-678-8500.
    Council address: Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 300 S. 
New Street, Dover, DE 19904, telephone: 302-674-2331.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel T. Furlong, Executive Director, 
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; telephone: 302-674-2331, ext. 
19.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On Tuesday, May 9, 2000, from 9:00 a.m. 
until noon, the Comprehensive Management Committee will meet.
    The Law Enforcement Committee will meet from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 
a.m.
    The Information & Education Committee will meet from 11:00 a.m. 
until noon.
    The Habitat Committee will meet from 1:00-5:00 p.m.
    On Wednesday, May 10, 2000, from 8:00-9:00 a.m., the Large Pelagics 
Committee will meet.
    The Executive Committee will meet from 9:00-10:00 a.m.
    Council convenes at 10:00 a.m. and meets with the Atlantic States 
Marine Fisheries Commission's Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass 
Board from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
    On Thursday, May 11, 2000, Council will be in session from 8:00 
a.m. until 1:00 p.m.
    Agenda items for this meeting are: Review and modify draft 
framework action regarding research quota set asides, review and rank 
Council research priorities, and discuss summer flounder workshop 
design. Review nomination process for quarterly Law Enforcement 
recognitions. Discuss use of teleconferencing in lieu of meetings, 
explore possibilities for future Information & Education presentations, 
and discuss ideas for the June Newsletter. Review and discuss Minerals 
Management Service Environmental Assessment for sand mining (NJ south 
to VA), discuss NMFS general concurrence process regarding Council 
Fishery Management Plans (FMPs), evaluate performance of NMFS success 
in use of elevation process with Corps of Engineers, and review Long 
Island Sound Environmental Impact Statement regarding ocean disposal 
sites. Develop recommendations regarding NMFS proposed division line 
for north-south Atlantic bluefin tuna angling categories. Discuss 
possible decoupling of joint Dogfish and Monkfish FMPs, and review 
composition of monitoring committees. Initiate action to amend the 
summer flounder section of the FMP by considering perpetuation of 
conservation equivalency (or not), and amend the scup section of the 
FMP by revising the process used for allocation of total allowable 
catch, discards, and total allowable levels, and by possibly re-
establishing state-by-state quota allocations. Address scup 
recreational specifications for 2000 by determining a response to NMFS' 
rejection of 50 fish possession limit. The Council will also approve 
minutes from its March, 2000 meeting, review and comment on March 
meeting actions, and receive organizational reports from the NMFS 
Regional Administrator, NMFS Science Center Director, NOAA Office of 
General Counsel, U.S. Fish & Wildlife, Federal Enforcement units and 
the ASMFC. It will also receive Committee reports from the following 
committees: New England Council, South Atlantic Council, Monkfish, 
Comprehensive Management, Law Enforcement, Information & Education, 
Habitat, Large Pelagics, and Executive.
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come 
before the Council for discussion, such issues may not be the subject 
of formal Council 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 actions 
to address such emergencies.

Request for Comment on Experimental Fishing Proposal

    On May 11, 2000, the NMFS Northeast Regional Administrator will 
request oral public comment on a proposed experimental fishery that 
requires issuance of Experimental Fishing Permits (EFPs). The public 
may comment at that time, or may submit comments in writing. Written 
comments must be received by May 11, 2000 and should be submitted to: 
Patricia Kurkul, Regional Administrator, NMFS, Northeast Regional 
Office, 1 Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Written comments may 
be submitted by facsimile (fax) to 978-281-9135, but may not be 
submitted via e-mail or the Internet. The proposal is summarized below.
    The NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) proposes to 
conduct cooperative research with industry that would require two 
vessels to conduct Illex Squid (Illex illecebrosus) surveys in the U.S. 
Exclusive Economic Zone on the edge of the continental shelf between 
northeastern Georges Bank and Cape Fear, North Carolina (approximately 
35 deg.-41 deg. latitude). The purpose of the surveys is to calculate a 
pre-fishery abundance estimate and improve data

[[Page 24185]]

input to stock assessments. Vessel operations would be under the 
supervision and control of NEFSC scientific personnel.
    The stratified random sampling will occur at depths of 60-100 
fathoms and 101-200 fathoms outside of all multispecies closed areas 
(Closed Area II and Nantucket Lightship Closed Area). Participating 
commercial Illex Squid vessels will employ standardized, scientific 
towing and sampling protocols. Towing will occur at 100 pre-determined 
stations at one half hour intervals and a tow speed of 3.5 knots. The 
codend mesh size of the liners will measure 1 inch (25.4 mm) diamond 
throughout the codend circumference for a total length of 30 feet.
    The target species is Illex Squid, however some bycatch may be 
encountered. Any and all species landed for commercial purposes will be 
done so in accordance with the respective fishery requirements and 
landing restrictions. Illex length, weight and age data will be 
recorded along with other physical parameters (bottom temperature, 
depth, vessel speed and location data). Total catch weight information 
will be recorded for all other species retained. The survey will 
commence on or about May 20, 2000, and will continue through May 31, 
2000. Timing is critical to survey success, which intends to capture 
the spring migration of Illex onto the continental shelf.
    EFPs would be issued to two participating Federally permitted Illex 
Squid vessels to exempt them from the gear restrictions of the Atlantic 
Mackerel, Squid and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Joanna Davis at the Council (see 
ADDRESSES) at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: April 20, 2000.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-10303 Filed 4-24-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F