[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 105 (Wednesday, May 31, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34663-34664]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-13571]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 052400D]


South 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 South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold meetings of its Scientific and Statistical, Spiny Lobster, 
Advisory Panel Selection (closed), Shrimp, Snapper Grouper, Personnel 
(closed) and Marine Reserves Committees. The Council will also hold 
joint meetings of its Mackerel and Golden Crab Advisory Panels and 
Committees. Public Hearings will be held for Golden Crab Amendment 3 
and on the Dolphin Wahoo Fishery Management Plan (FMP). Notices of 
these hearings with times, locations, and subject matter are addressed 
in separate Federal Register notices. A public scoping meeting on the 
use of tailing permits in the spiny lobster fishery will be held to 
determine if these permits should remain in use in the fishery. Public 
comment periods will be held on proposed framework actions for mackerel 
and the need for an Interim Rule Request for Snapper Grouper Amendment 
12. There will also be a Council Session.

DATES: The meetings will be held from June 12-16, 2000. See 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Cheeca Lodge, Mile Marker 
82, U.S.

[[Page 34664]]

Highway 1, Islamorada, FL; telephone: (1-800) 327-2888 or (305) 664-
4651.
    Council address: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, One 
Southpark Circle, Suite 306; Charleston, SC 29407-4699.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Iverson, Public Information 
Officer; telephone: (843) 571-4366; fax: (843) 769-4520; email: 
[email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Meeting Dates

    June 12, 2000, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.--Scientific and Statistical 
Committee Meeting;
    The Scientific and Statistical Committee will review and comment on 
the: mackerel stock assessment report; social impact assessment and 
economic impact assessment guidelines; vessel capacity report; snapper 
grouper assessment; dolphin assessment draft dolphin/wahoo FMP; red 
drum stock assessment; snapper grouper assessment group report and 
draft position statement on the use of cultured fish for stock 
enhancement; Golden Crab Amendment 3; marine reserves public 
information document and scoping document; and bycatch reduction (BRD) 
protocol revisions.
    June 13, 2000, 8:30 a.m.-12:00 Noon--Joint Mackerel Committee and 
Advisory Panel (AP);
    The Mackerel Committee and AP will meet to review the Gulf king 
mackerel assessment; Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) 
comments; AP framework recommendations; hear a presentation on the king 
mackerel mercury issue; and develop Committee recommendations.
    June 13, 2000, 1:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m.--Joint Golden Crab Committee and 
Advisory Panel;
    The Golden Crab Committee and AP will meet to review public input 
on Amendment 3; review SSC comments; and develop AP and Committee 
recommendations on Amendment 3.
    June 14, 2000, 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.--Spiny Lobster Committee;
    There will be a scoping meeting on the use of tailing permits in 
the spiny lobster fishery (8:30 a.m.) and the Committee will discuss 
the need and/or locations for additional scoping meetings.
    June 14, 2000, 10:30 a.m.-12:00 noon--Advisory Panel Selection 
Committee (closed);
    The AP Selection Committee will meet to review membership 
applications and develop recommendations.
    June 14, 2000, 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.--Shrimp Committee;
    The Shrimp Committee will meet to review revised NMFS BRD Protocol 
and discuss a nighttime closure proposal.
    June 14, 2000, 3:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.--Snapper Grouper Committee;
    The Snapper Grouper Committee will meet to review and discuss 
corporate permits and transfers; legal status of ``individual'' vs 
``corporation'' permits; discuss other permit transfer issues; hear a 
report on harvest by powerheads; discuss the need for an Interim Rule 
for Snapper Grouper Amendment 12 and hear a presentation on overfishing 
definitions.
    June 15, 2000, 8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m.--Personnel Committee (closed);
    The Personnel Committee will meet to discuss personnel issues.
    June 15, 2000, 9:30 a.m.-12:00 noon  Marine Reserves Committee;
    The Marine Reserves Committee will meet to review the results of 
the informal meetings; review input received at the public scooping 
meetings; and review and develop committee recommendations on the 
Gray's Reef Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
    June 15, 2000, 1:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.--Council Session;
    From 1:30 p.m.-1:45 p.m., the Council will call the meeting to 
order, adopt the agenda and approve minutes from the March 2000 
meeting.
    From 1:45 p.m.-2:15 p.m., the Council will hear from the Mackerel 
Committee and take public comment on any proposed framework actions 
beginning at 1:45 p.m. The Council will also take framework action as 
appropriate.
    From 2:15 p.m.-2:45 p.m., the Council will hear from the Golden 
Crab Committee and finalize and approve Amendment 3.
    From 2:45 p.m.-3:00 p.m., the Council will hear a report from the 
Spiny Lobster Committee.
    From 3:15 p.m.-3:45 p.m., the Council will hear from the Advisory 
Panel Selection Committee and appoint new advisory panel members 
(closed session).
    From 3:45 p.m.-4:00 p.m., the Council will hear a report from the 
Personnel Committee (closed session).
    From 4:00 p.m.-4:15 p.m., the Council will hear a report from the 
Shrimp Committee.
    From 4:15 p.m.-4:45 p.m., the Council will hear from the Marine 
Reserves Committee and review and develop a position on the Gray's Reef 
MOU.
    From 4:45 p.m.-5:30 p.m., the Council will hear a report from the 
Snapper Grouper Committee. The Council will take public comment on the 
need for an Interim Rule Request for Snapper Grouper Amendment 12 at 
4:45 p.m.
    June 16, 2000, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Council Session;
    The Council will hear a presentation from the US Coast Guard; a 
presentation on the South Carolina/NMFS Cooperative Law Enforcement 
Agreement; hear from the Dolphin Wahoo Committee regarding the status 
of public hearings and take actions relative to the draft FMP as 
necessary; hear an update on the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative 
Statistics Program (ACCSP); hear a presentation on the status of 
National policy on vessel monitoring systems; hear NMFS Status Reports 
on: 1999/2000 Mackerel Framework, Mackerel Amendment 12, Greater 
Amberjack trip limit resubmittal and Comprehensive Habitat Amendment 
final rule. The Council will also hear NMFS Status Reports on the 
landings for: Atlantic king mackerel, Gulf king mackerel (eastern 
zone), Atlantic Spanish mackerel, Snowy grouper and Golden tilefish, 
Wreckfish, Greater amberjack and South Atlantic Octocorals. The Council 
will hear agency and liaison reports and discuss other business and 
upcoming meetings.
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come 
before this Council for discussion, those 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 action 
to address the emergency.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to the Council office (see ADDRESSES) 
by June 5, 2000.

    Dated: May 24, 2000.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-13571 Filed 5-30-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F