[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 37 (Friday, February 23, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11271-11273]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-4532]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 021301E]


South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

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

[[Page 11272]]


ACTION:  Notice of public meetings.

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SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold meetings of its Snapper Grouper Committee, Spiny Lobster 
Committee, Marine Reserves Committee, Advisory Panel Selection 
Committee (Closed Session), Highly Migratory Species Committee, and 
Shrimp Committee. The Council will also hold joint meetings of the 
Snapper Grouper Committee and the Wreckfish Advisory Panel, Controlled 
Access Committee and the Rock Shrimp Advisory Panel, and a joint 
meeting of the Executive and Finance Committees. There will also be a 
full Council Session. Public comment periods will be held during some 
of the meetings.

DATES:  The meetings will be held in March 2001. See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES:  The meetings will be held at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel, 
371 Riverview Drive, Jekyll Island, GA 31527; Telephone: 800-535-9547 
or 912-635-2600, Fax: 912-635-2818.
    Copies of the documents are available from Kim Iverson, Public 
Information Officer, 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

    1. Snapper Grouper Committee Meeting: March 5, 2001, 1:30 p.m. to 
5:30 p.m.
    A public scoping meeting on Amendment 13 to the Snapper Grouper FMP 
addressing permit transfers, SFA provisions, and Section 7 consultation 
will be held beginning at 1:30 p.m. A document regarding this issue is 
available from the Council office (see ADDRESSES).
    Immediately following the public comment period, the Snapper 
Grouper Committee will meet to review public hearing comments on the 
use of powerhead gear; develop recommendations for framework measures 
on the use of powerheads as appropriate; review the status of the peer 
review concerning red porgy assessment and projections, the stock 
status for snowy grouper and golden tilefish, and SFA issues; review 
the Snapper Grouper Assessment Group report and recommendations; and 
develop preliminary directions to staff as appropriate.
    2. Joint Snapper Grouper Committee and Wreckfish Advisory Panel 
Meeting: March 6, 2001, 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
    The Snapper Grouper Committee will meet jointly with the Wreckfish 
Advisory Panel to develop recommendations for wreckfish TAC and 
wreckfish framework actions as needed.
    3. Spiny Lobster Committee Meeting: March 6, 2001, 10:30 a.m. to 
12:00 noon.
    A public scoping meeting will address issues in Amendment 7 
including tailing permits and management structure. The Spiny Lobster 
Committee will meet to review a draft options paper for Amendment 7 to 
the Spiny Lobster FMP and develop recommendations. A document regarding 
this issue is available from the Council office (see ADDRESSES).
    4. Marine Reserves Committee Meeting: March 6, 2001, 1:30 p.m. to 
3:30 p.m.
    The Marine Reserves Committee will meet to hear a report on Marine 
Protected Areas; the status of the Council's Memorandum of 
Understanding (MOU) with Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary; discuss 
any necessary updates to the NMFS White Paper on marine reserves; 
review a marine reserves pre-scoping document; and hear an update on 
the Gulf closed area lawsuit from NOAA General Counsel.
    5. Advisory Panel Selection Committee Meeting (Closed Session): 
March 6, 2001, 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
    The Advisory Panel Selection Committee will meet to review 
membership applications and develop recommendations.
    6. Highly Migratory Species Committee Meeting: March 7, 2001, 8:30 
a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
    The Highly Migratory Species Committee will meet to hear a 
presentation on NMFS' Highly Migratory Species (HMS) activities, review 
the status of the HMS and Billfish Advisory Panels, and discuss Council 
interaction with the NMFS's HMS program.
    7. Shrimp Committee Meeting; March 7, 2001, 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 
noon and 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
    A Public Scoping Meeting on Amendment 6 to the Shrimp FMP will be 
held beginning at 10:30 a.m. Items under consideration include permits, 
night time closures and trawl size restrictions. A scoping document is 
available from the Council office (see ADDRESSES). The Committee will 
establish sites for additional scoping meetings.
    Beginning at 1:30 p.m., the Committee will discuss options for 
Amendment 6 and provide directions to staff. The Committee will also 
review the status of NMFS observer coverage for the rock shrimp fishery 
and the condition of over-wintering shrimp stocks and take action as 
appropriate.
    8. Joint Controlled Access Committee and Rock Shrimp Advisory Panel 
Meeting: March 7, 2001, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and March 8, 2001, 8:30 
a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
    At the March 7 meeting, the Controlled Access Committee will meet 
jointly with the Rock Shrimp Advisory Panel (AP) to review the rock 
shrimp limited access options paper and develop advisory panel 
recommendations. A scoping document is available from the Council 
office (see ADDRESSES).
    At the March 8 meeting, the Committee and the AP will develop 
recommendations for a draft amendment addressing limited entry and 
approve them for public hearing.
    9. Joint Executive/Finance Committee Meeting: March 8, 2001, 10:30 
a.m. to 12:00 noon
    The Executive Committee will meet jointly with the Finance 
Committee to hear a report on the Chairmen's and Executive Director's 
budget meeting with NMFS, discuss staff proposals for additional 
funding, approve amending $65,000 into the current budget and discuss 
NMFS response on the Operations Plan.
    10. Council Session: March 8, 2001, 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
    From 1:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m., the Council will have a Call to Order, 
introductions and roll call, adoption of the agenda, and approval of 
the November/December 2000 meeting minutes.
    From 1:45 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., the Council will hear a report from 
the Snapper Grouper Committee. Beginning at 1:45 p.m., a public comment 
period will be held to (1) address any proposed framework changes to 
the Snapper Grouper FMP addressing the use of powerhead gear by divers 
off the East Coast of Florida and (2) set the annual wreckfish TAC or 
other wreckfish framework actions. The Council will then make a 
decision on the framework actions. A framework document addressing 
these issues is available from the Council office (see ADDRESSES).
    From 2:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., the Council will hear a report from 
the Shrimp Committee. Beginning at 2:30, a public comment period will 
be held on any proposed framework changes to the Shrimp FMP as a result 
of over-wintering shrimp mortalities. Following

[[Page 11273]]

the comment period, the Council will decide on framework action. A 
document regarding this issue is available from the Council office (see 
ADDRESSES).
    From 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., a Public Scoping Meeting will be held 
beginning at 3:00 p.m. to address (1) a coral framework action to 
establish additional Habitat Areas of Particular Concern and (2) the 
development of a comprehensive FMP amendment addressing permit renewal 
timeframes, operator permits, a consolidated controlled access system 
and the Atlantic Coast Cooperative Statistics Program's (ACCSP) permits 
and reporting. A scoping document addressing these issues is available 
from the Council office (see ADDRESSES).
    From 4:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m., the Council will hear a report from 
the Spiny Lobster Committee.
    From 4:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., the Council will hear a report from 
the Marine Reserves Committee and make any required modifications to 
the MOU between the Council and Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary.
    From 4:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m., the Council will hear a report from 
the Highly Migratory Species Committee.
    From 4:45 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., the Council will hear a report from 
the Controlled Access Committee and approve draft Amendment 5 to the 
Shrimp FMP, addressing rock shrimp limited access, for the public 
hearing.
    From 5:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., the Council will hear a report on the 
joint meeting of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, Gulf of 
Mexico Fishery Management Council and the Caribbean Fishery Management 
Council regarding the Dolphin/Wahoo FMP and take any action required.
    11. Council Session: March 9, 2001, 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon
    From 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., the Council will hear a report from 
the Advisory Panel Selection Committee and appoint new advisory panel 
members (closed session).
    From 9:00 a.m. to 9:15 a.m., the Council will hear a report from 
the joint Executive and Finance Committee and approve amending the 
$65,000 into the current budget.
    From 9:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m., the Council will discuss and make 
recommendations on potential changes to NMFS final rule regarding 
allowable gear.
    From 10:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., the Council will hear an update on 
economic activities and issues.
    From 10:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., the Council will hear an update on 
social activities and issues.
    From 10:45 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., the Council will hear an update on 
the ACCSP.
    From 11:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m., the Council will hear a report on 
the Ecosystem Management Workshop.
    From 11:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., the Council will hear status reports 
from NMFS on the: 2000/2001 Mackerel Framework, resubmitted Calico 
Scallop FMP, resubmitted Sargassum FMP, Golden Crab Amendment 3, and 
Dolphin Emergency Rule request. The Council will also hear NMFS status 
reports on landings for Atlantic king mackerel, Gulf king mackerel, 
Atlantic Spanish mackerel, snowy grouper & golden tilefish, wreckfish, 
greater amberjack and south Atlantic octocorals.
    From 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon, 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 
subjects 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 February 26, 2001.

    Dated: February 20, 2001.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-4532 Filed 2-22-01; 2:43 pm]
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