[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 76 (Thursday, April 19, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 20130]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-9650]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[I.D. 041001A]


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 2-day Council meeting, on May 2 and May 3, 2001, to consider actions 
affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

DATES: The meeting will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, May 2 and 3, 
at 9 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., respectively.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn, 1 Newbury 
Street, Route 1 North, Peabody, MA 01960; telephone (978) 535-4600. 
Requests for special accommodations should be addressed to the New 
England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, 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:

Wednesday, May 2, 2001

    After introductions, the Council will receive 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, NOAA General Counsel and 
representatives of the U.S. Coast Guard, NMFS Enforcement and the 
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. An expanded enforcement 
briefing will be provided by the U.S. Coast Guard. NMFS also will 
report to the Council about funds dispersed through the Northeast 
Marine Fisheries Initiative. These reports will be followed by a NMFS 
presentation on the status of the North Atlantic right whale. During 
the afternoon session, the Council staff will present issues and 
options under consideration by the Herring Committee for a limited 
entry/controlled access system for Area 1A (inshore Gulf of Maine) as 
described in the Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The 
Red Crab Committee will request approval of management measures to be 
analyzed in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Red Crab 
FMP.

Thursday, May 3, 2001

    The Council's Skate Committee will request approval of goals and 
objectives for the Northeast Skate Complex FMP. The Council will spend 
the rest of the day addressing groundfish issues. The Groundfish 
Committee will ask the Council for approval of draft management 
measures to be analyzed in the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement for Amendment 13 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP. Measures 
under consideration include: (1) habitat-related alternatives (methods 
to designate Essential Fish Habitat, Habitat Areas of Particular 
Concern designations, and measures to minimize adverse impacts 
associated with fishing activities); (2) refinement of status quo 
measures using existing management tools; (3) an area-based regime 
using area specific measures that may include measures to address 
unused days-at-sea; and (4) the allocation of resources to different 
industry sectors that may include measures to address unused days-at-
sea. The Council meeting will adjourn after addressing any other 
outstanding business.
    Although other non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda 
may come before this Council for discussion, those issues may not be 
the subjects 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 notification that require 
emergency action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, 
provided that the public has been notified of the Council's intent to 
take final action to address the emergency.
    The Council will consider public comments at a minimum of two 
Council meetings before making recommendations to the NMFS Regional 
Administrator on any framework adjustment to a fishery management plan. 
If she concurs with the adjustment proposed by the Council, the 
Regional Administrator has the discretion to publish the action either 
as proposed or final regulations in the Federal Register. Documents 
pertaining to framework adjustments are available for public review 7 
days prior to a final vote by the Council.

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: April 12, 2001.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-9650 Filed 4-18-01; 8:45 am]
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