[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 107 (Monday, June 4, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29933-29934]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-13968]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 053001B]


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 & Statistical Committee, Shrimp 
Committee, Executive Committee, Personnel Committee and the Marine 
Protected Areas Committee. The Council will also hold joint meetings of 
the Mackerel Committee and Advisory Panel and a joint meeting of the 
Controlled Access Committee and the Rock Shrimp Advisory Panel. Public 
comment periods will be held during some of the meetings. There will 
also be a full Council Session. A Social Science Workshop will be held 
as part of the meeting.

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

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Radisson Ponce de Leon 
Conference Resort Hotel, 4000 U.S. Highway 1 North, St. Augustine, FL 
32095; Telephone: 904-824-2821, FAX: 904-824-8254. Copies of the 
documents are available from Kim Iverson, Public Information Officer, 
and South Atlantic Fishery Management Council.
    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

    1. Social Science Workshop: June 17, 2001, 1:30-5:30 p.m.
    A Social Science Workshop will be held in order to hold discussion 
on social issues as they relate to the following: New Social Impact 
Assessment Guidelines from the National Marine Fisheries Service, 
implementation/evaluation of Marine Protected Areas in the South 
Atlantic and a review of the current limited entry program in the South 
Atlantic Snapper Grouper fishery.
    2. Scientific & Statistical Committee Meeting: June 18, 2001, 8:30 
a.m.-12 Noon and 1:30-5 p.m.
    The Scientific & Statistical Committee will meet to review and 
comment on the following; Shrimp Amendment 5 (rock shrimp limited 
access), Economic Cost & Returns Study, Census Study, Marine Protected 
Areas public scoping document, Snapper Grouper Amendment 13 (list of 
options), the Snapper Grouper Assessment Group Report and final 
guidelines for economic analysis. The Committee will also address 
mackerel issues including the 2001 stock assessment, framework action, 
Amendment 15 and Gulf Council actions relative to the Tortugas 
Sanctuary and charter vessel permits.
    3. Joint Mackerel Committee and Advisory Panel Meeting: June 19, 
2001, 8:30 a.m.-12 noon and 1:30-3:30 p.m.
    The Mackerel Committee will meet jointly with the Mackerel Advisory 
Panel to discuss potential framework actions, review the Amendment 15 
options paper, review Gulf Council actions relative to the Tortugas 
Sanctuary (Amendment 13) and review the Gulf Council's actions on the 
moratorium on charter vessel permits (Amendment 14).
    4. Shrimp Committee Meeting: June 19, 2001, 3:30-5 p.m.
    The Shrimp Committee will meet to discuss language and/or format 
modifications to the ``Bycatch Reduction Device Testing Protocol 
Manual'' and develop modifications to the protocol manual if 
appropriate.
    Public Hearings: June 19, 2001, 6 p.m.
    Public hearings will be held beginning at 6 p.m. in the order 
indicated regarding the following issues: Amendment 5 to the Rock 
Shrimp Fishery Management Plan (FMP) (rock shrimp limited access); 
Amendment 13 to the Mackerel FMP and Spiny Lobster Amendment 7 (Gulf 
Council actions relative to the Tortugas Sanctuary in the Gulf of 
Mexico); and Amendment 14 to the Mackerel FMP (Gulf Council actions on 
a moratorium on charter vessel permits in the Gulf of Mexico. Documents 
regarding these issues are available through the Council office (see 
ADDRESSES).
    5. Executive Committee Meeting: June 20, 2001, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
    The Executive Committee will meet to review Council activities and 
establish priorities for the remainder of 2001.
    6. Personnel Committee Meeting: June 20, 2001, 9:30-10:30 a.m.
    The Personnel Committee will meet in a closed session to discuss 
the Executive Director's recommendations for additional staff 
positions.
    7. Joint Controlled Access Committee and Rock Shrimp Advisory 
Panel: June 20, 2001, 10:30 a.m.-12 noon and 1:30-5 p.m.
    The Joint Controlled Access Committee and Rock Shrimp Advisory 
Panel will meet to review public hearing comments on Amendment 5 to the 
Rock Shrimp FMP (limited access) and formal comments from the National 
Marine Fisheries Service. The Committee and Advisory Panel will discuss 
and develop recommendations regarding Amendment 5 to the Rock Shrimp 
FMP.
    8. Joint Controlled Access Committee and Rock Shrimp Advisory 
Panel: June 21, 2001, 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
    The Committee and Advisory Panel will continue to discuss and 
develop recommendations regarding Amendment 5 to the Rock Shrimp FMP.
    9. Marine Protected Area Committee: June 21, 2001, 10:30 a.m.-12 
noon and 1:30-5 p.m.
    The Marine Protected Area Committee will meet to hear an update on 
the Memorandum Of Agreement (MOU) with Gray's Reef Marine Sanctuary, 
review the results of scoping meeting and other comments/
recommendations, hear a report on the advisory panel meeting and their 
recommendations, develop committee recommendations and discuss the 
timing of work for 2001 and 2002.
    10. Council Session: June 22, 2001, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
    From 8:30-8:45 a.m., the Council will have a Call to Order, 
introductions and roll call adoption of the agenda, and

[[Page 29934]]

approval of the March 2001 meeting minutes.
    From 8:45-9:45 a.m., the Council will hold a Public Scoping Meeting 
on: (1) coral framework action to establish additional Habitat Areas of 
Particular Concern and (2) 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 permits and reporting. Documents regarding these issues are 
available from the Council office (see ADDRESSES).
    From 9:45-10:45 a.m., the Council will hear a report from the 
Mackerel Committee. Beginning at 9:45 a.m., a public comment period 
will be held on any proposed framework changes to the Mackerel FMP. 
Following the public comment period, decisions will be made regarding 
(1) any proposed framework actions, (2) Amendment 13 to the Mackerel 
FMP (Gulf Council actions relative to the Tortugas Sanctuary in the 
Gulf of Mexico) and (3) Amendment 14 to the Mackerel FMP (Gulf Council 
actions on a moratorium on charter vessel permits in the Gulf of 
Mexico).
    From 10:45-11:15 a.m., the Council will hear a report from the 
Controlled Access Committee regarding Amendment 5 to the Shrimp FMP 
(rock shrimp limited access) and make modifications as appropriate.
    From 11:15-11:45 a.m., the Council will address red porgy issues 
including current stock status, information from fishermen and 
management measures currently in place.
    From 11:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m., the Council will hear a report from the 
Shrimp Committee. A public comment period will be held beginning at 
11:45 a.m. regarding any proposed modifications to the BRD Testing 
Protocol Manual. Following the comment period, the Council will make a 
decision on any language/format modifications to the manual as needed.
    From 1:30-2 p.m., the Council will hear a report from the Marine 
Protected Areas Committee and modify the MOU with Gray's Reef if 
necessary. The Council will also discuss the approach and timing for 
Marine Protected Areas.
    From 2-2:15 p.m., the Council will hear a report from the Executive 
Committee.
    From 2:15-2:30 p.m., the Council will hear a report from the 
Personnel Committee.
    From 2:30-2:45 p.m., the Council will hear a report on the recent 
Chairmen's meeting.
    From 2:45-3 p.m., the Council will hear a report on the Atlantic 
Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP) Coordinating Council's 
funding recommendations.
    From 3-3:30 p.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 landing for Atlantic king mackerel, Gulf king mackerel, Atlantic 
Spanish mackerel, snowy grouper & golden tilefish, wreckfish, greater 
amberjack and south Atlantic octocorals.
    From 3:30-4 p.m., the Council will hear Agency and Liaison Reports, 
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 Fishery 
Conservation and Management 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) 
5 days prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: May 30, 2001.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-13968 Filed 6-1-01; 8:45 am]
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