[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 133 (Wednesday, July 11, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 36246-36247]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-17366]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[I.D. 062901B]


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 3-day Council meeting, on July 24 through July 26, 2001, to consider 
actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone 
(EEZ).

DATES: The meeting will be held on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 
July 24, 25, and 26, 2001. The meeting will begin at 1:00 p.m. on 
Tuesday and 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday and Thursday.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn by the Bay, 88 
Spring Street, Portland, ME 04101; telephone (207) 775-2311. 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:

Tuesday, July 24, 2001

    After introductions, the Council meeting will begin with reports on 
recent activities from the Council Chairman and 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. A brief period will be 
held for public comment on any relevant subject related to Council 
business. The Herring Committee will discuss and ask the Council to 
approve initial action on Framework Adjustment 1 to the Atlantic 
Herring Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The primary measures under 
consideration would split the total allowable catch (TAC) for 
Management Area 1A into two periods: January through May (6,000 mt) and 
June through December (54,000 mt plus any unused portion from January 
to May). When 95 percent of the quota for either period is projected to 
be reached, directed fishing would cease in Area 1A and a 2,000-pound 
trip limit would take effect. A review of the discussions between U.S. 
and Canadian fisheries representatives serving on the Transboundary 
Management Guidance Committee will follow the Herring Committee Report.

Wednesday, July 25, 2001

    The day will start with a presentation on bioeconomic modeling and 
its application to fisheries management, using the American lobster 
fishery as a case study. Northeast Fisheries Science Center staff will 
hold a public review workshop to present the advisory from the 33rd 
Stock Assessment Workshop concerning the status of Gulf of Maine cod, 
redfish, and white hake. In its report, the Groundfish Committee 
intends to ask the Council to approve final action on Framework 
Adjustment 36 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP. Measures under 
consideration would address Gulf of Maine cod discards and mortality, 
an extension of or adjustment to the Western Gulf of Maine Closed Area, 
tuna purse seine access to the groundfish closed areas, and an 
expansion of the area in which the northern shrimp fishery is allowed.

Thursday, July 26, 2001

    During Thursday's session, the Sea Scallop Committee will ask the 
Council to approve draft management measures to be analyzed in the 
Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for Amendment 10 to 
the Sea Scallop FMP. The discussion will include review of Scallop 
Committee, Plan Development Team and Advisory Panel recommendations. 
Measures under consideration include options that would address scallop 
area rotation and management; managing scallop catch from re-opened and 
open fishing areas; gear modifications to reduce scallop and finfish 
bycatch; general category permit management proposals; framework 
adjustments and annual specifications; programs to fund and administer 
scallop research and on-board observers; data collection and 
monitoring; and other measures. The Council also will discuss and may 
approve a control date for scallop fishing by vessels not on a scallop 
day-at-sea. A control date may be necessary because the Council is 
considering whether to limit the access of vessels holding general 
category permits as part of Amendment 10 to the Scallop FMP. The 
control date could apply to any vessel with or without a general 
category permit and/or to vessels that have a limited access scallop 
permit and that fish for sea scallops while not on a day-at-sea. Prior 
to meeting adjournment, the Red Crab Committee will provide an update 
on progress concerning development a Red Crab FMP, including management 
alternatives, an overfishing definition, and the collection of social 
and economic information.
    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 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.
    The New England Council will consider public comments at a minimum 
of two Council meetings before making recommendations to the National 
Marine Fisheries Service Regional Administrator on any framework 
adjustment to a fishery

[[Page 36247]]

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: July 3, 2001
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-17366 Filed 7-10-01; 8:45 am]
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