[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 196 (Wednesday, October 10, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 51643]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-25431]



[[Page 51643]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 100101G]


New England 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 New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is 
scheduling a public meeting of its Groundfish Oversight Committee, 
Scallop Oversight Committee and Red Crab Oversight Committee in 
October, 2001 to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in 
the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from these groups 
will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and 
action, if appropriate.

DATES: The meetings will be held from October 24 to October 29, 2001. 
See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held in Peabody and Danvers, MA. and 
Warwick, RI. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific locations. -
    Council address: New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water 
Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, 
New England Fishery Management Council; (978) 465-0492.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Meeting Dates and Agendas

    Wednesday, October 24, 2001, 9:30 a.m.--Groundfish Oversight 
Committee Meeting. -
    Location: Holiday Inn, One Newbury Street, Peabody, MA 01960; 
telephone: (978) 535-4600. -
    The committee will meet to continue development of Framework 36 to 
the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP). Framework 36 
was initiated by the Council in January, 2001, to address the following 
issues: reducing excessive regulatory discards of Gulf of Maine cod 
resulting from a trip limit, meeting the fishing mortality objectives 
for Gulf of Maine cod, extending and/or adjusting the Western Gulf of 
Maine closure (currently scheduled to open May, 1, 2002), considering 
allowing access to groundfish closures by tuna purse seine vessels, and 
expanding the area for the northern shrimp exempted fishery. Options 
under consideration include a wide variety of management tools (closed 
areas, gear restrictions, effort restrictions, trip limits, 
recreational fishing restrictions, etc.). The committee may also meet 
in closed session to discuss the advisory panel membership. -
    Thursday, October 25th, 2001 at 9:30 a.m and Friday October 26, 
2001 at 8:30 a.m.--Scallop Oversight Committee Meeting. -
    Location: Crowne Plaza Hotel, 801 Grenwich Avenue, Warwick, RI 
02886; telephone: (401) 732-6000. -
    The Oversight Committee will continue development of management 
alternatives for Draft Amendment 10 to the Sea Scallop FMP. The 
committee discussion will focus on measures (bycatch total allowable 
catches, gear modifications, rock chains, etc.) to reduce bycatch and 
habitat impacts, measures to improve data collection, measures to 
manage scallop fishing by vessels with General Category permits, a 12-
day maximum trip length proposal, a minimum 120-day allocation 
principal, hardship exemptions for carrying forward day-at-sea 
allocations, and incentive programs for using improved gear. Other 
issues and measures associated with Amendment 10 may also be developed. 
-
    Monday, October 29, 2001 at 9:00 a.m.--Red Crab Oversight Committee 
Meeting. -
    Location: Sheraton Ferncroft, 50 Ferncroft Road, Danvers, MA 01923; 
telephone: (978) 777-2500. -
    The Committee will review the draft Red Crab FMP, Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement, and draft public hearing document. They 
will also review the proposed management measures and alternatives and 
may select preferred alternatives to recommend to the full Council. -
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come 
before this group for discussion, those issues may not be the subject 
of formal action during this meeting. 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 Paul J. Howard (see ADDRESSES) at 
least 5 days prior to the meeting dates.

    Dated: October 4, 2001.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-25431 Filed 10-9-01; 8:45 am]
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