[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 231 (Friday, November 30, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59779-59780]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-29771]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 112601B]


New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is 
scheduling a public meeting of its Groundfish Oversight Committee in 
December 2001. Recommendations from the Committee will be brought to 
the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate.

DATES: The meeting will held on Monday, December 17, 2001, at 9:30 a.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn, 31 Hampshire 
Street, Mansfield, MA 02048; telephone: 508-339-2200.
    Council address: New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water 
Street, Newburyport, MA 01950.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Groundfish Oversight Committee will 
review the draft Framework Adjustment 36 to the Northeast Multispecies 
Fishery Management Plan (FMP), including the Draft Supplemental 
Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS). Management measures in 
Framework 36 are designed to reduce fishing mortality for groundfish 
stocks consistent with Amendment 7 to the FMP, reduce regulatory 
discards of Gulf of Maine cod, extend or revise the Western Gulf of 
Maine closed area, provide access to Closed Area II to target 
yellowtail flounder, expand the authorized area for the northern shrimp 
fishery, allow access to groundfish closed areas by tuna purse seine 
vessels, and increase the trip limit for the Cultivator Shoals whiting 
fishery. Fishing mortality must be reduced for Gulf of Maine and 
Georges Bank cod to meet the objectives of the FMP. Most of the 
measures in the framework target these reductions. Measures under 
consideration include (but are not limited to) changes in seasonal and 
year round closed areas, increases in mesh size, restrictions on the 
deployment or use of gear, changes in trip limits, reductions in days-
at-sea or restrictions on the use of days-at-sea, and modifications to 
gear to reduce bycatch of cod. Regulatory changes are also being 
considered for the recreational fishery, including increases in minimum 
size limits for cod, restrictions on access to closed areas, and area 
closures for recreational fishers. The Groundfish Oversight Committee 
will review the draft framework document and analysis of impacts, and 
may identify a preferred alternative. The recommendations of the 
Committee will be considered by the full Council at a meeting on 
December 19, 2001. After the draft framework and DSEIS is approved by 
the Council, it will be available for public review and comment prior 
to the final selection of management measures in March 2002. After 
completing review of the draft Framework 36, the Committee will meet in 
a closed session to discuss Groundfish Advisory Panel applications.
    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

    This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Paul

[[Page 59780]]

J. Howard (see ADDRESSES) at least 5 days prior to the meeting dates.

    Dated: November 27, 2001.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-29771 Filed 11-29-01; 8:45 am]
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