[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 32 (Friday, February 15, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7138-7139]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-3814]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 020602E]


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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold meetings of its Advisory Panel Selection Committee, Scientific and 
Statistical Selection Committee, Executive Committee, Dolphin Wahoo 
Committee, Calico Scallop Committee, Snapper Grouper Committee and a 
joint meeting of the Snapper Grouper Committee and the Wreckfish 
Advisory Panel, Habitat Committee, and Shrimp Committee. Public comment 
periods will be held during some of the meetings. There will also be a 
full Council Session.

DATES: The meetings will be held March 4-8, 2002. See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Hilton Savannah DeSoto, 15 
East Liberty Street, Savannah, GA 31401; telephone: (1-800) 426-8483 or 
(912) 232-9000.
    Copies of documents are available from Kim Iverson, Public 
Information Officer, and 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. Advisory Panel Selection Committee: March 4, 2002, 1:30 p.m. - 3 
p.m.
    The Advisory Panel Selection Committee will meet in a closed 
session to review membership applications and develop recommendations. 
The Advisory Panel Selection Committee will meet in open session to 
discuss establishing a new Information and Education Advisory Panel.
    2. Scientific and Statistical Selection Committee Meeting: March 4, 
2002, 3 p.m. - 4 p.m.
    The Scientific and Statistical Selection Committee will meet in a 
closed session to review candidates for appointment to the Scientic and 
Statistical Committee (SSC) and develop recommendations.
    3. Executive Committee Meeting: March 4, 2002, 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
    The Executive Committee will meet to review the NMFS/Council 
Operations Plan, the new NMFS/Council Assessment Peer Review Process, 
the status of Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
(MSFCMA) reauthorization, and the results from the Executive Directors/
NOAA/NMFS meeting. The Executive Committee will also review and approve 
the Council's Calendar Year (CY) 2002 activities schedule.
    4. Dolphin Wahoo Committee Meeting: March 5, 2002, 8:30 a.m. to 
10:30 a.m.
    The Dolphin Wahoo Committee will meet to review comments on the 
Draft Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS) regarding the dolphin wahoo fishery. The Committee 
will review and approve changes to the document. The Dolphin Wahoo 
Committee will also review the Biological Evaluation and the timeline 
for completion of the FMP/Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS).
    5. Calico Scallop Committee Meeting: March 5, 2002, 10:30 a.m. to 
12 noon.
    The Calico Scallop Committee will meet to review the Section 7 
process regarding the FMP for the calico scallop fishery. The Committee 
will discuss any changes to the FMP that may be necessary and approve 
the DEIS for review. The Committee will also discuss the timeline for 
completion of the FMP/FEIS.
    6. Joint Snapper Grouper Committee and Wreckfish Advisory Panel 
Meeting: March 5, 2002, 1:30 p.m.to 5 p.m. and Snapper Grouper 
Committee Meeting March 6, 2002, 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon.
    A public scoping meeting will be held during the committee meeting 
on: (1) Amendment 13 (maximum sustainable yield (MSY), optimum yield 
(OY), Overfishing Levels, etc.) and (2) Amendment 14 (Marine Protected 
Areas). Documents regarding these issues are available from the Council 
office (see ADDRESSES). The Snapper Grouper Committee and Wreckfish 
Advisory Panel will meet to review and comment on the following: Status 
of Wreckfish Stock, Status of Wreckfish Research, Potential Framework 
Changes (e.g., total allowable catch, closures,

[[Page 7139]]

etc.), and Wreckfish Items in the Options Paper for Snapper Grouper 
Amendment 13 (MSY, OY, Overfishing levels, and Collecting Fees for 
Individual Transferable Quota Programs). The Snapper Grouper Committee 
will meet to review Proposed actions for Amendment 13 to the Snapper 
Grouper Fishery Management Plan including permit transfers, snowy 
grouper and golden tilefish management, prohibition of the sale of 
mutton snapper in May and June, review of stock status for speckled 
hind and warsaw grouper and evaluation of current regulations, spawning 
site closures and other measures. The Committee will also review 
possible sites for marine protected areas (Amendment 14).
    7. Habitat Committee Meeting: March 6, 2002, 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
    A public hearing will be held during the committee meeting on the 
Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) regarding the 
Sargassum FMP. Documents regarding the Sargassum FMP are available from 
the Council office (see ADDRESSES). The Habitat Committee will meet to 
review comments received on the DEIS regarding the Sargassum FMP, 
approve the Final Sargassum FMP/FEIS for review by the Secretary of 
Commerce, review the workshop process to update essential fish habitat 
information, and address Ecosystem FMP issues.
    8. Shrimp Committee Meeting: March 7, 2002, 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon.
    A public scoping meeting will be held during the committee meeting 
on Amendment 6 to address (1) Sustainable Fisheries Act Criteria (MSY, 
OY, Overfishing Levels, etc.) and (2) Potential Modification to the 
Bycatch Reduction Device (BRD) Protocol. Documents regarding these 
issues are available from the Counciloffice (see ADDRESSES). The Shrimp 
Committee will meet to review the status of Shrimp Amendment 5 and to 
review options for Shrimp Amendment 6 addressing the BRD Protocol, MSY, 
OY, and Overfishing levels.
    9. Council Session: March 7, 2002, 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and March 
8, 2002, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
    From 1:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m., the Council will have a Call to Order, 
introductions and roll call, adoption of the agenda, and approval of 
the December 2001 meeting minutes.
    From 1:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m., the Council will hear a report from the 
Habitat Committee regarding the Sargassum FMP/FEIS. Public comment will 
be allowed, and the Council will approve the final Sargassum FMP/FEIS 
for formal review by the Secretary of Commerce.
    From 2:45 p.m. - 3:15 p.m., the Council will hear a report from the 
Snapper Grouper Committee regarding Amendments 13 (MSY, OY, 
Overfishing, etc.) and 14 (marine protected area sites). Public comment 
will be allowed on any potential wreckfish framework changes, and the 
Council will approve any necessary framework changes for the wreckfish 
fishery.
    From 3:15 p.m. - 3:45 p.m., the Council will hear a report from the 
Shrimp Committee concerning options for Amendment 6.
    From 3:45 p.m. - 4:15 p.m., the Council will hear a report from the 
Dolphin Wahoo Committee and approve any necessary changes to the FMP.
    From 4:15 p.m. - 4:45 p.m., the Council will hear a report from the 
Calico Scallop Committee and approve the DEIS for review.
    From 4:45 p.m. - 5 p.m., the Council will hear a report from the 
Advisory Panel Selection Committee, appoint new members to the advisory 
panels, and establish a new Information and Education Advisory Panel.
    On March 8th, from 8:30 a.m. - 8:45 a.m., the Council will hear a 
report from the Scientific and Statistical Selection Committee and 
revise the SSC membership.
    From 8:45 a.m. - 9:15 a.m., the Council will hear a report from the 
Executive Committee and approve the Council's CY 2002 Activities 
Schedule and Operations Plan.
    From 9:15 a.m. - 9:45 a.m., the Council will hear a report on the 
status of the NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science Center activities.
    From 9:45 a.m. - 10 a.m., the Council will hear a report on the 
status of Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program.
    From 10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m., the Council will hear a report from NOAA 
General Counsel on the status of the management unit in the New England 
Fishery Management Council's Red Crab FMP and potential impacts on the 
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Golden Crab FMP and the 
status of the allowable gear rule change request.
    From 10:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m., the Council will hear a status report 
from NMFS on Golden Crab Amendment 3. The Council will also hear NMFS 
status reports on landing for Atlantic king mackerel, Gulf king 
mackerel (eastern zone), Atlantic Spanish mackerel, snowy grouper and 
golden tilefish, wreckfish, greater amberjack and south Atlantic 
octocorals.
    From 10:45 p.m. - 11:30 a.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 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) 
by February 25, 2002.

    Dated: February 12, 2002.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-3814 Filed 2-14-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S