[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 56 (Friday, March 22, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13316-13317]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-6984]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 031902C]


North Pacific Fishery Management Council; Notice of Public 
Meetings

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

ACTION: Meetings of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council and 
its advisory committees.

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SUMMARY: The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its 
advisory committees will hold public meetings April 8-17, 2002, in 
Anchorage, Alaska. All meetings will be held at the Anchorage Hilton 
Hotel.

DATES: The Council's Advisory Panel will begin at 8 a.m., Monday, April 
8, and continue through Saturday, April 13, 2002. The Scientific and 
Statistical Committee will begin at 8 a.m. on Monday, April 8, and 
continue through Wednesday, April 10, 2002.
    The Council will begin its plenary session at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, 
April 10, continuing through noon Wednesday, April 17. All meetings are 
open to the public except executive sessions. See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION for a schedule of other meetings and the agenda.

ADDRESSES: Hilton Hotel, 500 W. 3rd Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska.
    Council address: North Pacific Fishery Management Council, 605 W. 
4th Ave., Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 99501-2252.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Council staff, Phone: 907-271-2809.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Other Committee/Workgroup Meetings Scheduled:
    The Individual Fishery Quota (IFQ) Implementation and Cost Recovery 
Committee will meet Sunday, April 7, from 6:30pm to 9:30pm at the 
Anchorage Hilton Hotel to review regulatory amendments to the IFQ 
program and develop recommendations for the Council.
    The Gulf of Alaska Workgroup will meet Tuesday, April 9, from 1 
p.m.-5 p.m. at the Anchorage Hilton Hotel to continue developing 
recommendations for rationalization of the Gulf of Alaska groundfish 
fisheries.
    Council Plenary Session: The agenda for the Council's plenary 
session will include the following issues. The Council may take 
appropriate action on any of the issues identified.
    1. Reports:
    (a) Executive Director's Report.
    (b) State Fisheries Report by Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game.
    (c) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Management Report.
    (d) U.S. Coast Guard Enforcement and Surveillance report.
    (e) Report on sea otters from the U.S. Fish &Wildlife Service.
    2. Observer Program: final action on regulatory amendments and 
program extension.
    3. Halibut/Sablefish IFQ Program: Final action on implementation 
regulatory amendments and community purchase of quota share amendment.
    4. Halibut Subsistence:
    (a) Receive report on the Proposed Rule for October 2000 Council 
action on halibut subsistence.
    (b) Receive report from Halibut Subsistence Committee on proxy 
issues.
    (c) Final action on amendments to October 2000 Council action on 
halibut subsistence.
    5. Community Development Quota Policy Amendment: Identify preferred 
alternative.
    6. Crab Management:
    (a) Initial review of analysis for rationalization of Bering Sea/
Aleutian Island crab fisheries.
    (b) Finalize suite of alternatives for the environmental impact 
statement for the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crab 
Fishery Management Plan.
    7. Draft Programmatic Groundfish Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement:

[[Page 13317]]

    (a) Review report from the Ecosystem Committee (tentative).
    (b) Clarify purpose and need statement.
    (c) Review alternatives for revised analysis
    8. American Fisheries Act:
    (a) Initial review of processor sideboards, improved retention/
utilization adjustments and bycatch reduction measures.
    (b) Initial review of additional Pacific cod sideboard measures.
    (c) Initial review of single geographic location change, including 
clarification of Inshore-offshore and Catcher Vessel Operational Area 
regulations.
    (d) Review industry proposal for pollock bycatch measures and 
provide direction.
    9. Essential Fish Habitat (EFH):
    (a) Review progress and EFH Committee report; provide direction.
    (b) Review recommendations from the joint Council/Alaska Board of 
Fisheries Protocol Committee.
    10. Gulf of Alaska Groundfish Rationalization: Review progress from 
working group; provide direction.
    11. Steller Sea Lions: Initial review of trailing amendments.
    12. Review staff tasking and provide direction.
    13. Discuss annual management cycle and Council Statement of 
Operating Policy and Procedures.
    14. Discuss and identify research priorities.
    Although other issues not contained in this agenda may come before 
this Council for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act, those issues may not be the 
subject of formal Council action during the meeting. Council action 
will be restricted to those issues specifically identified in the 
agenda listed in this notice.
    Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC): The SSC agenda will 
include the following issues:
    1. Election of Officers.
    2. Crab Management (Item #6 on the Council agenda).
    3. American Fisheries Act issues (Item #8 on the Council agenda).
    4. Essential Fish Habitat (Item #9 on the Council agenda).
    5. Draft Programmatic Groundfish SEIS (Item #7 on the Council 
agenda).
    6. Steller Sea Lion trailing amendment (Item #11 on the Council 
agenda).
    7. Research Priorities (Item #13 on the Council agenda).
    Advisory Panel: The Advisory Panel will elect officer for the 
coming year and address the same agenda issues as the Council, with the 
exception of the Reports under Item 1 of the Council agenda.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities.
    Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Helen Allen at 907-271-2809 at least 7 working 
days prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: March 19, 2002.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-6984 Filed 3-21-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S