[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 162 (Wednesday, August 21, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54170-54171]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-21309]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 081502B]


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 Enforcement Committee and Advisory 
Panel and its Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) Committee in September, 
2002 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 on September 4 and 5, 2002. See 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the New England Fishery 
Management Council Office, 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:

Meeting Dates and Agendas

    Wednesday, September 4, 2002, at 9 a.m.--Joint Enforcement 
Committee and Advisory Panel Meeting.
    The committee will review federal vessel permit issues associated 
with the Atlantic herring fishery and requiring fishermen to have a 
valid VMS number prior to issuance of the permit. This would be 
consistent with previous federal fisheries that require VMS. They will 
also discuss prohibiting fishermen with federal vessel permits from 
selling fish to unlicensed dealers. Current regulations prohibit 
dealers without permit from buying fish from federally permitted 
vessels.
    Also included in the agenda will be review of the enforceability of 
the following: alternatives for Multispecies Amendment 13; draft 
enforcement analysis for scallops; general category landings 
restriction, particularly those in the state-waters only exemption for 
scallops; review of species ID guide for skates and its utility for 
enforcement as well as proposed prohibitions on possession, landing, 
sale and recommendations for tolerances on prohibitions and/or 
possession limits to account for mis-identification of skates. The 
committee will also discuss whether to increase advisory panel 
membership.
    Thursday, September 5, 2002, at 9:30 a.m.--Vessel Monitoring System 
Committee Meeting.
    Location: New England Fishery Management Council Office, 50 Water 
Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950; telephone: (978) 465-
0492.
    The committee will discuss the concept of using automated vessel 
monitoring systems in New England fisheries. The agenda will include 
discussion of current VMS performance, alternative tracking devices now 
available, future expansion of VMS programs and VMS use for other 
management measures. The committee also may discuss other business.
    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.


[[Page 54171]]


    Dated: August 15, 2002.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-21309 Filed 8-20-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S