[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 206 (Thursday, October 24, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 65338]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-27163]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 101502A]


New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

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

ACTION:  Public meeting.

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SUMMARY:  The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold a 3-day Council meeting from November 5-7, 2002, to consider 
actions affecting New England fisheries in the U.S. exclusive economic 
zone (EEZ).

DATES:  The meeting will be held on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 
November 5, 6, and 7, 2002. The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. on Tuesday 
and at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday and Thursday.

ADDRESSES:  The meeting will be held at the Gloucester High School 
(Field House), 32 Leslie O. Johnson Road, Gloucester, MA 01930; 
telephone (978) 281-9870. Requests for special accommodations should be 
addressed to the New England Fishery Management Council, 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:

Tuesday, November 5, 2002

    Following introductions, the Council will consider and approve a 
list of management actions for 2003. A report from the Whiting 
Committee will follow, during which the committee will recommend final 
approval of Framework 37 to Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management 
Plan (FMP), an action that will affect small mesh multispecies, a group 
that includes whiting, red hake and offshore hake. The framework 
includes options to eliminate the year 4 default measures now specified 
in the FMP, increase opportunities to participate in the Cultivator 
Shoal fishery and adjust other measures in the northern and southern 
stock areas. The Council also will consider approving a new control 
date to determine future participation in the small mesh multispecies 
fishery. The Monkfish Committee report will follow beginning with a 
presentation of the Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) 
Report for the 2001 fishing year. The Council will then consider final 
approval of Framework Adjustment 2 to the Monkfish FMP. Measures would 
mirror those contained in the NMFS 2002 emergency rule, including a 
revision to the overfishing definition reference points and control 
rule, and adjustments to the days-at-sea allocations and/or trip limits 
to achieve monkfish targets for fishing year 2003.
    The Council may also consider removing the default provision from 
the FMP, measures that would otherwise eliminate the directed monkfish 
fishery, and extending the effectiveness of Framework Adjustment 2 
beyond the 2003 fishing year, until modified by the next plan 
amendment. The Skate Committee will request final approval of measures 
for inclusion in the FMP for the Northeast Skate Complex. These 
include, but are not limited to federal permits and reporting 
requirements, a prohibition on the possession, landing or sale of some 
skate species, and possession limits for the skate wing fishery. Before 
adjournment for the day, the Dogfish Committee will ask the Council to 
approve the 2003-2004 specifications, which may include a quota and 
trip limits. They will also review and ask for approval of a list of 
issues to be considered for inclusion in Amendment 1 to the Spiny 
Dogfish FMP.

Wednesday and Thursday, November 6-7, 2002

    The Council meeting will re-convene on Wednesday to address issues 
related to groundfish management, beginning with a NMFS presentation on 
the results of a recent meeting entitled Workshop on Trawl Effects on 
Fishing Gear Performance. A report from the Groundfish Assessment 
Review meeting will follow. Once these briefings have occurred, the 
Council will receive an enforcement analysis for the draft Amendment 13 
to the Northeast Multispecies FMP. The last agenda item will concern 
approval of the Amendment 13 draft measures, including a Draft 
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. The Council meeting will 
adjourn on Thursday once any other outstanding business has been 
addressed.
    Although other non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda 
may come before this Council for discussion, those issues may not be 
the subjects of formal 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 that the public has been notified of the Council's intent to 
take final action to address the emergency.
    The Council will consider public comments at a minimum of two 
Council meetings before making recommendations to the National Marine 
Fisheries Service Regional Administrator on any framework adjustment to 
a fishery management plan. Documents pertaining to framework 
adjustments are available for public review 7 days prior to a final 
vote by the Council.

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

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: October 18, 2002.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-27163 Filed 10-23-02; 8:45 am]
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