[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 222 (Monday, November 18, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69508-69509]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-29216]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 111202D]


North Pacific 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 North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its 
advisory committees will hold public meetings December 2-9, 2002, in 
Anchorage, Alaska.

DATES: The meetings will be held on December 2, 2002 through December 
9, 2002. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES: The Anchorage Hilton Hotel, 500 W 3rd Avenue, Anchorage, 
Alaska 99501.
    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: The Council's Advisory Panel (AP) will begin 
at 8 a.m., Monday, December 2, and continue through Friday, December 6, 
2002. The Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will begin at 8 
a.m. on Monday, December 2, and continue through Wednesday, December 4, 
2002. Other Committees to be held during the week: Joint Protocol/
Council/Board of Fish, 6 p.m. on Tuesday, December 3 in the King Salmon 
Room. Ecosystem Panel (Council, SSC, AP) 1 p.m.-5 p.m. on Tuesday, 
December 3 in the Aspen/Spruce Room.
    The Council will begin its plenary session at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, 
December 4, continuing through Tuesday December 9. All meetings are

[[Page 69509]]

open to the public except executive sessions.
    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. Report:
    (a) Executive Director's Report
    (b) NMFS Management Report
    (c) Alaska Department of Fish &Game (ADF&G) Management Report
    (d) Coast Guard Report
    (e) United States Fish & Wildlife Service Report
    (f) National Academy of Science Steller Sea Lion report
    (g) Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) National Committee report (if 
available)
    2. Crab Rationalization: Receive Committee reports and determine 
preferred alternatives for completed trailing amendments. Discuss 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) progress and alternatives. Provide 
direction/alternatives on Pribilof blue king crab rebuilding plan.
    3. Gulf of Alaska (G0A) Rationalization; Receive report from GOA 
Work Group, discuss alternatives for formal analysis, and provide 
direction to staff and work group.
    4. Essential Fish Habitat (EFH): Receive Committee report and 
clarify mitigation alternatives for analysis.
    5. American Fisheries Act Issues: Final action on Pacific cod 
sideboard issues (T). Review initial co-op reports and agreements (full 
reports in February).
    6. Improved Retention/Improved Utilization (IR/IU): Receive 
Committee report and clarify mitigation alternatives for analysis.
    7. Groundfish Issues: Final report from F40 review. Review NMFS 
discussion paper on Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) rockfish 
management. Review alternative for total allowable catch (TAC)-setting 
process amendment package. Review and approve BSAI and GOA Stock 
Assessment and Fishery Evaluation(SAFE) report and recommend final 
catch specifications and bycatch apportionments for 2003. Review 
discussion paper on Amendment 64 (BSI fixed gear Pacific cod 
allocations) and finalize alternatives for analysis.
    8. Staff Tasking: Review tasking and committees and provide 
direction to staff.
    9. Other Business: Approve AP and SSC appointments for 2003
    Scientific and Statistical Committee: The SSC agenda will include 
the following issues:
    (a) C-3 EFH
    (b) Review Halibut log book data
    (c) C-1 Rationalization (T)
    (d) D-1(a) F40 Final Report
    (e) D-1(b,c) BSAI Rockfish and TAC setting
    (f) D-1(d,e) BSAI/GOA SAFE
    (g) American Fisheries Act
    Advisory Panel: The Advisory Panel will address the same agenda 
issues as the Council, with the exception of the Reports under Item 
1 of the Council agenda.
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come 
before the discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), those issues 
may not be the subject of formal Council action during these meetings. 
Action will be restricted to those issues specifically listed in this 
notice and any issue 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 this 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 Gail Bendixen at 907-271-2809 at 
least 7 working days prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: November 12, 2002.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-29216 Filed 11-15-02; 8:45 am]
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