[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 231 (Monday, December 2, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 71538]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-30455]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 112502D]


Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting/public hearing.

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SUMMARY: The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
meet on December 16, 2002, at 2 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The Council meeting will be held via telephone conference 
call at the Council offices, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu, 
HI 96813; telephone: (808)522-8220; fax: (808) 522-8226.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director; 
telephone: 808-522-8220.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The agenda during the Council meeting will 
include the items listed here:

1. Pelagic Fisheries

    Consideration of new provisions for turtle conservation measures 
for pelagic vessels in the Western Pacific.
    In 2002, the Western Pacific Council developed a regulatory 
framework adjustment to the Pelagic Fisheries Management Plan (PFMP) 
which was intended to minimize interactions with and harm to sea 
turtles. These measures stemmed from the non- discretionary Reasonable 
and Prudent Measures contained in a Endangered Species Act Biological 
Opinion published by the NMFS in 2001. Although primarily intended for 
the Hawaii longline fishery, these measures included provisions for all 
pelagic fisheries under the jurisdiction of the Council. The measures 
included requirements for small troll and handline vessels to carry 
bolt cutters and line clippers, to remove hooks and fishing line from 
any turtles caught while fishing. A new Biological Opinion for pelagic 
fisheries in the Western Pacific was completed on November 15, 2002. 
The new Opinion states that in the event of interaction with a sea 
turtle, operators of vessels using handline and trolling fishing gears 
to target Pacific pelagic management unit species in waters of the U.S. 
Western Pacific Exclusive Economic Zone, must handle the sea turtle in 
a manner to minimize injury and promote post-hooking survival as 
previously published in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR 660.32 (c) 
and (d)). The Council will consider whether initial action is required 
to adjust the WPFMC regulatory requirements, in order to be consistent 
with the language in the new Biological Opinion. A public hearing will 
be held to give the public opportunity to comment before the Council 
takes action on this agenda item.

2. Other Business

    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come 
before the Council for discussion, those issues may not be the subject 
of formal Council action during this meeting. Council action will be 
restricted to those issues specifically listed in this document and to 
any issue arising after publication of this document that requires 
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.

Special Accommodations

    This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Kitty M. Simonds, 808-522- 8220 (voice) or 808-
522-8226 (fax), at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: November 25, 2002.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-30455 Filed 11-29-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S