[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 52 (Tuesday, March 18, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12894-12895]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-6472]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 031003E]


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.

DATES: The meetings will be held on Monday, March 31, 2003 through 
Tuesday, April 8, 2003. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific 
dates and times.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Anchorage Hilton Hotel, 500 
W 3rd Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501.
    Council address: North Pacific Fishery Management Council, 605 W. 
4th Ave., Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 99501-2252.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Council's Advisory Panel will begin at 8 
a.m., Monday, March 31 and continue through Saturday, April 5, 2003. 
The Scientific and Statistical Committee will begin at 8 a.m. on 
Monday, March 31, and continue through Wednesday, April 2, 2003.
    The Council will begin its plenary session at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, 
April 2 continuing through Tuesday April 8th. All meetings are 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. Reports
    (a) Executive Director's Report
    (b) NMFS Management Report
    (c) Alaska Department of Fish &Game (ADF&G) Management Report
    (d) Coast Guard Report
    (e) U.S. Fish &Wildlife Report
    2. Gulf of Alaska Rationalization (GOA): Receive draft analytical 
outline, refine Alternatives as necessary.
    3. Crab Rationalization: (a) Receive Committee reports and finalize 
action on trailing amendments; (b) Department of Justice opinion on 
anti-trust issues.
    4. Steller Sea Lion (SSL) Issues: (a) Review draft response to 
Biological Opinion (BiOp) remand; (b) National Academy of Science SSL 
Report - Schedule discussion for future action; (c) Report on Aleutian 
Island pollock closure analysis.
    5. Essential Fish Habitat (EFH): Receive progress report on 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) development, objectives, and 
research plan.
    6. Programmatic Groundfish Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement (PGSEIS): Receive progress report.
    7. Bering Sea/Aleutian Island (BSAI) Pacific Cod Allocation: 
Initial review of Amendment 77 (allocations among fixed gear 
components).
    8. Improved Retention/Improved Utilization (IR/IU): (a) Review 
proposal for Trailing Amendment A (multi-species head & Gut (H&G) co-
ops), and associated allocation issues; (b) Initial review of Trailing 
Amendment C (minimum retention standards); (c) Final review of Trailing 
Amendment D (5% exemption); and (d) Discussion of relationship of 
Amendment A & C.
    9. Observer Program: Review timeline and analytical outline for 
restructuring observer program.
    10. Halibut Subsistence: (a) Final action on Ninilchik inclusion; 
(b) Report on other potentially eligible communities.
    11. Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program: Final action on 
``other species'' exemption
    12. Groundfish Issues: (a) Discuss future actions resulting from 
F40 Report; (b) Receive progress report on rockfish/non-target species 
management; (c) Review status of TAC-setting amendment package; (d) 
Review request(s) for Experimental Fishing Permits (halibut donation 
and salmon excluder device); (e) Recommend VIP rates for latter half of 
2003; (f) SSC comments on National Standards 1 guidelines; and (g) 
Review research priorities.
    13. Staff Tasking: Review tasking and committees and provide 
direction to staff.
    14. Other Business.
    Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC): The SSC agenda will 
include the following issues:
    1. C-1 GOA Rationalization
    2. C-3 Steller Sea Lion
    3. C-4 Essential Fish Habitat
    4. C-5 PGSEIS
    5. C-6 BSAI Cod Allocation
    6. C-7 IR/IU
    7. C-8 Observer Program
    8. D-1 Groundfish Issues
    Advisory Panel: The Advisory Panel will address the same agenda 
issues as the Council.
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come

[[Page 12895]]

before this Council for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, these 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 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 Gail Bendixen at 907-271-2809 at 
least 7 working days prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: March 13, 2003.
Peter H. Fricke,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-6472 Filed 3-17-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S