[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 147 (Thursday, July 31, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 44918]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-19519]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[I.D. 072303A]


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 2-day Council meeting on August 13-14, 2003, to consider actions 
affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

DATES: The meeting will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, August 13 
and 14, 2003. The meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday and 8:30 
a.m. on Thursday.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Peabody Marriott Hotel, 8A 
Centennial Drive, Peabody, MA 01960; telephone (978) 977-0010. 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:

Wednesday and Thursday, August 13 and 14, 2003

    Following introductions, the Council will consider final approval 
of management measures for inclusion in Amendment 10 to the Atlantic 
Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan, based on public comments on the 
associated Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. The 
action may include alternatives to improve scallop yield through area 
rotation or other measures; to minimize impacts on essential fish 
habitat and bycatch; to revise the management and permitting process 
for scallop fishing with general category permits; to modify or 
introduce new procedures to collect fishery data; to conduct and fund 
habitat research through set-asides; and to make management changes 
through the framework adjustment process. The Council also will 
consider revising the scallop overfishing definition to be compatible 
with area rotation and long-term closures, as well as changing the 
fishing year. Any other outstanding business will be addressed before 
adjournment of the meeting.
    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 Fishery 
Conservation and Management 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 Paul J. Howard (see ADDRESSES) at least 5 days 
prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: July 25, 2003.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-19519 Filed 7-30-03; 8:45 am]
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