[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 168 (Friday, August 29, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51997-51998]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-22187]



[[Page 51997]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 082503F]


South Atlantic 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 South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold meetings of its Snapper Grouper Committee, Highly Migratory 
Species Committee, Information and Education Committee and a joint 
meeting of its Executive Committee and Finance Committee. In addition, 
a public comment period will be held regarding Snapper Grouper 
Amendment 13A addressing the Oculina Experimental Closed Area. There 
will also be a full Council Session.

DATES: The meetings will be held Tuesday, September 16, 2003 through 
Thursday, September 18, 2003. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for 
specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at Pawleys Plantation, 70 
Tanglewood Drive, Pawleys Island, SC, 29585; telephone: (1-800) 267-
9959 or (843) 237-6100.
    Copies of documents are available from Kim Iverson, Public 
Information Officer, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, One 
Southpark Circle, Suite 306, Charleston, SC 29407-4699.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Iverson, Public Information 
Officer; telephone: 843-571-4366 or toll free at 866/SAFMC-10; fax: 
843-769-4520; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Meeting Dates

    1. Snapper Grouper Committee Meeting: September 16, 2003, 8:30 
a.m.- 5 p.m. and September 17 from 8:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m.
    The Snapper Grouper Committee will receive a report on the 
Southeastern Data, Assessment and Review (SEDAR) process for yellowtail 
snapper and goliath grouper, and an update on the overall SEDAR 
process. The Committee will review the final version of Amendment 13A 
to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and develop 
recommendations for Council. In addition, the Committee will review a 
draft of Amendment 13B to the Snapper Grouper FMP and develop 
recommendations for staff. The Committee will also receive a report on 
the status of Amendment 14 to the Snapper Grouper FMP addressing the 
use of marine protected areas as a management tool.
    2. Highly Migratory Species Committee and SSC Meeting: September 
17, 2003, 10:30 a.m. until 12 noon.
    The Highly Migratory Species Committee will receive a presentation 
from NOAA Fisheries on the proposed rule for Atlantic sharks and 
Amendment 1 to the Highly Migratory FMP and provide comment.
    3. Information & Education Committee: September 17, 2003, 1:30 
p.m.- 3:30 p.m.
    The Committee will review and develop recommendations regarding 
options for the Council's web site hosting and design. The Committee 
will also review and comment on a draft publication about the Council 
and discuss outreach/education plans for the Oculina Experimental 
Closed Area and Habitat Area of Particular Concern off the coast of 
Florida.
    4. Joint Executive Committee and Finance Committee Meeting: 
September 17, 2003, 3:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m.
    The Executive Committee will meet jointly with the Finance 
Committee and receive an update on the Calendar Year (CY) 2003 budget 
and the status of the Fiscal Year 2004 Congressional budget. The 
Committees will develop recommendations for CY 2004 Fishery Management 
Plan, Plan Amendment and Framework timelines as well as approve the CY 
2004 budget.
    5. Council Session: September 18, 2003, 8:30 a.m. 12 noon and 
September 19, 2003 from 8:30 a.m. until 12 noon.

September 18, 2003

    From 8:30 a.m. - 8:45 a.m., the Council will have a Call to Order, 
introductions and roll call, adoption of the agenda, and approval of 
the June 2003 meeting minutes.
    From 8:45 a.m. - 9:15 a.m., the Council will conduct an election 
for Chairman and Vice-Chairman.
    From 9:15 a.m. - 10:15 a.m., the Council will hear a report from 
the Snapper Grouper Committee. Beginning at 9:15 a.m., a public comment 
period will be held for Snapper Grouper Amendment 13A. Following public 
comment, the Council will approve Amendment 13A for submission to the 
Secretary of Commerce.
    From 10:15 a.m. - 10:45 a.m., the Council will hear a report from 
the Highly Migratory Species Committee and provide comment of the 
proposed rule for Atlantic sharks and Amendment 1 to the Highly 
Migratory Species FMP.
    From 10:45 a.m. - 12 noon, the Council will receive a briefing on 
litigation and other legal issues affecting the Council (CLOSED 
SESSION).

September 19, 2003

    From 8:30 a.m. - 9 a.m., the Council will receive a report from the 
Information and Education Committee.
    From 9 a.m. - 9:30 a.m., the Council will receive a joint report 
from the Executive and Finance Committees and take action to approve 
the 2004 Activities Schedule and timelines. The Council will also 
approve the 2004 Administrative Budget.
    From 9:30 a.m. - 10 a.m., the Council will receive an update on the 
status of the Federal Fisheries Managers Conference.
    From 10 a.m. - 11 a.m., the Council will receive NOAA Fisheries 
status reports on the Sargassum FMP final rule, the Dolphin Wahoo FMP 
and implementation of the Atlantic Coast Cooperative Statistics Program 
(ACCSP) in the Southeast Region. NOAA Fisheries will also give status 
reports on landings for Atlantic king mackerel, Gulf king mackerel 
(eastern zone), Atlantic Spanish mackerel, snowy grouper, golden 
tilefish, wreckfish, greater amberjack and south Atlantic octocorals.
    From 11 a.m. - 12 noon, the Council will hear agency and liaison 
reports, discuss other business and upcoming meetings.
    Documents regarding these issues are available from the Council 
office (see ADDRESSES).
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come 
before this Council for discussion, those issues may not be the 
subjects of formal Council 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 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 the Council office (see ADDRESSES) 
by September 11, 2003.


[[Page 51998]]


    Dated: August 25, 2003.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-22187 Filed 8-28-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S