[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 168 (Friday, August 29, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 51959-51960]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-22189]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[I.D. 082503C]


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 three-day public meeting on September 16, 17, and 18, 2003, to 
consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive 
economic zone (EEZ).

DATES: The meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 16, 2003 at 9 
a.m., Wednesday, September 17, 2003 at 8:30 a.m., and on Thursday, 
September 18, at 8:30 a.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn Express, 110 
Middle Street, Fairhaven, Massachusetts 02719; telephone (508) 997-
1281. Requests for special accommodations should be addressed to the 
New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, 
Newburyport, Massachusetts 01950; telephone: (978) 465-0492.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, 
New England Fishery Management Council (781) 231-0422.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Tuesday, September 16, 2003

    Following introductions, the Council will elect its 2003-2004 slate 
of officers followed by reports on recent activities from the Council 
Chairman and Executive Director, NMFS Regional Administrator, NOAA 
General Counsel, Northeast Fisheries Science Center and Mid-Atlantic 
Fishery Management Council liaisons, and representatives of the U.S. 
Coast Guard, NMFS Enforcement and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries 
Commission. Following reports, the Council will receive a NMFS report 
on the status and implementation of electronic reporting for federally 
permitted seafood dealers. The Council is then scheduled to take action 
on the final Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management (FMP) Amendment 10 
documents, including draft regulations, for submission to the Secretary 
of Commerce. The FMP will implement DAS allocations for the 2004

[[Page 51960]]

and 2005 fishing years, increase twine top mesh to 10-inches, increase 
dredge ring size to 4-inches, implement a rotation area management 
closure system, and allocate Hudson Canyon Area trips with a 21,000 lb. 
possession limit and a 9 day-at-sea tradeoff. NMFS will hold a special 
session to gather input from stakeholders on broad themes related to 
fisheries management, including information on daily operations and 
potential ways to evaluate solutions to problems.

Wednesday, September 17, 2003

    The meeting will commence with a report by the Monkfish Committee 
requesting that the Council review and possibly approve the Monkfish 
FMP Amendment 2 Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement 
(DSEIS). If approved, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council 
(MAFMC) will consider approval of the DSEIS in October. Following this 
report, the Council will discuss vessel upgrading and permit issues. 
The Council will discuss its intent concerning the vessel permit 
upgrading baseline during the development of the Monkfish FMP; develop 
a response to the MAFMC's request to examine the issue of small vessel 
length and horsepower upgrade limits in the ``Consistency Amendment'' 
now in effect for a number of the Council and MAFMC FMPs; and develop a 
position about the 30-day sign-in requirement for exempted fisheries 
programs. The day will conclude with a report from the Marine Protected 
Areas (MPA) Committee which will review and seek approval of committee 
recommendations concerning a Council position on MPAs; review and 
approve committee comments developed in response to a Federal Register 
notice on proposed criteria for building an Inventory of Existing 
Marine Managed Areas; and review and approve a draft work plan to 
address MPA issues for consideration in setting 2004 Council 
priorities.

Thursday, September 18, 2003

    The meeting will convene with a Herring Committee Report requesting 
that the Council review and approve a range of management alternatives 
to be analyzed in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for 
Amendment 1 to the Atlantic Herring FMP. The amendment may include the 
following: revised estimates of maximum sustainable yield and optimum 
yield; changes to the process for determining area-specific total 
allowable catch levels (TACs); initial area-specific TACs upon 
implementation of Amendment 1; adjustments to the timing of the 
specification process; adjustments to management area boundaries; a 
limited access program for the Atlantic herring fishery; observer 
coverage requirements; measures to address fixed gear fisheries and 
other effort controls. Following this agenda item, the Council will 
provide a brief opportunity for comments from the public on issues that 
are not otherwise listed on the agenda, but relevant to Council 
business. The Red Crab Committee will review and approve 
recommendations concerning the annual specifications for the red crab 
fishery for fishing year 2004 (March 1, 2004 February 28, 2005). The 
Research Steering Committee will discuss approval of a policy 
concerning the incorporation of cooperative research results into the 
management process. The day will conclude with approval of the 
Council's Standard Operating Procedures and Practices.
    Although other issues not contained in this agenda may come before 
this Council for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act, 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 notice.

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 five days 
prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: August 25, 2003.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-22189 Filed 8-28-03; 8:45 am]
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