[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 202 (Monday, October 20, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 59906]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-26395]



[[Page 59906]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[I.D. 101403A]


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 3-day Council meeting on November 4-6, 2003, to consider actions 
affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

DATES: The meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 4, 2003, beginning 
at 9 a.m. and on Wednesday and Thursday November 5 and 6, beginning at 
8:30 a.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn, One Newbury 
Street, Peabody, MA 01960; telephone (978) 535-4600. 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:

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, November 4-6, 2003

    Following introductions, the Council will receive reports on recent 
activities from the Council Chairman and Executive Director, the NMFS 
Regional Administrator, Northeast Fisheries Science Center and Mid-
Atlantic Fishery Management Council liaisons, NOAA General Counsel and 
representatives of the U.S. Coast Guard, NMFS Enforcement and the 
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. For the remainder of the 
day the Council will focus on discussion, selection, and approval of 
final management measures for inclusion in Amendment 13 to the 
Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP). This process will 
continue through mid-day on Wednesday, November 5. At that time the 
Council has scheduled an open period for public comment on items 
relevant to Council business, but not otherwise listed on the agenda. 
The Council will then continue with the Amendment 13 decision-making 
process through Thursday, November 6. During the afternoon session on 
November 6 the Council will consider initial action on a framework 
adjustment that would allow limited access scallop vessels to fish in 
the Georges Bank areas now closed to protect groundfish. Framework 
Adjustment 16 to the Sea Scallop FMP/Framework Adjustment 39 to the 
Northeast Multispecies FMP could include Total Allowable Catch and 
possession limits for finfish, seasonal access, gear modifications, 
mandatory observer coverage and other measures to minimize bycatch. The 
meeting will adjourn once any other business-related issues have been 
addressed.
    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: October 14, 2003.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-26395 Filed 10-17-03; 8:45 am]
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