[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 226 (Monday, November 24, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65891-65892]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E3-00388]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 111703G]


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 a meeting of its Snapper Grouper Advisory Panel, a joint meeting 
of its Snapper Grouper Committee and Advisory Panel, Highly Migratory 
Species Committee, Mackerel Committee, Shrimp Committee, Information 
and Education Committee, and a joint meeting of its Executive Committee 
and Finance Committee. In addition, there will be a meeting of the full 
Council.

DATES:  The meeting will be held in December 2003. See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES:  The meeting will be held at the Blockade Runner Beach 
Resort, 275 Waynick Blvd. Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480. Telephone: 1-
800-541-1161 or 910-256-2251. Copies of documents are available from 
Kim Iverson, Public Information Officer, South Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council at 843-571-4366.
    Council address: 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].

[[Page 65892]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Meeting Dates and Times

    1. Snapper Grouper Advisory Panel Meeting: December 8, 2003, 8:30-
12 noon
    The Snapper Grouper Advisory Panel (AP) will receive an update on 
the Southeastern Data, Assessment and Review (SEDAR) process. The AP 
will receive an overview of Amendment 13B to the Snapper Grouper 
Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and discuss options.
    2. Joint Snapper Grouper Committee and Advisory Panel Meeting: 
December 8, 2003, 1:30-5:30 p.m. and December 9, 2003, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 
p.m.
    The Snapper Grouper Committee and AP will receive a status report 
on the economic work on the Snapper Grouper Cost/Earnings Study, the 
black sea bass capacity report, a report on a North Carolina 
socioeconomic project, the North Carolina State observer study, a 
report on the latest bycatch log book results, and a presentation on 
the expanded electronic log book project. In addition, AP members will 
comment on the status of the snapper/grouper fishery in their area. The 
Committee and AP will also receive an overview of Amendment 13B to the 
Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and develop 
recommendations for the Council to consider. The Committee and AP will 
receive an overview of the public hearing document for Amendment 14 to 
the Snapper Grouper FMP and develop recommendations for the Council to 
consider. The Committee and AP will also develop comments on the 
Management Plan for Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary.
    3. Highly Migratory Species Committee Meeting: December 10, 2003, 
8:30-9:30 a.m.
    The Highly Migratory Species Committee will receive a report on the 
November meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation 
of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) and the status of the bluefin tuna quota and 
harvest in North Carolina.
    4. Mackerel Committee Meeting: December 10, 2003, 9:30-12 noon
    The Mackerel Committee will receive an update on the SEDAR for 
mackerel, review the options paper for Amendment 15 to the Coastal 
Migratory Pelagics FMP, and develop alternatives for the Council to 
consider regarding the options paper.
    5. Shrimp Committee Meeting: December 10, 2003, 1:30-5:30 p.m.
    The Shrimp Committee will receive status reports from NOAA 
fisheries on the shrimp vessel observer program, the bycatch data 
collection plan and the shrimp business plan. In addition, the 
Committee will review the options paper for Amendment 6 to the Shrimp 
FMP and develop alternatives for the Council to consider.
    6. Information and Education Committee, December 11, 2003, 8:30-
10:30 a.m.
    The Information and Education Committee will review the consensus 
recommendations from the joint Committee and AP meeting earlier this 
year. The Committee will review and develop recommendations regarding 
options for the Council's web site hosting and design. The Committee 
will also discuss outreach/education plans for the Oculina Experimental 
Closed Area and Habitat Area of Particular Concern off the coast of 
Florida.
    7. Joint Executive Committee and Finance Committee Meeting: 
December 11, 2003, 10:30-12 noon and 1:30-2:30 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 and Activities Schedule. 
The Committees will also approve the CY 2004 budget and Operations 
Plan.
    8. Council Session: December 11, 2003, 3-6 p.m.
    3-3:15 p.m., the Council will have a Call to Order, introductions 
and roll call, adoption of the agenda, and approval of the October 2003 
meeting minutes.
    3:15-3:30 p.m., the Council will hear a report from the Highly 
Migratory Species Committee.
    3:30-3:45 p.m., the Council will hear a report from the Mackerel 
Committee.
    3:45-4 p.m., the Council will hear a report from the Joint 
Executive Committee and Finance Committee and approve the 2004 FMP/
Amendment/Framework timelines and the 2004 administrative budget.
    4-6 p.m., the Council will hear a report from the Snapper Grouper 
Committee. The Council will consider Committee recommendations and 
approve alternatives for Amendment 13B to the Snapper Grouper FMP. The 
Council will also consider Committee recommendations on the public 
hearing draft for the marine protected area (MPA) component of 
Amendment 14 to the Snapper Grouper FMP and approve the MPA component 
for the first round of public hearings in 2004.
    9. Council Session: December 12, 2003, 8:30-12 noon
    8:30-9:30 a.m., the Council will receive a briefing on litigation 
and other legal issues affecting the Council (CLOSED SESSION).
    9:30-9:45 a.m., the Council will hear a report from the Information 
and Education Committee.
    9:45-10:15 a.m., the Council will hear a report from the Shrimp 
Committee and approve options for inclusion in Amendment 6 to the 
Shrimp FMP.
    10:15-10:30 a.m., the Council will hear a report on the Federal 
Fisheries Managers Conference held in Washington, DC in November 2003.
    10:30-11 a.m., the Council will hear status reports from NOAA 
Fisheries (NMFS) regarding Snapper Grouper Amendment 13A and the 
proposed rule for the Amendment, the Dolphin/Wahoo FMP and final rule, 
implementation of the Atlantic Coast Cooperative Statistics Program in 
the Southeast Region, and hear landings reports regarding Atlantic king 
mackerel, Gulf king mackerel (eastern zone), Atlantic Spanish mackerel, 
snowy grouper, golden tilefish, wreckfish, greater amberjack, and south 
Atlantic ocotocorals.
    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 December 5, 2003.

    Dated: November 18, 2003.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E3-00388 Filed 11-21-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P