[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 11 (Friday, January 16, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2579-2580]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-1011]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 011204B]


North Pacific 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 North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and 
its advisory committees will hold public meetings.

DATES:  The meetings will held from February 2 through February 10, 
2004. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES:  The meetings will be held at the Anchorage Hilton Hotel, 
500 W 3rd Avenue, Anchorage, AK.
    Council address: North Pacific Fishery Management Council, 605 W. 
4th Ave., Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 99501-2252.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Council staff, Phone: 907-271-2809.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Council's Advisory Panel will begin at 8 
a.m., Monday, February 2, and continue through Saturday, February 7, 
2004. The Scientific and Statistical Committee will begin at 8 a.m. on 
Monday, February 2, and continue through Wednesday, February 4, 2004.
    The Council will begin its plenary session at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, 
February 4 continuing through Tuesday February 10. All meetings are 
open to the public except executive sessions. The Enforcement Committee 
will meet Tuesday, February 3, at 4:30 pm in the Aleutian Room.
    Council Plenary Session: The agenda for the Council's plenary 
session will include the following issues. The Council may take 
appropriate action on any of the issues identified.
1. Reports
    (a) Executive Director's Report
    (b) NMFS Report
    (c) United States Coast Guard Report
    (d) Alaska Department Fish & Game Reports
    (e) United States Fish & Wildlife Report
    (f) International Pacific Halibut Commission Report
    2. Gulf of Alaska Rationalization (GOA): (a) Receive Board of 
Fisheries Workgroup Report; (b) Review and refine alternatives and 
options; (c) Review GOA salmon/crab bycatch discussion paper.
    3. Observer Program: (a) Program overview (Alaska Fishery Science 
Center); (b) Receive progress report on Program Restructuring Analysis.
    4. Improved Retention/Improved Utilization (IR/IU): (a) Receive 
update on Amendment 79; (b) Review Progress report on Amendments 80a 
and 80b.
    5. Habitat Areas of Particular Concern (HAPC): Receive report on 
proposals received.
    6. Crab Environmental Impact Statement (EIS): Initial review and 
release for public comment.
    7. Congressional legislative (T): Discuss and provide direction on

[[Page 2580]]

Aleutian Island pollock and GOA rockfish.
    8. American Fisheries Act: Review 2003 co-op reports and 2004 co-op 
agreements.
    9. Draft Programmatic Supplemental Impact Statement (DPSEIS): (a) 
Report on comments received on draft; (b) Report on Endangered Species 
Act Consultation; (c) Review Groundfish Fishery Management Plan.
    10. Steller Sea Lion (SSL) mitigation adjustments in GOA: Review 
NMFS informal consultation.
    11. Groundfish Management: (a) Review National Bycatch Strategy and 
Alaska Region Report; (b) Review Crab/Groundfish overfishing 
definitions and multispecies models (SSC); (c) Review Exempted Fishing 
Permits (EFP) request for rockfish fishery.
    12. Scallop Management: (a) Review Stock Assessment Fishery 
Evaluation; (b) Discuss Fishery Management Plan update.
    13. Staff Tasking: Review tasking and provide direction to staff.
    14. Other Business.
    Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC): The SSC agenda will 
include the following issues:
    1. C-1 Observer Program
    2. C-4 HAPC
    3. C-5 Crab EIS
    4. C-8 DPSEIS
    5. C-9 SSL Mitigations
    6. D-1 Groundfish Management
    7. D-2 Scallop Management
    Advisory Panel: The Advisory Panel will address the same agenda 
issues as the Council.
    Enforcement Committee: The Enforcement Committee will meet during 
each meeting of the Council to discuss enforcement issues or concerns 
related to any subject on the Council agenda.
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come 
before this Council for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, these issues may not 
be the subject of formal Council action during the meeting. Council 
action will be restricted to those issues specifically identified in 
the agenda 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 Gail Bendixen at 907-271-2809 at 
least 7 working days prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: January 12, 2004.
Peter H. Fricke,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 04-1011 Filed 1-15-04; 8:45 am]
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