[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 17, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7451-7452]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-3394]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 020504E]


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 Committee, Scientific and 
Statistical Committee, Mackerel Committee, and Shrimp Committee. In 
addition, there will be a meeting of the full Council.

DATES: The meetings will be held on March 2-5, 2004. See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at Sea Palms, 5445 Frederica Road, 
St. Simons Island, GA 31522; telephone: (1-800) 841-6268 or (912) 638-
3351.
    Council address: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, One 
Southpark Circle, Suite 306, Charleston, SC 29407-4699.
    Copies of documents are available from Kim Iverson at the Council.

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: March 2, 2004, 8:30 a.m.- 
5:30 p.m. and March 3, 2004, 8:30 a.m.- 10:30 a.m.
    The Snapper Grouper Committee will receive an update on the 
Southeastern Data, Assessment and Review (SEDAR) process and the status 
of Amendment 13A to the Snapper/Grouper Fishery Management Plan (FMP). 
The Committee will receive preliminary results from informational 
public hearings regarding Amendment 14 to the Snapper/Grouper FMP and 
receive a report on the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team. In 
addition, the Committee will discuss and develop recommendations for 
the Council on Amendment 13B to the Snapper Grouper FMP.
    2. Scientific and Statistical Selection Committee Meeting: March 3, 
2004, 10:30 a.m. - 12 noon.
    The Scientific and Statistical Selection Committee will review 
current members of the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), 
discuss interest in expanding the role of the SSC and subcommittees, 
and develop recommendations for the Council.
    3. Mackerel Committee Meeting: March 3, 2004, 1:30 p.m. until 5:30 
p.m.
    The Mackerel Committee will receive an update on the SEDAR for 
mackerel and receive a report on the Atlantic Large Whale Take 
Reduction Team. The Committee will also discuss and develop 
recommendations for the Council on Scoping Documents for Amendment 15 
and Amendment 16 to the Coastal Migratory Pelagics FMP. In addition, 
the Committee will receive a presentation on the Marine Stewardship 
Council.
    4. Shrimp Committee Meeting: March 4, 2004, 8:30 a.m. - 12 noon
    The Shrimp Committee will receive an update on timing for the 
development of Amendment 6 to the Shrimp FMP and develop 
recommendations for the Council. The Committee will also receive a 
report from NOAA Fisheries on observer work and the Bycatch Data 
Collection Plan and develop recommendations for the Council. In 
addition, the Committee will review the options paper for Amendment 6 
to the Shrimp FMP and develop alternatives for the Council to consider.
    Council Session: March 4, 2004, 1:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. and March 5, 
2004 from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m.

March 4, 2004

    From 1:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m., the Council will have a Call to Order, 
introductions and roll call, adoption of the agenda, and approval of 
the December 2003 meeting minutes.
    From 1:45 p.m. - 2:15 p.m., the Council will address the transfer 
of management of red drum to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries 
Commission (ASMFC), including the process for transfer and Essential 
Fish Habitat (EFH) considerations. The Council will take action as 
necessary.
    From 2:15 p.m. - 2:45 p.m., the Council will receive a striped bass 
consultation including background information and possible need for 
action. The Council will take action as necessary.
    From 2:45 p.m. - 5 p.m., the Council will hear a report from the 
Snapper Grouper Committee and take action on Committee recommendations 
as necessary. The Council will also receive a presentation on the final 
red porgy project report.
    From 5 p.m. - 6 p.m., the Council will hear a report from the 
Mackerel Committee. The Council will take action on issues related to 
the SEDAR process for mackerel as well as scoping documents for both 
Amendment 15 and Amendment 16 to the Coastal Migratory Pelagics FMP.

March 5, 2004

    From 8 a.m. - 8:30 a.m., the Council will receive a briefing on 
litigation and other legal issues affecting the Council (CLOSED 
SESSION).
    From 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m., the Council will hear a report from the 
Shrimp Committee and take action regarding timing issues for Amendment 
6 to the Shrimp FMP and NOAA Fisheries' Bycatch Data Collection Plan. 
The Council will also take action regarding the Options Paper for 
Amendment 6 to the Shrimp FMP.
    From 9:30 a.m. - 10 a.m., the Council will hear a report from the 
Ecosystem-Based Management Committee and take action as necessary.
    From 10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m., the Council will receive a Joint Law 
Enforcement Committee and Advisory Panel report and take action as 
necessary.
    From 10:30 a.m. - 11 a.m., the Council will hear a report from the 
SSC Selection Committee and take action on Committee recommendations as 
necessary.
    From 11 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., the Council will receive a report on the 
upcoming Council Chairmen's meeting to be held in April 2004.
    From 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 a.m., the Council will hear status reports 
from NOAA Fisheries regarding small tooth sawfish, National Standard 1 
Guidelines, the Dolphin/Wahoo FMP and Final Rule, Snapper Grouper 
Amendment 13A and Final Rule, Highly Migratory Species management, 
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.
    From 12:30 p.m. - 1 p.m., 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

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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.
    Except for advertised (scheduled) public hearings and public 
comment, the times and sequence specified on this agenda are subject to 
change.

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 March 1, 2004.

    Dated: February 11, 2004.
Peter H. Fricke,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 04-3394 Filed 2-13-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S