[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 62 (Wednesday, March 31, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 16897]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-7248]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 032504C]


New England 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 New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is 
scheduling a public meeting of its Groundfish Advisory Panel and its 
Groundfish Oversight Committee in April, 2004 to consider actions 
affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). 
Recommendations from these groups will be brought to the full Council 
for formal consideration and action, if appropriate.

DATES: The meetings will be held on April 14, 2004 and April 22, 2004. 
See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will both be held at the Holiday Inn, One 
Newbury Street, Peabody, MA 01960; telephone: (978) 535-4600.
    Council address: New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water 
Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, 
New England Fishery Management Council; telephone: (978) 465-0492.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Meeting Dates and Agendas

    Wednesday, April 14, 2004 at 9:30 a.m. - Groundfish Advisory Panel 
Meeting.
    The panel will continue to work on developing advice for Framework 
40 (FW 40) to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP). 
The primary purpose of FW 40 is to identify opportunities for use of 
Category B days-at-sea (DAS). The Advisory Panel will consider 
opportunities to use these DAS both in Special Access Programs and 
outside of these programs. The Panel will develop recommendations for 
all of the restrictions associated with the use of Category B DAS, 
including requirements for gear, areas, seasons, possession limits, and 
reporting and monitoring requirements. The Panel may also develop 
advice for other provisions that are being considered in FW 40, such as 
changes to the DAS transfer and leasing conservation tax. The Panel's 
recommendations will be reported to the Groundfish Oversight Committee 
for consideration at a future meeting. They will consider other 
business as necessary.
    Thursday, April 22, 2004 at 9:30 a.m. - Groundfish Oversight 
Committee Meeting.
    The committee will continue to develop FW 40 to the Northeast 
Multispecies FMP. The primary purpose of FW 40 is to identify 
opportunities for use of Category B days-at-sea (DAS), though this 
framework does include provisions that will modify elements of the DAS 
leasing and transfer regulations and the allocation of Category B 
(reserve) DAS. The Committee will consider opportunities to use 
Category B DAS both in Special Access Programs and outside of these 
programs. They will consider recommendations from the Groundfish 
Advisory Panel for all of the restrictions associated with the use of 
Category B DAS, including requirements for gear, areas, seasons, 
possession limits, and reporting and monitoring requirements. The 
Committee will also develop detailed requirements for other provisions 
that are being considered in FW 40, such as changes to the DAS transfer 
and leasing conservation tax. They may also discuss other business as 
necessary. The Council will consider the Committee's recommendations at 
a future date.
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come 
before this group for discussion, those issues may not be the subject 
of formal action during this meeting. 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 Paul J. Howard (see ADDRESSES) at 
least 5 days prior to the meeting dates.

    Dated: March 26, 2004.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 04-7248 Filed 3-30-04; 8:45 am]
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