[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 62 (Wednesday, March 31, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16898-16899]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-7250]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 032204B]


Western 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 Western Pacific Fishery Management Council is hosting the 
Regional Fishery Management Council Chairs and Executive Directors 
Meeting on Tuesday, April 13, 2004, through Thursday April 15, 2004, in 
Hawaii. The purpose of the meeting is to enable NMFS and NOAA officials 
and others to exchange information with and obtain the individual views 
of the Council Chairs and Executive Directors. See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION for specific times, dates, and agenda items.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in Salon B at the Kaua'i Marriott 
Hotel, Kalapaki Beach, Lihue, Hawaii, 96766 Puna B and C meeting rooms; 
telephone: (808) 245 5050, http://marriotthawaii.com/kauai.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director; 
telephone: (808) 522-8220.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Dates and Times

    There will be a non-public administrative session from 8 a.m. to 1 
p.m. on April 13, 2004, the first general session will be from 2 p.m. 
to 6 p.m. on April 13, 2004. The second general session will be from 8 
a.m. to 6 p.m. on April 14, 2004; and the final general session be from 
8 a.m. until 6 p.m. on April 15, 2004.
    The agenda during the General Session of the Regional Fishery 
Management Council Chairs and Executive Directors meeting will include 
the items listed here. The order in which agenda items are addressed 
may change. The Council will meet as late as necessary to complete 
scheduled business.

Tuesday, April 13, 2004, 2 p.m.

A. Opening Remarks by Western Pacific Council and NOAA Fisheries
B. Regional Highlights
C. Report on Managing the Nation's Fisheries Conference - and proposed 
Sequel Conference in March 2005
D. National Fisheries Conference II - The Future of Fisheries: 
Commercial, Recreational & Aquaculture, October 18-21, 2004 (Tentative)
E. Remarks - The Honorable Wayne T Gilchrest, Chair House Resources 
Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans.
F. MSA Reauthorization and other legislative initiatives.
    1. Briefing from Congressional Staff
    2. Review NOAA Fisheries position document, and proposed bill 
language (if available)
    3. Review of Chairmen's positions on old and new issues

Wednesday, April 14, 2004, 8 a.m.

G. Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA): Proceedings for Council 
Chairs and Executive Directors (CCED) meetings
H. Budget Issues
    1. Council Funding Necessities
    2. 2004 Budget - NOAA Matrix Management Coral Reef & Marine 
Protected Areas (MPAs) (National Ocean Service) & Ecosystem (NMFS)
    3. Availability of 2004 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 
Habitat and Ecosystem Funding for Councils
    4. 2005 Budget Request
    5. 2006 and Beyond
    6. Council Grant Relationships with Regions and NOAA Office of 
Grants Management
I. Enforcement issues:
    1. U.S. Coast Guard Report
    2. NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement
    3. NOAA Fisheries VMS Policy

[[Page 16899]]

J. National Constituent Meetings: Continuing the Dialogue
K. Management Issues:
    1. Marine Protected Areas
    a. National MPA Federal Advisory Committee and MPA Center 
Activities
    b. National Marine Sanctuary Program and Regional Fishery 
Management Council (RFMC) Mandates
    c. Regional Councils
    2. Ecosystem Based Management
    a. Science
    b. Policy
    3. National Standard 1
    4. Stock Assessments

Thursday, April 15, 2004, 8 a.m.

L. Management Issues (Continued)
    5. Regulatory Streamlining - Multi-year versus Annual Actions, NEPA 
Umbrella, etc.
    6. Essential Fish Habitat
    7. Research
    8. Fish Consumption and Health Issues
    9. Litigation
    10. Bycatch
    a. Observer: Implications of National Policy upon Labour Standard 
Act
    b. Technology and Gear (including Private Fish Aggregating Devices)
    11. Latent Effort/Overcapacity
    12. International Issues
    13. Protected Resources
M. Summary of Meeting
N. Next Meeting
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come 
before these groups for discussion, those issues may not be the subject 
of formal action during this meeting. Action will be restricted to 
those issues specifically identified 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 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 Kitty M. Simonds, (808) 522-8220 
(voice) or (808) 522-8226 (fax), at least 5 days prior to the meeting 
date.

    Dated: March 26, 2004.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 04-7250 Filed 3-30-04; 8:45 am]
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