[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 225 (Tuesday, November 23, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68132-68133]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E4-3289]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 111704A]


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 meetings of its Shrimp Committee, Mackerel Committee, Protected 
Resources Committee, Dolphin Wahoo Committee and Snapper Grouper 
Committee. The Council will also hold a joint meeting of its Ecosystem-
Based Management Committee and Habitat Committee, a joint Executive/
Finance Committees meeting, and closed sessions of its Personnel 
Committee and Advisory Panel (AP) Selection Committee. In addition, 
there will be a public hearing addressing Action 5 in Amendment 6 to 
the Shrimp Fishery Management Plan (FMP) (Federal permits) and a 
meeting of the full Council.

DATES: The meeting will be held in December 2004. See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at Sheraton Atlantic Beach, 2717 
Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach, NC 28512; telephone: (1-800) 624-8875 
or (252) 240-1155, fax: (252) 240-1452.
    Copies of documents are available from Kim Iverson, Public 
Information Officer, 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; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Meeting Dates

    1. Joint Ecosystem-Based Management and Habitat Committee Meeting: 
December 6, 2004, 1:30 p.m. - 5 p.m.
    During the joint meeting, the Committees will review the status of 
the Council's Draft Action Plan for Ecosystem-Based Management and 
receive an update on workshops conducted thus far relevant to the 
Action Plan. The Committees will also receive a briefing on the results 
of the joint meeting of the Council's Habitat AP and Coral AP and 
provide staff with direction for continued work regarding Ecosystem-
Based Management.
    Note: A public hearing for Action 5 (federal shrimp permits) in 
Amendment 6 to the Shrimp Fishery Management Plan (FMP) will be held 
December 6, 2004 beginning at 6 p.m.
    2. Personnel Committee Meeting: December 7, 2004, 8:30 a.m. - 10 
a.m. (CLOSED SESSION)
    The Committee will receive a report from the Executive Director 
regarding staff issues.
    3. Joint Executive Committee and Finance Committee Meeting: 
December 7, 2004, 10 a.m. until 12 noon
    The Committees will receive an update on the Calendar Year (CY) 
2004 budget, the status of the Fiscal Year 2005 Congressional budget, 
Approve the CY 2005 activities schedule and the 2005 CY budget, and 
receive a report on the status of the CY 2005-09 grant budget.
    4. Shrimp Committee Meeting: December 7, 2004, 1:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m.
    The Shrimp Committee will review the public comments received 
regarding Action 5 to Amendment 6 to the Shrimp FMP. Action 5 in the 
amendment addresses alternatives for federal shrimp vessel permit 
requirements in the South Atlantic exclusive economic zone (EEZ). After 
reviewing comments, the Committee will develop recommendations for full 
Council to consider.
    5. Mackerel Committee Meeting: December 7, 2004, 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 
p.m.
    The Mackerel Committee will review public comments regarding 
Amendment 15 to the FMP for Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources 
(mackerel) in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic. Amendment 15 
addresses the current permit moratorium for king mackerel and proposed 
changes to the fishing year for both king and Spanish mackerel in the 
South Atlantic. The Committee will review Final Amendment 15 and

[[Page 68133]]

develop recommendations for the full Council.
    6. Advisory Panel Selection Committee Meeting: December 7, 2004, 
3:30 p.m. 5 p.m. (CLOSED SESSION)
    The Advisory Panel Selection Committee will meet to review 
applications to the Council's advisory panels and develop 
recommendations to full Council.
    7. Protected Resources Committee Meeting: December 8, 2004, 8:30 
a.m. - 10 a.m.
    The Protected Resources Committee will receive an update on 
protected resources activities, a report on the Southeast Aquatic 
Resources Partnership (SARP) meeting, and a briefing on the strategy 
for reducing sea turtle bycatch in fisheries from NMFS. The Committee 
will provide input on future activities regarding protected resources.
    8. Dolphin Wahoo Committee Meeting: December 8, 2004, 10 a.m. - 12 
noon
    The Dolphin Wahoo Committee will meet to discuss tournament sales 
of dolphin and wahoo and take action as necessary.
    9. Snapper Grouper Committee Meeting: December 8, 2004, 1:30 p.m. 5 
p.m. and December 9, 2004, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
    The Snapper Grouper Committee will meet to continue its review of 
draft Amendment 13B to the Snapper Grouper FMP and choose its preferred 
management measure alternatives. In addition, the Committee will 
discuss the issue of the renewal timeframe for federal snapper/grouper 
permits.
    10. Council Session: December 10, 2004, 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
    From 8:30 a.m. - 8:45 a.m., the Council will call the meeting 
order, make introductions and roll call and adopt the meeting agenda.
    From 8:45 a.m. - 9:15 a.m., the Council will hear a report from the 
Shrimp Committee and approve Amendment 6 for formal Secretarial review.
    Note: A public comment period on Action 5 (permit requirements) in 
Shrimp Amendment 6 will be held at 8:45 a.m.
    From 9:15 a.m. - 9:30 a.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the Joint Executive/Finance Committee and take action to approve the CY 
2005 Activities Schedule and Budget.
    From 9:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m., the Council will hear a report from the 
Mackerel Committee and approve Amendment 15 to the FMP for Coastal 
Migratory Pelagics in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic for formal 
Secretarial review.
    Note: A public comment on Mackerel Amendment 15 will be held at 
9:30 a.m.
    From 9:45 a.m. - 10 a.m., the Council will hear a report from the 
Snapper Grouper Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 10 a.m. - 10:15 a.m., the Council will hear a report from the 
joint meeting of the Ecosystem-Based Management Committee and Habitat 
Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 10:15 a.m. - 10:45 a.m., the Council will hear a report from 
the Advisory Panel Selection Committee and appoint Advisory Panel 
members.
    From 10:45 a.m. - 11 a.m., the Council will hear a report from the 
Protected Resources Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 11 a.m. - 11:15 a.m., the Council will hear a report from the 
Dolphin Wahoo Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 11:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., the Council will hear a report from 
the Law Enforcement Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 11:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m., the Council will receive status 
reports from NMFS Southeast Regional Office.
    From 11:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m., the Council will receive a briefing 
on litigation and other legal issues affecting the Council (CLOSED 
SESSION).
    From 12:15 p.m. - 1:30 p.m., the Council will hear agency and 
liaison reports, discuss other business, and review 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.
    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 December 3, 2004.

    Dated: November 18, 2004.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E4-3289 Filed 11-22-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S