[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 246 (Thursday, December 23, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 76921]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E4-3781]



[[Page 76921]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 122004A]


Pacific Fishery Management Council; Coastal Pelagic Species 
Fishery Management Plan Work Sessions Focused on Pacific Sardine 
Allocation.

AGENCY:  National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION:  Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY:  The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Coastal 
Pelagic Species Management Team (CPSMT) will hold a work session, which 
is open to the public.

DATES:  The CPSMT will meet Tuesday, January 11, 2005, from 9 a.m. to 5 
p.m. and Wednesday, January 12, 2005, from 9 a.m. until business for 
the day is completed.

ADDRESSES:  The meetings will be held at National Marine Fisheries 
Service, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Large Conference Room (D-
203), 8604 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, California 92037, (858) 
546-7000
    Council address: Pacific Fishery Management Council, 7700 NE 
Ambassador Place, Suite 200, Portland, OR 97220-1384.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Mr. Mike Burner, Pacific Fishery 
Management Council, (503) 820-2280.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The CPSMT will meet to discuss analysis of 
alternative management measures for annual allocation of the Pacific 
sardine harvest guideline. This work will result in development of 
Amendment 11 to the Coastal Pelagic Species (CPS) Fishery Management 
Plan (FMP). The goal is for the Council to take final action on FMP 
Amendment 11 at the June 2005 Council meeting, with implementation by 
the National Marine Fisheries Service in time for the start of the 
January 2006 Pacific sardine season.
    The main purpose of the meeting will be to initiate analysis of 
sardine allocation alternatives, including organization of analytical 
documents, drafting assignments, and schedule for completion of the 
documents. The CPSMT will also discuss initial preparations for 
development of the 2005 CPS Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation 
(SAFE) document.
    At their November 2004 meeting, the Council adopted for analysis 
several alternatives for annual allocation of the Pacific sardine 
harvest guideline. The Council also adopted a series of program 
objectives that were recommended by the Council's Coastal Pelagic 
Species Advisory Subpanel. For the analysis, the Council gave specific 
direction to the CPSMT:
     Analyze each alternative in a consistent manner;
     Review differential impacts on northern and southern 
sectors for each alternative;
     Review effects of high and low catch years by sector for 
each alternative;
     Review resulting effects at various harvest guideline (HG) 
levels ranging from 25,000 mt- 200,000 mt (at appropriate intervals) 
for each alternative; and
     At the discretion of the CPSMT, combine aspects of the 
various alternatives to create new alternatives that meet program 
objectives.
    Program objectives and specific alternatives adopted for analysis 
are available from the Council. See the Winter 2004 Edition of the 
Pacific Council News, on-line at: http://www.pcouncil.org/newsletters/2004/winter04.pdf. This information is also available upon request from 
Council staff, please contact Mr. Mike Burner.
    Please note that this is a public meeting, and time for public 
comment will be provided at the discretion of the committee chairmen. 
Generally, a public comment period will be provided just prior to the 
end of each day's session. Please note, this is not a public hearing, 
rather this is a work session for the purpose of analyzing management 
alternatives for Pacific sardine allocation.
    Although nonemergency issues not contained in the meeting agenda 
may come before the CPSMT 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 document and any issues 
arising after publication of this document 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 CPSMT's intent to take final action to address the emergency.

Special Accommodations

    The meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Ms. Carolyn Porter at (503) 820-2280 at least 5 
days prior to the meeting date.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: December 20, 2004.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E4-3781 Filed 12-22-04; 8:45 am]
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