[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 9, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6839-6840]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-530]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 020305B]


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 Snapper Grouper Committee, Advisory Panel 
Selection Committee, Joint Executive and Finance Committees, Controlled 
Access Committee, Highly Migratory Species Committee, and a meeting of 
the full Council. In addition, there will be a public scoping meeting 
addressing the Fishery Ecosystem Plan and Comprehensive Amendment.

DATES:  The meeting will be held in February and March 2005. See 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Hilton Savannah DeSoto 
Hotel, 15 East Liberty Street, Savannah, GA 31401 Telephone: (1-800) 
426-8483 or 912/ 232-9000, FAX 912/ 232-6018.
    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; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Meeting Dates

    1. Snapper Grouper Committee Meeting: February 28, 2005, 1:30 p.m. 
- 5 p.m. and March 1, 2005, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
    The Snapper Grouper Committee will review draft Amendment 13B 
regarding mandates under the Sustainable Fisheries Act to address 
overfishing and choose management measure alternatives. In addition, 
the Committee will review and develop recommendations for the ``Oculina 
Closed Area Evaluation Plan'', receive an update on the Large Whale 
Take Reduction Team Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and 
Proposed Rule, and receive a presentation by NOAA Fisheries' Southeast 
Regional Office on linking permits and landings databases.
    Note: A public scoping meeting on the Fishery Ecosystem Plan and 
Comprehensive Amendment will be held February 28, 2005 beginning at 6 
p.m.
    2. Advisory Panel Selection Committee Meeting: March 2, 2005, 8:30 
a.m. - 10 a.m. (CLOSED SESSION)
    The Committee will review advisory panel applications and develop 
recommendations for Council consideration.
    3. Joint Executive Committee and Finance Committee Meeting: March 
2, 2005, 10 a.m. until 12 noon
    The Committees will receive an update on additional Calendar Year 
(CY) 2005 funds and review the CY 2005 activities schedule. The 
Committees will also review activities and budgets for Ecosystem-based 
management, the Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) stock 
assessment process, and Coral activities, and receive a report on the 
status of the CY 2005-2009 grant budget.
    4. Controlled Access Committee Meeting: March 2, 2005, 1:30 p.m. - 
5 p.m.
    The Controlled Access Committee will receive an introduction to 
rights-based systems, discuss Individual

[[Page 6840]]

Fishing Quotas (IFQs), and receive a presentation on IFQs in Alaska.
    5. Highly Migratory Species Committee Meeting: March 3, 2005, 8:30 
a.m. 12 noon
    The Highly Migratory Species Committee will receive a presentation 
regarding Amendment 2 to the Atlantic Tuna, Swordfish, Shark, and 
Billfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) from NOAA Fisheries. The 
Committee will discuss bluefin tuna and shark management issues 
following the presentation.
    6. Council Session: March 3, 2005, 1:30 p.m. - 5 p.m. and March 4, 
2005, 8:30 a.m. - 12 noon
    From 1:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m., the Council will call the meeting 
order, make introductions and roll call and adopt the meeting agenda.
    From 1:45 p.m. 2:45 p.m., the Council will hear a report from the 
Snapper Grouper Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 2:45 p.m. - 3:15 p.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the Joint Executive/Finance Committee and approve the CY 2005 
Activities Schedule and Budget.
    From 3:15 p.m. - 3:45 p.m., the Council will hear a report from the 
Advisory Panel Selection Committee and approve appointment of advisory 
panel members.
    From 3:45 p.m. - 4:15 p.m., the Council will hear a report from the 
Controlled Access Committee.
    From 4:15 p.m. - 4:45 p.m., the Council will hear a report from the 
Highly Migratory Species Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 4:45 p.m. - 5 p.m., the Council will review the status of the 
Red Drum FMP.
    Council Session: March 4, 2005, 8:30 a.m. - 12 noon.
    From 8:30 a.m. - 9 a.m., the Council will receive a briefing on 
litigation and other legal issues affecting the Council (CLOSED 
SESSION)
    From 9 a.m. - 9:30 a.m., the Council will discuss Exempted Fishery 
Permit requests and take action as appropriate.
    From 9:30 a.m. - 10 a.m., the Council will review the Atlantic 
States Marine Fisheries Commission's Law Enforcement Policy and take 
action as appropriate.
    From 10 a.m. - 11 a.m., the Council will hear status reports from 
NOAA Fisheries' Southeast Regional Office and the Southeast Fishery 
Science Center.
    From 11 a.m. - 12 noon, the Council will receive 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 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 February 25, 2005.

    Dated: February 4, 2005.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E5-530 Filed 2-8-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S