[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 37 (Friday, February 25, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9273-9274]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-769]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 021805D]


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Southeastern Data, Assessment and 
Review (SEDAR); Fisheries of the South Atlantic; Fisheries of the Gulf 
of Mexico; Public Meeting

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

ACTION:  Notice of Assessment Workshop (SEDAR 8) for Caribbean 
Yellowtail Snapper and Spiny Lobster and Review Workshop (SEDAR 8) for 
Caribbean Yellowtail Snapper and Spiny Lobster and South Atlantic and 
Gulf of Mexico Spiny Lobster.

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SUMMARY:  The SEDAR process for the Caribbean Yellowtail Snapper and 
Spiny Lobster consists of a series of three workshops: a data workshop, 
an assessment workshop, and a review workshop. This is the eighth SEDAR 
cycle. The data workshop is completed. This is a notice of scheduling 
for the remaining workshops.

DATES:  The SEDAR 8 Assessment Workshop for yellowtail snapper and 
spiny lobster will take place March 14 18, 2005. The review workshop 
will be held May 16 20, 2005. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for 
specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES:  The Assessment Workshop will be held at the Divi Carina Bay 
Resort, 25 Estate Turner Hole, Christianised, USVI 00820. The Review 
Workshop will be held at the Best Western San Juan Airport Hotel, Luis 
Munoz Marin International Airport, 2\nd\ Floor, Carolina, Puerto Rico 
00981.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Graciela Garcia-Moliner, Caribbean 
Fishery Management Council, 268 Munoz Rivera Ave, Suite 1108, San Juan, 
PR 00918-2577; telephone: (787) 766-5927; or John Carmichael, SEDAR 
Coordinator, SEDAR/South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, One 
Southpark Circle, Suite 306, Charleston, SC 29407; telephone: (843) 
571-4366 or toll free (866) SAFMC-10; fax: (843) 769-4520.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, and 
Caribbean Fishery Management Councils, in conjunction with NOAA 
Fisheries and the Atlantic and Gulf States Marine Fisheries 
Commissions, have implemented the SEDAR process, a multi-step method 
for determining the status of fish stocks in the Southeast Region. 
SEDAR typically includes three workshops: (1) Data Workshop, (2) 
Assessment Workshop, and (3) Review Workshop. The product of the Data 
Workshop and the Assessment Workshop is a stock assessment report, 
which describes the fisheries, evaluates the status of the stock, 
estimates biological benchmarks, projects future population conditions, 
and recommends research and monitoring needs. The assessment report is 
independently peer reviewed at the Review Workshop. The products of the 
Review Workshop are a Consensus Summary Report, which reports Panel 
opinions regarding the strengths and weaknesses of the stock assessment 
and input data, and an

[[Page 9274]]

Advisory Report, which summarizes the status of the stock. Participants 
for SEDAR workshops are appointed by the Regional Fishery Management 
Councils. Participants include data collectors, database managers, 
stock assessment scientists, biologists, fisheries researchers, 
fishermen, environmentalists, Council members, international experts, 
and staff of Regional Councils, Interstate Commissions, and state and 
Federal agencies.
    During the Assessment Workshop a stock assessment will be developed 
based on consensus data compiled during the Data Workshop. The product 
of the Assessment Workshop is a detailed assessment report which will 
comprise one component of the SEDAR 8 report. During the Review 
Workshop and independent panel of peers including stock assessment 
experts, biologists, researchers, fishermen, and environmentalists will 
review the assessment and data reports. The product of the Review 
Workshop will be a consensus summary detailing the review panel's 
opinions, recommendations, and conclusions regarding the stock 
assessment.
    The Review Workshop for SEDAR 8 will also review a stock assessment 
of South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Spiny Lobster conducted by the 
State of Florida.
    The Assessment Workshop will be held at the Divi Carina Bay Resort 
in Christiansted, St. Croix, USVI. The workshop schedule is as follows:
    March 14, 2005, 1 p.m. - 10 p.m.
    March 15 17, 2005, 8 a.m. - 10 p.m.
    March 18, 2005, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
    Please note that during the scheduled times there will be a mixture 
of workshop plenary sessions and dedicated group working sessions. The 
actual schedule of sessions during each day will be determined on an 
as-needed basis.
    The Review Workshop will be held at the Best Western San Juan 
Airport in Carolina, Puerto Rico. The workshop schedule is as follows:
    May 16, 2005, 1 p.m. - 10 p.m.
    May 17 19, 2005, 8 a.m. - 10 p.m.
    May 20, 2005, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
    Please note that during the scheduled times there will be a mixture 
of workshop plenary sessions and dedicated group working sessions. The 
actual schedule of sessions during each day will be determined on an 
as-needed basis.
    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 these meetings. 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 the South Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) at 
least 5 business days prior to the workshop.

    Dated: February 22, 2005.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E5-769 Filed 2-24-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S