[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 47 (Friday, March 11, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 12204]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-1025]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 030705C]


New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold 
a three-day Council meeting on March 29-31, 2005, to consider actions 
affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

DATES: The meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 29, 2005, beginning 
at 9 a.m. and on Wednesday and Thursday, March 30 and 31, beginning at 
8:30 a.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Hotel Viking, One Bellevue 
Avenue, Newport, RI 02840; telephone (401) 847-3300. Requests for 
special accommodations should be addressed to the New England Fishery 
Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950; 
telephone (978) 465-0492.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, 
New England Fishery Management Council, (978) 465-0492.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Tuesday, March 29, 2005

    Following introductions, the Council will receive reports from the 
Council Chairman, Executive Director, the NMFS Regional Administrator, 
Northeast Fisheries Science Center and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management 
Council liaisons, NOAA General Counsel, representatives of the U.S. 
Coast Guard, NMFS Enforcement and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries 
Commission. Additional reports to the Council will address the recent 
Gear Conflict Workshop held by members of the fishing industry and an 
update on the New England Fleet Visioning Project. During the morning 
session, the Council will receive two briefings on ecosystem approaches 
to fisheries management, followed by a question and answer period.
    Following a lunch break, there will be an opportunity to review and 
comment on the draft proposed rule for Framework Adjustment 17 to the 
Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan (FMP). During this discussion, 
there will be a particular focus on the ``power down'' provision for 
scallop general category vessel that are required to carry vessel 
monitoring systems. There will be initial Council action on Framework 
Adjustment 1 to the Spiny Dogfish FMP, a modification to the plan that 
would allow multi-year specifications to be set for the fishery. At the 
end of the day, NOAA Fisheries staff will brief the Council on the 
alternatives contained in the Draft Environmental Impacts Statement for 
the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan and the potential impact 
of the proposed measures on Council fishery management plans.

Wednesday, March 30, 2005

    During the Wednesday morning session, the Council Executive 
Director will provide a report on a draft Council Conservation and 
Management Policy. Following Council comments and possible approval of 
the policy, the remainder of the day will be used to address bycatch 
issues. Specifically, the Council's Bycatch Committee will discuss 
bycatch reduction measures for the herring, whiting and groundfish 
fisheries. The Council will make final decisions concerning which 
measures would be the most appropriate to implement through a possible 
framework adjustment, or alternatively, through Emergency Action, 
Flexible Area Action System, or other vehicle. If the Council agrees to 
implement measures through a framework, final action could be taken at 
this meeting to approve measures for inclusion in the Northeast 
Multipspecies and/or Herring FMPs.

Thursday, March 31, 2005

    The morning session will begin with a summary of the activities 
currently underway and associated with development of EFH Omnibus 
Amendment 2. An open period for public comments on subjects 
not otherwise listed on the agenda also will be provided. A report from 
the Groundfish Committee will follow. Issues to be addressed include 
final action on Framework Adjustment 41 to the Northeast Multispecies 
FMP (access to Closed Area I hook gear sector/haddock special access 
program for non-sector vessels) a report on the development of the 
biennial framework adjustment for fishing years 2005-2006 and 
recommendations for the Eastern U.S. Canada Area for fishing year 2005.
    Although other non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda 
may come before this Council for discussion, those issues may not be 
the subjects of formal 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 that the public has been notified of the Council's intent to 
take final action to address the emergency.

Special Accommodations

    This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Paul J. Howard (see ADDRESSES) at least 5 days 
prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: March 8, 2005.
Emily Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E5-1025 Filed 3-10-05; 8:45 am]
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