[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 71 (Thursday, April 14, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19734-19735]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-1756]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 041105C]


Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Meetings

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

ACTION:  Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY:  The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) and its 
Atlantic Mackerel Committee; its Research Set-Aside Committee; its 
Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Committee; its Ecosystems Committee; and, its 
Executive Committee will hold public meetings.

DATES:  The meetings will be held Monday, May 2, 2005 through Thursday, 
May 5, 2005. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times 
of the meetings.

ADDRESSES: This meeting will be at the Princess Royale Oceanfront Hotel 
and Conference Center, 9100 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD 21842 
telephone 410-524-2544.
    Council address: Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 300 S. 
New Street, Dover, DE 19904, telephone 302-674-2331.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel T. Furlong, Executive Director, 
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; telephone: 302-674-2331, ext. 
19.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Dates and Times for the Meetings

    On Monday, May 2, the Atlantic Mackerel Committee with its Advisory 
Panel will meet from 1-5 p.m. On Tuesday, May 3, the Atlantic Mackerel 
Committee will meet from 8a.m.-5 p.m.; the Research Set-Aside Committee 
will meet from 1-2 p.m.; and, the Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Committee 
with its Advisory Panel will meet from 2-4 p.m. On Wednesday, May 4, 
the Ecosystems Committee will meet from 8-10 a.m., and the Council will 
convene at 10 a.m. From 10 a.m. through 12 noon, Council will approve 
the March Council meeting minutes and action items from the March 
Council meeting, hear organizational and liaison reports, hear the 
Executive Director's Report, and hear a report on the status of the 
Council's Fishery Management Plans (FMP). From 1-5 p.m., Council will 
address Amendment 14 and Framework 6 to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and 
Black Sea Bass FMP; address Amendment 9 to the Atlantic Mackerel, 
Squid, Butterfish FMP; and, discuss Framework 1 to the Spiny Dogfish 
FMP. On Thursday, May 5, the Executive Committee will meet from 8-9 
a.m. Council will convene at 9 a.m., and from 9-11 a.m., Council will 
receive presentations from individuals affiliated with NMFS and the 
University of Rhode Island (URI). At 11 a.m. the Council will receive 
committee reports and entertain any new and/or continuing business.
    Agenda items for the Council's committees and the Council itself 
are: on Monday, May 2, the Atlantic Mackerel Committee and its advisors 
will review and discuss comments received regarding a controlled/
limited access system for mackerel. On Tuesday, May 3, the Atlantic 
Mackerel Committee will continue to review and discuss comments 
regarding a controlled/limited access system for mackerel. The Research 
Set-Aside Committee will review 2006 Request for Proposals (RFP), and 
review and comment on changes to NOAA's grant

[[Page 19735]]

process. The Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Committee and its advisors will 
review the status of clams/quahogs and assess quota management outcomes 
including the need, if any, to implement a VMS for the surflcam fleet. 
On Wednesday, May 4, the Ecosystems Committee will develop a draft 
questionnaire for state public hearings. Following this committee 
meeting, the Council will convene to approve the March Council meeting 
minutes and approve action items from the March Council meeting. The 
Council will also hear organizational and liaison reports, the 
Executive Director's report and a report on the status of the MAFMC's 
FMPs. Council will receive an update on Amendment 14 and Framework 6 to 
the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass FMP and address the issue 
of quota transfers; receive an update on Amendment 9 to the Atlantic 
Mackerel, Squid, Butterfish FMP; and, Council will review options 
regarding multi-year setting of specifications for spiny dogfish as 
proposed in Framework 1 to the Spiny Dogfish FMP and adopt a preferred 
option for submission to the Secretary. On Thursday, May 5, the 
Executive Committee will receive reports regarding outcomes from the 
Council Chairmen's meeting. The Council will convene and hear 
presentations on NMFS Recreational Fisheries Strategic Plan, and URI's 
view of the use of property rights in fishery management; hear 
Committee reports, and entertain any new and/or continuing business.
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come 
before the Council for discussion, these issues may not be the subject 
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 actions 
to address such emergencies.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Kathy Collins (302-674-2331) at 
least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: April 11, 2005.
Emily Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E5-1756 Filed 4-13-05; 8:45 am]
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