[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 135 (Friday, July 15, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40989-40990]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-3776]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 071105B]


Pacific 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 Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Highly 
Migratory Species Management Team (HMSMT) and Highly Migratory Species 
Advisory Subpanel (HMSAS) will hold work sessions, which are open to 
the public.

DATES: The HMSMT work sessions will be Wednesday, August 3, 2005, from 
1 p.m. until 5 p.m. and Friday, August 5, 2005, from 9 a.m. until 
business for the day is completed. The HMSMT will hold a joint work 
session with the HMSAS on Thursday, August 4, 2005, from 8 a.m. until 5 
p.m.

ADDRESSES: The work sessions will be held at the United States Tuna 
Foundation offices, Conference Room, 1 Tuna Lane, San Diego, CA 92101; 
telephone: (619) 233-6407.
    Council address: Pacific Fishery Management Council, 7700 NE 
Ambassador Place, Suite 200, Portland, OR 97220-1384.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Kit Dahl, Pacific Fishery 
Management Council; telephone: (503) 820-2280.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The main purpose of these work sessions is 
for the HMSMT and HMSAS to develop a preliminary range of alternatives 
for the modification of the annual August 15 through November 15 
prohibition on drift gillnet fishing in federal and state waters in 
Monterey Bay, CA, and vicinity north to the 45[deg] N latitude 
intersect with the Oregon Coast (66 FR 44549). This time/area closure 
was first implemented in 2001 based on the reasonable and prudent 
alternatives in a biological opinion issued by NMFS on October 23, 
2000, consequent of a formal consultation under section 7 of the 
Endangered Species Act (ESA). The primary purpose of this time/area 
closure is to reduce the incidental take of endangered leatherback sea 
turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) and threatened loggerhead sea turtles 
(Caretta caretta).
    More recent information suggests that the time/area closure could 
be modified to improve fishing opportunity without increasing the 
incidental take of these sea turtles. The range of alternatives for 
modification of this time/area closure, if adopted by the Council, will 
be evaluated in an environmental assessment or environmental impact 
statement, as required by the National Environmental Policy Act. Any 
preferred alternative chosen by the Council would also be subject to a 
reinitiation of consultations under section 7 of the ESA. A second 
topic to be discussed during these work sessions is the modification of 
regulations which currently prohibit holders of a permit issued under 
the HMS fishery management plan from targeting swordfish on the high 
seas with pelagic longline gear or landing more than 10 swordfish on 
the West Coast. As with the aforementioned drift gillnet fishery time/
area closure, these measures are consequent of a biological opinion 
focusing on the incidental take of the same two species of sea turtles. 
As part of these work sessions the HMSMT and HMSAS may begin 
considering alternatives which would allow prosecution of a pelagic 
longline fishery for swordfish while not increasing the overall 
incidental take of these ESA-listed sea turtles. These HMSMT and HMSAS 
work sessions are for the purpose of developing information for

[[Page 40990]]

the Council's consideration at a future Council meeting; no management 
actions will be decided by the HMSMT or HMSAS at these work sessions.
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in the meeting agendas 
may be discussed, those issues may not be the subject of formal action 
during these meetings. 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 intent to 
take final action to address the emergency.

Special Accommodations

    The meetings are 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.

    Dated: July 12, 2005
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E5-3776 Filed 7-14-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S