[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 191 (Tuesday, October 4, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57864-57866]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-5414]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 092805G]


Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of public meetings and hearings.

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SUMMARY: The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council(s (Council) 
will convene a joint meeting of all its Plan Teams (Pelagics, 
Bottomfish, Crustaceans, Precious Corals, Coral Reef Ecosystem) on 
Thursday October 13 and Friday October 14, 2005, to review draft 
Fishery Ecosystem Plans (FEPs). Further, the Council will also hold 
several public hearings to seek input on the proposal to develop draft 
FEPs for the Mariana Islands, Hawaiian Islands, American Samoa, the US 
Pacific remote islands and the western Pacific pelagic ecosystem. See 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific times, dates, and agenda items.

ADDRESSES: The Joint Plan Team and SSC meetings will be held at the 
Council Office Conference Room, 1164

[[Page 57865]]

Bishop St., Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI; telephone: (808) 522-8220. The 
public hearings on the draft FEPs will be held in October and November 
2005. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific times, dates and 
locations of these public meetings and hearings.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director; 
telephone: 808-522-8220.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Dates and Times and Locations

    The Joint Plan Team meeting will be held between 8:30 a.m. and 5 
p.m. on October 13-14 at the Council Office Conference Room, 1164 
Bishop St., Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI; telephone: (808) 522-8220.
    The SSC meetings will be held between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. on 
October 18-20 at the Council Office Conference Room, 1164 Bishop St., 
Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI; telephone: 808-522-8220.

Joint Plan Team Meetings

8:30 am Thursday, October 13, 2005
1. Introduction
2. Overview of Fishery Ecosystem Plan Development
3. Description of Fishery Ecosystem Plans
    A. FEP Objectives
    B. FEP Boundary
    C. FEP Management Unit Species
    D. Council Structure and Decision Making Process
4. Public Comment
5. Discussion and Recommendations
8:30 am Friday, October 14, 2005
    Agenda to continue on Friday, October 14, 2005 if necessary

SSC Meeting

8:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 18, 2005
1. Introductions -- Paul Callaghan
2. Approval of Draft Agenda and Assignment of Rapporteurs
3. Approval of the Minutes of the 89th Meeting
4. Western Pacific Process for Stock Assessment Review (ACTION ITEM)
5. Insular Fisheries
    A. Bottomfish Management
1. Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) Bottomfish Overfishing Options (ACTION 
ITEM)
2. Report on HI Bottomfish Habitat and Impact
    B. Black Coral Management (ACTION ITEM)
    C. Crustaceans Management
1. Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) Lobster Model Review
2. MHI Lobster Fishery Assessment
3. Plan Team Recommendations
    D.Public Comment
    E.Discussion and Recommendations
6. Ecosystem and Habitat
    A. Western Pacific Fishery Ecosystem Plans (ACTION ITEM)
1. FEP Objectives
2. FEP Boundaries
3. FEP Management Unit Species
    B. Marianas FEP Pilot Project (ACTION ITEM)
1. Ecosystem Indicators
2. Inshore Community Initiatives
3. Offshore Bank Management
    C. Draft Coral Reef Ecosystem Annual Report
    D. Reconstruction of Coral Reef and Bottomfish Fisheries Catches
    E. National Academy of Science Ecosystem Panel
    F. Plan Teams Recommendations
    G. Public Comment
    H. Discussion and Recommendations
8:30 a.m. Wednesday, October 19, 2005
7. Pelagics Fisheries
    A. International Fisheries Management
1. Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission
2. Western & central Pacific Fishery Commission
3. NMFS PIRO International Division Activities
4. Pacific Yellowfin Stock Condition
5. North Pacific Albacore Stock Condition
    B. HI Swordfish Fishery Certificates (ACTION ITEM)
    C. Fish aggregating device (FAD) Management -- Paul Dalzell
    D. Definition of shortlines vs. Longlines
    E. MHI Longline Buffer Zones
    F. American Samoa FAD Closures
    G. Update on HI Longline Biological Opinion
    H. American Samoa & Hawaii Longline Fisheries Quarterly Reports
    I. American Samoa Pelagic Research Projects
    J. Plan Team Recommendations
    K. Public Comment
    L. Discussion and Recommendations
8. Protected Species
    A. Third International Fishers Forum
    B. Malaysia Longline Bycatch Workshop
    C. Turtle Conservation Program Update
    D. Economics of Sea Turtle Conservation
    E. Green Sea Turtle Harvest Potential
    F. Cetacean Research Workshop
    G. Sea Turtle Research Project
    H. Public Comment
    I. Discussion and Recommendations
8:30 a.m. Thursday, October 19, 2005
9. Other Business
    A. New SSC Members
    B. 91st SSC meeting
10. Summary of SSC Recommendations to the Council -- Paul Callaghan

Draft Fishery Ecosystem Plan Public Hearings

    At its 123rd meeting (June 2004), the Council initiated a process 
to develop fishery ecosystem plans (FEPs), thereby managing fisheries 
within an ecosystem context. Between October and December 2004, the 
Council conducted scoping meetings throughout the region to solicit 
input on establishing a preliminary range of alternatives to develop a 
Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement which will serve as a 
broad-range planning tool for the Council's development and 
implementation of FEP. Based on comments received during scoping, as 
well as other planning activities, the Council is seeking public input 
on the following issues related to the development of draft FEPs:
    1. FEP Objectives;
    2. FEP Boundaries;
    3. FEP Management Unit Species;
    4. Council process relating to advisory body structure; and
    5. Regional Planning Coordination.
    The public hearings on the draft FEPs will be held on the following 
dates, times and locations:1. Pago Pago, American Samoa - Saturday, 
October 22, 2005, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at the Utulei Convention 
Center, Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799.2. Saipan, CNMI - Tuesday 
October 25, 2005, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the American Memorial Park 
Visitor's Center Auditorium, Garapan, CNMI 96950.3. Tinian, CNMI - 
Wednesday, October 26, 2005, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Mayor's Office 
Conference Room, San Jose, CNMI 96950.4. Rota, CNMI - Thursday, October 
27, 2005, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Northern Marianas College, Room A2, 
Rota Tatachog Campus, CNMI 96950.5. Oahu, HI - Tuesday, November 1, 
2005, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Ala Moana Hotel, 410 Atkinson Dr., 
Honolulu, HI 96815.6. Tumon Bay, Guam - Friday November 11, 2005, 10 
a.m., at the Hilton Guam Resort, 96913.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Kitty M. Simonds, 808-522-8220 
(voice) or (808)522-8226 (fax), at least 5 days prior to the meeting 
date.


[[Page 57866]]


    Dated: September 29, 2005.
Emily Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E5-5414 Filed 10-3-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S