[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 32 (Friday, February 16, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7608-7610]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-2738]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 021207E]


South Atlantic 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 South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold a meeting of its Snapper Grouper Committee, Southeast Data, 
Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) Committee, Controlled Access Committee, 
Mackerel Committee, Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) 
Selection Committee, a joint meeting of its Habitat Committee and 
Ecosystem-Based Management Committee, Economics Committee, Shrimp 
Committee, Information and Education Committee, a joint meeting of its 
Executive Committee and Finance Committee, and a meeting of the full 
Council. In addition, the Council will also hold a public hearing 
regarding Amendment 18 to the Fishery Management Plan for Coastal 
Migratory Pelagics in the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, and a 
general public input session.

DATES: The meetings will be held in March 2007. See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel, 
371 Riverview Drive, Jekyll Island, GA

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31527; telephone: (1-800) 535-9547 or (912) 635-2600; fax: (912) 635-
2818. Copies of documents are available from Kim Iverson, Public 
Information Officer, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 4055 
Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, North Charleston, SC 29405.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Iverson, Public Information 
Officer; telephone: (843) 571-4366 or toll free at (866) SAFMC-10; fax: 
(843) 769-4520; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Meeting Dates

1. Snapper Grouper Committee Meeting: March 5, 2007, 1:30 p.m. until 6 
p.m., and March 6, 2007, from 8 a.m. until 12 noon.

    The Snapper Grouper Committee will receive reports and develop 
recommendations for: the gag grouper stock assessment from NOAA 
Fisheries, the Oculina Evaluation Report regarding the size and 
configuration of the Oculina Experimental Closed Area, and Amendment 14 
to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan regarding marine 
protected areas (MPAs), including comments received regarding the Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement and transit issues. In addition, the 
Committee will receive a report on the status of Amendment 15 to the 
Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan (rebuilding for snowy grouper, 
black sea bass, and red porgy, etc.) and NOAA Fisheries' updates on the 
online quota monitoring system and the status of the permits/logbook/
landings database and ability to tie landings to vessels. The Committee 
will also discuss allocations of species in the snapper grouper 
management complex.

2. SEDAR Committee Meeting: March 6, 2007, 1:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. 
The SEDAR Committee will review actions from the SEDAR Steering 
Committee, discuss scientific research priorities, review appointees 
for SEDAR 15 (assessments for greater amberjack and white grunt), 
discuss the status of vermilion snapper update, and the process for 
establishing a total allowable catch (TAC).

3. Controlled Access Committee Meeting: March 6, 2007, 2:30 p.m. until 
4:30 p.m.

    The Controlled Access Committee will meet to discuss the 
establishment of a Limited Access Privilege (LAP) Program Workgroup, 
review a list of nominees and meeting dates, and develop 
recommendations for appointing workgroup members. The Committee will 
also review a draft Action Plan for LAPs and develop recommendations.
    March 6, 2007, 4:30 p.m. - The Council will hold a Public Input 
Session. Members of the public are invited to address the Council on 
items listed on the agenda or any other fishery issue that falls under 
the jurisdiction of the Council.
    March 6, 2007, 6 p.m. - The Council will hold a Public Hearing for 
Amendment 18 to the Fishery Management Plan for Coastal Migratory 
Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic. The 
Amendment addresses changes in TAC for both king and Spanish mackerel 
and changes in the fishing year for Spanish mackerel.

4. Mackerel Committee Meeting: March 7, 2007, 8 a.m. until 11 a.m.

    The Mackerel Committee will receive an overview of Amendment 18 
timing issues and develop recommendations. The Committee will also 
review a draft scoping document for Amendment 16 (boundary and mixing 
issues, permits, and separate management plans from Gulf of Mexico 
Fishery Management Council) and make recommendations.

5. Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) Selection Committee 
Meeting: March 7, 2007, 11 a.m. until 12 noon

    The SSC Selection Committee will meet to discuss new requirements 
affecting the SSC in the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act amendments.

6. Joint Habitat and Ecosystem-Based Management Committees Meeting: 
March 7, 2007, 1:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m.

    The Habitat and Ecosystem-Based Management Committees will receive 
a presentation on Liquid Nitrogen Gas exploration and review and 
approve policy statements on energy and offshore aquaculture. The 
Committees will also review and approve the Deep Water Coral Research 
Plan and receive updates on the status of the Council's Fishery 
Ecosystem Plan (FEP) and FEP Comprehensive Amendment.

7. Economics Committee Meeting: March 7, 2007, 4:30 p.m. until 6 p.m.

    The Economics Committee will review the Socioeconomics Section of 
the draft FEP and make recommendations. The Committee will also discuss 
development of a Socioeconomic Guidance Document and develop 
recommendations.

8. Shrimp Committee Meeting: March 8, 2007, 8 a.m. until 10 a.m.

    The Shrimp Committee will review a report of the Shrimp Review 
Panel and provide recommendations, receive an overview of the ``use it 
or lose it'' provision for the rock shrimp fishery and develop 
recommendations, and discuss additional items to include in Amendment 6 
to the Shrimp FMP and make recommendations.

9. Information and Education Committee Meeting: March 8, 2007, 10 a.m. 
until 12 noon.

    The Information and Education Committee will receive an update on 
the Council website and provide recommendations.

10. Joint Executive/Finance Committees Meeting: March 8, 2007, 1:30 
p.m. until 3 p.m.

    The Executive and Finance Committees will meet to discuss the 
status of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 Congressional budget, review the 
Calendar Year (CY) 2007 FMP/Amendment/Framework timelines, develop CY 
2007 activities schedule and budget, and discuss amendments to the 
reauthorized Magnuson-Stevens Act.

11. Council Session: March 8, 2007, 3:30 p.m. until 6 p.m. and March 9, 
2007, 8 a.m. until 12 noon

Council Session: March 8, 2007

    From 3:30 p.m.--3:45 p.m., the Council will call the meeting to 
order, adopt the agenda, and approve the December 2006 meeting minutes.
    From 3:45 p.m.--4 p.m., the Council will receive a report from the 
Scientific and Statistical Committee regarding its December 2006 
meeting.
    From 4 p.m.--5 p.m., the Council will hear a report from the 
Snapper Grouper Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 5 p.m.--5:15 p.m., the Council will hear a report from the 
SEDAR Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 5:15 p.m.--5:45 p.m., the Council will hear a report from the 
Controlled Access Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 5:45 p.m.--6 p.m., the Council will hear a report from the 
Mackerel Committee and take action as appropriate.

Council Session: March 9, 2007

    From 8 a.m.--8:30 a.m., the Council will receive a NOAA General 
Counsel briefing on litigation issues (CLOSED SESSION).
    From 8:30 a.m.--8:45 a.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the SSC Selection Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 8:45 a.m.--9 a.m., the Council will receive a report from the 
Joint

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Habitat and Ecosystem-Based Committees and take action as appropriate.
    From 9 a.m.--9:15 a.m., the Council will receive a report from the 
Economics Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 9:15 a.m.--9:30 a.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the Shrimp Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 9:30 a.m.--9:45 p.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the Information and Education Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 9:45 a.m.--10 a.m., the Council will receive a report from the 
Joint Executive/Finance Committees and take action as appropriate.
    From 10 a.m.--12 noon, the Council will receive a report regarding 
the Council Chairmen's Meeting, receive status reports from NOAA 
Fisheries' Southeast Regional Office, NOAA Fisheries' Southeast 
Fisheries Science Center, agency and liaison reports, review 
Experimental Fishing Permit applications as necessary, and discuss 
other business including upcoming meetings.
    Documents regarding these issues are available from the Council 
office (see ADDRESSES).
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come 
before this Council for discussion, those issues may not be the 
subjects of formal Council action during these meetings. 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 action to address the emergency.
    Except for advertised (scheduled) public hearings and public 
comment, the times and sequence specified on this agenda are subject to 
change.

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 Council office (see ADDRESSES) 
by March 1, 2007.

    Dated: February 12, 2007.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-2738 Filed 2-15-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S