[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 61 (Friday, March 30, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15115-15116]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-5823]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 032607D]


New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of public committee meetings.

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SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council's (Council) 
Multispecies (Groundfish) Advisory Panel and Committee will hold 
meetings to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the 
exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

DATES: The meetings will be held April 19-20, 2007. For specific dates 
and times, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Holiday Inn, One Newbury 
Street, Peabody, MA 01960; telephone: (978) 535-4600.
    Council address: New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water 
Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The advisory panel and committee's schedule 
and agenda for the following two meetings are as follows:

1. Thursday, April 19, 2007, beginning at 9 a.m. - Groundfish Advisory 
Panel Meeting

    The Groundfish Advisory Panel (Panel) will meet to review scoping 
comments received for Amendment 16 to the Northeast Multispecies 
Fishery Management Plan (FMP). This amendment will adopt measures as 
necessary to continue the rebuilding of several stocks of groundfish, 
as well as make other changes to the FMP that may be required. The 
Panel will spend most of its time reviewing two alternative management 
proposals received during scoping. One proposal, called area 
management, suggests managing in discrete, finite areas with specific 
measures tailored to those areas. A second proposal suggests allocating 
points to commercial fishing vessels that will be deducted based on 
catch. If time permits, the Panel will also review other comments 
received during scoping, including suggestions for changes to the days-
at-sea (DAS) program and other management measures. The Panel may also 
consider other business. Panel recommendations will be forwarded to the 
Multispecies Committee at a meeting on April 20, 2007.

2. Friday, April 20, 2007, beginning at 9 a.m.- Multispecies 
(Groundfish) Committee Meeting

    The Multispecies Committee will meet to develop Amendment 16 to the 
Northeast Multispecies FMP. This amendment will adopt measures as 
necessary to continue the rebuilding of several stocks of groundfish, 
as well as make other changes to the FMP that may be required. The 
Committee will spend most of its time reviewing two alternative 
management proposals received during scoping. One proposal,

[[Page 15116]]

called area management, suggests managing in discrete, finite areas 
with specific measures tailored to those areas. A second proposal 
suggests allocating points to commercial fishing vessels that will be 
deducted based on catch. The committee will also discuss a proposal for 
a limited entry program for party/charter vessels fishing in the Gulf 
of Maine. Other business may also be discussed. Committee 
recommendations will be forwarded to the Council for action at a future 
date.
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come 
before these groups for discussion, those issues may not be the subject 
of formal action during this meeting. Action will be restricted to 
those issues specifically identified in this notice and any issues 
arising after publication of this notice 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 Council's 
intent to take final action to address the emergency.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are 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 working days prior to the meeting date.

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: March 26, 2007.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-5823 Filed 3-29-07; 8:45 am]
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