[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 1 (Wednesday, January 2, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 168]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-25437]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN: 0648-XE74


New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council's (Council) 
Groundfish Committee will meet to consider actions affecting New 
England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

DATES: The meeting will be held on Thursday, January 17, 2008, at 9 am.

ADDRESSES: The meeting 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 items of discussion in the committee's 
agenda are as follows:
    The Council's Groundfish Oversight Committee (Committee) will meet 
to continue development of Amendment 16 to the Northeast Multispecies 
Fishery Management Plan. The Committee will resume its discussion of 
suggestions from the National Marine Fisheries Service for sector 
policies. Issues expected to be addressed include, but are not limited 
to, universal sector exemptions, where possible; how to address 
monitoring sectors pertaining to the Eastern U.S./Canada total 
allowable catches (TACs); crediting catch history; monitoring catch 
locations, and a possible delay of sector implementation until fishing 
year 2010. The Committee may also address other sector policy issues, 
but will not revisit permit history baseline decisions made at the 
meeting on December 12-13, 2007. The Committee will also begin 
development of a process for setting Annual Catch Limits (ACLs), as 
required by the Magnuson-Stevens Act. This discussion will include not 
only the administrative process (such as how often ACLs will be 
reviewed), but will consider the technical details for setting ACLs. 
Issues that are likely to be discussed include, but are not limited to, 
accounting for catches of groundfish in other fisheries (e.g. 
yellowtail flounder in the scallop fishery, cod catches in state waters 
fisheries, etc.), and allowing for uncertainty in assessments and 
management. 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 this group 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

    This meeting is 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 days 
prior to the meeting date.

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

    Dated: December 27, 2007.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-25437 Filed 12-31-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S