[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 9 (Monday, January 14, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 2225]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-373]



[[Page 2225]]

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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN: 0648-XE96


Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

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

SUMMARY: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council), its 
Mid-Atlantic Bycatch Committee, its Research Set-Aside Committee, its 
Ecosystems Committee, its Protected Resources Committee, its Executive 
Committee, and its Surfclam/Ocean Quahog Committee, will hold public 
meetings.

DATES: The meetings will be held Tuesday, January 29, 2008 through 
Thursday, January 31, 2008. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific 
dates and times.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Hampton Roads Convention 
Center, 1610 Coliseum Drive, Hampton, VA 23666; telephone: (888) 484-
4722.
    Council address: Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 300 S. 
New Street, Dover, DE 19904; telephone: (302) 674-2331.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel T. Furlong, Executive Director, 
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; telephone: (302) 674-2331, 
ext. 19.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

    11 a.m. until 1 p.m. - The Bycatch Committee will meet.
    1 p.m. until 3 p.m. - The Research Set-Aside (RSA) Committee will 
meet.
    3 p.m. until 5 p.m. - The Ecosystems Committee will meet.

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

    8 a.m. until 9 a.m. - The Protected Resources Committee will meet.
    9 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. - The Executive Committee will meet.
    10:30 a.m. until noon - The Surfclam/Ocean Quahog Committee will 
meet.
    1 p.m. - The Council will convene to receive a Marine Debris 
presentation and a (Northeast Monitoring Program) NEAMAP Trawl Survey 
presentation.
    7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. - A Public Hearing for Amendment 1 to 
Tilefish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) will be held.

Thursday, January 31, 2008

    The Council will convene at 9 a.m. and conclude approximately at 1 
p.m.
    Agenda items by day for the Council's committees and the Council 
itself are:

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

    The Bycatch Committee will review the use of circle hooks in 
various fisheries, review hook manufacturing survey results, review use 
of buoy gear to reduce bycatch, and address the bycatch consequence of 
highgrading. The RSA Committee will discuss alternative approaches to 
reviewing project final results and incorporating them into the 
management process; discuss restructuring the RSA program to a 
``Cooperative Agreement'' instead of traditional ``Grant''; and, 
discuss development of a Mid-Atlantic Consortium similar to the 
Northeast Consortium. The Ecosystems Committee will receive an EPA 
report on National Coastal Condition, and receive and discuss the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA) Ecosystem Workshop report.

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

    The Protected Resources Committee will receive a report on Harbor 
Porpoise Take Reduction Team activities, and receive a status update on 
the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Program. The Executive 
Committee will review the outcome from the most recent Council 
Coordination Committee meeting and review the proposed changes to the 
Council's Statement of Organization, Practices and Procedures (SOPP) 
regarding the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC). The Surfclam/
Ocean Quahog Committee will consider issues/actions to be addressed in 
Amendment 14 to the Surfclam and Ocean Quahog FMP. The Council will 
convene to receive a presentation regarding marine debris and the 
results of the most recent NEAMAP Trawl Survey. A Public Hearing 
regarding Amendment 1 to the Tilefish Fishery Management Plan will be 
held in the evening.

Thursday, January 31, 2008

    The Council will convene at 9 a.m. and remain in session until 
approximately 1 p.m. to receive various reports.
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come 
before the Council for discussion, these issues may not be the subject 
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 actions 
to address such emergencies.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to M. Jan Bryan, (302) 674-2331 ext. 
18, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: January 8, 2008.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-373 Filed 1-11-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S