[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 32 (Friday, February 15, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8854-8856]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-2888]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN: 0648-XF64


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 joint meeting of its Limited Access Privilege (LAP) Program 
Workgroup and Committee, LAP Program Committee, a joint meeting of its 
Executive Committee and Finance Committee, Snapper Grouper Committee, 
Law Enforcement Advisory Panel, a joint meeting of its Habitat 
Committee and Ecosystem-Based Management Committee, Spiny Lobster 
Committee, Shrimp Committee, Allocation Committee, Standard Operations, 
Policy and Procedures (SOPPs) Committee, Scientific and Statistical 
Committee (SSC) Selection Committee, and a meeting of the full Council. 
In addition, the Council will also hold a public comment period on 
Amendment 15B to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan (FMP). 
Redstone Consulting Group will provide a presentation on Limited Access 
Privilege Programs.

DATES: The meetings will be held March 3-7, 2008. 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, 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. Joint LAP Program Workgroup and Committee Meeting: March 3, 2008, 1 
p.m. until 6 p.m.

    The LAP Program Workgroup will provide a presentation to the LAP 
Program Committee on its final report and recommendations regarding a 
Limited Access Privilege Program for the commercial snapper grouper 
fishery in the Council's area of jurisdiction.

2. Redstone Consulting Group Presentation on LAP Programs: March 3, 
2008, 6:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.

    The Redstone Consulting Group will provide a presentation on 
Limited Access Privilege Programs.

3. LAP Program Committee Meeting: March 4, 2008, 8 a.m. until 12 noon

    The LAP Program Committee will discuss LAP Programs, possible 
actions, timing issues, and provide directions to staff.

4. Joint Executive and Finance Committees Meeting: March 4, 2008, 1:30 
p.m. until 2:30 p.m.

    The Executive and Finance Committees will meet to review the final 
Calendar Year (CY) Council budget, the CY 2008-2010 FMP/Amendment/
Framework timelines and modify as appropriate. The Committees will also 
receive a report on the President's Fiscal Year 2009 budget and review 
and develop comments on H.R. Bill 4087 introduced by Congressman Jones 
from North Carolina.

5. Snapper Grouper Committee Meeting: March 4, 2008, 2:30 p.m. until 
6:30 p.m. and March 5, 2008, 8 a.m. until 12 noon.

    The Snapper Grouper Committee will review public hearing comments 
on Amendment 15B to the Snapper Grouper FMP and modify the amendment as 
necessary. The Committee will then approve a recommendation that the 
Council submit Amendment 15B to the Secretary of Commerce for review 
and approval. Amendment 15B includes actions to modify current 
recreational sale allowances, define allocations for snowy grouper and 
red porgy, implement a plan to monitor and assess bycatch, implement 
measures to minimize the impacts of incidental take on sea turtles and 
small tooth sawfish, modify commercial permit renewal and 
transferability requirements, and update management reference points 
for golden tilefish.
    The Snapper Grouper Committee will also review Amendment 16 to the 
Snapper Grouper FMP, modify as appropriate, and approve the amendment 
for public hearings. Amendment 16 includes measures to end overfishing 
for gag grouper and vermilion snapper. The Committee will also review 
and discuss public scoping

[[Page 8855]]

comments on Amendment 17 and provide directions to staff on options to 
be developed. Amendment 17 includes measures to respond to stock 
assessments for red snapper, greater amberjack, and mutton snapper, 
specify Annual Catch Limits for species in the snapper grouper fishery 
management unit currently undergoing overfishing, specify 
Accountability Measures as appropriate, extend the management unit 
through the Mid-Atlantic Council's area of jurisdiction, and other 
items. The Committee will also receive a report on a pre-closure survey 
of proposed Marine Protected Areas, and an update on spearfishing 
issues at Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary.

6. Law Enforcement Advisory Panel Meeting: March 4, 2008, 1 p.m. until 
6 p.m. (Concurrent Sessions)

    The Law Enforcement Advisory Panel (AP) will meet to discuss law 
enforcement's role in the development of a LAP Program. The AP will 
also discuss and comment on the following issues: snapper grouper 
amendment issues, spiny lobster issues and a future amendment, open 
water aquaculture, circle hook enforcement, special management areas, 
and the sale of recreationally caught fish.

7. Joint Habitat and Ecosystem-based Management Committee Meeting: 
March 5, 2008, 1:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m.

    The Habitat and Ecosystem-based Management Committees will receive 
a presentation on Vessel Monitoring Systems and review input received 
from the Habitat, Coral, Deepwater Shrimp and Golden Crab Advisory 
Panels regarding the Fishery Ecosystem Plan (FEP) Comprehensive 
Amendment, modify as needed, and approve the amendment for public 
hearings. The Committee will also review the FEP and approve for public 
hearing. In addition, the Committee will review and comment on proposed 
critical habitat for staghorn and elkhorn corals, review and approve 
the Council's Energy Policy, receive a report on deepwater coral 
research, and discuss habitat issues as necessary.

8. Spiny Lobster Committee Meeting: March 6, 2008, 8 a.m. until 10 a.m.

    The Spiny Lobster Committee will review the scoping comments on the 
Generic Import Amendment to the Spiny Lobster FMP. The amendment 
addresses regulations regarding the importation of spiny lobster. The 
Committee will also review the status of changes to lobster regulations 
by the State of Florida, and plan a timeline for an amendment to 
address Annual Catch Limits for spiny lobster.

9. Shrimp Committee Meeting: March 6, 2008, 10 a.m. until 12 noon

    The Shrimp Committee will review scoping comments regarding 
Amendment 7 to the Shrimp FMP and provide directions to staff regarding 
options to be included in the amendment. Amendment 7 addresses landings 
requirements currently in place for South Atlantic endorsements for 
rock shrimp permits.

10. Allocation Committee Meeting: March 6, 2008, 1:30 p.m. until 3:30 
p.m.

    The Allocation Committee will review public scoping comments and 
provide direction to staff regarding options to include in a 
Comprehensive Allocation Amendment. The amendment will address 
allocations between recreational and commercial sectors and possible 
allocations within those sectors.

11. SOPPs Committee Meeting: March 6, 2008, 3:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m.

    The SOPPs Committee will receive an update on the status of 
Secretarial review of the Council's SOPPs and develop changes as 
necessary.

12. SSC Selection Committee Meeting: March 6, 2008, 4:30 p.m. until 
5:30 p.m. (Closed Session)

    The SSC Selection Committee will meet in closed session and discuss 
any guidance from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) 
affecting the SSC resulting from the reauthorized Magnuson-Stevens Act 
amendments. The Committee will also review applicants and provide 
recommendations for appointments as appropriate.

13. Personnel Committee Meeting: March 6, 2008, 5:30 p.m. until 6:30 
p.m. (Closed Session)

    The Personnel Committee will meet in closed session to discuss 
personnel issues.

14. Council Session: March 7, 2008, 8 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.

    From 8 a.m. - 8:15 a.m., the Council will call the meeting to 
order, adopt the agenda, and approve the December 2007 meeting minutes.
    From 8:15 a.m. - 8:45 a.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the Snapper Grouper Committee, take public comment on Amendment 15B, 
and approve Amendment 15B for submission to the Secretary of Commerce 
for review and approval. The Council will also approve Amendment 16 for 
public hearings and take actions regarding Committee recommendations as 
appropriate.
    Note: The Council will take final public comment on Amendment 15B 
to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan at 8:15 a.m. on March 7, 
2008.
    From 8:45 a.m. - 9 a.m., the Council will receive a report from the 
LAP Program Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 9 a.m. - 9:15 a.m., the Council will receive a report from the 
Joint Habitat and Ecosystem-Based Management Committees. The Council 
will approve the FEP and the FEP Comprehensive Amendment for public 
hearings. The Council will consider other Committee recommendations and 
take action as appropriate.
    From 9:15 a.m. - 9:30 a.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the Joint Executive and Finance Committees and take action as 
appropriate.
    From 9:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the Spiny Lobster Committee take action as appropriate.
    From 9:45 a.m. - 10 a.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the Shrimp Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 10 a.m. - 10:15 a.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the Allocation Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 10:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m., the Council will receive a report 
from the SOPPs Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 10:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m., the Council will receive a report 
from the SSC Selection Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 10:45 - 12:30 p.m., the Council will receive a report 
regarding the Council Coordinating Committee 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 this meeting. 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

[[Page 8856]]

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 February 29, 2008.

    Dated: February 12, 2008.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-2888 Filed 2-14-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S