[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 94 (Wednesday, May 14, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27800-27802]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-10717]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XH87


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 Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), 
Standard Operating, Policy and Procedure (SOPPs) Committee, Advisory 
Panel Selection Committee (Closed Session), Ecosystem-based Management 
Committee, Shrimp Committee, Spiny Lobster Committee, Limited Access 
Privilege (LAP) Program Committee, Allocation Committee, SSC Selection 
Committee (Closed Session), Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review 
(SEDAR) Committee, Snapper Grouper Committee, Snapper Grouper Advisory 
Panel, and a meeting of the full Council. The Council will also hold a 
public comment session regarding Amendment 15B to the Snapper Grouper 
Fishery Management Plan (FMP) addressing the sale of bag limit snapper 
grouper species, methods to reduce the effects of incidental hooking on 
sea turtles and smalltooth sawfish, commercial permit renewal periods 
and transferability requirements, implementation of a plan to monitor 
and access bycatch, establishment of reference points, such as Maximum 
Sustainable Yield (MSY) and Optimum Yield (OY) for golden tilefish, and 
establishment of allocations for snowy grouper and red porgy. In 
addition, the Council will hold a public comment session regarding 
Amendment 16 to the Snapper Grouper FMP addressing measures to end 
overfishing for gag grouper and vermilion snapper and interim 
allocations of these two species for commercial and recreational 
fisheries. The Council will also hold a public comment for emergency or 
interim measures to address overfishing of red snapper if the Council 
proposes such. A presentation on the Lenfest Ocean Report regarding 
Annual Catch Limits will be given as part of the Council meeting. See 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for additional details.

DATES: The meetings will be held in June 2008. See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Renaissance Orlando Airport 
Hotel, 5445 Forbes Place, Orlando, FL, 32812; telephone: (1-800) 228-
9290 or (407) 240-1000. 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. Scientific and Statistical Committee Meeting: June 8, 2008, 3 p.m. 
until 6 p.m.; June 9, 2008 from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m., and June 10, 2008 
from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m (Concurrent Sessions)

    The Scientific and Statistical Committee will review and provide 
recommendations for the Council's Fishery Ecosystem Plan (FEP) and the 
Comprehensive Ecosystem Amendment (CEA). The FEP will act as a source 
document for subsequent CEAs to various species-based management plans. 
The first CEA updates existing Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) and Habitat 
Areas of Particular Concern (HAPC) information to address the EFH Final 
Rule and to meet the 5-year review required by the Magnuson-Stevens 
Act, and addresses the designation of deepwater coral HAPCs.
    The SSC will also review and provide recommendations for Amendment 
7 to the Shrimp FMP addressing rock shrimp endorsement requirements for 
the South Atlantic, the Shrimp Review Panel Report addressing the 
status of pink shrimp, and the multi-council Spiny Lobster Import 
Amendment. In addition, the SSC will review and provide recommendations 
regarding Snapper Grouper Amendment 15B (bag limit sales and other 
measures), Snapper Grouper Amendment 16 (measures to end overfishing 
for gag grouper and vermilion snapper), Snapper Grouper Amendment 17 
(addressing overfishing levels and Allowable Biological Catch 
recommendations), SEDAR assessments on red snapper, greater amberjack, 
and mutton snapper, and Snapper Grouper Amendment 18 addressing 
overfishing for red snapper.

2. SOPPs Committee Meeting: June 9, 2008, 1 p.m. until 2 p.m.

    The SOPPs Committee will receive an update on the review of the 
Council's SOPPs by the Secretary of Commerce and develop changes if 
necessary.

3. Advisory Panel Selection Committee Meeting (Closed Session): June 9, 
2008, 2 p.m. until 3 p.m.

    The Advisory Panel Selection Committee will meet in Closed Session 
to review applications and develop recommendations for appointment.

[[Page 27801]]

4. Ecosystem-based Management Committee Meeting: June 9, 2008, 3 p.m. 
until 6 p.m. and June 10, 2008 from 8 a.m. until 10:30 a.m.

    The Ecosystem-based Management Committee will review comments 
received during public hearings and from the SSC regarding the Fishery 
Ecosystem Plan and the Comprehensive Ecosystem Amendment, and modify as 
necessary.
    Note: From 6 p.m. until 7 p.m. on June 9, 2008, a presentation will 
be given on the Lenfest Ocean Program Report regarding Annual Catch 
Limits.

5. Shrimp Committee Meeting: June 10, 2008, 10:30 a.m. until 12 noon

    The Shrimp Committee will review the Shrimp Review Panel report 
regarding pink shrimp overfishing and take action as appropriate. The 
Committee will also receive a report regarding the economic impacts 
associated with Amendment 7 to the Shrimp FMP.

6. Spiny Lobster Committee Meeting: June 10, 2008, 1:30 p.m. until 3 
p.m.

    The Spiny Lobster Committee will review a three-Council amendment 
to address management issues regarding the import of spiny lobster. The 
Caribbean Fishery Management Council has administrative lead for this 
amendment. The Committee will review and approve the amendment for 
public hearings and develop a public hearing schedule. The Committee 
will also receive a report on the status of State of Florida actions on 
spiny lobster, and develop a timeline for the next amendment to the 
Spiny Lobster FMP.

7. LAP Program Committee: June 10, 2008, 3 p.m. until 4 p.m.

    The LAP Program Committee will review the results of staff contacts 
with golden tilefish fishermen relative to the development of a LAP 
Program and provide guidance to staff. The Committee will also receive 
a presentation of a proposal for a Property Rights Based Management 
Program and discuss outreach activities for LAP Programs.

8. Allocation Committee Meeting: June 10, 2008, 4 p.m. until 6 p.m.

    The Allocation Committee will receive a presentation on the 
Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP), review a list 
of alternatives for allocations, and provide guidance to staff.

9. Snapper Grouper Advisory Panel Meeting: June 11, 2008, 8 a.m. until 
6 p.m. (Concurrent Session)

    The Council's Snapper Grouper Advisory Panel (AP) will receive a 
presentation of analysis of new data on economic impacts regarding the 
bag limit sales of snapper grouper species as outlined in Snapper 
Grouper Amendment 15B. The AP will then review and provide comment on 
Amendment 15B, Amendment 16 addressing overfishing for gag grouper and 
vermilion snapper, and Amendment 17 addressing Annual Catch Limits and 
other management issues. The AP will then join the Snapper Grouper 
Committee meeting to hear presentations on SEDAR and the report from 
the SSC. In addition, the AP will review and comment on Amendment 18 
addressing overfishing for red snapper, receive a presentation on the 
results of the LAP Program consultation with golden tilefish fishermen 
and AP comments, and receive a presentation for a proposal for a 
Property Rights Based Management Program.

10. SSC Selection Committee Meeting (Closed Session): June 11, 2008, 8 
a.m. until 10 a.m.

    The SSC Selection Committee will meet in Closed Session to review 
the results of recent SSC appointments and modify as necessary. The 
Committee will also make appointments to Technical Committees.

11. SEDAR Committee Meeting: June 11, 2008, 10 a.m. until 12 noon

    The SEDAR Committee will review recommendations from the SEDAR 
Steering Committee and take action as necessary. The Committee will 
also approve the Terms of Reference and schedule SEARs 18 and 19.

12. Snapper Grouper Committee Meeting: June 11, 2008, 1:30 p.m. until 
6:00 p.m. and June 12, 2008, 8 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.

    The Snapper Grouper Committee will receive presentations on SEDAR 
assessment results for red snapper, greater amberjack, and mutton 
snapper, and a presentation on a Snapper Grouper Catch Characterization 
Study. The Committee will receive an SSC report on SEDAR assessments, 
and Snapper Grouper Amendments 15B, 16 and 17. In addition, the 
Committee will receive presentations on Oculina monitoring updates, a 
Pre-Amendment 14 (marine protected areas) Survey, and review the Gray's 
Reef National Marine Sanctuary research area and spearfishing request. 
The Committee will receive a presentation on new data regarding the 
economic impacts of bag limit sales as addressed in Amendment 15B, 
review comments received on Amendment 15B, review the document, make 
modifications if necessary, and recommend approval for formal review by 
the Secretary of Commerce. For Amendment 16, the Committee will review 
comments, review the document, modify if necessary, and if no 
significant changes are made, recommend approval for formal review by 
the Secretary of Commerce.
    The Committee will also receive an overview of the Amendment 17 
options paper, review a summary of AP comments, and provide direction 
to staff for options to be developed. The Committee will review 
comments regarding Amendment 18 and consider emergency or interim 
measures from red snapper. The Committee will provide direction to 
staff for options to be developed for Amendment 18.

13. Council Session: June 12, 2008, 4 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. and June 13, 
2008, 8 a.m. until 12 noon

Council Session: June 12, 2008, 4 p.m. until 6:30 p.m.

    4 p.m. - 4:15 p.m., The Council will call the meeting to order, 
adopt the agenda, and approve the March 2008 meeting minutes.
    4:15 p.m., Public Comment Session: the Council will take public 
comment on Amendment 15B to the Snapper Grouper FMP. Immediately 
following, the Council will take public comment on Amendment 16 to the 
Snapper Grouper FMP. Immediately following, the Council will take 
public comment on any proposed emergency actions or interim rule 
measures for red snapper to end overfishing.
    4:15 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., The Council will hear a report from the 
Snapper Grouper Committee. The Council will consider recommendations 
and approve Amendment 15B and Amendment 16 for submission to the 
Secretary of Commerce, and consider other Committee recommendations and 
take action as appropriate.
    5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., The Council will receive a Highly Migratory 
Species (HMS) briefing on the proposed rule for authorizing the use of 
green-stick gear, update on the HMS FMP Amendment 2 regarding sharks, 
and the status of the Florida east coast experimental longling fishery.

Council Session: June 13, 2008, 8 a.m. until 12 noon

    8 a.m. - 8:15 a.m., The Council will receive a report from the 
SOPPs

[[Page 27802]]

Committee, consider recommendations, and take action as appropriate.
    8:15 a.m. - 8:30 a.m., The Council will receive a report from the 
AP Selection Committee, consider recommendations, and appoint new AP 
members as necessary.
    8:30 a.m. - 8:45 a.m., The Council will receive a report from the 
Ecosystem-Based Management Committee, consider recommendations, and 
take action as appropriate.
    8:45 a.m. - 9 a.m., The Council will receive a report from the 
Shrimp Committee, consider recommendations, and take action as 
appropriate.
    9 a.m. - 9:15 a.m., The Council will receive a report from the 
Spiny Lobster Committee, consider recommendations, and take action as 
appropriate.
    9:15 a.m. - 9:30 a.m., The Council will receive a report from the 
LAP Program Committee, consider recommendations, and take action as 
appropriate.
    9:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m., The Council will receive a report from the 
Allocation Committee, consider recommendations, and take action as 
appropriate.
    9:45 a.m. - 10 a.m., The Council will receive a report from the SSC 
Selection Committee, consider recommendations, and take action as 
appropriate.
    10 a.m. - 10:15 a.m., The Council will receive a report from the 
SEDAR Committee, consider recommendations, and take action as 
appropriate.
    10:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m., The Council will review and develop 
recommendations on Experimental Fishing Permits as necessary.
    10:30 a.m. - 12 noon, The Council will receive status reports from 
NOAA Fisheries' Southeast Regional Office, NOAA Fisheries' Southeast 
Fisheries Science Center, agency and liaison reports, 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 final 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 June 6, 2008.

    Dated: May 9, 2008.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-10717 Filed 5-13-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S