[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 101 (Friday, May 23, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30073-30074]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-11579]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN: 0648-XI08


Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

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

SUMMARY: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council), its 
Squid, Mackerel, Butterfish Committee; its Demersal Committee; its Law 
Enforcement Committee; Surfclam/Ocean Quahog Committee; its Science and 
Statistical Committee; its Executive Committee; its Bycatch/LAPP 
Committee; and, its Joint Spiny Dogfish Committee, will hold public 
meetings.

DATES: The meetings will be held on Monday, June 9, 2008 through 
Thursday, June 12, 2008. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific 
dates and times.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Sheraton Convention Center 
Hotel, Two Miss America Way, Atlantic City, NJ 08401; telephone: (609) 
344-3535.
    Council address: Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 300 S. 
New St., Room 2115, 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: On Monday, June 9, the Squid, Mackerel, 
Butterfish Committee with Advisors will meet from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. 
There will be a concurrent session of the Demersal Committee from 2 
p.m. until 5 p.m. A Squid, Mackerel, Butterfish public hearing on 
Amendment 10 to the Squid, Mackerel, Butterfish Fishery Management Plan 
will be held from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.
    On Tuesday, June 10, the Squid, Mackerel, Butterfish Committee with 
Advisors will meet from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m. The Law Enforcement 
Committee will meet from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. The Surfclam, Ocean 
Quahog and Tilefish Committee with Advisors will meet from 1:30 p.m. 
until 3:30 p.m. A tour of a local clam dock facility and operations 
thereof will be held from 3:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. The New England 
Fishery Management Council will hold an Atlantic Herring Fishery 
Management Plan scoping meeting on

[[Page 30074]]

Amendment 4 to the FMP from 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.
    On Wednesday, June 11, the Scientific and Statistical and Research 
Set-Aside Committees will meet jointly from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. The 
Council will convene at 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. to conduct its Business 
Session and receive Organizational, Liaison, Executive Director and 
Status of Fishery Management Plan reports. From 3 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. 
the Council will develop and adopt specifications regarding the 2009 
fishing year for Squid, Mackerel, and Butterfish.
    On Thursday, June 12, the Executive Committee will meet from 8 a.m. 
until 9 a.m. The Bycatch/LAPP Committee will meet from 9 a.m. until 10 
a.m. The Joint Spiny Dogfish Committee will meet from 10 a.m. until 
11:30 a.m. The Council will convene at 12:30 p.m. to adopt any changes 
to the Surfclam and Ocean Quahog specifications for 2009 and 2010 
fishing years; receive a presentation regarding the integration of 
National Environmental Policy Act requirements into the Magnuson-
Stevens Act; receive Committee reports; and, conduct continuing and new 
business.
    Agenda items by day for the Council's Committees and the Council 
itself are:
    Monday, June 9 - the Squid, Mackerel, and Butterfish Committee with 
Advisors will address Amendment 11 (mackerel limited entry system) and 
Annual Catch Limits (ACL) and Accountability Measures (AM). The 
Demersal Committee will review measures to be included in Amendment 15 
and address accommodation of ACL/AM. There will be an evening public 
hearing regarding Amendment 10 to the Squid, Mackerel, and Butterfish 
Fishery Management Plan (FMP).
    Tuesday, June 10 - The Squid, Mackerel, and Butterfish Committee 
with Advisors will meet to review the Monitoring Committee's 
recommendations and Science and Statistical Committee advice for 2009 
quota levels and associated management measures and then develop 2009 
quota specifications and associated management measures for Council 
consideration and action. The Law Enforcement Committee will discuss 
issues regarding the enforceability of slot limits in the recreational 
sector, review the USCG's Proposed Rule on Vessel Safety/Stability, and 
discuss issues regarding the enforceability of possession limits for 
multiple day trips. The Surfclam, Ocean Quahog and Tilefish Committee 
with Advisors will review staff recommendations for changes to the 
2009-10 quota specifications and associated management measures for 
surfclams and ocean quahogs, and discuss issues to be addressed in 
Amendment 14 including accommodation of ACL/AM. A tour of a local clam 
boat and associated dock facility will then be provided.
    Beginning at 6 p.m. the New England Fishery Management Council will 
conduct a scoping meeting for development of Amendment 4 to the Herring 
Fishery Management Plan. Amendment 4 will focus on issues related to 
catch monitoring (landings and discards); Magnuson-Stevens 
Reauthorization Act requirements such as Annual Catch Limits and 
Accountability Measures; and, sector allocations and/or other Limited 
Access Privilege Programs. The Council is seeking comments on the scope 
of issues to be addressed in Amendment 4 and the kinds of management 
measures that should be considered.
    Wednesday, June 11 - the Scientific and Statistical Committee will 
meet with the Research Set-Aside Committee to establish multi-year 
research priorities for the 2009-13 time period, and review and discuss 
outcomes from the Special Science and Statistical Committee Working 
Group meeting. The Council will then convene to receive various 
reports, and review, develop, and adopt the Squid, Mackerel, and 
Butterfish Committee's recommendations regarding quota specifications 
and associated management measures for the 2009 fishing year.
    Thursday, June 12 - the Executive Committee will review highlights 
of the Coordinating Council meeting and revise the Council's Statement 
of Organization Practices and Procedures (SOPP) relative to ``deeming'' 
requirements. The Bycatch/LAPP Committee will review the first draft of 
the Council's bycatch pamphlet concerning catch and release practices, 
and discuss Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology Observer 
Coverage Priorities for 2008. The Joint Spiny Dogfish Committee will 
review proposed measures in Framework 2 to the Spiny Dogfish FMP. The 
Council will convene to review and adopt the Surfclam and Ocean Quahog 
Committee's recommendations for necessary changes to 2009 and 2010 
quota specifications and associated management measures (years 2 and 3 
of the existing 2008-10 multi-year quota specifications). The Council 
will then receive a presentation by a National Marine Fisheries Service 
Official regarding the Agency's Proposed Rule to Integrate National 
Environment Policy Act (NEPA) requirements into Magnuson-Stevens Act 
(MSA). The Council will then receive Committee Reports, and consider 
any continuing or new business.
    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 action 
to address such emergencies.

Special Accommodations

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

    Dated: May 19, 2008.
Emily Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-11579 Filed 5-22-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S