[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 105 (Friday, May 30, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31069-31070]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-12094]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN: 0648-XI20


Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Hearings

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

ACTION: Notice of public hearings.

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SUMMARY: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold public 
hearings to allow for input on Amendment 10 to the Fishery Management 
Plan for the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery (FMP).

DATES: Written comments will be accepted until 23 June 2008. See 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for dates, times and location of hearings.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to: Daniel T. Furlong, Executive Director of 
the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, Suite 2115 Federal 
Building, 300 South New Street, Dover, DE 19904.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel T. Furlong, Executive Director 
of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, Room 2115 Federal 
Building, 300 South New Street, Dover, DE 19904; telephone: (302) 674-
2331.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: There are four proposed management actions 
in this Amendment. To reduce general discards and to allow the 
butterfish stock to rebuild to BMSY and protect the long-term health 
and stability of the rebuilt butterfish stock, the proposed management 
actions could:
    1. Develop a butterfish mortality cap program for the Loligo 
fishery;
    2. Increase the Loligo minimum codend mesh size;
    3. Eliminate exemptions for Illex vessels from Loligo minimum 
codend mesh requirements; and
    4. Establish seasonal gear restricted areas (GRAs).
    Public hearings: The scheduled public hearings are as follows:
    June 9 - Sheraton Convention Center Hotel, Two Miss America Way, 
Atlantic City, NJ 08401; telephone: (609) 344-3535;
    June 17 - Hilton Garden Inn, Providence Airport Warwick, 1 Thurber 
Street/Jefferson Boulevard, Warwick, RI 02886; telephone: (401) 734-
9600; and
    June 18 - Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites East End, 1707 Old 
Country Road, Route 58, Riverhead, NY 11901; telephone: (631) 548-1000.
    All hearings begin at 7 p.m. and will be tape recorded with the 
tapes filed as the official transcript of the hearing.
    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 these hearings. 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,

[[Page 31070]]

provided the public has been notified of the Council's intent to take 
final action to address the emergency.

Special Accommodations

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

    Dated: May 27, 2008.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-12094 Filed 5-29-08; 8:45 am]
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