[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 159 (Friday, August 15, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 47891]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-18908]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XJ74


New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice; public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is 
scheduling a public meeting of its Scallop Committee in September, 2008 
to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive 
economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from this group will be brought to 
the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate.

DATES: This meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 10, 2008, at 9 
a.m. and Thursday, September 11, 2008, at 8:30 a.m.

ADDRESSES: 
    Meeting address: This meeting will be held at the Hotel Providence, 
311 Westminister Street, Providence, RI 02903; telephone: (401) 861-
8000; fax: (401) 861-8002.
    Council address: New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water 
Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, 
New England Fishery Management Council; telephone: (978) 465-0492.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The committee will review Section 7 
Endangered Species Act Consultation for the Scallop FMP (Biological 
Opinion) and develop potential management measures to comply with 
findings of biological opinion. The committee will also review input 
from Scallop Advisory Panel on development of Amendment 15 alternatives 
to date and discuss additional measures for consideration in Amendment 
15. The primary management topics include: implementation of annual 
catch limits (ACLs); measures to rationalize the limited access scallop 
fishery; revision of the overfishing definition; modifications to 
specific aspects of the general category limited entry program 
implemented by Amendment 11; measures to address EFH closed areas in 
the Scallop FMP if the EFH Omnibus Amendment is delayed; alternatives 
to improve the research set-aside program; and modifying the start date 
of the scallop fishing year. The committee may discuss other topics at 
their discretion.
    This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, at 978-465-
0492, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: August 12, 2008.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-18908 Filed 8-14-08; 8:45 am]
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