[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 168 (Thursday, August 28, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50780-50782]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-19972]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XK00


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.

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

SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold a joint meeting of its Executive and Finance Committees, a meeting 
of its Standard Operating, Policy and Procedure (SOPPs) Committee, 
Advisory Panel Selection Committee (Closed Session), Joint Ecosystem-
based Management and Habitat Committees, Shrimp Committee, Spiny 
Lobster Committee, Snapper Grouper Committee, Southeast Data, 
Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) Committee, Allocation Committee, Limited 
Access Privilege (LAP) Program Committee, Dolphin Wahoo Committee, a 
joint meeting of its Golden Crab Advisory Panel and Deepwater Shrimp 
Advisory Panel, and a meeting of the full Council.
    The Council will also hold a public comment session regarding: 
Amendment 7 to the Shrimp Fishery Management Plan (FMP) addressing rock 
shrimp endorsements and economic reporting for the shrimp fishery; a 
Generic Import Amendment for the Spiny Lobster FMP addressing 
requirements for imported spiny lobster; 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; and Interim Rule measures to 
address overfishing of red snapper and other snapper grouper complex 
species. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for additional details.

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

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Charleston Marriott, 170 
Lockwood Boulevard, Charleston, SC 29403; telephone: (800) 968-3569 or 
(843) 723-3000. 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 Golden Crab Advisory Panel and Deepwater Shrimp Advisory Panel 
Meeting: September 15, 2008, 1 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. (Concurrent 
Session)

    The Golden Crab and Deepwater Shrimp Advisory Panels will review 
alternatives for Allowable Golden Crab Fishing Areas and Shrimp Fishery 
Access Areas within the proposed deepwater Coral Habitat Areas of 
Particular Concern. In addition the Deepwater Shrimp AP will discuss 
proposed alternatives in the draft Shrimp Amendment 7 document 
pertaining to the rock shrimp fishery.

2. Council Session: September 15, 2008, 1 p.m. until 2:30 p.m.

    The Council will meet in full session to receive a report from the 
Allocation Committee from its July 8-9, 2008 meeting. The Council will 
consider Committee recommendations and take action as appropriate.

3. Joint Executive/Finance Committees Meeting: September 15, 2008, 2:30 
p.m. until 4 p.m.

    The Executive and Finance Committees will meet to review the status 
of the Calendar Year 2008 Activities Schedule and budget, the status of 
the Fiscal Year 2009 budget, and discuss the benefits of establishing a 
Council Data Collection Improvement Committee.

4. SOPPs Committee Meeting: September 15, 2008, 4 p.m. until 5 p.m.

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

5. Advisory Panel Selection Committee Meeting (Closed Session): 
September 15, 2008, 5 p.m. until 6 p.m.

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

6. Joint Ecosystem-based Management and Habitat Committees Meeting: 
September 16, 2008, 8 a.m. until 12 noon.

    The Ecosystem-based Management and Habitat Committees will review 
the Fishery Ecosystem Plan (FEP) and approve the FEP for a second round 
of public hearings. The Committees will discuss recommendations from 
the Joint Golden Crab and Deepwater Shrimp Advisory Panels, Review the 
Comprehensive Ecosystem Amendment (CEA) addressing the designation of 
Deepwater Coral Habitat Areas of Particular Concern, and approve the 
CEA for a second round of public hearings. The Committees will also 
discuss the proposal for a National Monument off the southeast coast 
and other habitat-related issues.

7. Shrimp Committee Meeting: September 16, 2008, 1:30 p.m. until 2:30 
p.m.

    The Shrimp Committee will review advisory panel and public hearing 
comments received on Amendment 7 to the Shrimp FMP, modify Amendment 7 
if necessary, and develop a recommendation for submitting Amendment 7 
for formal Secretarial review and approval.

[[Page 50781]]

8. Spiny Lobster Committee Meeting: September 16, 2008, 2:30 p.m. until 
3:30 p.m.

    The Spiny Lobster Committee will review public hearing comments, 
advisory panel comments, and actions by the Caribbean Fishery 
Management Council and the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council 
concerning a three-Council Generic Import Amendment (GIA) to address 
management issues regarding the import of spiny lobster. The Caribbean 
Fishery Management Council has administrative lead for this amendment. 
The Committee will develop recommendations for submitting the GIA for 
formal Secretarial review and approval. The Committee will also review 
the status of State of Florida actions on spiny lobster, and develop a 
timeline for addressing Annual Catch Limit requirements.

9. Snapper Grouper Committee Meeting: September 16, 2008, 3:30 p.m. 
until 5 p.m. and September 17, 2008, 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.

    The Council's Snapper Grouper Committee will receive a report on 
activities pertaining to the Oculina Bank, review Amendment 16 public 
hearing comments and comments received on the Supplemental Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS), modify Amendment 16 as 
necessary, and develop recommendations for submitting Amendment 16 for 
formal Secretarial review. The Committee will review the Interim Rule 
addressing red snapper and species addressed in Amendment 16 (gag, 
vermilion snapper, black grouper, and red grouper) and develop 
recommendations for submitting the Interim Rule for formal Secretarial 
review. The Committee will also review an options paper for Amendment 
17, modify the document as appropriate, provide further direction to 
staff, and discuss and develop comments on the Annual Catch Limit 
Proposed Rule.

10. SEDAR Committee Meeting: September 17, 2008, 5 p.m. until 6 p.m.

    The SEDAR Committee will meet to discuss the SEDAR 16 stock 
assessment review process for king mackerel in the South Atlantic and 
Gulf of Mexico and develop recommendations for the SEDAR Steering 
Committee.

11. Allocation Committee Meeting: September 18, 2008, 8 a.m. until 9 
a.m.

    The Allocation Committee will discuss future outlook components of 
an allocation equation and provide guidance to staff.

12. LAPP Committee Meeting: September 18, 2008, 9 a.m. until 10 a.m.

    The LAPP Committee will review and discuss the Wreckfish Individual 
Transferable Quota (ITQ) Program, develop recommendations for 
appointments to the Golden Tilefish Workgroup, and develop a Workgroup 
meeting timeline.

13. Dolphin Wahoo Committee Meeting: September 18, 2008, 10 a.m. until 
12 noon

    The Dolphin Wahoo Committee will review the Dolphin Wahoo FMP, 
receive a presentation on changes in the recreational harvest, and 
review recent recreational and commercial catch levels.

14. Council Session: September 18, 2008, 1:30 p.m. until 6 p.m. and 
September 19, 2008, 8 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.

Council Session: September 18, 2008, 1:30 p.m. until 6 p.m.

    From 1:30 p.m. - 2 p.m., the Council will call the meeting to 
order, adopt the agenda, and approve the June 2008 meeting minutes. The 
Council will also elect a Chairman and Vice-Chairman.
    From 2 p.m. - 2:30 p.m., the Council will hear a report from the 
Shrimp Committee and approve Amendment 7 for submission to the 
Secretary of Commerce, and consider other Committee recommendations and 
take action as appropriate.
    Note: A public comment session will be held at 2:00 p.m. regarding 
Amendment 7 to the Shrimp FMP.
    From 2:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the Spiny Lobster Committee and approve the Generic Import Amendment 
for submission to the Secretary of Commerce, consider other 
recommendations, and take action as appropriate.
    Note: A public comment session will be held at 2:30 p.m. regarding 
the Spiny Lobster Generic Import Amendment.
    From 3 p.m. - 6 p.m., the Council will receive a report from the 
Snapper Grouper Committee, approve Amendment 16 for submission to the 
Secretary of Commerce, approve an Interim Rule for submission to the 
Secretary of Commerce, consider other Committee recommendations, and 
take action as appropriate.
    Note: A public comment session will be held beginning at 3 p.m. 
regarding Snapper Grouper Amendment 16. The Council will take public 
comment on the Interim Rule immediately following the public comment on 
Amendment 16.

Council Session: September 19, 2008, 8 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.

    From 8 a.m. - 8:15 a.m., the Council will receive a legal briefing 
on litigation (Closed Session).
    From 8:15 a.m. - 8:45 a.m., the Council will receive a presentation 
on the Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species FMP.
    From 8:45 a.m. - 9:15 a.m., the Council will receive a presentation 
on forage fish.
    From 9:15 a.m. - 9:30 a.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the Joint Executive and Finance Committees, consider recommendations, 
and take action as appropriate.
    From 9:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the SOPPs Committee, consider recommendations, and take action as 
appropriate.
    From 9:45 a.m. - 10 a.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the AP Selection Committee, consider recommendations, and take action 
as appropriate.
    From 10 a.m. - 10:15 a.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the Joint Habitat and Ecosystem-Based Committees, approve the FEP and 
the Comprehensive Ecosystem Amendment for a second round of public 
hearings, consider other recommendations and take action as 
appropriate.
    From 10:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m., the Council will receive a report 
from the SEDAR Committee, consider recommendations, and take action as 
appropriate.
    From 10:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m., the Council will receive a report 
from the Allocation Committee, consider recommendations, and take 
action as appropriate.
    From 10:45 a.m. - 11 a.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the LAPP Committee, appoint a Golden Tilefish Workgroup, consider other 
Committee recommendations and take action as appropriate.
    From 11 a.m. - 11:15 a.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the Dolphin Wahoo Committee, consider recommendations and take action 
as appropriate.
    From 11:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., the Council will 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).

[[Page 50782]]

    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 September 11, 2008.

    Dated: August 25, 2008.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-19972 Filed 8-27-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S