[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 221 (Friday, November 14, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67486-67488]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-27030]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN: 0648-XL70


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.

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

[[Page 67487]]

SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold a joint meeting of its Scientific and Statistical Committee, Law 
Enforcement Advisory Panel, Limited Access Privilege Program (LAPP) 
Committee, Personnel Committee (Closed Session), Advisory Panel 
Selection Committee (Closed Session), a meeting of its Standard 
Operating, Policy and Procedure (SOPPs) Committee, Joint Executive and 
Finance Committees, Spiny Lobster Committee, Mackerel Committee, 
Ecosystem-based Management Committee, Snapper Grouper Committee, 
Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) Steering Committee, and 
a meeting of the full Council.
    The Council will also hold a an informal public question and answer 
session and may hold a public comment session regarding Interim Rule 
measures to address overfishing of red snapper if the Council considers 
an Interim Rule request. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for additional 
details.

DATES: The meeting will be held November 30-December 5, 2008. See 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Hilton Wilmington Riverside, 
301 N. Water Street, Wilmington, NC 28401; telephone: (888) 324-8170 or 
(910) 763-5900. 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: November 30, 2008, 3 
p.m. until 5 p.m.; December 1, 2008, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; December 2, 2008, 8 
a.m.-6 p.m., and December 3, 2008, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (Concurrent Sessions)

    The SSC will receive reports from the National SSC meeting, SEDAR 
Methods Workshops, the Tilefish LAPP Workgroup, and the Council's 
Fishery Ecosystem Plan. The Committee will review administrative needs 
for the SEDAR 19 (black grouper and red grouper) stock assessment, the 
SEDAR schedule, a Gag Natural Mortality Document, the Comprehensive 
Annual Catch Limit (ACL) Amendment, landings data issues, and report 
actions and assignments. The Committee will receive presentations on 
Project FishSmart regarding king mackerel, fishing level 
recommendations, and characterizing uncertainty for Allowable 
Biological Catch (ABC).
    In addition, the SSC will review and provide recommendations to the 
Council for SEDAR 16 (king mackerel stock assessment), SEDAR 17 
(vermilion snapper and Spanish mackerel stock assessments), and Snapper 
Grouper Amendment 17 addressing overfishing and updates to stock status 
determination criteria for red snapper, the establishment Annual Catch 
Limits (ACLs) and Accountability Measures (AMs) for 10 species 
currently undergoing overfishing, allocations for those 10 species, and 
the extension of the management area for some snapper grouper species.

2. Law Enforcement Advisory Panel Meeting: December 1, 2008, 1:30 p.m. 
until 4:30 p.m.

    The Law Enforcement Advisory Panel will meet to review Amendment 17 
to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan (FMP), develop 
recommendations on enforcement of proposed time/area closures, and 
other issues relevant to law enforcement. The AP will also receive 
updates on state and federal enforcement activities, a presentation on 
the Council's Comprehensive Ecosystem-based Amendment, and discuss 
Vessel Monitoring Issues.

3. LAPP Committee Meeting: December 1, 2008, 4:30 p.m. until 6 p.m.

    The LAPP Committee will receive a summary of the Golden Tilefish 
LAPP Exploratory Workgroup meeting, discuss the potential of a LAPP for 
the golden tilefish fishery and the golden crab fishery, consider 
modifications to the Wreckfish Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) program, 
and discuss other items for public scoping.
    NOTE: There will be an informal public question and answer session 
with NOAA Fisheries Services' Regional Administrator and Council 
members on December 1, 2008 beginning at 6:15 p.m.

4. Personnel Committee Meeting (Closed Session): December 2, 2008, 8 
a.m. until 9 a.m.

    The Personnel Committee will meet to discuss personnel matters.

5. Advisory Panel Selection Committee Meeting (Closed Session): 
December 2, 2008, 9 a.m. until 10 a.m.

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

6. SOPPs Committee Meeting: December 2, 2008, 10 a.m. until 11 a.m.

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

7. Joint Executive and Finance Committees Meeting: December 2, 2008, 11 
a.m. until 12 noon

    The Executive and Finance Committees will meet jointly to review 
the status of the Calendar Year (CY) 2008 budget, the status of the 
Fiscal Year 2009 budget, review the 2009-10 FMP/Amendment/Framework 
timelines and modify as appropriate, and develop and approve the CY 
2009 activities schedule and budget.

8. Spiny Lobster Committee Meeting: December 2, 2008, 1:30 p.m. until 
2:30 p.m.

    The Spiny Lobster Committee will receive an update on three-Council 
Generic Import Amendment (GIA) regarding the import of spiny lobster, 
discuss the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council's timing for 
Amendment 5 to the Joint Gulf and South Atlantic Spiny Lobster FMP, and 
discuss items to be included in the Comprehensive Annual Catch Limit 
(ACL) Amendment for public scoping.

9. Mackerel Committee Meeting: December 2, 2008, 2:30 p.m. until 6 p.m.

    The Mackerel Committee will review the result of the SEDAR stock 
assessments for king mackerel and Spanish mackerel and develop 
recommendations. The Committee will also discuss items to include in 
the Comprehensive ACL Amendment for public scoping.

10. Ecosystem-based Committee Meeting: December 3, 2008, 8 a.m. until 
12 noon

    The Ecosystem-based Committee will review and revise the Fishery 
Ecosystem Plan (FEP) and the Comprehensive Ecosystem-based Amendment as 
necessary and approve both documents for a second round of public 
hearings. The Committee will also discuss habitat issues as 
appropriate.

11. Snapper Grouper Committee Meeting: December 3, 2008, 1:30 p.m. 
until 6 p.m. and December 4, 2008, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

    The Snapper Grouper Committee will receive an update on Oculina 
Bank monitoring activities and Gray's Reef Research Area. The Committee 
will also

[[Page 67488]]

receive a report from the SSC regarding the SEDAR stock assessment for 
vermilion snapper and Snapper Grouper Amendment 17. The Committee will 
review actions regarding vermilion snapper contained in Amendment 16 to 
the Snapper Grouper FMP and Law Enforcement Advisory Panel 
recommendations on Snapper Grouper Amendment 17. The Committee will 
then review draft Amendment 17, modify as appropriate, and is scheduled 
to approve the document for public hearings. In addition, the Committee 
will discuss a possible request for an interim rule to address 
overfishing for red snapper, and items to go to public scoping for the 
Comprehensive ACL Amendment.

12. SEDAR Committee Meeting: December 4, 2008, 3 p.m. until 4 p.m.

    The SEDAR Steering Committee will develop recommendations for SEDAR 
19 appointments, review the SEDAR Planning Schedule, receive updates on 
SEDAR Methods Workshops and SEDAR 17 addressing stock assessments for 
Spanish mackerel and vermilion snapper. The Committee will also discuss 
how to address research and data needs outlined in SEDAR 16, and 
develop recommendations for the next SEDAR Steering Committee meeting.

13. Council Session: December 4, 2008, 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. and December 
5, 2008, 8 a.m. until 12 noon

Council Session: December 4, 2008, 4 p.m. until 6 p.m.

    From 4 p.m.-4:15 p.m., the Council will call the meeting to order, 
adopt the agenda, and approve the September 2008 meeting minutes.
    From 4:15 p.m.-5:30 p.m., the Council will hear a report from the 
Snapper Grouper Committee. The Council will provide its decision on 
submitting a Red Snapper Interim Rule request to the Secretary of 
Commerce. The Council will also consider Committee recommendations 
relative to vermilion snapper actions in Snapper Grouper Amendment 16 
and take action as appropriate, approve Snapper Grouper Amendment 17 
for public hearings, and consider other Committee recommendations and 
take action as appropriate.
    NOTE: A public comment session will be held at 4:15 p.m. regarding 
an Interim Rule for addressing overfishing of red snapper if the 
Council considers an Interim Rule request.
    From 5:30 p.m.-6 p.m., the Council will receive a presentation by 
FishSmart regarding the interactive process with stakeholders in the 
Atlantic king mackerel fishery.

Council Session: December 5, 2008, 8 a.m. until 12 noon

    From 8 a.m.-8:15 a.m., the Council will receive a report from the 
SOPPs Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 8:15 a.m.-8:30 a.m., the Council will receive recommendations 
from the AP Selection Committee and take actions as appropriate.
    From 8:30 a.m.-8:45 a.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the Ecosystem-based Management Committee and take action as 
appropriate.
    From 8:45 a.m.-9 a.m., the Council will receive a report from the 
Joint Executive and Finance Committees, approve the CY 2009 Timelines, 
Activities Schedule, and budget, and take other actions as appropriate.
    From 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.
    From 9:15 a.m.-9:30 a.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the LAPP Committee, consider recommendations, and take action as 
appropriate.
    From 9:30 a.m.-9:45 a.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the Mackerel Committee, consider recommendations and take action as 
appropriate.
    From 9:45 a.m.-10 a.m., the Council will receive a report from the 
SEDAR Committee, consider recommendations, and take action as 
appropriate.
    From 10 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, 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).
    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 this meeting. 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 November 24, 2008.

    Dated: November 10, 2008.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-27030 Filed 11-13-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S