[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 231 (Monday, December 1, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 72775]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-28403]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN: 0648-XM04


New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice of a public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council's (Council) 
Groundfish Oversight Committee will meet to consider actions affecting 
New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

DATES: The meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 17, 2008, at 9 
a.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Sheraton Ferncroft Hotel, 50 
Ferncroft Road, Danvers, MA 01923; telephone: (978) 777-2500.
    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 items of discussion in the committee's 
agenda are as follows:
    1. The Groundfish Oversight Committee will meet to continue 
development of Amendment 16 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery 
Management Plan (FMP). Amendment 16 will adjust management measures as 
necessary to continue stock rebuilding. Committee members will continue 
to refine management measures for the commercial fishery for both 
sector and non-sector vessels. Specific details addressed will include 
effort control measures for non-sector vessels, modifications of the 
Category B DAS (days-at-sea) program, gear requirements to reduce 
incidental catches of groundfish species in small-mesh fisheries, and 
measures to rebuild windowpane flounder. Sector monitoring requirements 
and other details for sector operations will also be discussed.
    2. The committee will also refine accountability measures for both 
the commercial and recreational components of the fishery.
    3. Other elements of the management program may also be discussed. 
Committee recommendations will be presented to the New England Fishery 
management Council at a later meeting.
    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 this meeting. 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, provided the public has been notified of the Council's 
intent to take final action to address the emergency.

Special Accommodations

    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 (see ADDRESSES) at least 5 days 
prior to the meeting date.

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

    Dated: November 25, 2008.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-28403 Filed 11-28-08; 8:45 am]
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