[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 29 (Friday, February 13, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7219-7221]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-3101]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XN29


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.

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SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold meetings of its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), 
Standard Operating, Policy and Procedure (SOPPs) Committee, a joint 
meeting of

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its Executive and Finance Committees, Limited Access Privilege Program 
(LAPP) Committee, Golden Crab Committee, Mackerel Committee, Dolphin/
Wahoo Committee, Shrimp Committee, SSC Selection Committee (Closed 
Session), joint Ecosystem-Based Management and Habitat Committees, 
Spiny Lobster Committee, Snapper Grouper Committee, and a meeting of 
the full Council.
    The Council will also hold a an informal public question and answer 
session, a public comment period on the Fishery Ecosystem Plan, 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 March 2-6, 2009. See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel, 
371 Riverview Drive, Jekyll Island, GA 31527; Telephone: 800/535-9547 
or 912/635-2600; Fax 912/635-2818. 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 (SSC) Meeting: March 2, 
2009, 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.; March 3, 2009, 8:30 a.m.--5:00 p.m.; 
March 4, 2009, 8:30 a.m.--5:00 p.m., (Concurrent Sessions)
    The SSC will discuss the process for establishing Overfishing 
Limits and Acceptable Biological Catch levels for assessed stocks, 
stocks under rebuilding plans, and stocks without assessments.
    2. SOPPs Committee Meeting: March 2, 2009, 1:30 p.m. until 2:30 
p.m. The SOPPs Committee will review the proposed rule addressing 
Council SOPPs, receive an update on the status of Secretarial review of 
Council SOPPs and develop changes as necessary.
    3. Joint Executive and Finance Committees Meeting: March 2, 2009, 
2:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. The Executive Committee and Finance Committee 
will meet jointly to review the status of the Calendar Year (CY) 
budget, the status of the Fiscal Year 2009 President's/Congressional 
budget, and approve the CY 2009 budget (if the Council's funding level 
has been determined by the time of the meeting).
    4. LAPP Committee Meeting: March 2, 2009, 3:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. 
The LAPP Committee will receive a summary of a recent meeting with 
golden crab fishermen, review comments received during public scoping, 
and provide direction to staff.
    NOTE: There will be an informal public question and answer session 
with NOAA Fisheries Services' Regional Administrator and the Council 
Chairman on March 2, 2009 beginning at 5:30 p.m.
    5. Golden Crab Committee Meeting: March 3, 2009, 8:30 a.m. until 
10:00 a.m. The Golden Crab Committee will receive a summary of a recent 
meeting with golden crab fishermen, review comments received during 
public scoping, and provide direction to staff.
    6. King and Spanish Mackerel Committee Meeting: March 3, 2009, 
10:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon. The Mackerel Committee will review the 
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council's work schedule regarding 
mackerel, review comments received during public scoping, and provide 
direction to staff.
    7. Dolphin/Wahoo Committee Meeting: March 3, 2009, 1:30 p.m. until 
2:30 p.m. The Dolphin/Wahoo Committee will review comments received 
during public scoping and provide direction to staff.
    8. Shrimp Committee Meeting: March 3, 2009, 2:30 p.m. until 3:30 
p.m. The Shrimp Committee will review the status of overwintering 
shrimp, review comments received during public scoping, and provide 
direction to staff.
    9. SSC Selection Committee Meeting (Closed Session): March 3, 2009, 
3:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. The SSC Selection Committee will review 
membership, discuss policy issues and modify as appropriate.
    10. Joint Ecosystem-Based Management Committee and Habitat 
Committee Meeting: March 4, 2009, 8:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. The 
Ecosystem-Based Committee and Habitat Committee will meet jointly to 
review public comments, revise the Fishery Ecosystem Plan (FEP) as 
appropriate and recommend the FEP for formal review. The Committees 
will also review public comments and revise the Comprehensive 
Ecosystem-Based Amendment 1 as appropriate. The Committees will review 
public scoping comments on the Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based Amendment 
2 and provide direction to staff. The Committees will receive a 
presentation regarding live rock and coral, a report on the 
International Coral Symposium, and an update on the South Atlantic 
Alliance. The Committee will also discuss habitat issues as 
appropriate.
    11. Spiny Lobster Committee Meeting: March 4, 2009, 10:30 a.m. 
until 12:00 noon The Spiny Lobster Committee will receive a report on 
the status of the Import Amendment, discuss the Gulf of Mexico Fishery 
Management Council's timing and schedule for Amendment 5 to the Spiny 
Lobster Fishery Management Plan, review public scoping comments, and 
provide direction to staff.
    12. Snapper Grouper Committee Meeting: March 4 2009, 1:30 p.m. 
until 5:00 p.m. and March 5, 2009, 8:00 a.m.--12:00 noon. The Snapper 
Grouper Committee will receive an update on Oculina Bank monitoring 
activities, a presentation on the discard mortality of black sea bass, 
and review a request regarding draft regulations for Gray's Reef 
Research Area. The Committee will also review Snapper Grouper Amendment 
17 and provide direction to staff. The Committee will discuss a 
possible request for an interim rule to address overfishing for red 
snapper and provide recommendations to the Council, review scoping 
comments received on Snapper Grouper Amendment 18 and the Comprehensive 
Annual Catch Limit Amendment, and provide direction to staff.
* * * * *
    12. Council Session: March 5, 2009, 1:30 p.m. until 5:15 p.m. and 
March 6, 2009, 8:30 a.m. until 10:00 a.m.
Council Session: March 5, 2009, 1:30 p.m. until 5:15 p.m.
    From 1:30 p.m.--1:45 p.m., the Council will call the meeting to 
order, adopt the agenda, and approve the December 2008 meeting minutes.
    From 1:45 p.m.--2:30 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 other Committee 
recommendations and take action as appropriate.
    Note: A public comment session will be held at 1:45 p.m. regarding 
an Interim Rule for addressing overfishing of red snapper if the 
Council considers an Interim Rule request.
    From 2:30 p.m.--3:00 p.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the joint Ecosystem-Based Management and Habitat Committees, review 
public comment on the Fishery Ecosystem Plan, consider recommendations 
from the joint Committees and take action as appropriate. Note: A 
public comment

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session will be held at 2:30 p.m. or immediately following the Snapper 
Grouper Committee Report regarding the Fishery Ecosystem Plan.
    From 3:00 p.m.--3:15 p.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the SOPPs Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 3:15 p.m.--3:30 p.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the joint Executive/Finance Committees meeting, approve the CY 2009 
budget (as necessary), consider other Committee recommendations and 
take action as appropriate.
    From 3:30 p.m.--3:45 p.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the LAPP Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 3:45 p.m.--4:00 p.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the Golden Crab Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 4:00 p.m.--4:15 p.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the Mackerel Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 4:15 p.m.--4:30 p.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the Dolphin/Wahoo Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 4:30 p.m.--4:45 p.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the Shrimp Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 4:45 p.m.--5:00 p.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the Spiny Lobster Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 5:00 p.m.--5:15 p.m., the Council will review and develop 
recommendations on Experimental Permit requests as necessary.
Council Session: March 6, 2009, 8:30 a.m. until 10:00 a.m.
    From 8:30 a.m.--10:00 a.m., the Council will receive status reports 
from NOAA Fisheries' Southeast Regional Office, NOAA Fisheries' 
Southeast Fisheries Science Center, agency and liaison reports, 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 February 27, 2009.

    Dated: February 10, 2009.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-3101 Filed 2-12-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S