[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 94 (Monday, May 18, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23173-23175]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-11476]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN: 0648-XP32


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), Golden 
Crab Advisory Panel, Wreckfish Advisory Panel, Limited Access Privilege 
Program (LAPP) Committee, Golden Crab Committee, SSC Selection 
Committee (Closed Session), a joint meeting of its Executive and 
Finance Committees, Dolphin/Wahoo Committee, Spiny Lobster Committee, 
Mackerel Committee, Advisory Panel Selection Committee (Closed 
Session), Standard Operating, Policy and Procedure (SOPPs) Committee, 
SouthEast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) Committee, Ecosystem-
Based Management Committee, Snapper Grouper Committee, and a meeting of 
the full Council. The Council will conduct a workshop with the SSC and 
Golden Crab Advisory Panel (AP) and a separate workshop with the SSC 
and Wreckfish AP. The Council will also hold an informal public 
question and answer session with NMFS Regional Administrator and 
Council Chairman as well as an open public comment period relative to 
agenda items. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for additional details.

DATES: The meeting will be held June 7-12, 2009. See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Hutchinson Island Marriott, 
555 NE Ocean Boulevard, Stuart, FL 34996; telephone: (800) 775-5936 or 
(772) 225-3700; fax: (772) 225-0003. 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. Golden Crab Advisory Panel and SSC Workshop: June 7, 2009, 9 a.m. 
until 10:30 a.m.

    The Golden Crab Advisory Panel and SSC will review the biology of 
the golden crab and red crab fisheries, available data, and receive a 
presentation on the fishery from AP members.

2. Wreckfish Advisory Panel and SSC Workshop: June 7, 2009, 10:30 a.m. 
until 12 p.m.

    The Wreckfish Advisory Panel and SSC will review the biology of 
wreckfish, available data, and receive a presentation on the fishery 
from the Wreckfish AP.

3. Scientific and Statistical Committee: June 7, 2009, 1:30 p.m. until 
5 p.m.; June 8, 2009, 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m.; and June 9, 2009, 8:30 
a.m. until 5 p.m.

    The SSC will receive updates on the status of Amendments 15B, 16 
and 18 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan (FMP), the 
Fishery Ecosystem Plan, the Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based Amendment 1, 
Amendment 18 to the Coastal Migratory Pelagics FMP, and the 
Comprehensive Annual Catch Limit (ACL) Amendment. The SSC will also 
review the Council's Research and Monitoring Plan and consider for 
approval. The SSC will receive presentations regarding the Acceptable 
Biological Catch (ABC) Control Rule, discuss applications, and finalize 
an ABC Control Rule document. The SSC will also receive an update on 
Amendment 17 to the Snapper Grouper FMP, discuss area closures, and 
receive a report regarding possible implementation of a monitoring plan 
under Amendment 17. The SSC will prepare a written report for 
presentation to the Council.

4. Golden Crab Advisory Panel Meeting: June 8, 2009, 8:30 a.m. until 
10:30 a.m.

    The Golden Crab Advisory Panel will discuss the Golden Crab and SSC 
Workshop, develop recommendations on Annual Catch Limits (ACLs) and 
Accountability Measures (AMs) and other management measures, and will 
receive an update and discuss the Golden Crab LAPP.

5. Wreckfish Advisory Panel Meeting: June 8, 2009, 10:30 a.m. until 12 
p.m.

    The Wreckfish Advisory Panel will discuss the Wreckfish and SSC 
Workshop, develop recommendations on ACLs and AMs, and discuss 
Amendment 18 wreckfish Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) changes and 
develop recommendations.

6. LAPP Committee Meeting: June 8, 2009, 1:30 p.m. until 4 p.m.

    The LAPP Committee will receive an update on meetings with the 
Golden Crab and Wreckfish Advisory Panels, review options and provide 
direction to staff.

[[Page 23174]]

7. Golden Crab Committee Meeting: June 8, 2009, 4 p.m. until 5:30 p.m.

    The Golden Crab Committee will receive an update on meetings with 
the golden crab fishermen, review options and provide direction to 
staff.

8. SSC Selection Committee Meeting (Closed Session): June 9, 2009, 8:30 
a.m. until 10 a.m.

    The SSC Selection Committee will review membership, discuss policy 
issues, and develop recommendations as appropriate.

9. Joint Executive/Finance Committees Meeting: June 9, 2009, 10 a.m. 
until 11 a.m.

    The Joint Executive and Finance Committee will meet jointly to 
review the status of Calendar Year (CY) 2009 Council funding and 
approve the CY 2009 budget.

10. Dolphin/Wahoo Committee Meeting: June 9, 2009, 11 a.m. until 12 
p.m.

    The Dolphin/Wahoo Committee will review options to be included in 
the Comprehensive ACL Amendment and provide guidance to staff.

11. Spiny Lobster Committee Meeting: June 9, 2009, 1:30 p.m. until 2:30 
p.m.

    The Spiny Lobster Committee will receive a report on the status of 
the work with the Gulf Council on the joint Spiny Lobster Amendment, 
review options and provide guidance to staff.

12. Mackerel Committee Meeting: June 9, 2009, 2:30 p.m. until 4 p.m.

    The Mackerel Committee will receive a report on the status of the 
work with the Gulf Council on the joint Mackerel Amendment, review 
options, and provide direction to staff.

13. SOPPs Committee Meeting: June 9, 2009, 4 p.m. until 5:30 p.m.

    The SOPPs Committee will review the proposed rule addressing 
Council SOPPs and develop comments. The Committee will develop changes 
to SOPPs as necessary.
    NOTE: Interested persons will be provided the opportunity to 
present oral or written statements regarding matters on the Council 
agenda from 5:30 p.m. until 7 p.m.

14. Advisory Panel Selection Committee (Closed Session): June 10, 2009, 
8:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m.

    The Advisory Panel Selection Committee will review applicants and 
develop recommendations.

15. SEDAR Committee Meeting: June 10, 2009, 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m.

    The SEDAR Committee will review the results of the SEDAR Steering 
Committee meeting and develop recommendations.

16. Ecosystem-Based Management Committee: June 10, 2009, 10:30 a.m. 
until 12 p.m.

    The Ecosystem-Based Management Committee will review the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and legal comments on the Fishery 
Ecosystem Plan (FEP) Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based Amendment 1 and 
develop recommendations. The Committee will also review options for the 
Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based Amendment 2 and provide direction to 
staff as well as receive a presentation on the South Atlantic 
Governor's Alliance.

17. Snapper Grouper Committee: June 10, 2009, 1:30 p.m. until 5 p.m.; 
June 11, 2009, 8:30 a.m. until 12 p.m.

    The Snapper Grouper Committee will receive an update on Oculina 
monitoring activities, receive a report from the SSC, and receive a 
report on the status of the Red Snapper Interim Rule. The Committee 
will also receive a presentation of the red snapper rebuilding 
projections, review draft Snapper Grouper Amendment 17 and provide 
direction to staff, and approve Amendment 17 for public hearing (if 
possible). In addition, the Committee will review Snapper Grouper 
Amendment 18 options and provide direction to staff, review SSC 
recommendations on control rules, and review the Comprehensive ACL 
Amendment.
    NOTE: There will be an informal public question and answer session 
with NOAA Fisheries Services' Regional Administrator and the Council 
Chairman, focusing on management issues relative to red snapper, on 
June 10, 2009 beginning at 5:30 p.m.

18. Council Session: June 11, 2009, 1:30 p.m. until 5 p.m. and June 12, 
2009, 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.

Council Session: June 11, 1:30 p.m. until 5 p.m.

    From 1:30 p.m. - 2 p.m., the Council will call the meeting to 
order, adopt the agenda, and approve the March 2009 meeting minutes.
    From 2 p.m. - 2:30 p.m., the Council will receive a report on 
Florida's management of permit (Trachinotus falcatus) in federal 
waters.
    From 2:30 p.m. - 3 p.m., the Council will receive an update on the 
Atlantic Sea Turtle Strategy.
    From 3 p.m. - 3:30 p.m., the Council will receive an update on the 
National Marine Protected Area Program.
    From 3:30 p.m. - 4 p.m., the Council will receive a report from the 
Ecosystem-Based Management Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 4 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., the Council will receive a report from the 
Snapper Grouper Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 4:30 p.m. - 4:45 p.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the LAPP Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 4:45 p.m. - 5 p.m., the Council will receive a report from the 
Golden Crab Committee and take action as appropriate.

Council Session: June 12, 2009, 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.

    From 8:30 a.m. - 8:45 a.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the SSC Selection Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 8:45 a.m. - 9 a.m., the Council will receive a report from the 
Joint Executive/Finance Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 9 a.m. - 9:15 a.m., the Council will receive a report from the 
Dolphin/Wahoo Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 9:15 a.m. - 9:30 a.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the Spiny Lobster Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 9:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the Mackerel Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 9:45 a.m. - 10 a.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the Advisory Panel Selection Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 10 a.m. - 10:15 a.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the SOPPs Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 10:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m., the Council will receive a report 
from the SEDAR Committee and take action as appropriate.
    From 10:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m., the Council will receive a report on 
the Council Coordinating Committee (CCC) meeting.
    From 10:45 a.m. - 11:15 a.m., the Council will receive a status 
report from NOAA Fisheries Service on commercial quotas by fishing year 
for: Atlantic king mackerel, Gulf king mackerel (eastern zone), 
Atlantic Spanish mackerel, snowy grouper, golden tilefish, wreckfish, 
greater amberjack, South Atlantic Octocorals and dolphin (soft quota 
ratios), vermilion snapper, black

[[Page 23175]]

sea bass, red porgy and gag. The Council will also receive a status 
report of Snapper Grouper Amendment 16, Protected Species Issues, VMS 
Compliance report from Law Enforcement, and review and develop 
recommendations on Experimental Fishing Permits as necessary.
    From 11:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m., the Council will receive status 
reports from NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science Center on the Data 
Collection and Stock Assessment Improvement Plans, a progress report on 
aging red and black grouper, 2007 and 2008 headboat data entry, and the 
status of recreational catches versus allocations where appropriate of 
the following species: Atlantic king mackerel and Spanish mackerel, 
black sea bass, golden tilefish, snowy grouper, red porgy, greater 
amberjack, dolphin, wahoo, vermilion snapper, gag, red snapper, mutton 
snapper, and yellowtail snapper.
    From 11:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., the Council will receive agency and 
liaison reports, discuss other business and 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 these groups 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 June 4, 2009.

    Dated: May 13, 2009.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-11476 Filed 5-15-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S