[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 223 (Friday, November 20, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60240-60242]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-27944]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XT03


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 meetings of its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), Spiny 
Lobster Committee, Law Enforcement Committee, a joint meeting of its 
Executive and Finance Committees, Protected Resources Committee, 
Ecosystem-Based Management Committee, Personnel Committee (Closed 
Session), Dolphin/Wahoo Committee, Mackerel Committee,

[[Page 60241]]

Snapper Grouper Committee, and a meeting of the full Council. The 
Council will hold an informal public question and answer session with 
the NMFS Regional Administrator and Council Chairman as well as open 
public comment periods relative to agenda items. See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION for additional details.

DATES: The meeting will be held December 6 - 11, 2009. See 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Sheraton Atlantic Beach 
Oceanfront Hotel, 2717 W. Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach, NC 28512; 
telephone: (800) 624-8875 or (252) 240-1155; fax: (252) 240-1452. 
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: December 6, 
2009, 3 p.m. until 6 p.m., December 7, 2009, 8 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., 
and December 8, 2009, 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.

    The SSC will review and provide recommendations as appropriate on 
administrative and planning documents relative to the Southeast Data, 
Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) stock assessment program, and review and 
finalize terms of reference for SEDAR assessments as appropriate. The 
Committee will receive updates on the status of Amendments 15B and 16 
to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan (FMP), the Fishery 
Ecosystem Plan (FEP), and Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based Amendment 1. 
The SSC will review and provide recommendations as appropriate relative 
to draft Amendment 18 to the Coastal Migratory Pelagics (mackerel) FMP 
to address requirements of the reauthorized Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries 
Conservation and Management Act, Amendments 17A, 17B, 18, and 20 to the 
Snapper Grouper FMP, Amendment 5 to the Golden Crab FMP, and draft 
Amendment 10 to the Joint Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Spiny 
Lobster FMP. The SSC will also review and provide recommendations as 
appropriate on the Comprehensive Annual Catch Limit (ACL) Amendment and 
Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based Amendment (CE-BA) 2.
    Amendment 17A to the Snapper Grouper FMP addresses requirements of 
the reauthorized Magnuson-Stevens Act to end overfishing and rebuild 
the red snapper stock in the South Atlantic and establishes a 
monitoring program, and Amendment 17B addresses requirements of the Act 
regarding nine other species in the snapper grouper fishery management 
complex currently listed as undergoing overfishing. Amendment 18 to the 
Snapper Grouper FMP addresses several management measures relative to 
the management complex, including expansion of the management unit 
northward of the Council's current jurisdiction, limiting participation 
in the commercial fishery for golden tilefish, modifications of 
management for the black sea bass pot fishery, allocations, changes to 
the golden tilefish fishing year, improvements to fisheries statistics, 
and designation of Essential Fish Habitat in northern areas. Amendment 
20 to the Snapper Grouper FMP addresses changes to the Wreckfish 
commercial fishery Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) program. 
Amendment 5 to the Golden Crab FMP addresses requirements of the 
reauthorized Magnuson-Stevens Act to establish ACLs and Accountability 
Measures for the golden crab fishery. The draft joint Spiny Lobster 
Amendment 10 currently includes measures addressing tailing permits, 
the use of ``shorts'' or undersized lobster in the fishery, and 
management authority issues. The Comprehensive ACL Amendment addresses 
requirements to establish ACLs and AMs for all species under the 
Council's jurisdiction not currently listed as undergoing overfishing 
as required by the reauthorized Magnuson-Stevens Act. Comprehensive 
Ecosystem-Based Amendment 2 addresses management measures relative to 
the harvest of octocorals.

2. Spiny Lobster Committee Meeting: December 7, 2009, 1 p.m. until 2 
p.m.

    The Spiny Lobster Committee will provide recommendations for the 
appointment of individuals to serve on the SEDAR stock assessment 
update for spiny lobster and terms of reference. The Committee will 
also review results of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council's 
scoping meetings and actions, review NOAA Fisheries Service's 
Biological Opinion, and provide guidance to staff regarding draft 
Amendment 10 to the Spiny Lobster FMP.

3. Law Enforcement Committee: December 7, 2009, 2 p.m. until 3 p.m.

    The Law Enforcement Committee will discuss criteria for a Law 
Enforcement Officer of the Year award and provide recommendations, 
receive briefings on the Surveillance and Enforcement of Remote Marine 
Protected Areas (SERMA) Workshop and a Coral Program FY 2010 proposal, 
and discuss alternatives related to mackerel nets and provide 
recommendations as appropriate.

4. Joint Executive and Finance Committees Meeting: December 7, 2009, 3 
p.m. until 4 p.m.

    The Committees will review the status of the Calendar Year (CY) 
2009 budget, the FMP/Amendment timelines, and the Congressional 2010 
budget. The Committees will also review the Council's proposed CY 2010 
budget.

5. Protected Resources Committee Meeting: December 7, 2009, 4 p.m. 
until 5:30 p.m.

    The Protected Resources Committee will receive presentations 
regarding the bycatch of shortnose sturgeon, and an update from NOAA 
Fisheries Southeast Regional Office regarding the following: Petition 
to list shortnose sturgeon under the Endangered Species Act (ESA); sea 
turtle take in the large mesh flounder fishery in NC; Biological 
Opinion for the shrimp fishery due to the incidental take of smalltooth 
sawfish; and the Center for Biological Diversity's petition to list 80 
species of coral under the ESA.

6. Ecosystem-Based Management Committee Meeting: December 8, 2009, 8:30 
a.m. until 11 a.m.

    The Ecosystem-Based Management Committee will receive an overview 
of changes to Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based Amendment 2 options paper, 
the SSC's recommendations on CE-BA 2, a briefing on Florida's Marine 
Life regulations, and provide guidance to staff regarding CE-BA 2. The 
Committee will also receive updates from the SERMA Workshop, Coral Reef 
Conservation Program FY2010 proposal, and Ecosystem Coordination 
Activities.

7. Dolphin Wahoo Committee Meeting: December 8, 2009, 11 a.m. until 12 
noon

    The Dolphin Wahoo Committee will review SSC input on the draft ACL 
Amendment and provide recommendations to staff.

8. Mackerel Committee Meeting: December 8, 2009, 1:30 p.m. until 2:30 
p.m.

    The Mackerel Committee will review the results from the Gulf of 
Mexico

[[Page 60242]]

Fishery Management Council's public scoping meetings and the Amendment 
18 decision document addressing requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Act, discuss alternatives to address cutting mackerel nets/ trip 
limits, and discuss legal issues relative to the State of South 
Carolina regulating dolphin prior to federal regulations.

9. Snapper Grouper Committee Meeting: December 8, 2009, 2:30 p.m. until 
5 p.m., December 9, 2009, 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., and December 10, 
2009, 9:30 a.m. until 12 noon

    The Snapper Grouper Committee will receive updates on Oculina Bank 
outreach, status of the Red Snapper Interim Rule request, and a 
presentation on red snapper rebuilding projections. The Committee will 
also receive a report relative to snapper grouper management from the 
SSC. The Committee will review management alternatives in Amendment 17A 
and modify the document as necessary, including the selection of 
preferred alternatives. The Committee will review Amendment 17B and the 
Proposed Rule, modify the document as necessary and develop 
recommendations on submission of the amendment to the Secretary of 
Commerce. The Committee will review Amendments 18 and 20, modify the 
documents as necessary and provide guidance as appropriate. The 
Committee will review the Comprehensive ACL Amendment alternatives, 
modify the document as necessary and provide guidance to staff. The 
Committee will also recommend participants and terms of reference for 
the black sea bass 2010 SEDAR stock assessment update.
    NOTE: There will be an informal public question and answer session 
with NOAA Fisheries Services' Regional Administrator and the Council 
Chairman, on December 9, 2009 beginning at 5:30 p.m.

10. Personnel Committee Meeting: December 10, 2009, 8:30 a.m. until 
9:30 a.m. (CLOSED SESSION)

    The Personnel Committee will meet in a closed session to discuss 
personnel issues.

11. Council Session: December 10, 2009, 1:30 p.m. until 6 p.m. and 
December 11, 2009, 8:30 a.m. until 12 noon

Council Session: December 10, 1:30 p.m. until 6 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 September 2009 meeting 
minutes.
    From 1:45 p.m. - 2 p.m., the Council will receive a report from the 
SSC.
    NOTE: Interested persons will be provided the opportunity to 
present oral or written statements regarding matters on the Council 
agenda beginning at 2 p.m. on Thursday, December 10, 2009. The amount 
of time provided to individuals will be determined by the Chairman 
based on the number of individuals wishing to comment.
    The Council will also take public comment regarding Amendment 17B 
to the Snapper Grouper FMP during this time period.
    From 4:30 p.m. - 5:15 p.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the Snapper Grouper Committee, consider recommendations, and take 
action as appropriate.
    From 5:15 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the SSC Selection Committee.
    From 5:30 p.m. - 5:45 p.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the Spiny Lobster Committee, consider recommendations and take action 
as appropriate.
    From 5:45 p.m. - 6 p.m., the Council will receive a report from the 
Law Enforcement Committee, consider recommendations and take action as 
appropriate.

Council Session: December 11, 2009, 8:30 a.m. until 12 noon

    From 8:30 a.m. - 9 a.m., the Council will receive legal briefing on 
litigation (CLOSED SESSION)
    From 9 a.m. - 9:15 a.m., the Council will receive a report from the 
Joint Executive Finance 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 Protected Resources 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 Ecosystem-Based Management Committee, consider recommendations and 
take action as appropriate.
    From 9:45 a.m. - 10 a.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the Dolphin Wahoo Committee, consider recommendations and take action 
as appropriate.
    From 10 a.m. - 10:15 a.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the Mackerel Committee, consider recommendations and take action as 
appropriate.
    From 10:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m., the Council will review and develop 
recommendations on Experimental Fishing Permits as necessary.
    From 10:30 a.m. - 12 noon, 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). 
The Council will also receive a status report on Snapper Grouper 
Amendment 13C quotas, status of data collection programs to address the 
black sea bass stock assessment update, and the status of recreational 
catches versus allocations for Atlantic king mackerel, Atlantic Spanish 
mackerel, black sea bass, golden tilefish, snowy grouper, red porgy, 
greater amberjack, and dolphin. The Council will also 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 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 December 4, 2009.

    Dated: November 17, 2009.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-27944 Filed 11-19-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S