[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 24 (Friday, February 4, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6403-6405]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-2513]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA194


Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of public meetings and hearings.

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SUMMARY: The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold meetings of its 106th Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), 
the American Samoa Archipelago Fishery Ecosystem Plan Regional 
Ecosystem Advisory Committee (REAC), Advisory Panel (AP), and Plan Team 
(PT). The Council will also hold its 150th meeting to consider advisory 
group recommendations and take actions on fishery management issues in 
the Western Pacific Region.

DATES: The meetings will be held from February 22 and March 10, 2011. 
All meetings will be held in Pago Pago, American Samoa, except for the 
SSC meeting which will be held in Honolulu, HI. See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION for specific dates and times and agendas of the several 
meetings.

ADDRESSES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific locations of the 
meetings.
    Council address: Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management 
Council Office, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI; 
telephone: (808) 522-8220.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director; 
telephone: (808) 522-8220.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The SSC will meet on February 22-24, 2011, 
between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.; The American Samoa REAC will meet on 
March 4, 2011, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.; the AP will meet on March 5, 
2011, between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.; the PT will meet on March 7, 2011, 
between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.; the Council's Executive and Budget 
Standing Committee will meet on March 7, 2011, between 3 p.m. and 5 
p.m.; the 150th Council meeting will meet on March 8-10, 2011, between 
8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.
    The SSC meeting will be held at the Western Pacific Regional 
Fishery Management Council Office, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1400, 
Honolulu, HI; telephone: (808) 522-8220. The REAC, and 150th Council 
meetings will be held at the Governor H. Rex Lee Auditorium (Fale 
Laumei), Department of Commerce, Government of American Samoa, Pago 
Pago, American Samoa; telephone: (684) 633-5155. The Council Executive 
and Budget Standing Committee and AP meetings will be held at Sadie's 
by the Sea Hotel, Pago Pago, American Samoa; telephone: (684) 633-5981. 
The Council's PT meeting will be held at the Department of Marine and 
Wildlife Resources, Government of American Samoa, Pago Pago, American 
Samoa; telephone: (684) 633-5102.
    In addition to the agenda items listed here, the SSC, REAC, AP, PT 
and Council will hear recommendations from Council advisory groups. 
Public comment periods will be provided throughout the agendas. The 
order in which agenda items are addressed may change. The meetings will 
run as late as necessary to complete scheduled business.

Schedule and Agenda for 106th SSC Meeting

8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday, February 22, 2011

    1. Introductions
    2. Approval of Draft Agenda and Assignment of Rapporteurs
    3. Status of the 104th SSC Meeting Recommendations
    4. Report from the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center 
Director
    5. Program Planning
    A. Annual Catch Limit (ACL) Specification Process
    B. Workshop on ACLs for Coral Reef Fisheries
    C. National ACL Science Needs Workshop
    D. Catch Shares and Communities Workshop
    E. Public Comment
    F. SSC Discussion and Recommendations
    6. Insular Fisheries
    A. Mariana Archipelago
    1. Plan Team Meetings
    2. Advisory Panel Meetings
    3. Regional Ecosystem Advisory Committee meetings
    4. Biosampling in the Mariana Archipelago
    B. Hawaii Archipelago
    1. Bottomfish Stock Assessment
    2. Bottomfish Essential Fish Habitat (EFH)/Habitat Areas of 
Particular Concern (HAPC)
    3. Puwalu Recommendations
    C. American Samoa Archipelago
    D. Public Comment
    E. SSC Discussion and Recommendations

8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Wednesday, February 23, 2011

    7. Pelagic Fisheries
    A. Proposed Changes to American Samoa Large Pelagic Fishing Vessel 
(> 50 ft) Area Closure (Action)
    B. American Samoa Longline Limited Entry Program (Action)
    C. American Samoa and Hawaii Longline Quarterly Reports
    D. Impacts to Hawaii Longline Fleet from Western and Central 
Pacific Ocean Bigeye Tuna Closure
    E. International Fisheries Meetings
    1. Seventh Regular Meeting of the Western and Central Pacific 
Fisheries Commission (WCPFC7)
    F. Public Comment
    G. SSC Discussion and Recommendations
    8. Protected Species
    A. Updates on False Killer Whale Issues
    B. Updates on Endangered Species Act Issues
    C. American Samoa Longline Fishery Circle Hook Study

[[Page 6404]]

    D. Mariana Archipelago Green Turtle Workshop Report
    E. Better science needed for ecosystem restoration and health 
assessment
    F. Public Comment
    G. SSC Discussion and Recommendations

8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Thursday, February 24, 2011

    9. Other Meetings & Workshops
    10. Other Business
    A. 107th SSC Meeting
    11. Summary of SSC Recommendations to the Council

Schedule and Agenda for American Samoa REAC Meeting

9 a.m.-4 p.m., Friday, March 4, 2011

    1. Welcome and Introductions
    2. Status of 2010 REAC Recommendations
    3. Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning Initiative
    A. Regional Ocean Partnership
    B. Monument Activities and Status
    C. Discussion and Recommendations
    4. Ecosystem Monitoring and Community Issues
    A. American Samoa Bio-Sampling Program
    B. Discussion and Recommendations
    5. Community Development
    A. Status of Fishery Development
    B. Marine Conservation Plan
    C. Discussion and Recommendations
    6. Upcoming Council Action Items
    A. Pelagic Action Items
    i. Modifying the large pelagic fishing vessel area closure
    ii. Potential modifications to the American Samoa Longline Limited 
Entry Program
    B. Other Action Items
    C. Discussion and Recommendations
    7. Other Business
    8. Public Comments
    9. Discussion and Recommendations

Schedule and Agenda for American Samoa AP Meeting

8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday, March 5, 2011

    1. Introductions
    2. Status of 2010 Meeting Recommendations
    3. Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning
    4. Ecosystem Monitoring and Community Issues
    A. Report on Coral Reef Funded Projects
    B. Federal Programs and Projects
    i. American Samoa Bio-Sampling Programs
    5. Local Activities and Issues
    A. Fishery Development
    i. American Samoa Marine Conservation Plan
    ii. Other Fishery Development
    6. Upcoming Council Actions
    A. Pelagic Action Items
    i. Modifying the large pelagic fishing vessel area closure
    ii. Potential modifications to the American Samoa Longline Limited 
Entry Program
    B. Other Action Items
    7. Other Fishery Issues
    8. Public Comment
    9. Discussion and Recommendations

Schedule and Agenda for American Samoa PT Meeting

8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday, March 7, 2011

    1. Welcome and Introductions
    2. Status of Fishery Monitoring Programs and Research Projects
    A. Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources
    i. Coral Reef Fisheries
    ii. Bottomfish Fisheries
    iii. Crustacean Fisheries
    B. National Marine Fisheries Service Pacific Islands Fisheries 
Science Center (PIFSC)/Western Pacific Fisheries Information Network 
(WPacFIN)
    i. Report on PIFSC Bio-Sampling Program
    C. Pacific Islands Regional Office (PIRO) Administrative Activities
    D. Coral Reef Funded Projects
    E. Other Initiatives
    3. Update on Recommendations from 2009 Fishery Data Workshop
    4. Mariana Archipelago Fishery Ecosystem Plan draft annual report 
structure
    A. Fishery Modules
    B. Research and Monitoring Projects
    C. Protected Resources
    D. Habitat
    E. Administration
    5. Proposal for Improving Fishery Data Collection for Stock 
Assessments
    6. Council Meeting Actions
    A. Pelagic Action Items
    i. Modifying the large pelagic fishing vessel area closure
    ii. Potential modifications to the American Samoa Longline Limited 
Entry Program
    B. Fishery Development
    7. Other Business
    8. Public Comment
    9. Discussion and Recommendations

Schedule and Agenda for 150th Council Meeting

Monday, March 7, 2011

    Standing Committee Meetings
    3 p.m.-5 p.m., Executive and Budget Standing Committee

8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday, March 8, 2011

    1. Opening Ceremony
    2. Introductions
    3. Approval of Agenda
    4. Approval of the 149th Meeting Minutes
    5. Executive Director's Report
    6. Agency Reports
    A. National Marine Fisheries Service
    1. Pacific Islands Regional Office
    2. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
    B. NOAA Regional Counsel
    C. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
    D. Enforcement
    1. U.S. Coast Guard
    2. NMFS Office for Law Enforcement
    3. NOAA General Counsel for Enforcement and Litigation
    E. National Marine Sanctuaries Program
    F. Public Comment
    G. Council Discussion and Action
    7. American Samoa Archipelago
    A. Motu Lipoti
    B. Fono Report
    C. Enforcement Issues
    D. Fishery Development Projects
    E. American Samoa Marine Conservation Plan
    F. Community Activities and Issues
    G. Education and Outreach Initiatives
    H. American Samoa FEP AP Recommendations
    I. American Samoa FEP PT Recommendations
    K. American Samoa FEP REAC Recommendations
    L. SSC Recommendations
    M. Public Comment
    Council Discussion and Action Manny Duenas
    8. Mariana Archipelago
    A. Arongo Flaeey
    B. Isla Informe
    C. Legislative Report
    D. Enforcement Issues
    E. Community Activities and Issues
    1. Community Monitoring Activities
    2. Report on Lunar Calendar Workshop
    3. Report on Mariana Aquaculture Workshop
    F. Update on Military Activities
    G. Education and Outreach Initiatives
    H. Marine Conservation Plans
    1. CNMI
    2. Guam
    I. Marianas FEP AP Recommendations
    J. Marianas FEP PT Recommendations
    K. Marianas FEP REAC Recommendations
    1. Guam
    2. CNMI
    L. SSC Recommendations
    M. Public Comment
    N. Council Discussion and Action

[[Page 6405]]

    9. Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items
    6 p.m.-9 p.m.--Fishers Forum

8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Wednesday, March 9, 2011

    10. Hawaii Archipelago
    A. Moku Pepa
    B. Legislative Report
    C. Enforcement Issues
    D. Main Hawaiian Islands Bottomfish
    1. Stock Assessment Review
    2. Bottomfish EFH/HAPC
    E. Community Activities and Issues
    1. Hawaii Puwalu Report
    2. Report on scoping meeting for non-commercial, catch shares, ACL 
and other Council initiatives
    F. SSC Recommendations
    G. Public Comment
    H. Council Discussion and Action
    11. Program Planning and Research
    A. Action Item
    1. Annual Catch Limit (ACL) Specification Process
    B. Report of the Coral Reef ACL Workshop
    C. NOAA Catch Shares & Communities Workshop
    D. Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning/Climate Change
    E. Traditional Lunar Calendar Workshop
    F. Hawaii, Regional, National & International Education and 
Outreach
    G. Sustainable Fisheries Fund Marine Conservation Plan
    H. SSC Recommendations
    I. Public Hearing
    J. Council Discussion and Action
    12. Protected Species
    A. Updates on ESA/MMPA issues
    B. Report of the American Samoa Longline Circle-hook Study
    C. Mariana Archipelago Green Sea Turtle Workshop Report
    D. SSC Recommendations
    E. Public Comment
    F. Council Discussion and Action

8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Thursday, March 10, 2011

    13. Pelagic and International Fisheries
    A. Action Items
    1. Potential modifications to the American Samoa Longline Limited 
Entry Program
    2. Proposed Changes to the American Samoa Large Pelagic Vessel (>50 
ft) Area Closure
    B. American Samoa and Hawaii Longline Quarterly Reports
    C. Impacts to Hawaii Longline Fleet from WCPO Bigeye Tuna Closure
    D. International Fisheries
    1. Seventh Meeting of the Western Central Pacific Fisheries 
Commission
    E. SSC Recommendations
    F. Public Hearing
    G. Council Discussion and Action
    14. Administrative Matters
    A. Financial Reports
    B. Administrative Reports
    C. SOPP Review and Changes
    D. Council Family Changes
    E. Meetings and Workshops
    F. Other Business
    G. Standing Committee Recommendations
    H. Public Comment
    I. Council Discussion and Action
    15. Other Business
    Although other non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda 
may come before the Council for discussion and formal Council action 
during its 150th meeting. However, Council action on regulatory issues 
will be restricted to those issues specifically listed in this document 
and any regulatory issue arising after publication of this document 
that requires emergency action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council's 
intent to take action to address the emergency.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Kitty M. Simonds, (808) 522-8220 
(voice) or (808) 522-8226 (fax), at least 5 days prior to the meeting 
date.

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

    Dated: February 1, 2011.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-2513 Filed 2-3-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P