[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 205 (Monday, October 24, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65699-65700]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-27390]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA779


South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of public hearing series.

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SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold a series of public hearings regarding Amendments 18A, 20A, and 24 
to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the South 
Atlantic Region. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
    Dates and Location: The series of seven public hearings will be 
held from November 14, 2011 through December 6, 2011. The hearings will 
be held from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. with the exception of two hearings. 
The hearings on November 15, 2011 in Charleston, SC and the hearing on 
December 6, 2011 in Raleigh, NC will be conducted from 5:30 p.m.-7:30 
p.m. Note that in some cases consecutive hearings will be held on the 
same date. Council staff will present an overview of the amendments and 
will be available for informal discussions and to answer questions. 
Members of the public will have an opportunity to go on record at any 
time during the meeting hours to record their comments on the public 
hearing topics for consideration by the Council. Local Council 
representatives will attend the meetings and take public comment. 
Written comments will be accepted from October 21, 2011 until 5 p.m. on 
November 21, 2011, See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Amendment 18A is being developed by the 
Council to address overcapacity in the commercial black sea bass pot 
fishery and reduce the rate of harvest for both commercial and 
recreational sectors. The amendment includes actions to limit 
participation and effort in the black sea bass pot fishery, limit 
bycatch in the commercial pot fishery, and modify the current system of 
accountability measures. Management measures being considered include 
increases in size limits, decreases in bag limits, a commercial trip 
limit, and a spawning season closure. The amendment also includes 
actions to update management parameters based on the 2011 Southeast 
Data, Assessment and Review (SEDAR) stock assessment for black sea 
bass, consider modifications to the rebuilding strategy to account for 
an increasing biomass, and improve the accuracy, timing and quantity of 
fisheries data.
    Amendment 20A addresses the current Individual Transferable Quota 
(ITQ) program currently in place for the wreckfish fishery. The 
amendment includes measures to adjust the distribution of wreckfish 
shares in order to remove inactive effort and allow the commercial 
sector's Annual Catch Limit (ACL) to be harvested effectively.
    Amendment 24 to the Snapper Grouper FMP addresses the 
implementation of a rebuilding plan for red grouper in the South 
Atlantic as required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (MSFCMA). The rebuilding plan would specify ACLs, annual 
catch targets and accountability measures for the red grouper fishery. 
The amendment also establishes sector allocations.
    Public Hearing Schedule:
    1. November 14, 2011--Avista Resort, 300 N. Ocean Blvd., North 
Myrtle Beach, SC 29582; telephone: (843) 249-2521;
    2. November 14, 2011--Hampton Inn & Suites Savannah/Midtown, 20 
Johnson Street, Savannah, GA 31405; telephone: (912) 721-3700;
    3. November 15, 2011--Charleston Marriott Hotel, 170 Lockwood 
Blvd., Charleston, SC 29403; telephone: (843) 723-3000;
    4. November 15, 2011--Jacksonville Marriott, 4670 Salisbury Road, 
Jacksonville, FL 32256; telephone: (904) 296-2222;
    5. November 16, 2011--Radisson Resort at the Port, 8701 Astronaut 
Boulevard, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920; telephone: (321) 784-0000;
    6. November 17, 2011--Key Largo Bay Marriott, 103800 Overseas Hwy., 
Key Largo, FL 33037; telephone: (305) 453-0000;
    7. December 6, 2011--Holiday Inn Brownstone, 1707 Hillsborough 
Street, Raleigh, NC 27605; Phone: (919) 828-0811.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Bob Mahood, Executive 
Director, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 4055 Faber Place 
Drive, Suite 201, North Charleston, SC 29405, or via e-mail to:

[[Page 65700]]

[email protected] for Amendment 18A (black sea bass); 
[email protected] for Amendment 20A (wreckfish); and 
[email protected] for Amendment 24 (red grouper) to the 
Snapper Grouper FMP. Written comments will be received from October 21, 
2011 until 5 p.m. on November 21, 2011.
    Copies of the public hearing documents are available by contacting 
Kim Iverson, Public Information Officer, South Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council, 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, North 
Charleston, SC 29405; telephone: (843) 571-4366 or toll free at (866) 
SAFMC-10. Copies will also be available online at www.safmc.net as they 
become available.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Iverson, South Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council, 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, North 
Charleston, SC 29405; telephone: (843) 571-4366; fax: (843) 769-4520; 
e-mail address: [email protected].

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) 
3 days prior to the start of each meeting.

    Dated: October 19, 2011.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-27390 Filed 10-21-11; 8:45 am]
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