[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 222 (Thursday, November 17, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71321-71322]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-29732]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA828


North Pacific 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 North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its 
advisory committees will hold public meetings, December 5-13, 2011 at 
the Anchorage Hilton Hotel.

DATES: The Council will begin its plenary session at 8 a.m. on 
Wednesday, December 7 continuing through Tuesday, December 13, 2011. 
Council's Advisory Panel (AP) will begin at 8 a.m., Monday, December 5 
and continue through Friday, December 9, 2011. The Scientific 
Statistical Committee (SSC) will begin at 8 a.m. on Monday, December 5 
and continue through Wednesday, December 7, 2011. The Halibut Charter 
Implementation Committee will meet Tuesday, December 6 at 4 p.m. in 
Lupine/Willow room. All meetings are open to the public, except 
executive sessions.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Hilton Hotel, 500 West 
Third Avenue, Anchorage, AK.
    Council address: North Pacific Fishery Management Council, 605 W. 
4th Avenue, Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 99501-2252.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Witherell, Council staff, 
telephone: (907) 271-2809.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Council Plenary Session

    The agenda for the Council's plenary session will include the 
following issues. The Council may take appropriate action on any of the 
issues identified.

Reports

    1. Executive Director's Report (including Standard Operations and 
Procedures (SOPPs) review/approval and update on workshop with 
International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC)).
NMFS Management Report
    Alaska Department of Fish & Game Report (including halibut 
subsistence update);
    NOAA Enforcement Report;
    United States Coast Guard Report;
    United States Fish & Wildlife Service Report;
    Protected Species Report (including Steller Sea Lion (SSL) Center 
of Independent Experts (CIE) Terms of Reference).
    2. Pacific Cod Jig Fishery Management: Report on Board of Fisheries 
action and discuss next steps.
    3. Salmon Fishery Management Plan (FMP): Final action to approve 
Salmon FMP.
    4. Groundfish Harvest Specifications: Approve final BSAI groundfish 
specifications and Stock Assessment Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) reports. 
Approve final GOA groundfish specifications and SAFE reports.
    5. Bering Sea Aleutian Island (BSAI) Crab Stakeholders reports(5-
year review issues): Crew compensation/active participation/excessive 
lease rates; binding arbitration; community issues/Right of first 
refusal (ROFR).
    6. Freezer Longline Vessel Replacement: Initial review of analysis 
to allow replacement of freezer longline vessels.
    7. Halibut Catch Sharing plan: IPHC report on 2012 staff 
recommendations;

[[Page 71322]]

ADF&G report on 2010/2011 sport catch estimates, and logbook versus 
statewide harvest survey comparisons; Council guidance to IPHC for 2012 
management measures; Review Charter Halibut Committee report on 
revising Catch Share Plan (CSP) Tier one management measures; Review 
NMFS report on CSP deficiencies and provide Council direction.
    8. Groundfish Issues: Review Bering Sea Habitat Conservation Area 
Boundary; Discussion paper on Gulf of Alaska (GOA) Chinook salmon 
bycatch in all fisheries; Discussion paper on GOA Pacific Cod A-season 
opening dates; Review/approve Halibut mortality on trawlers Exempted 
Fishing Permit (EFP); Establishing a Community Quota Entity 
(CQE)Program in Area 4b; final action.
    9. Staff Tasking: Review Committees and tasking.
    10. Other Business
    The SSC agenda will include the following issues:
    1. Groundfish Specifications.
    2. FFL vessel replacement.
    3. Review/approve halibut mortality on trawler EFP.
    The Advisory Panel will address most of the same agenda issues as 
the Council, except C-6 Halibut CSP and 1 B reports. The 
Agenda is subject to change, and the latest version will be posted at 
http://www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/npfmc/.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Gail Bendixen at (907) 271-2809 at 
least 7 working days prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: November 14, 2011.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-29732 Filed 11-16-11; 8:45 am]
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