[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 239 (Tuesday, December 13, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77491-77492]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-31886]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA863


Fisheries of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic; Southeast 
Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR); Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice of SEDAR 28 pre-data workshop webinar for Gulf of Mexico 
and South Atlantic Spanish mackerel and cobia.

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SUMMARY: The SEDAR 28 assessments of the Gulf of Mexico and South 
Atlantic stocks of Spanish mackerel and cobia will consist of a series 
of workshops and webinars: A Data Workshop and webinar, an Assessment 
Workshop and webinars, and a Review Workshop. See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION.

DATES: The SEDAR 28 pre-data workshop webinar will be held Wednesday, 
January 11, 2012, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The established time may be 
adjusted as necessary to accommodate the timely completion of 
discussion relevant to the assessment process. Such adjustments may 
result in the meeting being extended from, or completed prior to the 
time established by this notice.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held via webinar. The webinar is open to 
members of the public. Those interested in participating should contact 
Kari H. Fenske at SEDAR (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) to 
request an invitation providing webinar access information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kari H. Fenske, SEDAR Coordinator, 
4055 Faber Place, Suite 201, North Charleston, SC 29405; telephone: 
(843) 571-4366; email: [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, and 
Caribbean Fishery Management Councils, in conjunction with NOAA 
Fisheries and the Atlantic and Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commissions 
have implemented the Southeast Data, Assessment and Review (SEDAR) 
process, a multi-step method for determining the status of fish stocks 
in the Southeast Region. SEDAR is a three-step process including: (1) 
Data Workshop, (2) Assessment Process utilizing a workshop and 
webinars, (3) Review Workshop. The product of the

[[Page 77492]]

Data Workshop is a data report which compiles and evaluates potential 
datasets and recommends which datasets are appropriate for assessment 
analyses. The product of the Assessment Process is a stock assessment 
report which describes the fisheries, evaluates the status of the 
stock, estimates biological benchmarks, projects future population 
conditions, and recommends research and monitoring needs. The 
assessment is independently peer reviewed at the Review Workshop. The 
product of the Review Workshop is a Summary documenting Panel opinions 
regarding the strengths and weaknesses of the stock assessment and 
input data. Participants for SEDAR Workshops are appointed by the Gulf 
of Mexico, South Atlantic, and Caribbean Fishery Management Councils 
and NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office, HMS Management Division, 
and Southeast Fisheries Science Center. Participants include data 
collectors and database managers; stock assessment scientists, 
biologists, and researchers; constituency representatives including 
fishermen, environmentalists, and NGO's; International experts; and 
staff of Councils, Commissions, and state and federal agencies.
    During the SEDAR 28 pre-data workshop webinar participants will 
present summary data, and discuss data needs and treatments.
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come 
before this group for discussion, those issues may not be the subject 
of formal action during this meeting. 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 Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council's 
intent to take final action to address the emergency.

Special Accommodations

    The meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to the Council office (see ADDRESSES) at least 10 
business days prior to the meeting.

    Dated: December 8, 2011.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-31886 Filed 12-12-11; 8:45 am]
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