[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 32 (Thursday, February 16, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9211-9213]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-3670]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XB008


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.

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SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold 
meetings of its: Law Enforcement Advisory Panel; Ad Hoc Data Collection 
Committee; Law Enforcement Committee; Spiny Lobster Committee; 
Ecosystem-Based Management Committee; King and Spanish Mackerel 
Committee; Shrimp Committee; Information and Education Committee; 
Executive Finance Committee; Southeast Data, Assessment and Review 
(SEDAR) Committee; Golden Crab Committee; Catch Shares Committee; 
Snapper Grouper Committee; and a meeting of the Full Council. The 
Council will take action as necessary.
    The Council will hold an informal public question and answer 
session regarding agenda items and a public comment session. See 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for additional details.

DATES: The Council meeting will be held March 5-9, 2012. See 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Savannah Hilton DeSoto, 15 
East Liberty Street, Savannah, GA 31401; telephone: (1-877) 280-0751 or 
(912) 232-9000; fax: (912) 232-6018. 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. Law Enforcement Advisory Panel Meeting: March 5, 2012, 1:30 p.m. 
Until 5 p.m.

    The Law Enforcement Advisory Panel (AP) will receive an update on 
recent amendments and review and develop comments on the following 
amendments: Snapper Grouper Amendment 18B (golden tilefish); Snapper 
Grouper Regulatory Amendment 12 (framework action to adjust the golden 
tilefish Annual Catch Limit (ACL), Optimum Yield (OY) and Annual Catch 
Target (ACT) in the fishery); Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based Amendment 
3; Snapper Grouper Amendment 20B (wreckfish Individual Transferable 
Quota (ITQ) program modifications); Spiny Lobster Amendment 11 
(weather-related fishery closures and a revised Minimum Stock Size 
Threshold (MSST) for pink shrimp); and Golden Crab Amendment 6 (catch 
share program for the commercial fishery). The AP will also begin the 
process for the 2011 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award.

    Note:  Concurrent Session.


[[Page 9212]]



2. Ad Hoc Data Collection Committee Meeting: March 5, 2012, 1:30 p.m. 
Until 5 p.m.

    The Ad Hoc Data Collection Committee will discuss the joint South 
Atlantic/Gulf Council dealer permits and review commercial and for-hire 
vessel reporting requirements in the South Atlantic.

3. Law Enforcement Committee Meeting: March 6, 2012, 8:30 a.m. Until 
9:30 a.m.

    The Law Enforcement Committee will receive a report from the Law 
Enforcement AP and discuss other issues as appropriate.

4. Spiny Lobster Committee Meeting: March 6, 2012, 9:30 a.m. Until 
10:30 a.m.

    The Spiny Lobster Committee will receive an overview of Spiny 
Lobster Amendment 11, which includes measures to help protect 
threatened/endangered species. These measures include area closures for 
the commercial trap fishery to protect corals and gear marking 
requirements for trap lines. The Committee will also review public 
hearing comments and Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(SDEIS) comments and modify Amendment 11 as appropriate. The Committee 
will provide recommendations to Council.

5. Ecosystem-Based Management Committee Meeting: March 6, 2012, 10:30 
a.m. Until 3 p.m.

    The Ecosystem-Based Management Committee will receive updates on: 
The status of catches versus quota for octocorals; the status of 
Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based Amendment 2; the Florida Keys National 
Marine Sanctuary Strategic Plan; and public scoping comments for 
Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based Amendment 3 (CE-BA3). The Committee will 
develop recommendations for CE-BA3, give an update on ecosystem 
activities, and provide direction to staff.

6. King and Spanish Mackerel Committee Meeting: March 6, 2012, 3 p.m. 
Until 5 p.m.

    The King and Spanish Mackerel Committee will receive updates on the 
status of catches versus quotas for species under quota management and 
the status of Mackerel Amendment 18, which establishes ACLs and 
Accountability Measures (AMs) for mackerel and cobia. The Committee 
will also receive a presentation on king mackerel tournament sales of 
fish and will select items to include in the joint South Atlantic and 
Gulf Mackerel Amendments 20 and 21. The Committee will provide guidance 
to staff and recommendations to Council.

7. Shrimp Committee Meeting: March 7, 2012, 8:30 a.m. Until 10 a.m.

    The Shrimp Committee will review scoping comments for Shrimp 
Amendment 9, which would expedite the closure process during severe 
cold events in order to protect overwintering shrimp populations and 
would revise the MSST proxy for pink shrimp. The Committee will take 
action as appropriate and provide guidance to staff.

8. Information and Education Committee Meeting: March 7, 2012, 10 a.m. 
Until 11 a.m.

    The Information and Education Committee will review the 
recommendations from the Snapper Grouper AP relating to outreach and 
will receive presentations on the use of social media tools. 
Additionally, the Committee will receive a review of the recent public 
hearing and scoping meetings and discuss options for future meetings. 
The Committee will provide recommendations as appropriate.

9. Executive Finance Committee Meeting: March 7, 2012, 11 a.m. Until 12 
Noon

    The Executive Finance Committee will: Receive a report on the 
Council Year (CY) 2012 Council expenditures; review and approve the 
draft CY2012 Council activities schedule and budget; and review the 
President's 2013 budget proposal.

10. SEDAR Committee Meeting: March 7, 2012, 1:30 p.m. Until 3:30 p.m.

    The SEDAR Committee will receive an overview of SEDAR activities 
and review SEDAR assessment priorities. The Committee will also receive 
a presentation on the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) 
Electronic Logbook Pilot Study, a report on recent MRIP workshops and a 
report on revised MRIP catch estimates. The Committee will discuss and 
develop recommendations for the next SEDAR Steering Committee meeting.

11. Golden Crab Committee Meeting: March 7, 2012, 3:30 p.m. Until 5:30 
p.m.

    The Golden Crab Committee will review: The status of commercial 
catches versus quotas (amount landed to date); public hearing comments 
on Golden Crab Amendment 6; Golden Crab AP recommendations; and staff 
modifications to the amendment. The Committee will provide direction to 
staff and recommendations to the Council for approving the amendment 
for Secretarial review and approval.

    Note:  There will be an informal public question and answer 
session with the NMFS Regional Administrator and the Council 
Chairman on March 7, 2012, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

12. Catch Shares Committee Meeting: March 8, 2012, 8:30 a.m. Until 10 
a.m.

    The Catch Shares Committee will receive a presentation on a 
voluntary catch share program and take action as appropriate.

13. Snapper Grouper Committee Meeting: March 8, 2012, 10 a.m. Until 5 
p.m.

    The Snapper Grouper Committee will receive updates on the status of 
catches versus quotas for species under quota management and address 
any necessary actions as the result of these reports. The Committee 
will receive a report on Oculina research activities and updates on the 
status of amendments under review, including: Regulatory Amendment 11, 
which proposes elimination of the current 240' restriction on the 
harvest of some deepwater species within the snapper grouper management 
unit; the Comprehensive Annual Catch Limit (ACL) Amendment, which 
establishes ACL and AM for species that are not currently undergoing 
overfishing; Amendment 24 establishing a rebuilding plan for red 
grouper; Amendment 18A addressing black sea bass management and data 
collection; and Amendment 20A pertaining to the wreckfish ITQ program.
    The Committee will also review Amendment 18B that includes measures 
to limit participation in the commercial golden tilefish fishery. The 
Committee will receive a summary of comments from recent public 
hearings, choose preferred alternatives for actions, modify the 
amendment as appropriate and provide recommendations to the Council. 
Additionally, the Committee will receive an overview of Regulatory 
Amendment 12 regarding a framework action to adjust the golden tilefish 
ACL, OY and ACT based on the most recent stock assessment. The 
Committee will choose preferred alternatives and modify the amendment 
as appropriate. The Committee will discuss limiting the number of black 
sea bass commercial trips, receive an overview of Amendment 20B 
addressing modifications to the wreckfish ITQ program, discuss relevant 
actions in CE-BA3, receive a presentation on National Marine Protected 
Areas (MPA), and provide recommendations as appropriate.


[[Page 9213]]


    Note:  A public comment session will be held on March 8, 2012, 
beginning at 5:30 p.m., on Snapper Grouper Amendment 18B, Snapper 
Grouper Regulatory Amendment 11, Snapper Grouper Regulatory 
Amendment 12 (framework action adjusting the golden tilefish ACL), 
Golden Crab Amendment 6, and Spiny Lobster Amendment 11, followed by 
comment on any other item on the agenda.

Council Session: March 9, 2012, 8:30 a.m. Until 1:30 p.m.

    From 8:30 a.m. until 8:45 a.m., the Council will call the meeting 
to order, adopt the agenda, and approve the December 2011 meeting 
minutes.
    From 8:45 a.m. until 9 a.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the Ad Hoc Data Collection Committee, consider recommendations and take 
action as appropriate.
    From 9 a.m. until 9:15 a.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the Law Enforcement Committee, consider recommendations and take action 
as appropriate.
    From 9:15 a.m. until 9:30 a.m., the Council will receive a report 
from the Spiny Lobster Committee, approve Spiny Lobster Amendment 11 
for formal Secretarial review and approval, consider recommendations 
and take action as appropriate.
    From 9:30 a.m. until 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. until 10 a.m., the Council will receive a report 
from the King and Spanish Mackerel Committee, approve Mackerel 
Amendments 20 and 21 for public scoping, consider other recommendations 
and take action as appropriate.
    From 10 a.m. until 10:15 a.m., the Council will receive a report 
from the Shrimp Committee, consider recommendations and take action as 
appropriate.
    From 10:15 a.m. until 10:30 a.m., the Council will receive a report 
from the Information and Education Committee, consider recommendations 
and take action as appropriate.
    From 10:30 a.m. until 10:45 a.m., the Council will receive a report 
from the Executive Finance Committee, approve the CY2012 activities 
schedule and budget, consider recommendations and take action as 
appropriate.
    From 10:45 a.m. until 11 a.m., the Council will receive a report 
from the SEDAR Committee, consider recommendations and take action as 
appropriate.
    From 11 a.m. until 11:15 a.m., the Council will receive a report 
from the Golden Crab Committee, approve Golden Crab Amendment 6 for 
formal Secretarial review and approval, consider other recommendations 
and take action as appropriate.
    From 11:15 a.m. until 11:30 a.m., the Council will receive a report 
from the Catch Shares Committee, consider recommendations and take 
action as appropriate.
    From 11:30 a.m. until 12 noon, the Council will receive a report 
from the Snapper Grouper Committee, approve Snapper Grouper Amendment 
18B and Regulatory Amendment 12 for formal Secretarial review and 
approval, consider other recommendations and take action as 
appropriate.
    From 12 noon until 1:30 p.m., the Council will receive status 
reports from the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office, NOAA 
Fisheries Southeast Science Center, review and develop recommendations 
on Experimental Fishing Permits as necessary, review agency and liaison 
reports, and discuss other business, including 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 these meetings. 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 is 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 February 24, 2012.

    Dated: February 13, 2012.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-3670 Filed 2-15-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P