[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 47 (Friday, March 9, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14351-14352]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-5739]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XB071


North Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of meetings of the North Pacific Fishery Management 
Council and its advisory committees.

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SUMMARY: The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its 
advisory committees will hold public meetings, March 26 through April 
3, 2012.

DATES: The meetings will be held March 26 through April 3, 2012. See 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Anchorage Hilton Hotel, 500 
West 3rd 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: The Council will begin its plenary session 
at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, March 28 continuing through Tuesday, April 1. 
Council's Advisory Panel (AP) will begin at 8 a.m., Monday, March 26 
and continue through Friday, March 30. The Scientific Statistical 
Committee (SSC) will begin at 8 a.m. on Monday, March 26 and continue 
through Wednesday, March 28. The Halibut Implementation Committee will 
meet March 26 at 4 p.m. The Ecosystem Committee will meet March 27, 9 
a.m.-12 p.m. The Enforcement Committee will meet March 27 at 1 p.m.-4 
p.m. All meetings are open to the public, except executive sessions.
    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
NMFS Management Report (incl. report on observer program 
implementation)
Alaska Department of Fish & Game Report
NOAA Enforcement Report
United States Coast Guard Report
United States Fish & Wildlife Service Report
Protected Species Report (including review of Steller Sea Lion (SSL) 
Notice of Intent for Environmental Impact Statement)

    2. Cooperative Reports: Receive Amendment 80 Cooperative Reports; 
Receive Central Gulf of Alaska (CGOA) Rockfish Cooperative Reports; 
Receive American Fisheries Act (AFA) Pollock Cooperative and Incentive 
Program Agreements (IPA) Reports.
    3. Bering Sea Aleutian Island (BSAI) Chum Salmon Bycatch: Update on 
salmon genetics (T); Initial review of chum salmon bycatch measures.
    4. Habitat Conservation Issues: Initial Review of Habitat Area of 
Particular Concern (HAPC) skate sites; Final action on Gulf of Alaska 
(GOA) Flatfish Trawl Sweep Modification; Review Bering Sea (BS) Habitat 
Conservation Area boundary; Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) consultation 
criteria: Ecosystem Committee Report.

[[Page 14352]]

    5. Halibut Issues: Final action to allow Area 4B fish-up; Review 
Catch Share Plan(CSP) and action as necessary;.
    6. Scallop Stock Assessment Fishery Evaluation report (SAFE): 
Approve 2012/13 Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) and Overfishing Level 
(OFL) harvest specifications.
    7. GOA Pacific Cod: Updated discussion paper on Pacific Cod jig 
management (reverse parallel); Discussion paper on limiting other gear 
on jig vessels; Discussion paper on GOA Pacific cod A-season opening 
dates.
    8. Miscellaneous Issues: Bering Sea Integrated Ecosystem Research 
Program (BSIERP) Management Strategy Evaluation report; Discussion 
paper on Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) use and requirements; 
Programmatic Groundfish Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement 
(SEIS); Public workshop and SSC evaluation only; Report from the BSAI 
Crab Right of First Refusal (ROFR) Workgroup; Tanner crab model review 
(SSC only); Review GOA pollock Exempted Fishery Permit (EFP) (T).
    9. Staff Tasking: Review Committees and tasking.
    10. Other Business

    The SSC agenda will include the following issues:

1. BSAI Salmon Chum Bycatch
2. Scallop SAFE
3. Initial Review of Skates
4. Review Bering Sea Habitat Conservation Area Boundary
5. BSIERP Management Strategy Evaluation report
6. Groundfish Programmatic SEIS (public workshop and SSC evaluation)
7. Tanner crab model review
8. Review GOA Pollock EFP
    The Advisory Panel will address most of the same agenda issues as 
the Council except B reports. The Agenda is subject to change, and the 
latest version will be posted at http://www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/npfmc/
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come 
before these groups for discussion, those issues may not be the subject 
of formal action during these meetings. 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

    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: March 6, 2012.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-5739 Filed 3-8-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P