[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 54 (Tuesday, March 20, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 16211]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-6677]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XB091


New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice; public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is 
scheduling a public meeting of its Scallop Oversight Committee to 
consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive 
economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from this group will be brought to 
the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate.

DATES: This meeting will be held on Thursday, April 5, 2012 at 9 a.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Hotel Providence, 139 
Mathewson Street, Providence, RI 02903; telephone: (401) 861-8000; fax: 
(401) 454-4306.
    Council address: New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water 
Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, 
New England Fishery Management Council; telephone: (978) 465-0492.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Committee will begin developing specific 
measures for Framework 24. This action is primarily setting 
specifications for fishing years 2013 and 2014. At this meeting the 
Committee will primarily work on other measures that will be considered 
in this action in addition to specifications. Specifically, (1) 
possible modification of Georges Bank access area opening dates; (2) 
consider measures to address sub-ACL of yellowtail flounder for the 
LAGC trawl fishery; (3) consider modifying the effective date of YT 
sub-ACL AMs from Year 2 to Year 3; (4) leasing LAGC IFQ mid-year; and 
5) expanding the observer set-aside program to include LAGC open area 
trips. The Committee will make recommendations for research priorities 
for the 2013 and 2014 Research Set-Aside program. If time permits, the 
Committee may review and provide input on a draft outline for a 
Performance Evaluation of the LAGC IFQ program to date. In addition, 
there will be a presentation from the Northeast Fisheries Science 
Center (NEFSC) on future plans for the federal scallop survey and how 
results will be integrated with existing survey methods. The Committee 
may discuss other business.
    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 Act, provided the public has 
been notified of the Council's intent to take final action to address 
the emergency.

Special Accommodations

    This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, at (978) 465-
0492, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: March 15, 2012.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-6677 Filed 3-19-12; 8:45 am]
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