[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 62 (Friday, March 30, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19229-19230]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-7662]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XB136


Fisheries of the South Atlantic; South Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council; Public Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold 
meetings of its: Snapper Grouper AP; Joint Shrimp and Deepwater Shrimp 
AP; Dolphin Wahoo AP; King and Spanish Mackerel AP; and Coral AP in 
North Charleston, SC. An MPA Workshop will be held in conjunction with 
the Snapper Grouper AP meeting. All meetings are open to the public. 
See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

DATES: The meetings will take place from April 18-May 10, 2012. See 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn, 5265 
International Blvd., North Charleston, SC 29418; telephone: (843) 308-
9330; fax: (843) 308-9331.
    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. Snapper Grouper AP Meeting: April 18-19, 2012

    Members of the Snapper Grouper AP will meet from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on 
April 18, 2012 and from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on April 19, 2012. The AP will 
receive an update on recent amendments, including Snapper Grouper 
Amendment 24 (red grouper), Snapper Grouper Amendment 18A (black sea 
bass), Regulatory Amendment 11 (removal of 240 foot closure), 
Regulatory Amendment 12 (golden tilefish) and Snapper Grouper Amendment 
20A (wreckfish). The AP will discuss developing amendments, including: 
Snapper Grouper Amendment 18B, which includes measures to implement an 
endorsement program for the commercial golden tilefish fishery; and 
Snapper Grouper Amendment 20, which addresses the current Individual 
Transferable Quota (ITQ) program for wreckfish. In addition, the AP 
will review proposed measures in Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based 
Amendment 3 including options to create and/or expand existing marine 
protected areas to help provide protection for speckled hind and Warsaw 
grouper. The AP will provide recommendations to the Council for 
consideration.

2. Marine Protected Area (MPA) Workshop: April 18, 2012

    The Council will host an MPA Workshop for the public beginning at 6 
p.m. in order to solicit input regarding the use of MPAs to reduce 
bycatch mortality associated with speckled hind and Warsaw grouper.

3. Joint Shrimp AP and Deepwater Shrimp AP Meeting: April 20, 2012

    Members of the Joint Shrimp and Deepwater Shrimp AP will meet from 
8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. The APs will review measures in Shrimp Amendment 
9 that include revising the Minimum Stock Size Threshold (MSST) proxy 
for pink shrimp and streamlining the concurrent closure process of 
penaeid shrimp fisheries. Members will receive a briefing on issues 
related to Atlantic sturgeon which were recently listed as endangered. 
The APs will also review options and provide recommendations for 
expansion of Deepwater Coral Habitat Areas of Particular Concern (HAPC) 
as included in the Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based Amendment.

4. Dolphin Wahoo AP Meeting: April 24, 2012

    Members of the Dolphin Wahoo AP will meet from 8:30 a.m. until 12 
noon. The AP will review revised numbers for recreational landings of 
dolphin and wahoo through the Marine Recreational Information Program 
and discuss allocation issues.

5. King and Spanish Mackerel AP Meeting: April 24-25, 2012

    Members of the King and Spanish Mackerel AP will meet from 1:30 
p.m. on April 24, 2012 until 4 p.m. on April 25, 2012. The AP will 
receive updates on amendments and assessments, including: Mackerel 
Amendment 18, which establishes Annual Catch Limits and Accountability 
Measures for mackerel and cobia; and the recent stock assessment of 
Spanish mackerel and cobia. The AP will discuss developing amendments, 
including Mackerel Amendment 19 addressing permits and sale of bag-
limit mackerel and cobia, and Amendment 20 addressing boundaries and 
transit provisions. The AP will also review a list of framework items 
and provide recommendations.

6. Coral AP Meeting: May 9-10, 2012

    Members of the Coral AP will meet from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on May 
9, 2012 and from 8:30 a.m. until 12 noon on May 10, 2012. The AP will 
review alternatives for expansion of Deepwater Coral HAPCs as included 
in the draft Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based Amendment 3. The AP will 
also receive an update from NOAA Fisheries Habitat Conservation 
Division, an overview of the Florida Reef Managers Meeting, and an 
update on exotic species. The AP will appoint a chair, elect a vice-
chair and will provide recommendations to the Council for 
consideration.
    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-

[[Page 19230]]

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 the Council office (see ADDRESSES) 
3 days prior to the meeting.

    Note: The times and sequence specified in this agenda are 
subject to change.


    Dated: March 27, 2012.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-7662 Filed 3-29-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P