[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 102 (Friday, May 25, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31330-31332]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-12677]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC042


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 Ecosystem-Based Management Committee; Dolphin Wahoo 
Committee; Shrimp Committee; Snapper Grouper Committee; Ad Hoc Data 
Collection Committee; King and Spanish Mackerel Committee; Advisory 
Panel Selection Committee (Closed Session); Scientific and Statistical 
Selection Committee (Closed Session); Golden Crab Committee; Law 
Enforcement Committee; Southeast Data Assessment and Review (SEDAR) 
Committee; and a meeting of the Full Council. The Council will take 
action as necessary.
    The Council will also hold a Habitat Workshop for Council members, 
an informal public question and answer session regarding agenda items, 
and a formal public comment session. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for 
additional details.

DATES: The meetings will be held June 11-15, 2012. See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Renaissance Orlando Airport 
Hotel, 5445 Forbes Place, Orlando, FL 32812; telephone: (1-800) 545-
1985 or (407) 240-1000; fax: (407) 240-1005. 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. Council Member Habitat Workshop: June 11, 2012, 9 a.m. Until 12 Noon

    The Council Member Habitat Workshop will receive an overview and 
demonstration of the Information Management System (IMS). The workshop 
will include a hands-on session with individual assistance.

2. Ecosystem-Based Management Committee Meeting: June 11, 2012, 1:30 
p.m. Until 3:30 p.m.

    The Ecosystem-Based Management Committee will receive Advisory 
Panel (AP) reports, review the decision document for Comprehensive 
Ecosystem-Based Amendment 3 (CE-BA 3), provide recommendations relative 
to management measures for Coral Habitat Areas of Particular Concern 
(HAPC), and public hearings. The Committee will receive an update on 
ecosystem activities and provide direction to staff.

3. Dolphin Wahoo Committee Meeting: June 11, 2012, 3:30 p.m. Until 4:30 
p.m.

    The Dolphin Wahoo Committee will receive a report on the status of 
catches versus Annual Catch Limits (ACLs), as well as a report from the 
Dolphin Wahoo AP.

4. Shrimp Committee Meeting: June 11, 2012, 4:30 p.m. Until 6 p.m.

    The Shrimp Committee will receive a presentation on the Endangered 
Species Act listing of Atlantic sturgeon and on the Biological Opinion 
of the South Atlantic Shrimp Fishery. The Committee will also receive 
reports from its advisory panels and from the Shrimp Review Panel. The 
Committee will review actions and alternatives in Shrimp Amendment 9, 
which would expedite the closure process during severe cold events in 
order to protect overwintering shrimp populations and would revise the 
Minimum Stock Size Threshold (MSST) proxy for pink shrimp. The 
Committee is scheduled to recommend the amendment for public hearings, 
take action as appropriate and provide guidance to staff.

5. Snapper Grouper Committee Meeting: June 12, 2012, 8:30 a.m. Until 
5:30 p.m. and June 13, 2012, 8:30 a.m. Until 12 Noon

    The Snapper Grouper Committee will receive updates on: Oculina 
research activities; the status of catches versus quotas for species 
under quota management (including all snapper grouper species included 
in the Comprehensive ACL Amendment); the status of the new Southeast 
Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) Quota

[[Page 31331]]

Monitoring Program; and the status of the delinquent logbook review. 
The Committee will address any necessary actions as the result of these 
reports. The Committee will receive updates on the status of amendments 
under Secretarial Review and reports from the Council's Scientific and 
Statistical Committee (SSC) and Snapper Grouper AP. The Committee will 
discuss the resubmittal of Action 4 in Snapper Grouper Amendment 18A 
addressing the transferability of black sea bass endorsements, and 
recommend the resubmitted action for formal review. The Committee will 
also review Amendment 18B that includes measures to limit participation 
in the commercial golden tilefish fishery, modify the amendment as 
necessary, and provide recommendations for submission for Secretarial 
review. The Committee will also review available information and 
recommendations relative to creating Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and/
or HAPCs for speckled hind and warsaw grouper, select preferred 
alternatives, and provide recommendations as appropriate for public 
hearings as part of CE-BA 3. The Committee will also receive a 
presentation of the Marine Resources Monitoring Assessment and 
Prediction Program's (MARMAP) fishery-independent catch per unit effort 
(CPUE), discuss the potential for reopening a limited red snapper 
fishery via an Emergency Rule, discuss potential changes in black sea 
bass management, and provide recommendations as appropriate.

6. Ad Hoc Data Collection Committee Meeting: June 13, 2012, 1:30 p.m. 
Until 5 p.m.

    The Ad Hoc Data Collection Committee will receive presentations on 
quota monitoring/dealer reporting and tracking harvested fish in 
Florida and NMFS commercial and recreational quotas/ACL monitoring and 
projections. The Committee will review the joint Gulf and South 
Atlantic Council Generic Dealer Amendment and provide recommendations. 
The Committee will also review and discuss actions relative to data 
collection in CE-BA 3 and provide recommendations for public hearings.

    Note: There will be an informal public question and answer 
session with the NMFS Regional Administrator and the Council 
Chairman on June 13, 2012, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

7. King and Spanish Mackerel Committee Meeting: June 14, 2012, 8:30 
a.m. Until 12 Noon

    The King and Spanish Mackerel Committee will receive updates on the 
status of catches versus ACLs for king mackerel, Spanish mackerel and 
cobia as well as a report from the Mackerel AP. The Committee will 
review and discuss the joint Gulf and South Atlantic Mackerel Amendment 
19 pertaining to permits and tournament sale requirements, Amendment 20 
regarding boundaries and transit provisions and provide recommendations 
for public hearings. The Committee will review and discuss the South 
Atlantic Mackerel Framework, and provide guidance to staff.

8. Advisory Panel Selection Committee Meeting: June 14, 2012, 1:30 p.m. 
Until 2:30 p.m. (Closed Session)

    The Advisory Panel Selection Committee will review advisory panel 
applications and develop recommendations for appointments.

9. Scientific and Statistical Selection Committee Meeting: June 14, 
2012, 2:30 p.m. Until 3:30 p.m. (Closed Session)

    The Scientific and Statistical Selection Committee (SSC) will 
review SSC applications and develop recommendations for appointments. 
The Committee will also review SSC policies.

10. Golden Crab Committee Meeting: June 14, 2012, 3:30 p.m. Until 4:30 
p.m.

    The Golden Crab Committee will review the ``Expression of 
Interest'' responses for catch shares from golden crab fishermen as 
well as Amendment 6, pertaining to establishing a catch share program 
for the commercial golden crab fishery. The Committee will modify the 
amendment as appropriate and provide recommendations relative for 
submission of the amendment for Secretarial review.

11. Law Enforcement Committee Meeting: June 14, 2012, 4:30 p.m. Until 
5:30 p.m.

    The Law Enforcement Committee will: Review law enforcement efforts 
in the Deepwater MPAs; and will receive briefings from the NOAA Office 
of Law Enforcement and the U.S. Coast Guard. The Committee will discuss 
issues as appropriate and select the 2011 Law Enforcement Officer of 
the Year.

    Note: A formal public comment session will be held on June 14, 
2012, beginning at 5:30 p.m., on: Snapper Grouper Amendment 18A, 
Action 4 (transferability of black sea bass endorsements); Snapper 
Grouper Amendment 18B (golden tilefish); and Golden Crab Amendment 6 
(catch shares); followed by comment on any other item on the agenda.

12. SEDAR Committee Meeting: June 15, 2012, 8 a.m. Until 9 a.m.

    The SEDAR Committee will receive an overview of SEDAR activities 
and a presentation on the SSC Only Reliable Catch Stocks (ORCS) 
workshop. The Committee will review, discuss and approve the SAFMC 
Research Prioritization Plan and develop SEDAR Steering Committee 
recommendations for Council SEDAR members and staff.

Council Session: June 15, 2012, 9:30 a.m. Until 4 p.m.

    From 9 a.m. until 9:30 a.m., the Council will call the meeting to 
order, adopt the agenda, and approve the March 2012 meeting minutes.
    From 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m., the Council will receive a report 
from the Snapper Grouper Committee, approve the resubmittal of 
Amendment 18A/Action 4 and Amendment 18B for formal Secretarial review, 
approve speckled hind/warsaw grouper actions in CE-BA 3 for public 
hearing, consider other Committee recommendations and take action as 
appropriate.
    From 10:30 a.m. until 11 a.m., the Council will receive a report 
from the Golden Crab Committee, approve Amendment 6 for formal 
Secretarial review, consider recommendations and take action as 
appropriate.
    From 11 a.m. until 11:15 a.m., the Council will receive a report 
from the Ecosystem-Based Management Committee, approve Coral HAPC 
actions in CE-BA 3 for public hearing, consider other Committee 
recommendations and take action as appropriate.
    From 11:15 a.m. until 11:30 a.m., the Council will receive a report 
from the Dolphin Wahoo Committee, consider other Committee 
recommendations and take action as appropriate.
    From 11:30 a.m. until 11:45 a.m., the Council will receive a report 
from the Shrimp Committee, approve Amendment 9 for public hearing, 
consider other Committee recommendations and take action as 
appropriate.
    From 11:45 a.m. until 12 noon, the Council will receive a report 
from the Ad Hoc Data Collection Committee, approve data actions in CE-
BA 3 for public hearing, consider other Committee recommendations and 
take action as appropriate.
    From 1 p.m. until 1:15 p.m., the Council will receive a legal 
briefing on litigation. (Closed Session)

[[Page 31332]]

    From 1:15 p.m. until 1:30 p.m., the Council will receive a report 
from the King and Spanish Mackerel Committee, approve Amendments 19 and 
20 for public hearings, consider other Committee recommendations and 
take action as appropriate.
    From 1:30 p.m. until 1:45 p.m., the Council will receive a report 
from the Advisory Panel Selection Committee, review applications and 
make appointments, consider other Committee recommendations and take 
action as appropriate.
    From 1:45 p.m. until 2 p.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the SSC Selection Committee, review applications and make appointments, 
consider other Committee recommendations and take action as 
appropriate.
    From 2 p.m. until 2:15 p.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the Law Enforcement Committee, select the Law Enforcement Officer of 
the Year, consider other Committee recommendations and take action as 
appropriate.
    From 2:15 p.m. until 2:30 p.m., the Council will receive a report 
from the SEDAR Committee, consider Committee recommendations and take 
action as appropriate.
    From 2:30 p.m. until 4 p.m., the Council will receive presentations 
and status reports from the NOAA Southeast Regional Office (SERO) and 
the NMFS SEFSC, 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 are 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 June 5, 2012.

    Dated: May 21, 2012.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-12677 Filed 5-24-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P