[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 164 (Thursday, August 23, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50988-50990]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-20792]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC177


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 of the South Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council.

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

DATES: The Council meeting will be held September 10-14, 2012. See 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Charleston Marriott Hotel, 
170 Lockwood Boulevard, Charleston, SC 29403; telephone: (1-800) 968-
3569 or (843) 723-3000; fax: (843) 723-0276.
    Council address: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 4055 
Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, North Charleston, SC 29405.

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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: Copies of documents are available from Kim 
Iverson, Public Information Officer (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT).
    Meeting Dates:
    1. Ecosystem-Based Management Committee Meeting: September 10, 
2012, 1:30 p.m. until 3 p.m.
    The Ecosystem-Based Management Committee will review the status for 
Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based Amendment 3 (CE-BA 3), review the list of 
items and develop recommendations for CE-BA 4, and will receive an 
update on ecosystem activities.
    2. Shrimp Committee Meeting: September 10, 2012, 3 p.m. until 4 
p.m.
    The Shrimp Committee will receive: an overview of public hearing 
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 Minimum Stock Size Threshold 
(MSST) proxy for pink shrimp; and a report from the Scientific and 
Statistical Committee (SSC). The Committee will develop recommendations 
for the amendment and is scheduled to recommend approval of Amendment 9 
for formal review.
    3. SEDAR Committee Meeting: September 10, 2012, 4 p.m. until 5:30 
p.m. (Note: A portion of the meeting will be CLOSED.)
    The SEDAR Committee will receive an activities update as well as a 
presentation on the SSC Only Reliable Catch Stocks (ORCS) Workshop. The 
Committee will provide guidance to the SEDAR Steering Committee 
representatives and will receive an overview of SEDAR 32, pertaining to 
gray triggerfish and blueline tilefish. The Committee is scheduled to 
approve the SEDAR schedule and make appointments to SEDAR 32 (closed 
session).
    4. Snapper Grouper Committee Meeting: September 11, 2012, 8:30 a.m. 
until 5 p.m.
    The Snapper Grouper Committee will receive updates on Oculina 
research activities and the status of catches versus quotas for 
commercial and recreational species under Annual Catch Limits (ACLs). 
The Committee will also receive a presentation on ``Catch and Discard 
Characterization for Red Snapper, Warsaw Grouper and Speckled Hind''. 
The Committee will review the status of amendments currently under 
formal review, including: The status of the red snapper emergency 
action request; Regulatory Amendment 12 pertaining to the golden 
tilefish ACL adjustment; the resubmittal of Action 4 in Amendment 18A 
addressing the transferability of black sea bass endorsements; 
Amendment 20A regarding the wreckfish Individual Transferable Quota 
(ITQ); and Amendment 18B that includes measures to limit participation 
in the commercial golden tilefish fishery. The Committee will also 
review an emergency rule request to delay the start of the golden 
tilefish fishing season. The Committee will discuss the status of the 
proposed Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Habitat Areas of Particular 
Concern (HAPCs) for speckled hind and warsaw grouper, including an 
overview of input from the public workshops and an update on SSC 
discussions. Additionally, the Committee will receive an overview for: 
Regulatory Amendment 13, regarding adjustments of snapper grouper ACLs 
based on Marine Recreational Fishing Statistical Survey/Marine 
Recreational Information Program (MRFSS/MRIP) calibration; Amendment 
22, pertaining to the development of the red snapper tag program; and 
Regulatory Amendment 14, regarding an overview of management history 
and current regulations for mutton snapper, greater amberjack, gray 
triggerfish, black sea bass and vermilion snapper. The Committee will 
discuss the blue runner issue as well as the Council's vision for the 
future of the snapper grouper fishery. The Committee will provide 
guidance and recommendations to staff on timing, actions and 
alternatives.
    5. Ad Hoc Data Collection Committee Meeting: September 12, 2012, 
8:30 a.m. until 12 noon.
    The Ad Hoc Data Collection Committee will receive presentations on 
results of bycatch monitoring and the NMFS quota monitoring system. The 
Committee will: Review public hearing comments for the Joint Gulf and 
South Atlantic Council Generic Dealer Permit; finalize Committee 
recommendations; and recommend approval of the permit for formal 
review. The Committee will: Review public hearing comments for 
commercial vessel, for-hire vessel and discard reporting actions in CE-
BA 3; finalize Committee recommendations for CE-BA 3; and recommend 
approval of these items for formal review.
    6. King and Spanish Mackerel Committee Meeting: September 12, 2012, 
1:30 p.m. until 5 p.m.
    The King and Spanish Mackerel Committee will receive updates on: 
the status of commercial and recreational catches versus quotas; the 
Joint Gulf and South Atlantic Mackerel Amendment 19, pertaining to 
permits and tournament sale requirements; and Amendment 20, regarding 
boundaries and transit provisions. The Committee will modify Amendments 
19 and 20 as appropriate and provide guidance to staff. The Committee 
will review public input on the South Atlantic Mackerel Framework 
Amendment and will provide guidance to staff.

    Note:  There will be an informal public question and answer 
session with the NMFS Regional Administrator and the Council 
Chairman on September 12, 2012, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

    7. Advisory Panel Selection Committee Meeting: September 13, 2012, 
8:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. (closed session)
    The Advisory Panel Selection Committee will review advisory panel 
applications and develop recommendations for appointments.
    8. Golden Crab Committee Meeting: September 13, 2012, 9:30 a.m. 
until 11 a.m.
    The Golden Crab Committee will receive a briefing on the golden 
crab permit holders meeting and an overview of Amendment 6, pertaining 
to establishing a catch share program for the commercial golden crab 
fishery. The Committee will modify the amendment as appropriate and 
will recommend the approval of Amendment 6 for formal review.
    9. Executive Finance Committee Meeting: September 13, 2012, 11 a.m. 
until 12 noon.
    The Executive Finance Committee will: review the status of Council 
Year (CY) 2012 budget expenditures; discuss joint South Florida 
management issues; and discuss other issues as appropriate.
    Council Session: September 13, 2012, 1:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. and 
September 14, 2012, 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.
    Council Session: September 13, 2012, 1:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m.
    1:30 p.m. until 2 p.m., the Council will call the meeting to order, 
adopt the agenda, approve the June 2012 meeting minutes, elect the 
Council chairman and vice-chairman, and present the Law Enforcement 
Officer of the Year award.

    Note:  A formal public comment session will be held on September 
13, 2012, beginning at 2 p.m., on: Shrimp Amendment 9; the Joint 
Gulf and South Atlantic Dealer Permit; CE-BA 3; the emergency rule 
request to delay the start of the golden tilefish season; and Golden 
Crab Amendment 6; followed by comment on any other item on the 
agenda.

    3:30 p.m. until 4 p.m., the Council will receive a presentation on 
the

[[Page 50990]]

changes in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) boundary between the 
United States and the Bahamas.
    4 p.m. until 4:30 p.m., the Council will receive a report from the 
Snapper Grouper Committee, address the Committee recommendation 
relative to the request for an emergency rule to delay the golden 
tilefish fishing season, consider other recommendations and take action 
as appropriate.
    4:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the Ad Hoc Data Collection Committee, approve the Joint Gulf and South 
Atlantic Dealer Permit and CE-BA 3 for formal Secretarial review, 
consider recommendations and take action as appropriate.
    5 p.m. until 5:15 p.m., the Council will receive a report from the 
King and Spanish Mackerel Committee, consider recommendations and take 
action as appropriate.
    5:15 p.m. until 5:30 p.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the Ecosystem-Based Management Committee, consider recommendations and 
take action as appropriate.
    Council Session: September 14, 2012, 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.
    8:30 a.m. until 8:45 a.m., the Council will receive a legal 
briefing on litigation. (closed session)
    8:45 a.m. until 9 a.m., the Council will receive a report from the 
Shrimp Committee, approve Amendment 9 for formal Secretarial review, 
consider other recommendations and take action as appropriate.
    9 a.m. until 9:15 a.m., the Council will receive a report from the 
SEDAR Committee, consider recommendations and take action as 
appropriate.
    9:15 a.m. until 9:30 a.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the Golden Crab Committee, approve Amendment 6 for formal Secretarial 
review, consider other recommendations and take action as appropriate.
    9:30 a.m. until 9:45 a.m., the Council will receive a report from 
the Advisory Panel Selection Committee, consider Committee 
recommendations for appointments and take action as appropriate.
    9:45 a.m. until 10 a.m., the Council will receive a report from the 
Executive Finance Committee, consider recommendations and take action 
as appropriate.
    10 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., the Council will receive presentations 
and status reports from the NOAA Southeast Regional Office (SERO) and 
the NMFS SEFSC, 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 September 4, 2012.

    Dated: August 20, 2012.
William D. Chappell,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-20792 Filed 8-22-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P