[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 13 (Friday, January 18, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4129-4130]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-00973]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC445


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: Meetings of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council's 
Information & Education Advisory Panel (AP); Law Enforcement AP; Joint 
Meeting of the Information & Education AP and Law Enforcement AP; and 
meeting of the Marine Protected Area (MPA) Expert Workgroup.

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SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) will 
hold the AP meetings and the MPA Expert Workgroup meeting in North 
Charleston, SC.

DATES: The meetings will be held from 1:30 p.m. on Monday, February 4, 
2013 until 5 p.m. on Thursday, February 7, 2013. See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Crowne Plaza Airport Hotel, 
4381 Tanger Outlet Boulevard, North Charleston, SC 29418; telephone: 
(800) 503-5762 or (843) 744-4422; fax: (843) 744-4472.
    Council Address: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 4055 
Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, N. Charleston, SC 29405.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Iverson, Public Information 
Officer, SAFMC; phone 843/571-4366 or toll free 866/SAFMC-10; FAX 843/
769-4520; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The items of discussion in the individual 
meeting agendas are as follows:

MPA Expert Workgroup Agenda: Monday, February 4, 2013, 1:30 p.m. until 
Wednesday, February 6, 2013, 12 p.m.

    1. Receive a presentation on the reorientation of existing MPAs 
based on occurrence and habitat.

[[Page 4130]]

    2. Review and revise recommendations based on data availability, 
assumptions and other considerations with a focus on reorienting 
existing MPAs in order to reduce bycatch of speckled hind and warsaw 
grouper in the South Atlantic Region.
    3. Discuss timing and develop workgroup report.

Joint Information & Education AP and Law Enforcement AP Agenda: 
Wednesday, February 6, 2013, 1:30 p.m. until 5 p.m.

    1. Receive an overview of Snapper Grouper Amendment 30, pertaining 
to the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS), as well as a review of the VMS 
fact sheet.
    2. Receive a presentation on the mobile phone application for SAFMC 
regulations.
    3. Receive a presentation on the status of the SAFMC Web site 
upgrade, including upgrades to the law enforcement sections of the Web 
site. This includes a Law Enforcement Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) 
section.
    4. Review updates on the NOAA Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) Web 
site and discuss communication improvements regarding regulatory and 
law enforcement issues with officers and field offices.

Information & Education AP Agenda, Thursday, February 7, 2013, 9 a.m. 
until 5 p.m.

    1. Receive an overview and an update on the Marine Resource 
Education Program (MREP) project.
    2. Receive an update on the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries 
Communication Group Social Media Workshop.
    3. Discuss the SAFMC Web site upgrade, including the Web site 
format and types of necessary outreach materials.
    4. Receive an overview of proposed outreach materials for 2013.
    5. Receive an overview of the SAFMC Visioning Process for snapper 
grouper species.
    6. Discuss strategic planning.

Law Enforcement AP Agenda, Thursday, February 7, 2013, 9 a.m. until 5 
p.m.

    1. Approve agenda and March 2012 AP meeting minutes.
    2. Receive an update on the following recently completed and 
developing amendments pertaining to the Snapper Grouper (SG) Fishery 
Management Plan: Regulatory Amendment 13, pertaining to the revision of 
Annual Catch Limits (ACLs); Regulatory Amendment 15 (yellowtail snapper 
and grouper); Amendment 28 (red snapper); Amendment 18B and Regulatory 
Amendment 16 (golden tilefish); Regulatory Amendment 14 (management 
measures for the complex); and Regulatory Amendment 17 (MPAs).
    3. Review SG Regulatory Amendment 18, regarding the adjustment of 
the ACL/sector ACLs for vermilion snapper and red porgy based on 
recently completed stock assessment updates for these species.
    4. Review SG Amendment 27, which assumes management responsibility 
for Nassau grouper in the Gulf of Mexico, increases the number of crew 
members allowed on dual-permitted snapper grouper vessels (vessels that 
have both a federal South Atlantic Charter/Headboat Permit for snapper 
grouper species and a South Atlantic Unlimited or 225 pound SG Permit), 
addresses the issues of captain and crew retention of bag limit 
quantities of snapper grouper species, proposes changes to the existing 
snapper grouper framework procedure to allow for more timely 
adjustments to ACLs, and modifies management measures for blue runner.
    5. Review SG Amendment 30, which considers VMS requirements for 
vessels with South Atlantic commercial snapper grouper permits. This 
action was initially included in a separate amendment but was recently 
transferred to its own separate amendment.
    6. Review Joint Mackerel Amendment 19, which addresses bag limit 
sales of king mackerel, Spanish mackerel and cobia, including a 
potential new commercial permit requirement for cobia. The amendment 
also addresses permit requirements for king mackerel and Spanish 
mackerel.
    7. Review Joint Mackerel Amendment 20, which includes evaluation of 
boundaries, allocations and transit provisions; considers a commercial 
quota for North Carolina king and Spanish mackerel; and modifies the 
framework procedure.
    8. Review the Mackerel Framework Amendment, which considers size 
limits, transfer allowances and changes in commercial trip limits.
    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 identified 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 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: January 15, 2013.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-00973 Filed 1-17-13; 8:45 am]
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