[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 164 (Friday, August 23, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52506-52508]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-20600]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC828


South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice of a public meeting of the South Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council (SAFMC).

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SUMMARY: In addition to a Swearing-In Ceremony for new South Atlantic 
Fishery Management Council (Council) Members and a Council Member 
Visioning Workshop, the Council will hold a meetings of the: Ecosystem-
Based Management Committee: Dolphin Wahoo Committee; Southeast Data, 
Assessment and Review Committee (partially Closed Session); Snapper 
Grouper Committee; King & Spanish Mackerel Committee; Advisory Panel 
Selection Committee (closed session); Protected Resources Committee; 
Executive Finance Committee; Data Collection 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.

DATES: The Council meeting will be held from 9 a.m. on Monday, 
September 16, 2013 until 1 p.m. on Friday, September 20, 2013.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Charleston Marriott Hotel, 
170 Lockwood Boulevard, Charleston, SC 29403; telephone: (800) 968-3569 
or (843) 723-3000; fax: (843) 723-0276.
    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; telephone: (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:

Council Member Visioning Workshop Agenda, Monday, September 16, 2013, 
9:15 a.m. until 12 noon

    1. Receive a presentation on the Logic Model.
    2. Review and discuss the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council 
Strategic Plan.
    3. Review SAFMC Snapper Grouper Objectives, provide direction to 
staff and schedule upcoming Port Meetings.

Ecosystem-Based Management Committee Agenda, Monday, September 16, 
2013, 1:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m.

    1. Review public hearing comments for Coral Amendment 8, pertaining 
to Coral Habitat Areas of Particular Concern (HAPCs) and transit 
through the Oculina HAPC.
    2. Review Amendment 8 and discuss recommendation of approval of the 
amendment for formal Secretarial review. Deem the codified text as 
necessary.
    3. Receive an update on ecosystem activities.

Dolphin Wahoo Committee Agenda, Monday, September 16, 2013, 2:30 p.m. 
until 4 p.m.

    1. Receive updates on the status of commercial and recreational 
catches versus Annual Catch Limits (ACLs).
    2. Review public hearing comments for Dolphin Wahoo Amendment 5, 
pertaining to bag limit sales of fish and changes to the ACL and the 
Allowable Biological Catch (ABC).
    4. Review Amendment 5 and discuss recommendation of approval of the 
amendment for formal Secretarial review. Deem the codified text as 
necessary.
    3. Discuss issue of transport of fillets from Bahamian waters into 
the United States' (US) Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Southeast Data, Assessment and Review (SEDAR) Committee Agenda, Monday, 
September 16, 2013, 4 p.m. until 5 p.m. (Note: A portion of this 
meeting will be Closed.)

    1. Receive a SEDAR activities update. Take Committee action as 
appropriate. Develop guidance to SEDAR Steering Committee members for 
the SEDAR process as well as the 2015 assessment priorities.
    2. Develop recommendations for SEDAR 38 (Gulf of Mexico and South 
Atlantic King Mackerel) participants (Closed Session).

Snapper Grouper Committee Agenda, Tuesday, September 17, 2013, 8:30 
a.m. until 5 p.m. and Wednesday, September 18, 2013, 8:30 a.m. until 12 
noon

    1. Receive and discuss the status of commercial and recreational 
catches versus ACLs.
    2. Receive and discuss a report on total removals of red snapper in 
2012 from U.S. South Atlantic waters.
    3. Receive an update on the status of Snapper Grouper amendments 
under formal Secretarial review.
    4. Receive a briefing on the deployment of artificial reef material 
in the Charleston Deep Reef Marine Protected Area (MPA).
    5. Review public hearing comments for Regulatory Amendment 14, 
relating to a multitude of species in the Snapper Grouper Fishery 
Management Plan (FMP).
    5. Review Regulatory Amendment 14 and discuss recommendation of 
approval of the amendment for formal Secretarial review. Deem the 
codified text as necessary.
    6. Receive an overview of the following Snapper Grouper amendments: 
Amendment 29, pertaining to Only Reliable Catch Stocks (ORCS) Revisions 
to the Control Rule; Amendment 22, relating to tags that would track 
recreational harvest of species; and Regulatory Amendment 16, 
pertaining to the removal of the prohibition of Black Sea Bass pots. 
The committee will take action as necessary and provide guidance to 
staff.
    7. Receive an overview of Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 17, 
relating to MPAs and HAPCs for Speckled Hind and Warsaw Grouper. Review 
the stated Purpose and Need of the amendment; select sites that meet 
the criteria for MPA/HAPC reconfiguration as well as target spawning of 
Speckled Hind and Warsaw Grouper; and provide guidance to staff on 
timing of the amendment.

King & Spanish Mackerel Committee Agenda, September 18, 2013, 1:30 p.m. 
until 5 p.m.

    1. Receive and discuss the status of commercial and recreational 
catches versus ACLs for Atlantic group King Mackerel, Spanish Mackerel, 
and Cobia.
    2. Review public hearing comments for the following amendments in 
the Coastal Migratory Pelagics (CMP) FMP: Joint South Atlantic/Gulf of 
Mexico

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(Gulf) Mackerel Amendment 19, pertaining to permits and tournament sale 
requirements; Joint Mackerel Amendment 20, regarding boundaries and 
transit provisions; and actions in the South Atlantic Mackerel 
Framework, relating to transfer at sea and trip limits. Develop 
recommendations for approval of the amendments and the framework as 
appropriate; recommend approval of the amendments and framework for 
formal Secretarial review; and deem the codified text as necessary.

    Note: There will be an informal public question and answer 
session with the NMFS Regional Administrator and the Council 
Chairman on Wednesday, September 18, 2013, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Advisory Panel (AP) Selection Committee Agenda, Thursday, September 19, 
2013, 8:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. (Closed Session)

    1. Review motions from the June 2013 appointment recommendations 
and take action as necessary.
    2. Review the current AP policies of the other Councils and provide 
recommendations for term limits.

Protected Resources Committee Agenda, Thursday, September 19, 2013, 
9:30 a.m. until 11 a.m.

    1. Receive an update from the Southeast Regional Office (SERO) 
Protected Resources Division on the current consultations of species.
    2. Receive a presentation on the biology and behavior of species as 
well as the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan Proposed Rule and 
the Black Sea Bass Pot/Right Whale Co-occurrence Model.
    3. Receive an update from the Endangered Species Act (ESA) Working 
Group.
    4. Discuss presentations and updates and take action as 
appropriate.

Executive Finance Committee Agenda, Thursday, September 19, 2013, 11 
a.m. until 12 noon

    1. Receive an update on the status of Council calendar year (CY) 
2013 funding as well as CY 2013 budget expenditures.
    2. Receive an update on the Joint Committee on South Florida 
Management Issues workshops.
    3. Discuss Council Follow-up and Priorities and address other 
issues as appropriate.

Data Collection Committee Agenda, Thursday, September 19, 2013, 1:30 
p.m. until 3:30 p.m.

    1. Receive an update on the status of the Joint South Atlantic/Gulf 
Generic For-Hire Reporting Amendment (South Atlantic portion only) as 
well as the status on the CMP Framework for Headboat Reporting in the 
Gulf.
    2. Receive a report on how compliance will be implemented in both 
the Generic For-Hire Reporting Amendment and the Joint South Atlantic/
Gulf Generic Dealer Permit Amendment.
    3. Review public hearing comments on the Joint South Atlantic/Gulf 
Generic Dealer Permit Amendment. Review any changes to the amendment 
and discuss recommendation of approval of the amendment for formal 
Secretarial review. Deem the codified text as necessary.
    4. Receive Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) presentations 
on: sample sizes for individual species; and the commercial electronic 
logbook pilot project for the Joint South Atlantic/Gulf Generic 
Commercial Logbook Reporting Amendment. Discuss and take action as 
appropriate.
    5. Receive an overview of Gulf actions for the Gulf Generic 
Charterboat Reporting Amendment. Provide guidance to staff and take 
action as appropriate.

Council Session: September 19, 2013, 4 p.m. until completion of public 
comment period and September 20, 2013, 8 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Council Session Agenda, Thursday, September 19, 2013, 4 p.m. until 
completion of public comment period

    4 p.m.-4:15 p.m.: Call the meeting to order, adopt the agenda, 
approve the June 2013 minutes, elect Council Chairman and Vice 
Chairman, and receive presentations.

    Note: A formal public comment session will be held on Thursday, 
September 19, 2013, beginning at 4:30 p.m. on the following items: 
Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 14; Dolphin Wahoo Amendment 5; 
Coral Amendment 8; Mackerel Amendments 19 and 20; Mackerel 
Framework; and the Joint South Atlantic and Gulf Generic Dealer 
Permit Amendment. Following comment on these specific items, public 
comment will be accepted regarding any other items on the Council 
agenda. The amount of time provided to individuals will be 
determined by the Chairman based on the number of individuals 
wishing to comment.

Council Session Agenda, Friday, September 20, 2013, 8 a.m. until 1 p.m.

    8 a.m.-8:15 a.m.: The Council will receive a legal briefing on 
litigation. (Closed Session)
    8:15 a.m.-8:30 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the 
Snapper Grouper Committee and is scheduled to either approve or 
disapprove Regulatory Amendment 14 for formal Secretarial review. The 
Council will consider other Committee recommendations and take action 
as appropriate.
    8:30 a.m.-8:45 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the 
King & Spanish Mackerel Committee and is scheduled to approve or 
disapprove the following amendments for formal Secretarial review: 
Mackerel Amendment 19; Mackerel Amendment 20; and South Atlantic 
Framework actions. The Council will consider other Committee 
recommendations and take action as appropriate.
    8:45 a.m.-9 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the Data 
Collection Committee and is scheduled to either approve or disapprove 
the Joint South Atlantic/Gulf Generic Dealer Permit Amendment for 
formal Secretarial review. The Council will consider other Committee 
recommendations and take action as appropriate.
    9 a.m.-9:15 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the 
Ecosystem-Based Management Committee and is scheduled to either approve 
or disapprove Coral Amendment 8 for formal Secretarial review. The 
Council will consider other Committee recommendations and take action 
as appropriate.
    9:15 a.m.-9:30 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the 
Dolphin Wahoo Committee and is scheduled to either approve or 
disapprove Dolphin Wahoo Amendment 5 for formal Secretarial review. The 
Council will consider other Committee recommendations and take action 
as appropriate.
    9:30 a.m.-9:45 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the 
Council Member Visioning Workshop, consider workshop recommendations 
and take action as appropriate.
    9:45 a.m.-10 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the SEDAR 
Committee and is scheduled to approve SEDAR 38 participants. The 
Council will consider other Committee recommendations and take action 
as appropriate.
    10 a.m.-10:15 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the AP 
Selection Committee and will consider recommendations for the 
appointment or reappointment of AP members. The Council will consider 
other Committee recommendations and take action as appropriate.
    10:15 a.m.-10:30 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the 
Protected Resources Committee, consider Committee recommendations and 
take action as appropriate.
    10:30 a.m.-10:45 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the 
Executive

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Finance Committee and is scheduled to approve the Council Follow-up and 
Priorities documents. The Council will take action on the South Florida 
Management issues as appropriate, consider other Committee 
recommendations and take action as appropriate on these 
recommendations.
    10:45 a.m.-1 p.m.: The Council will receive various presentations, 
including a briefing on the status of the U.S. and Bahamas border issue 
and Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Amendment 7 regarding Atlantic 
Bluefin Tuna, as well as status reports from SERO and the NMFS SEFSC. 
The Council will review and develop recommendations on Experimental 
Fishing Permits as necessary; review agency and liaison reports; and 
discuss other business and 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 group for discussion, those issues may not be the subject 
of formal action during these meetings. 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.


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

    Dated: August 20, 2013.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-20600 Filed 8-22-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P