[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 168 (Friday, August 29, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51558-51560]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-20531]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD460


South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC); 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 (Council) will 
hold meetings of the: Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) 
Committee (CLOSED SESSION); Southeast Data, Assessment and Review 
(SEDAR) Committee; Advisory Panel Selection Committee; Highly Migratory 
Species (HMS) Committee; Protected Resources Committee; Golden Crab 
Committee; Information and Education Committee; Data Collection 
Committee; Executive Finance Committee; Snapper Grouper Committee; a 
joint committee meeting of the Dolphin Wahoo Committee and Snapper 
Grouper Committee; King & Spanish Mackerel Committee; Habitat 
Committee; Ecosystem-Based Management 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 specific dates and times.

DATES: The meetings will be held from 9 a.m. on Monday, September 15, 
2014 until 3:15 p.m. on Friday, September 19, 2014.

ADDRESSES: The meetings 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:

SSC Selection Committee, Monday, September 15, 2014, 9 a.m. Until 9:30 
a.m. (Closed Session)

    Review the SSC applications and develop recommendations for 
appointments/reappointments.

SEDAR Committee, Monday, September 15, 2014, 9:30 a.m. Until 10:30 a.m.

    1. SEDAR activities update.
    2. Provide guidance to SEDAR Steering Committee members.

Advisory Panel Selection Committee, Monday, September 15, 2014, 10:30 
a.m. Until 12 Noon

    Discuss the membership structure of the Snapper Grouper Advisory 
Panel and develop Committee recommendations.

Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Committee, Monday, September 15, 2014, 
1:30 p.m. Until 3 p.m.

    1. Receive a presentation on Amendment 9 to the 2006 Consolidated 
HMS Fishery Management Plan.
    2. Discuss shark interactions with South Atlantic fisheries and 
provide guidance to staff.

Protected Resources Committee, Monday, September 15, 2014, 3 p.m. Until 
4 p.m.

    1. Receive a report on the Final Determination for Coral listing, 
and update on American Eel status review and an update on Atlantic 
Sturgeon Stock Status.
    2. Discuss the future role and structure of the Committee and take 
other Committee actions as appropriate.

Golden Crab Committee, Monday, September 15, 2014, 4 p.m. Until 4:30 
p.m.

    1. Receive an update on the status of commercial catch versus 
annual catch limit (ACL) for golden crab.
    2. Receive a report on public hearing comments and provide guidance 
to staff.
    3. Review and discuss the Generic Accountability Measures and 
Dolphin Allocation Amendment and revise as appropriate.

Information and Education Committee, Monday, September 15, 2014, 4:30 
p.m. Until 5 p.m.

    Receive a report from the Information and Education Advisory Panel 
and a summary of the Council-hosted Science Communication Workshop.

Data Collection Committee, Tuesday, September 16, 2014, 8:30 a.m. Until 
11 a.m.

    1. Receive an update on the status of the Joint Gulf and South 
Atlantic Council Generic Dealer Amendment.

[[Page 51559]]

    2. Review background and receive an update on the status of 
implementation of the Electronic Technology (Data Collection and 
Monitoring) Implementation Plan; take Committee action as appropriate.
    3. Receive a presentation on the status of work in the Northeast 
related to bycatch reporting and take Committee action as appropriate.
    4. Receive an update on the status of an implementation plan for 
commercial logbook electronic reporting, provide staff guidance on 
options, receive a demonstration of the system developed by the 
Atlantic Coast Cooperative Statistics Program, and receive an update on 
the status of the Logbook Pilot Program from NOAA Fisheries.
    5. Review the Joint South Atlantic and Gulf Council Generic 
Charterboat Reporting Amendment, receive an overview of the Gulf 
Council's actions, status, and next steps, a report on the Technical 
Committee meeting, and take action as appropriate.

Executive Finance Committee, Tuesday, September 16, 2014, 11 a.m. Until 
12 noon

    1. Receive updates on the status of the Calendar Year 2014 budget 
expenditures.
    2. Address the Council Follow-up and priorities.
    3. Receive an update on the Joint South Florida Committee.
    4. Receive an overview of proposed Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act bills and address other issues as 
appropriate.

Snapper Grouper Committee, Tuesday, September 16, 2014, 1:30 p.m. Until 
5:30 p.m. and Wednesday, September 17, 2014, 8:30 a.m. Until 5:00 p.m.

    1. Receive and discuss the status of commercial and recreational 
catches versus quotas for species under Annual Catch Limits (ACLs) with 
an update on the 2014 Red Snapper Season. The committee will take 
action as appropriate.
    2. Receive an update on the status of Snapper Grouper amendments 
under formal Secretarial review.
    3. Receive an update on the 2014 golden tilefish commercial 
longline landings and overages.
    4. Discuss preparation and provide staff guidance for the October 
2014 Council Visioning Workshop.
    5. Review Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 16 relative to 
removal of the current black sea bass pot seasonal closure, modify the 
document as appropriate, and provide guidance to staff.
    6. Receive an update on Snapper Grouper Amendment 22 addressing the 
use of tags to track recreational harvest, discuss and provide guidance 
to staff.
    7. Receive an overview of changes to Snapper Grouper Amendment 29 
addressing Only Reliable Catch Stocks (ORCS) and management measures 
for gray triggerfish; modify the amendment as appropriate and make 
recommendations to approve the amendment for formal Secretarial review.
    8. Review public hearing comments for Snapper Grouper Amendment 32 
addressing blueline tilefish; modify the amendment as appropriate and 
provide recommendation to approve for formal Secretarial review.
    9. Request an extension of the Emergency Rule for blueline 
tilefish.
    10. Review Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 20 addressing snowy 
grouper; modify the document as appropriate, and provide recommendation 
to approve for formal Secretarial review.
    11. Receive an overview of public scoping comments received for 
Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 22 addressing measures for gag and 
wreckfish, modify the amendment, provide guidance to staff, and 
recommend approval for public hearings.
    12. Review the Snapper Grouper Amendment 36 scoping comments 
addressing the use of Special Management Zones for protection of 
spawning areas/aggregations, modify the amendment as appropriate and 
provide guidance to staff.
    13. Review the Snapper Grouper Amendment 35 scoping comments 
addressing the removal of four species from the Snapper Grouper 
Management Complex, modify the amendment as appropriate, and provide 
guidance to staff.
    14. Discuss options for the commercial golden tilefish longline 
endorsement issue and 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 Wednesday, September 17, 2014, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Joint Dolphin Wahoo Committee and Snapper Grouper Committees, Thursday, 
September 18, 2014, 8:30 a.m. Until 10 a.m.

    1. Receive and discuss the status of commercial and recreational 
catches versus ACLs for dolphin and wahoo.
    2. Receive a presentation on Operator Permits from NOAA Fisheries.
    3. Review public hearing comments for Dolphin Wahoo Amendment 7 and 
Snapper Grouper Amendment 33 regarding the issue of transport of 
fillets from Bahamian waters into United States waters, modify the 
amendments as appropriate and provide recommendations for approval for 
formal Secretarial review.
    4. Review and discuss the Generic Accountability Measures and 
Dolphin Allocation Amendment, modify as appropriate, and provide 
guidance to staff.

King and Spanish Mackerel Committee, Thursday, September 18, 2014, 10 
a.m. Until 12 Noon

    1. Receive an update on the status of commercial and recreational 
catches versus ACLs for Atlantic Group king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, 
and cobia.
    2. Receive an update on the status of amendments under Formal 
Review.
    3. Review the public hearing comments received for Coastal 
Migratory Pelagics (CMP) Framework Amendment 2 addressing Spanish 
Mackerel trip limits, modify the document as appropriate, and provide 
recommendations for approval for formal Secretarial review.
    4. Receive an overview of a white paper on CMP Amendment 26 
addressing separating permits for king mackerel and Spanish mackerel 
into separate jurisdictions and provide directions to staff.

Habitat Committee, Thursday, September 18, 2014, 1:30 p.m. Until 2:30 
p.m.

    1. Receive an update on the status of Coral Amendment 8, the Coral 
grant, the Council's Habitat Policy statements, and take action as 
appropriate.

Ecosystem-Based Management Committee, Thursday, September 18, 2014, 
2:30 p.m. Until 3:30 p.m.

    1. Receive an update on the status of work on the Fishery Ecosystem 
Plan, a presentation on potential projects/collaborations, an update on 
Ecosystem-Based management activities, and take Committee action as 
appropriate.

    Note: A formal public comment session will be held on Thursday, 
September 18, 2014, beginning at 4:00 p.m. Public comment will be 
accepted on the following: Snapper Grouper Amendment 29 (ORCS and 
gray triggerfish); Snapper Grouper Amendment 32 (blueline tilefish); 
Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 20 (snowy grouper); Dolphin 
Wahoo Amendment 7/Snapper Grouper Amendment 33 (fillets from The 
Bahamas); and Coastal Migratory Pelagics Framework Amendment 2 
(Spanish mackerel). Following comment on these amendments, public 
comment will be accepted regarding any other items on the Council 
agenda. The amount of time

[[Page 51560]]

provided to individuals will be determined by the Chairman based on 
the number of individuals wishing to comment.

Council Session: Friday, September 19, 2014, 8:30 a.m. Until 3:15 p.m.

    8:30 a.m.-8:45 a.m.: Call the meeting to order, adopt the agenda, 
approve the June 2014 minutes, and make presentations.
    8:45 a.m.-9:15 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the 
Snapper Grouper Committee and is scheduled to either approve or 
disapprove the following for amendments to the Snapper Grouper Fishery 
Management Plan for formal Secretarial review: Amendment 29, Amendment 
32, and Regulatory Amendment 20. The Council will also consider 
approving or disapproving Regulatory Amendment 22 for public hearings, 
consider other Committee recommendations and take action as 
appropriate.
    9:15-9:30 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the Joint 
Dolphin Wahoo and Snapper Grouper Committees and approve or disapprove 
Dolphin Wahoo Amendment 7 and Snapper Grouper Amendment 33 (fillets 
from The Bahamas) 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 
King and Spanish Mackerel Committee and is scheduled to approve or 
disapprove Coastal Migratory Pelagics Framework Amendment 2 for formal 
submission to the Secretary. The Council will consider Committee 
recommendations and take action as appropriate.
    9:45 a.m.-10 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the 
Habitat Committee, consider recommendations and take action as 
appropriate.
    10 a.m.-10:15 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the 
Ecosystem-Based Management Committee, consider 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 
SEDAR Committee, consider Committee recommendations and will take 
action as appropriate.
    10:45 a.m.-11 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the 
Advisory Panel Selection Committee, consider Committee recommendations, 
and take action as appropriate.
    11 a.m.-11:15 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the 
Executive Finance Committee, approve the Council Follow Up and 
Priorities, take action on the South Florida Management issues as 
appropriate, and consider Committee recommendations and take action as 
appropriate.
    11:15 a.m.-11:30 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from its 
Data Collection Committee, consider recommendations and take action as 
appropriate.
    11:30 a.m.-11:45 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the 
SSC Selection Committee, consider Committee recommendations and appoint 
and/or reappoint members to its SSC. The Council will consider other 
recommendations and take action as appropriate.
    11:45 a.m.-12 noon: The Council will receive a report from the HMS 
Committee, consider Committee recommendations and take action as 
appropriate.
    1:30 p.m.-1:45 p.m.: The Council will receive a report from the 
Golden Crab Committee, consider Committee recommendations and take 
action as appropriate.
    1:45 p.m.-2 p.m.: The Council will receive a report from the 
Information and Education Committee, consider Committee 
recommendations, and take action as appropriate.
    2 p.m.-3:15 p.m.: The Council will receive status reports from NOAA 
Fisheries SERO and the Southeast Fisheries Science Center. 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 25, 2014.
William D. Chappell,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-20531 Filed 8-28-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P