[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 167 (Friday, August 28, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52252-52254]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-21349]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE134


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.

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SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold meetings of the Habitat Protection and Ecosystem-Based Management 
Committee; Protected Resources Committee; Dolphin Wahoo Committee; 
Personnel Committee (Closed Session); Advisory Panel Selection 
Committee (Closed Session); Southeast Data, Assessment and Review 
(SEDAR) Committee (partially Closed Session); King and Spanish Mackerel 
Committee; Snapper Grouper Committee; Data Collection Committee; Law 
Enforcement Committee; Executive Finance Committee; and a meeting of 
the Full Council. The Council will also hold a Council Member Visioning 
Workshop for the Snapper Grouper Fishery. The Council will take action 
as necessary. The Council will also hold a formal public comment 
session.

DATES: The Council meeting will be held from 8:30 a.m. on Monday, 
September 14, 2015 until 12 noon on Friday, September 18, 2015.

ADDRESSES: 
    Meeting address: The meeting will be held at The Beach House Hilton 
Head Island, 1 South Forest Beach Drive, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928; 
phone: (800) 315-2621 or (843) 785-5126; fax (843) 785-7753.
    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:

Council Member Visioning Workshop, Monday, September 14, 2015, 8:30 
a.m. Until 12 Noon

    1. Council members will receive a recap of the June 2015 Visioning 
Workshop, review public input on the draft Vision Blueprint, discuss 
planning for the October Council Visioning Workshop, and provide 
guidance to staff.

Habitat Protection and Ecosystem-Based Management Committee, Monday, 
September 14, 2015, 1:30 p.m. Until 2:30 p.m.

    1. The committee will review the status of the Fishery Ecosystem 
Plan II development and receive updates on Ecosystem modelling, and 
Essential Fish Habitat.
    2. The committee will discuss the gear stowage language in Coral 
Amendment 8 and the rulemaking to implement the amendment. The 
committee will provide recommendations for Council consideration.

Protected Resources Committee, Monday, September 14, 2015, 2:30 p.m. 
Until 3:30 p.m.

    1. The Committee will receive updates on protected resource-related 
issues, receive an overview of the Biological Opinion for the Coastal 
Migratory Pelagic fishery, and updates on the status of the Endangered 
Species Act/Magnuson-Stevens Act Integration Agreement and issues from 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Dolphin Wahoo Committee, Monday, September 14, 2015, 3:30 p.m. Until 
5:30 p.m.

    1. The committee will receive an update on the status of commercial 
and recreational catches versus annual catch limits (ACLs), a 
presentation on recent landings and quota monitoring issues in 2014 and 
2015, and an overview of commercial catches and past consideration of 
trip limits.
    2. The committee will discuss issues and provide guidance to staff.

Personnel Committee, Tuesday, September 15, 2015, 8 a.m. Until 9 a.m. 
(Closed Session)

    1. The committee will review the staff retirement health insurance 
proposal and receive an update on the search for a new Executive 
Director.

Advisory Panel Selection Committee, Tuesday, September 15, 2015, 9 a.m. 
Until 10 a.m. (Closed Session)

    1. The committee will review applications for open advisory panel 
seats and develop recommendations for Council consideration.

SEDAR Committee, Tuesday, September 15, 2015, 10 a.m. Until 11 a.m. 
(Partially Closed Session)

    1. The committee will appoint goliath grouper reviewers for the 
SEDAR 47 Review Workshop (Closed Session)
    2. The committee will review and approve the Terms of References 
for the golden tilefish stock assessment update and goliath grouper 
workshop, review and approve the Council's Research Plan, receive an 
update on the Headboat Data Evaluation from NOAA Fisheries, and develop 
2017-19 assessment priorities.
    3. The committee will provide recommendations for Council 
consideration.

King and Spanish Mackerel Committee, Tuesday, September 15, 2015, 11 
a.m. Until 12 Noon

    1. The committee will receive an update on the status of commercial 
and recreational catches versus ACLs and an update on the status of 
amendments under Formal Review.
    2. The committee will receive a report on the Gulf of Mexico 
Fishery Management Council actions relative to the Coastal Migratory 
Pelagics FMP.
    3. The committee will review Coastal Migratory Pelagics Amendment 
26 addressing king mackerel ACLs, allocations, stock boundary options, 
and sales provisions, modify the amendment as necessary and select 
preferred alternatives.

Snapper Grouper Committee, Tuesday, September 15, 2015, 1:30 p.m. Until 
5:30 p.m. and Wednesday, September 16, 2015, From 8:30 a.m. Until 5 
p.m.

    1. The committee will receive updates from NOAA Fisheries on the 
status of catches versus annual catch limits and the status of 
amendments currently under formal Secretarial review.
    2. The committee will receive a report from the Scientific and 
Statistical Committee, discuss measures for blueline tilefish including 
the development of a regulatory amendment to modify the Acceptable 
Biological Catch (ABC) and Annual Catch Limit (ACL). The committee will 
modify the draft document, select preferred management alternatives and 
approve for public hearings. The committee will also review the Options 
Paper for Amendment 38 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan 
(FMP) for blueline tilefish and provide guidance to staff.
    3. The committee will review public hearing comments for Snapper 
Grouper Regulatory Amendment 16 (black sea bass pot closure), develop 
recommendations for modifying the document, select preferred management 
alternatives, and approve actions in the amendment.
    4. The committee will receive an update of the Southeast Reef Fish

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Survey, discuss and provide recommendations as appropriate.
    5. The committee will review public scoping comments on Amendment 
37 to the Snapper Grouper FMP addressing measures for hogfish, discuss 
and provide direction to staff.
    6. The committee will receive an overview of Snapper Grouper 
Regulatory Amendment 23 addressing management measures for golden 
tilefish, black sea bass and the Jacks Complex, review public scoping 
comments, discuss and provide direction to staff.
    7. The committee will also review draft Amendment 41 to the FMP 
addressing measures for mutton snapper and provide direction to staff.
    8. The committee will review the second round of public hearing 
comments for Snapper Grouper Amendment 36 (Spawning Special Management 
Zones), modify the document as appropriate and provide recommendations 
relative to actions in the amendment to the Council.
    9. The committee will receive an overview of the Joint South 
Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico South Florida Amendment, develop 
recommendations for modifying the document as appropriate, and provide 
guidance to staff.
    10. The committee will receive an overview of a possible approach 
for a Red Snapper Amendment for the 2016 red snapper season, provide 
recommendations on approving the amendment for public scoping, and 
provide guidance to staff.
    11. The committee will review recommendations from the Oculina 
Evaluation Team Report and provide guidance to staff. The committee 
will also receive an update on approaches to monitor recreational 
harvest of deepwater species, discuss, and provide guidance to staff.
    Formal Public Comment, Wednesday, September 16, 2015, 5:30 p.m.--
Public comment will be accepted on any items on the Council agenda. The 
Chairman, based on the number of individuals wishing to comment, will 
determine the amount of time provided to each commenter.

Data Collection Committee, Thursday, September 17, 2015, 8:30 a.m. 
Until 11 a.m. (Partially Close Session)

    1. The committee will make appointments for the Council's Citizen 
Science Workshop (Closed Session).
    2. The committee will receive an update on the status of bycatch 
work from NOAA Fisheries, a presentation on the National Observer 
Program and an overview of the Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based Amendment 
addressing bycatch. The Committee will discuss the amendment and 
provide guidance to staff.
    3. The committee will receive an overview of the Implementation 
Plan for Commercial Logbook Reporting and take action as appropriate. 
The committee will also receive an update on NOAA Fisheries' Commercial 
Logbook Pilot Study.
    4. The committee will receive an overview of the joint Gulf of 
Mexico Council and South Atlantic Council Generic Charterboat Reporting 
Amendment, review the document, select preferred alternatives, and 
approve the amendment for public hearings.

Law Enforcement Committee, Thursday, September 17, 2015, 11 a.m. Until 
12 Noon

    1. The committee will receive a presentation on the use of Operator 
Permits in the Southeast as it relates to enforcement operations, 
discuss and provide guidance to staff.

Executive Finance Committee, Thursday, September 17, 2015, 1:30 p.m. 
Until 3 p.m.

    1. The committee will receive an update on the status of Calendar-
Year 2015 budget expenditures.
    2. Address the Council Follow-up and priorities.
    3. Discuss the webinar format used in recent public input sessions, 
provide direction to staff, and address other issues as appropriate.

Council Session: Thursday, September 17, 2015 3:30 p.m. Until 5:30 p.m. 
and Friday, September 18, 2015, 8:30 a.m. Until 12 Noon

Thursday, September 17, 2015, 3:30 p.m. Until 5:30 p.m.
3:30-4 p.m.: Call the meeting to order, adopt the agenda, approve the 
June 2015 meeting minutes, elect Chair and Vice-Chair and present the 
Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award.
4-4:30 p.m.: The Council will receive a report from the Snapper Grouper 
Committee, and approve/disapprove Snapper Grouper Blueline Tilefish 
Framework Action for public hearings; approve/disapprove all actions in 
Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 16; approve/disapprove all actions 
in Snapper Grouper Amendment 36; and approve/disapprove Snapper Grouper 
Amendment 41 and the Red Snapper Amendment for public scoping.
4:30-4:45 p.m.: The Council will receive a report from the Mackerel 
Committee, consider recommendations, and take action as appropriate.
4:45-5 p.m.: The Council will receive a report from the Advisory Panel 
Selection Committee, consider recommendations, and appoint/reappoint 
advisory panel members as necessary.
5-5:15 p.m.: The Council will receive a report from the Council Member 
Visioning Workshop, consider recommendations, and take action as 
appropriate.
5:15-5:30 p.m.: The Council will receive a report from the Habitat 
Protection and Ecosystem-Based Management Committee, consider committee 
recommendations, and take action as appropriate.
Friday, September 18, 2015, 8:30 a.m. Until 12 Noon
8:30-8:45 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the Protected 
Resources Committee, consider recommendations and take action as 
appropriate.
8:45-9 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the SEDAR 
Committee, appoint goliath grouper reviewers and an SSC panellist for 
the SEDAR 41 Assessment Workshop. The Council will approve the Terms of 
References for the golden tilefish stock assessment update and goliath 
grouper workshop, consider other committee recommendations and take 
action as appropriate.
9-9:15 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the Executive 
Finance Committee, approve the Council Follow-Up and Priorities, 
consider other committee recommendations and take action as 
appropriate.
9:15-9:30 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the Dolphin 
Wahoo Committee, consider committee recommendations and take action as 
appropriate.
9:30-9:45 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the Data 
Collection Committee, approve/disapprove the Joint Gulf and South 
Atlantic Generic Charterboat Reporting Amendment for public hearings, 
appoint Citizen Science Workshop participants, consider other 
recommendations and take action as appropriate.
9:45 a.m.-10 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the Law 
Enforcement Committee, consider committee recommendations and take 
action as appropriate.
10-10:15 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the Personnel

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Committee, approve/disapprove the staff retirement health insurance 
plan, consider other committee recommendations and take action as 
appropriate.
10:15-12 noon: The Council will receive status reports from NOAA 
Fisheries Southeast Regional Office and the Southeast Fisheries Science 
Center. The Council will review and develop recommendations on 
Experimental Fishing Permits as necessary; receive 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 these groups 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, 2015.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-21349 Filed 8-27-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P