[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 77 (Thursday, April 21, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23460-23461]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-09284]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE529


General Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section to the Inter-
American Tropical Tuna Commission and Scientific Advisory Subcommittee 
to the General Advisory Committee; Meetings and Call Announcement

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting and conference call.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS announces a public meeting of the General Advisory 
Committee (GAC) to the U.S. Section to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna 
Commission (IATTC) on May 27, 2016, and a public meeting of the 
Scientific Advisory Subcommittee (SAS) to the GAC on May 26, 2016. 
Additionally, NMFS announces a public conference call of the GAC and 
SAS on May 3, 2016. The meeting and call topics are described under the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice.

DATES: The meeting of the SAS will be held on May 26, 2016, from 10 
a.m. to 5 p.m. PDT (or until business is concluded). The meeting of the 
GAC will be held on May 27, 2016, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. PDT (or 
until business is concluded). The conference call with the SAS and GAC 
will be held on May 3, 2016, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. (or until business 
is concluded).

ADDRESSES: The GAC and SAS meetings will be held in the Pacific 
Conference Room (Room 300) at NMFS, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, 
8901 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, California 92037-1508. Please 
notify Taylor Debevec (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) by May 20, 
2016, if you plan to attend either or both meetings in person or 
remotely. The meetings will be accessible by webinar--instructions will 
be emailed to meeting participants. The call will be held via 
conference line: 1-888-790-6181, passcode: 34214.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Taylor Debevec, West Coast Region, 
NMFS, at [email protected], or at (562) 980-4066.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Tuna Conventions Act 
(16 U.S.C. 951 et seq.), as amended, the U.S. Department of Commerce, 
in consultation with the Department of State (the State Department), 
appoints a GAC to the U.S. Section to the IATTC, and a SAS that advises 
the GAC. The U.S. Section consists of the four U.S. Commissioners to 
the IATTC and representatives of the State Department, NOAA, Department 
of Commerce, other agencies of the U.S. Government, and other 
stakeholders. The purpose of the GAC shall be to advise the U.S. 
Section with respect to U.S. participation in the work of the IATTC, 
with particular reference to development of U.S. policies, positions, 
and negotiating tactics. The purpose of the SAS is to advise the GAC on 
matters of science. NMFS West Coast Region provides administrative 
support for the GAC and SAS. The meetings of the GAC and SAS shall be 
open to the public, unless in executive session. The time and manner of 
public comment will be at the discretion of the chairs for the GAC and 
SAS.
    The 90th meeting of the IATTC, the 33rd Meeting of the Parties to 
the Agreement on the International Dolphin Conservation Program 
(AIDCP), as well as working group meetings for both the IATTC and 
AIDCP, will be held in La Jolla, California from June 20 to July 1, 
2016. For more information on these meetings, please visit the IATTC's 
Web site: https://www.iattc.org/MeetingsENG.htm.

GAC and SAS Meeting Topics

    The GAC meeting topics will include, but are not limited to, the 
following:
    (1) Outcomes of the 2016 SAC to the IATTC (e.g., stock status 
updates for tuna, tuna-like species, and other species caught in 
association with those fisheries in the eastern Pacific Ocean);
    (2) Implementation of the Antigua Convention including the 
development of a SOPP;
    (3) Input from the SAS;
    (4) Formulation of advice on issues that may arise at the upcoming 
90th meeting of the IATTC, including the IATTC staff's recommended 
conservation measures, U.S. proposals, and proposals from other IATTC 
members; and
    (5) Other issues as they arise.
    The SAS meeting topics will include, but are not limited to, the 
following:
    (1) Outcomes of the 2016 Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) to the 
IATTC (e.g., stock status updates for tuna, tuna-like species, and 
other species caught in association with those fisheries in the eastern 
Pacific Ocean);
    (2) Implementation of the Antigua Convention including the 
development of a Statement of Organization, Practices, and Procedures 
(SOPP);
    (3) Issues related to the impact of fishing on non-target species, 
such as shark, seabirds, sea turtles;
    (4) Evaluation of the IATTC staff's recommended conservation 
measures for 2016;
    (5) U.S. proposals for the 90th meeting of the IATTC and proposals 
from other IATTC members; and
    (6) Other issues as they arise.
    The GAC and SAS call will exclusively consist of review and 
discussion of the draft SOPP in an effort to resolve most of the edits 
and comments before the GAC and SAS meeting so it does not take away 
from other agenda items.

Special Accommodations

    The meeting location is physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids

[[Page 23461]]

should be directed to Taylor Debevec (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT) by May 11, 2016.

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 951 et seq.

    Dated: April 18, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-09284 Filed 4-20-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P