[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 103 (Friday, May 27, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33663-33665]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-12618]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE651


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.

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

DATES: The Council meeting will be held from 1:30 p.m. on Monday, June 
13, 2016 until 1 p.m. on Friday, June 17, 2016.

ADDRESSES: 
    Meeting address: The meeting will be held at the Hilton Cocoa Beach 
Oceanfront, 1550 N. Atlantic Avenue, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931; phone: 
(800) 445-8667 or (321) 799-0003; fax: (321) 799-0344.
    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:
    Public comment: Written comments may be directed to Gregg Waugh, 
Executive Director, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (see 
ADDRESSES) or electronically via the Council's Web site at: http://safmc.net/CommentForm_June2016Council. All comments must be received by 
June 6, 2016 in order to be considered by the Council prior to the 
meeting. For written comments received after the Monday before the 
meeting (after 6/6), individuals sending the comment must use the 
Council's online form ``http://safmc.net/CommentForm_June2016Council''. 
Comments will automatically be posted to the Web site and available for 
Council consideration. Comments received prior to noon on Thursday, 
June 16, 2016 will be a part of the meeting administrative record.
    The items of discussion in the individual meeting agendas are as 
follows:

Habitat Protection and Ecosystem-Based Management Committee Meeting, 
Monday, June 13, 2016, 1:30 p.m. Until 5:30 p.m.

    The Committee will receive a status report on the development of 
the Fishery Ecosystem Plan II. An Ocean Technology Session will be held 
as part of the Committee meeting with sessions addressing the use of 
Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), Autonomous and 3D Mapping, 
Remotely Operated Vehicles Advances and Acoustics, and Unmanned 
Aircraft Systems (Drones) as Tools in the Ocean. The Committee will 
also receive presentations on Ocean Investment and Collaborative 
Sustainability, Applying Emerging Technologies and 21st Century Data 
Collection, and an overview of recent Council actions specific to 
Habitat.

SSC Selection Committee, Tuesday, June 14, 2016, 8:30 a.m. Until 9 a.m. 
(Closed Session)

    The Committee will review applications for the SSC and provide 
recommendations for Council consideration.

SEDAR Committee (Partially Closed Session), Tuesday, June 14, 2016, 9 
a.m. Until 10 a.m.

    1. The Committee will recommend participants for the upcoming 
Blueline Tilefish Benchmark and Red Grouper SEDAR Stock Assessment 
(Closed Session). The Committee will discuss the timing and Terms of 
Reference for the assessment.
    2. The Committee will receive updates on SEDAR projects, discuss 
future stock assessments for cobia, receive a SEDAR Steering Committee 
update, and receive the results of the SSC review of the NOAA Fisheries 
Assessment Priority Process.

Advisory Panel Selection Committee, Tuesday, June 14, 2016: 10 a.m. 
Until 10:30 a.m.

    1. The Committee will review options to allow fishing 
representation on the Law Enforcement Advisory Panel (AP) and the 
Information and Education AP, and provide recommendations as 
appropriate.
    2. The Committee will discuss modifications to the current AP 
application for SEDAR applicants and requirements for AP applicants 
relative to email accounts and Internet access.

Joint Dolphin Wahoo and Snapper Grouper Committees, Tuesday, June 14, 
2016, 10:30 a.m. Until 12 Noon

    1. The Committee will receive status updates from NOAA Fisheries on 
commercial and recreational catches versus annual catch limits (ACLs) 
for dolphin and wahoo and amendments currently under Secretarial 
review.
    2. The Committee will receive an overview of Amendment 10 to the 
Dolphin Wahoo Fishery Management Plan (FMP)/Amendment 44 to the Snapper 
Grouper FMP addressing allocations for dolphin and yellowtail snapper, 
and provide direction to staff as appropriate.

Snapper Grouper Committee, Tuesday, June 14, 2016, 1:30 p.m. Until 5:30 
p.m. and Wednesday, June 15, 2016; 8:30 a.m. Until 5:30 p.m.

    1. The Committee will receive updates from NOAA Fisheries on the 
status of commercial and recreational catches versus quotas for species 
under ACLs, and the status of amendments currently under Secretarial 
review.
    2. The Committee will receive updates on fishery-independent 
sampling programs and projects funded through Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant 
Program.
    3. The Committee will receive reports from the Snapper Grouper 
Advisory Panel, the Scientific and Statistical Committee, and NOAA 
Fisheries' Southeast Fisheries Science Center regarding red snapper 
mortality for the 2015 and 2016 fishing season.
    4. The Committee will receive an overview of Snapper Grouper 
Amendment 37 addressing measures for hogfish, modify the document as 
appropriate, and approve/disapprove all actions.
    5. The Committee will review Snapper Grouper Amendment 41 
addressing management measures for mutton snapper, modify the document 
as appropriate, and approve for public hearings.
    6. The Committee will receive an overview of management options for 
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snapper to be addressed in Amendment 43, modify the document as 
necessary, discuss and consider emergency action, and provide guidance 
to staff.
    7. The Committee will review management options to include in 
Vision Blueprint Amendments, discuss and provide direction to staff.
    8. The Committee will receive an overview of options for 
establishing a Control Date and Limited Entry program for federal For-
Hire Permits in the Snapper Grouper, Coastal Migratory Pelagic, and 
Dolphin Wahoo fisheries in the South Atlantic/Atlantic. The Committee 
will discuss options and provide direction to staff.
    Formal Public Comment, Wednesday, June 15, 2016, 5:30 p.m.--Public 
comment will be accepted on items on the Council agenda. Comment will 
be accepted first on items before the Council for approval for public 
hearings: (1) Snapper Grouper Amendment 41 (mutton snapper) and (2) 
Coastal Migratory Pelagics Framework Amendment 4 (Atlantic cobia). The 
Council Chair, based on the number of individuals wishing to comment, 
will determine the amount of time provided to each commenter.

Law Enforcement Committee, Thursday, June 16, 2016, 8:30 a.m. Until 
9:30 a.m. (Partially Closed Session)

    1. The Committee will review nominees for Law Enforcement Officer 
of the Year (Closed Session) and provide recommendations for Council 
consideration.
    2. The Committee will discuss items for the Joint Advisory Panel/
Committee meeting.

Spiny Lobster Committee, Thursday, June 16, 2016, 9:30 a.m. Until 10:30 
a.m.

    1. The Committee will receive a report on spiny lobster landings, 
receive a report from the joint meeting of the South Atlantic and Gulf 
of Mexico Spiny Lobster Advisory Panels, review recommendations from 
advisory panels and the Spiny Lobster Review Panel, and provide 
guidance to staff.
    2. The Committee will receive a report on the compliance of trap 
prohibitions in Closed Areas in the Florida Keys, review specifications 
from NOAA Fisheries for gear marking requirements for recreational 
harvest of spiny lobster with traps outside of Florida, and provide 
recommendations as appropriate.

Protected Resources Committee, Thursday, June 16, 2016, 10:30 a.m. 
Until 11:30 a.m.

    1. The Committee will receive an update from NOAA Fisheries on 
Protected Resources issues including the use of Turtle Excluder Devices 
(TEDs) for skimmer trawls and a 12-month determination for Nassau 
grouper. The Committee will also receive an update from the U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service.

Data Collection Committee, Thursday, June 16, 2016, 1 p.m. Until 2:30 
p.m.

    1. The Committee will receive an update from NOAA Fisheries on the 
status of work relative to Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based Amendment 3 
(CE-BA 3) addressing bycatch, discuss the amendment and provide 
direction to staff.
    2. The Committee will receive an update on the status of the 
Implementation Plan for commercial logbook electronic reporting and the 
NMFS pilot project, discuss and provide guidance to staff.
    3. The Committee will also receive an overview of the Atlantic For-
Hire Reporting Amendment, discuss core variables, and modify the 
document as appropriate.
    4. The Committee will receive an update on the Council's Citizen 
Science Program, discuss, and take action as appropriate.

Executive Finance Committee, Thursday, June 16, 2016, 2:30 p.m. Until 
3:30 p.m.

    1. The Committee will review and approve the Calendar Year (CY) 
2016 budget; review, modify, and approve the Council Follow-up and work 
priorities; and provide recommendations as appropriate.
    2. The Committee will receive a report from the Council 
Coordinating Committee meeting, discuss standards and procedures for 
participating in Council webinar meetings and for accepting public 
comment, discuss the development of a Visioning Project for other 
species managed by the Council, and take action as appropriate.
    3. The Committee will discuss the use of Atlantic Coastal 
Cooperative Statistical Program (ACCSP) data for developing FMP 
amendments and ACCSP housing commercial logbook data and headboat data 
and take action as appropriate.

King and Spanish Mackerel Committee, Thursday, June 16, 2016: 3:30 p.m. 
Until 5:30 p.m.

    1. The Committee will receive a report from NOAA Fisheries on the 
recreational and commercial catches versus ACLs and the status of 
amendments under review, and a report from the April 2016 Gulf of 
Mexico Fishery Management Council meeting.
    2. The Committee will receive updates on decisions relative to 
Atlantic cobia by the states and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries 
Commission (ASMFC), review public input, and take action as necessary.
    3. The Committee will receive an overview of Framework Amendment 4 
to the Coastal Migratory Pelagic FMP addressing management measures for 
Atlantic cobia, review and approve actions and alternatives, modify the 
document as needed, select preferred alternatives, and approve the 
document for public hearings.
    4. The Committee will review Framework Amendment 5 to the Coastal 
Migratory Pelagic FMP that would remove current restrictions on 
commercial king mackerel and Spanish mackerel permits that prohibit the 
retention of bag limit king mackerel and Spanish mackerel on 
recreational (non-commercial and non-charter/headboat) trips on 
federally permitted vessels when commercial harvest is closed for the 
Gulf of Mexico region. The Committee will consider a joint framework 
amendment with the Gulf Council in order to apply the regulations to 
the Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, and Mid-Atlantic regions, and 
provide recommendations as appropriate.
    5. The Committee will receive an overview of options being 
considered in Amendment 29 to the Coastal Migratory Pelagic FMP to 
address allocations of Gulf migratory group king mackerel, discuss, and 
take action as needed.

Council Session: Friday, June 17, 2016, 8:30 a.m. Until 1 p.m.

    8:30-8:45 a.m.: Call the meeting to order, adopt the agenda, and 
approve the March 2016 meeting minutes.
    8:45-9:30 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the Snapper 
Grouper Committee and approve/disapprove Snapper Grouper Amendment 41 
(mutton snapper) for public hearings. The Council will consider other 
Committee recommendations and take action as appropriate.
    9:30-10 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the Mackerel 
Committee, approve/disapprove Coastal Migratory Pelagics Framework 
Amendment 4 (Atlantic cobia) for public hearings, consider other 
Committee recommendations, and take action as appropriate.

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    10 a.m.-10:10 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the 
Spiny Lobster Committee, consider other Committee recommendations, and 
take action as appropriate.
    10:10-10:30 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the Joint 
Dolphin Wahoo and Snapper Grouper Committees, consider recommendations, 
and take action as appropriate.
    10:30-10:40 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the 
Protected Resources Committee, consider recommendations, and take 
action as appropriate.
    10:40-10:50 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the AP 
Selection Committee, consider Committee recommendations, and take 
action as appropriate.
    10:50-11 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the SSC 
Selection Committee, consider Committee recommendations, and take 
action as appropriate.
    11:10-11:10 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the SEDAR 
Committee, consider committee recommendations, and take action as 
appropriate.
    11:10-11:20 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the Data 
Collection Committee, consider committee recommendations, and take 
action as appropriate.
    11:20-11:25 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the 
Habitat Committee, consider committee recommendations, and take action 
as appropriate.
    11:25-11:30 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the Law 
Enforcement Committee, approve the recipient of the Law Enforcement 
Officer of the Year award, consider other committee recommendations, 
and take action as appropriate.
    11:30-11:40 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the 
Executive Finance Committee, approve the Council CY 2016 budget, 
approve the Council Follow-Up and Priorities, consider other Committee 
recommendations, and take action as appropriate.
    11:40-1 p.m.: The Council will receive status reports from NOAA 
Fisheries Southeast Regional Office and the Southeast Fisheries Science 
Center; review and develop recommendations on Experimental Fishing 
Permits as necessary; receive an update on the Marine Resources 
Education Program--Southeast; 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: May 24, 2016.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-12618 Filed 5-26-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P