[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 220 (Tuesday, November 15, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80041-80044]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-27434]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF039


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

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Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) will also conduct a 
public hearing in conjunction with the Council meeting.

DATES: The Council meeting will be held from 8:30 a.m. on Monday, 
December 5, 2016 until 1 p.m. on Friday, December 9, 2016.

ADDRESSES:
    Meeting address: The meeting will be held at the DoubleTree by 
Hilton Atlantic Beach Oceanfront, 2717 West Fort Macon Road, Atlantic 
Beach, NC 28512; phone: (800) 222-8733 or (252) 240-1155; fax: (252) 
222-4065.
    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]. Meeting information is 
available from the Council's Web site at: http://safmc.net/meetings/council-meetings/.

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: https://goo.gl/forms/QAZYglsYhWIkQZNV2. The public comment form is open for use 
when the briefing book is posted to the Web site on the Friday, two 
weeks prior to the Council meeting. Comments received by close of 
business the Monday before the meeting (November 28, 2016) will be 
compiled, posted to the Web site as part of the meeting materials, and 
included in the administrative record. For written comments received 
after the Monday before the meeting (after 11/28), individuals sending 
the comment must use the Council's online form available from the Web 
site. Comments will automatically be posted to the Web site and 
available for Council consideration. Comments received prior to noon on 
Thursday, December 8, 2016 will be a part of the meeting administrative 
record.
    The items of discussion in the individual meeting agendas are as 
follows:

Advisory Panel Selection Committee (Partially Closed Session), Monday, 
December 5, 2016, 8:30 a.m. Until 9:30 a.m.

    1. The Committee will review applications for the SEDAR Pool 
Advisory Panel and provide recommendations (Closed Session).
    2. The Committee will review options for the structure of an 
advisory panel for the Council's System Management Plan addressing 
protected areas and provide guidance and timing for the advisory panel 
as necessary.

Law Enforcement Committee, Monday, December 5, 2016, 9:30 a.m. Until 
10:30 a.m.

    1. The Committee will receive a report on the level of commercial 
logbook reporting at the time of permit renewal, discuss compliance 
with logbook reporting requirements, and provide recommendations as 
appropriate.
    2. The Committee will also follow up on items from the earlier 
joint meeting of the Law Enforcement Committee and Advisory panel 
provide recommendations as appropriate.

SSC Selection Committee, Monday, December 5, 2016, 10:30 a.m. Until 12 
p.m.

    The Committee will review the SSC Conflict of Interest Policy, the 
SSC Public Comment Policy, and the SSC Update on complex analysis 
review process. The Committee will provide guidance as needed.

Protected Resources Committee, Monday, December 5, 2016, 1:30 p.m. 
Until 2:30 p.m.

    The Committee will receive an update from NOAA Fisheries' Protected 
Resources Office, review the Biological Opinion for Snapper Grouper, 
appoint a Council member to the Large Whale Take Reduction Team, and 
receive an update from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Habitat Protection and Ecosystem-Based Management Committee, Monday, 
December 5, 2016, 2:30 p.m. Until 5 p.m.

    1. The Committee will receive a report from the Habitat Protection 
and Ecosystem-Based Management Advisory Panel and provide 
recommendations as appropriate.
    2. The Committee will review and approve the Council's Essential 
Fish Habitat Policy Statements for the Fishery Ecosystem Plan II.
    3. The Committee will receive an update on the Habitat and 
Ecosystem Tools and Model Development, Council actions pertaining to 
Habitat, and a report from the Lenfest Ecosystem Task Force and proved 
recommendations as appropriate.

SEDAR Committee, Tuesday, December 6, 2016, 8:30 a.m. Until 10:30 a.m. 
(Partially Closed)

    1. The Committee will discuss and provide recommendations for 
appointments for the following stock assessments: SEDAR 50 Blueline 
Tilefish; SEDAR 48 Black Grouper, SEDAR 56 Black Sea Bass, and the 
SEDAR Stock Identification and Meristics Workshop. (Closed Session)
    2. The Committee will receive updates on SEDAR projects, review the 
SEDAR Steering Committee Report, and assessment priorities, including 
SSC prioritization recommendations and a long-term assessment plan. The 
Committee will provide recommendations as appropriate.

Spiny Lobster Committee, Tuesday, December 6, 2016, 10:30 a.m. Until 
11:30 a.m.

    1. The Committee will receive a presentation on Spiny Lobster 
regulations in Florida, review recommendations from the SSC for 
establishing Overfishing Levels and Acceptable Biological Catch for 
Spiny Lobster, and provide recommendations to staff.
    2. The Committee will also receive an overview of a Discussion 
Document on action to restrict recreational traps in the South Atlantic 
Exclusive Economic Zone and provide direction to staff.

Joint Dolphin Wahoo/Snapper Grouper/Mackerel Cobia Committees, Tuesday, 
December 6, 2016, 1 p.m. Until 4 p.m.

    1. The Committees will receive updates from NOAA Fisheries on 
commercial and recreational catches of Dolphin and Wahoo versus annual 
catch limits (ACLs), status of amendments, and the 2015 commercial 
landings for Yellowtail Snapper.
    2. The Committee will review Dolphin Wahoo Amendment 10/Snapper 
Grouper Amendment 44 addressing allocations of Dolphin and Yellowtail 
Snapper, provide direction to staff, and recommend approval of the 
joint amendment for public hearings.
    3. The Committees will receive an overview of draft options for a 
Limited Entry program for federal For-Hire Permits in the Snapper 
Grouper, Coastal Migratory Pelagic, and Dolphin Wahoo fisheries in the 
South Atlantic/Atlantic, review options, modify the document if 
necessary, and provide guidance as appropriate.

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Information and Education Committee, Tuesday, December 6, 2016, 4 p.m. 
Until 5 p.m.

    The Committee will receive a report from the Information and 
Education Advisory Panel meeting and provide guidance to staff.

Executive/Finance Committee, Tuesday, December 6, 2016, 5 p.m. Until 6 
p.m. and Thursday, December 8, 2016, From 4:30 p.m. Until 5:30 p.m.

    1. The Committee will receive a presentation on the Final Rule for 
National Standard 1 Guidelines, discuss and provide guidance to staff.
    2. The Committee will receive an overview of Electronic Reporting 
Project Proposals, discuss and take action as necessary.
    3. The Committee will receive an update on the status of 
expenditures for Calendar Year (CY) 2016; review the Draft CY 2017 
Budget; review, modify, and approve the Council Follow-up and work 
priorities; and provide recommendations as appropriate.
    3. The Committee will discuss standards and procedures for 
participating in Council webinar meetings and take action as 
appropriate.

Snapper Grouper Committee, Wednesday, December 7, 2016, 8 a.m. Until 
4:30 p.m. and Thursday, December 8, 2016, 9 a.m. Until 10 a.m.

    1. The Committee will receive updates from NOAA Fisheries on the 
status of commercial and recreational catches versus quotas for species 
under Annual Catch Limits (ACLs) and the status of amendments currently 
under Secretarial review.
    2. The Committee will receive reports from the Snapper Grouper 
Advisory Panel meeting and the SSC meeting, discuss and provide 
recommendations as appropriate.
    3. The Committee will receive presentations on the efficacy of 
descending devices for deepwater grouper and commercial logbook discard 
data for red grouper, discuss and take action as appropriate.
    4. The Committee will review Snapper Grouper Amendment 41 
addressing management measures for mutton snapper, modify the document 
as appropriate, and provide recommendations to approve/disapprove the 
amendment for formal Secretarial Review.
    5. The Committee will receive the Annual Review of the Vision 
Blueprint for the Snapper Grouper Fishery addressing long-term 
management needs and provide recommendations as appropriate. The 
Committee will also review options for the Recreational Visioning 
Blueprint Amendment (Vision Blueprint Regulatory Amendment 26) and the 
Commercial Visioning Blueprint Amendment (Vision Blueprint Regulatory 
Amendment 27), modify the documents as appropriate, and approve for 
public scoping.
    6. The Committee will receive a presentation of Red Snapper 
landings by County in Florida, receive an overview of management 
options for Red Snapper to be addressed in Snapper Grouper Amendment 
43, modify the document as necessary, and provide recommendations to 
approve/disapprove the options paper for public scoping.
    7. The Committee will consider an emergency rule for the 2017 
season of Golden Tilefish and provide guidance to staff for amendment 
development.
    Formal Public Comment, Wednesday, December 7, 2016, 4:30 p.m.--
Public comment will be accepted on items on the Council agenda. Comment 
will be accepted first on items before the Council for Secretarial 
approval: (1) Snapper Grouper Amendment 41 (Mutton Snapper); (2) 
Coastal Migratory Pelagic Amendment 29 (Gulf of Mexico King Mackerel 
Allocations); (3) Coastal Migratory Pelagic Amendment 30 (Atlantic 
Cobia Fishing Year); and (4) Atlantic For-Hire Electronic Reporting 
Amendment. The Council Chair, based on the number of individuals 
wishing to comment, will determine the amount of time provided to each 
commenter.

Personnel Committee, Thursday, December 8, 2016, 8 a.m. Until 9 a.m. 
(Closed Session)

    The Committee will conduct the Executive Director's Performance 
Review.

Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Committee, Thursday, December 8, 2016, 
10 a.m. Until 11 a.m.

    The Committee will receive a presentation from NOAA Fisheries HMS 
on draft Amendment 5b to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic HMS Fishery 
Management Plan addressing management measures for Dusky Shark and 
provide guidance to staff.

Mackerel Cobia Committee, Thursday, December 8, 2016, 11 a.m. Until 12 
p.m.

    1. The Committees will receive status updates from NOAA Fisheries 
on commercial and recreational catches versus annual catch limits 
(ACLs) for species under ACLs and amendments currently under 
Secretarial review.
    2. The Committee will receive an overview of Amendment 29 to the 
Coastal Migratory Pelagic (CMP) Fishery Management Plan for the Gulf of 
Mexico and South Atlantic Region addressing allocations of Gulf Group 
King Mackerel, modify as necessary, and provide recommendations to 
approve/disapprove the amendment for formal Secretarial Review.
    3. The Committee will receive an overview of CMP Amendment 30 
addressing modifications to the Fishing Year for Atlantic Cobia, review 
public hearing comments, modify the document as necessary, and 
recommend approval/disapproval of the amendment for formal Secretarial 
Review.
    4. The Committee will review the ASMFC's Public Information 
Document for the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Cobia and 
provide comments and guidance as appropriate.

Citizen Science Committee, Thursday, December 8, 2016, 1:30 p.m. Until 
2:30 p.m.

    The Committee will receive a program development update on the 
Council's Citizen Science Program, discuss and take action as 
necessary.

Data Collection Committee, Thursday, December 8, 2016, 2:30 p.m. Until 
4:30 p.m.

    1. The Committee will receive an update on the status of the 
Bycatch Reporting Amendment and the final Standardized Bycatch 
Reporting Methodology (SBRM) rule from NOAA Fisheries, discuss and 
provide direction to staff.
    2. The Committee will receive an update on the status of voluntary 
commercial logbook electronic reporting, discuss and take action as 
necessary.
    3. The Committee will receive an update on the status of the Pilot 
For-Hire Electronic Reporting Project being conducted jointly between 
the Council and the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program, 
review and take action as necessary.
    4. The Committee will also receive a report on the status of the 
Headboat Electronic Reporting Program and associated outreach, an 
overview of the For-Hire Reporting Amendment, review the amendment and 
provide recommendations for approval/disapproval of the amendment for 
Secretarial Review.
    Public Hearing--Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission 
(ASMFC)--Public Information Document for the Interstate Fishery 
Management Plan (FMP) for Cobia, Thursday, December 8, 2016, 6 p.m.--
The ASMFC will hold a public hearing in conjunction with the Council 
meeting

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to solicit comment on the Public Information Document addressing state 
management of Cobia. Stakeholders are asked to provide information 
about changes observed in the fishery and provide input on potential 
management measures as well as any additional issues that should be 
included in the draft FMP. The Public Information Document includes 
draft goals and objectives of the plan; commercial and recreational 
measures; coast-wide, regional, or state-by-state measures; and other 
issues.

Council Session: Friday, December 9, 2016, 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. 
(Partially Closed)

    The Full Council will convene on Friday morning with a Call to 
Order, announcements and introductions, and approve the September 2016 
meeting minutes. The Council will present the Law Enforcement Officer 
of the Year award and make other presentations as appropriate.
    The Council will receive a Legal Briefing on Litigation from NOAA 
General Counsel (if needed) during Closed Session.
    The Council will receive a report from the Snapper Grouper 
Committee and approve/disapprove Snapper Grouper Amendment 41 (Mutton 
Snapper) for Secretarial review and approve Snapper Grouper Amendment 
43 (red snapper), the Recreational Visioning Amendment, and the 
Commercial Visioning Amendment for public scoping. The Council will 
consider other Committee recommendations and take action as 
appropriate.
    The Council will receive a report from the Mackerel Cobia 
Committee, approve/disapprove Coastal Migratory Pelagic Amendment 29 
(Gulf of Mexico King Mackerel Allocations) and Coastal Migratory 
Pelagic Amendment 30 (Atlantic Cobia Fishing Year) for Secretarial 
review, consider other Committee recommendations, and take action as 
appropriate.
    The Council will receive a report from the Data Collection 
Committee and approve/disapprove the Atlantic For-Hire Amendment 
(Electronic Reporting) for Secretarial Review, consider other committee 
recommendations, and take action as appropriate.
    The Council will receive a report from the Joint Dolphin Wahoo/
Snapper Grouper/Mackerel Cobia Committee, approve/disapprove Joint 
Dolphin Wahoo Amendment 10/Snapper Grouper Amendment 44 (Allocations 
for Dolphin and Yellowtail Snapper) for public hearings, consider other 
recommendations, and take action as appropriate.
    The Council will continue to receive committee reports from 
Information & Education, Protected Resources, Advisory Panel Selection, 
SSC Selection, SEDAR, Habitat and Ecosystem-Based Management, Law 
Enforcement, Spiny Lobster, HMS, Citizen Science, and Executive Finance 
Committees, review recommendations and take action as appropriate.
    The Council will receive status reports from NOAA Fisheries 
Southeast Office and the Southeast Fisheries Science Center; 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: November 9, 2016.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-27434 Filed 11-14-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P