[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 29 (Tuesday, February 14, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10564-10566]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-02930]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF223


South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

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 Advisory Panel Selection Committee (Closed 
Session); Southeast Data, Assessment and Review (SEDAR) Committee; 
Protected Resources Committee; Spiny Lobster Committee; Habitat 
Protection and Ecosystem-Based Management Committee; Dolphin Wahoo 
Committee; Snapper Grouper Committee; Mackerel Cobia Committee; Citizen 
Science Committee; and Executive Finance Committee. There will also be 
a meeting of the full Council. The Council will take action as 
necessary. The Council will also hold a formal public comment session.

[[Page 10565]]


DATES: The Council meeting will be held from 8:30 a.m. on Monday, March 
6, 2017 until 12 p.m. on Friday, March 10, 2017.

ADDRESSES: 
    Meeting address: The meeting will be held at the Westin Jekyll 
Island, 110 Ocean Way, Jekyll Island, GA 31527; phone: (888) 627-8316 
or (912) 635-4545; fax: (912) 319-2838.
    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 
Council address) or electronically via the Council's Web site at: 
http://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/council-meetings/safmc-meeting-march2017/. 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 (February 27, 2017) will be compiled, posted to the 
Web site as part of the meeting materials, and included in the 
administrative record; please use the Council's online form available 
from the Web site. For written comments received after the Monday 
before the meeting (after 2/27), 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, March 9, 
2017 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 (Closed Session), Monday, March 6, 
2017, 8:30 a.m. Until 10 a.m.

    The Committee will review applications for open advisory panel 
seats and provide recommendations.

SEDAR Committee, Monday, March 6, 2017, 10 a.m. Until 11 a.m.

    1. The Committee will receive an update on SEDAR projects including 
the status of on-going projects, discuss long-term assessment 
priorities, and review the NOAA Fisheries Prioritization Tool 
application and take action as necessary.
    2. The Committee will also discuss 2020 preliminary assessment 
priorities and the Research Track process for conducting stock 
assessments and provide guidance for consideration by the SEDAR 
Steering Committee.

Protected Resources Committee, Monday March 6, 2017, 11 a.m. Until 12 
p.m.

    The Committee will receive an update from NOAA Fisheries Protected 
Resources Office, an update on the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries 
Commission's (ASMFC) Atlantic Sturgeon stock assessment, and an update 
from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and take action as necessary.

Spiny Lobster Committee, Monday, March 6, 2017, 1:30 p.m. Until 2:30 
p.m.

    The Committee will review Spiny Lobster Regulatory Amendment 4 
addressing management parameters including Acceptable Biological Catch 
(ABC) and annual catch limits (ACLs), and the use of traps to 
recreationally harvest spiny lobster. The Committee will provide 
recommendations for approving the amendment for public hearing.

Habitat Protection and Ecosystem-Based Management Committee, Monday, 
March 6, 2017, 2:30 Until 5 p.m.

    1. The Committee will review the Council's Fishery Ecosystem Plan 
II sections and provide direction to staff.
    2. The Committee will receive an update on the Habitat and 
Ecosystem Tools and Model Development, Council actions pertaining to 
Habitat, and the South Atlantic Regional Climate Action Plan, and 
provide recommendations as appropriate.

Dolphin Wahoo Committee, Tuesday, March 7, 2017, 8:30 a.m. Until 11 
a.m.

    1. The Committee will receive updates from NOAA Fisheries on 
commercial catches versus quota for dolphin and wahoo and take action 
as necessary.
    2. The Committee will review Dolphin Wahoo Amendment 10 addressing 
the definition of Optimum Yield, quota sharing, operator card 
requirements, and allowable gear for the dolphin fishery and provide 
recommendations as appropriate.

Snapper Grouper Committee, Tuesday, March 7, 2017, 11 a.m. Until 5 p.m. 
and Wednesday, March 8, 2017 From 8:30 a.m. Until 3:30 p.m.

    1. The Committee will receive updates from NOAA Fisheries on 
commercial catches versus quotas for species under ACLs and the status 
of amendments under formal Secretarial review and take action as 
necessary. The Committee will also discuss guidance on re-opening a 
fishery when the landings are close to the annual catch limits (ACLs) 
and take action as necessary.
    2. The Committee will review public scoping comments for Vision 
Blueprint Regulatory Amendment 26 addressing recreational management 
options and Vision Blueprint Regulatory Amendment 27 addressing 
commercial management options, modify the documents as necessary and 
provide guidance to staff.
    3. The Committee will receive overviews regarding discards for red 
snapper and southeast barotrauma workshops, review public scoping 
comments for Snapper Grouper Amendment 43 addressing management options 
for red snapper and recreational reporting, modify the document as 
necessary, and provide direction to staff.
    4. The Committee will review public hearing comments for Snapper 
Grouper Amendment 44 addressing allocation measures for yellowtail 
snapper, modify the document as necessary, and provide direction to 
staff.
    5. The Committee will receive projection results from NOAA 
Fisheries Southeast Fisheries Science Center for golden tilefish, 
discuss Snapper Grouper Amendment 45 addressing management measures for 
golden tilefish, and provide direction to staff.
    6. The Committee will review a white paper on Limited Entry for the 
Snapper Grouper For-Hire fishery, discuss, and provide direction to 
staff.

Mackerel Cobia Committee, Wednesday, March 8, 2017, 3:30 p.m. Until 
4:30 p.m. and Thursday, March 9, 2017, 8 a.m. Until 9 a.m.

    1. The Committee will receive an update on ASMFC's development of 
the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Cobia, receive an update 
from NOAA Fisheries on the 2017 recreational fishing season for cobia 
in federal waters, and updates on state regulation and management 
measures for cobia in 2017, and take action as necessary.
    2. The Committee will receive status updates from NOAA Fisheries on 
commercial catches versus quotas for species under ACLs and amendments

[[Page 10566]]

currently under Secretarial review and take action as necessary.
    3. The Committee will discuss tracking CMP landings in a common 
unit and take action as necessary.
    4. The Committee will receive a report on the Gulf of Mexico 
Fishery Management Council's January/February 2017 meeting.
    5. 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.
    6. The Committee will also provide direction to staff for agenda 
items for the spring meeting of the Council's Mackerel Cobia Advisory 
Panel and Cobia Sub-panel.
    Formal Public Comment, Wednesday, March 8, 2017, 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) Coastal Migratory Pelagic Amendment 29 (Gulf of Mexico king 
mackerel allocations); and (2) the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management 
Council's For-Hire Amendment. The Council Chair, based on the number of 
individuals wishing to comment, will determine the amount of time 
provided to each commenter.

Citizen Science Committee, Thursday, March 9, 2017, 9 a.m. Until 10 
a.m.

    The Committee will receive a program update on the Council's 
Citizen Science Program, review research priorities to include in the 
South Atlantic Research Plan, discuss, and take action as necessary.

Executive/Finance Committee, Thursday, March 9, 2017, 10 a.m. Until 12 
p.m.

    1. The Committee will receive a report on the February 2017 Council 
Coordinating Committee meeting and take action as necessary, and a 
final report for expenditures for Calendar Year (CY) 2016; review the 
Draft CY 2017 Budget and approve if budget numbers are available; and 
review, modify, and approve the Council Follow-up and work priorities.
    2. The Committee will discuss options for an advisory panel/
workgroup for the System Management Plan for the Council's managed 
areas and take action as necessary.
    3. The Committee will discuss standards and procedures for 
participating in Council webinar meetings and take action as 
appropriate.
    4. The Committee will review and discuss meeting materials provided 
to Council members for Council meetings and provide direction to staff.

Council Session: Thursday, March 9, 2017, 1:30 p.m. Until 5 p.m. and 
Friday, March 10, 2017, 8:30 a.m. Until 12 p.m. (Partially Closed 
Session)

    The Full Council will convene beginning on Thursday afternoon with 
a Call to Order, announcements and introductions, and approve the 
December 2016 meeting minutes. 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 Executive 
Director, an update on the Status of the joint Council and Atlantic 
Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program For-Hire Electronic Logbook 
Pilot Project, and an overview of the Gulf Council's For-Hire Amendment 
and approve/disapprove the Gulf Council's amendment for formal 
Secretarial review.
    The Council will receive presentations on the Bycatch Reporting 
Final Rule and status of Bycatch Collection Programs from NOAA 
Fisheries and take action as necessary. The Council will also receive 
reports on any remaining commercial catches versus ACLs, the status of 
the South Atlantic Council's For-Hire Amendment, and any Experimental 
Fishing Permits received by NMFS and take action as necessary.
    The Council will receive a report from the Mackerel Cobia 
Committee, approve/disapprove Coastal Migratory Pelagic Amendment 29 
(Gulf of Mexico king mackerel allocations) for Secretarial review, 
consider other Committee recommendations, and take action as 
appropriate.
    The Council will continue to receive committee reports from the 
Advisory Panel Selection, SEDAR, Protected Resources, Spiny Lobster, 
Habitat and Ecosystem-Based Management, Dolphin Wahoo, Snapper Grouper, 
Citizen Science, and Executive Finance Committees, review 
recommendations, and take action as appropriate.
    The Council will 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 this group for discussion, those issues may not be the subject 
of formal action during this meeting. 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: February 9, 2017.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-02930 Filed 2-13-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P