[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 65 (Thursday, April 6, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16798-16799]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-06807]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF338


Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC); Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice; public hearings and comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold nine 
public hearings in April and May 2017 to solicit public input on an 
amendment to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery 
Management Plan. The amendment focuses on the plan's longfin squid and 
Illex squid fisheries. The Council is also soliciting written comments 
on the amendment through May 18, 2017.

DATES: The public hearings will be held between April 24, 2017 and May 
11, 2017. The dates and times of each hearing are listed in 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. The comment period closes 11:59 p.m. on May 
18, 2017.

[[Page 16799]]


ADDRESSES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for locations of the hearings.
    Council address: Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 N. 
State Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901; telephone: (302) 674-2331; 
Web site: www.mafmc.org.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher M. Moore, Ph.D., Executive 
Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, telephone: (302) 
526-5255.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Council will hold nine public hearings:
    1. April 24, 2017, 5-7 p.m.: The Greater Ocean City Chamber of 
Commerce, 12320 Ocean Gateway, Ocean City, MD 21842, phone: (410) 213-
0144.
    2. April 25, 2017, 5-7 p.m.: Holiday Inn by the Bay, 88 Spring St., 
Portland, ME 04101, phone: (207) 775-2311.
    3. April 26, 2017, 5-7 p.m.: Massachusetts Division of Marine 
Fisheries, Annisquam River Marine Fisheries Station, 30 Emerson Ave., 
Gloucester, MA 01930, phone: (978) 282-0308.
    4. May 2, 2017, 5-7 p.m.: Congress Hall, 200 Congress Place, Cape 
May, NJ 08204, phone: (609) 884-8421.
    5. May 3, 2017, 5-7 p.m.: DoubleTree by Hilton Tinton Falls, 700 
Hope Road, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724, phone: (732) 544-9300.
    6. May 4, 2017, 6-8 p.m.: Webinar, http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/squid2017/ phone: (800) 832-0736, Rm: *7833942#. A listening station 
will be available at Virginia Marine Resources Commission, 2600 
Washington Avenue, 3rd Floor, Newport News, VA 23607, phone: (757) 247- 
2200.
    7. May 8, 2017, 5-8 p.m.: University of Rhode Island, Corless 
Auditorium, Watkins Building, 218 Ferry Rd., Narragansett, RI 401-874-
6222.
    8. May 9, 2017, 4:30-7 p.m.: Doubletree by Hilton Cape Cod--
Hyannis, 287 Iyannough Rd., Hyannis, MA 02601, 508-771-1700.
    9. May 11, 2017, 5-7 p.m.: Hyatt Place Long Island/East End, 431 
East Main St., Riverhead, NY 11901, 631-208-0002.
    Addresses for written comments: Written comments may be sent 
through mail, email, fax, or online through 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, May 
18, 2017.

--Mail to Dr. Chris Moore, Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council, 800 North State Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901 
(please write ``Squid Amendment Comments'' on the outside of the 
envelope);
--Fax to Dr. Chris Moore, Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council at 302-674-5399 (please include ``Squid Amendment 
Comments'' in the subject line);
--Email to [email protected];
--Online at http://www.mafmc.org/comments/squid-amendment-public-comments.

    The purpose of the meetings and comment period is gather input from 
the public on the alternatives in the amendment. The objectives of this 
action are to:
    A. Consider the appropriate number of vessels in the directed 
longfin squid and Illex squid fisheries and design appropriate 
management measures for permitted vessels. The Council is considering 
this action because there is considerable latent effort in both 
fisheries--a relatively small portion of vessels with limited access 
(``moratorium'') squid permits account for the majority of landings in 
most years. The Council is concerned that activation of latent permits 
in the squid fisheries could lead to excessive fishing effort 
(shortening seasons) on these semeparous, sub-annual species, and 
increased catch of non-target species.
    B. Re-evaluate the management of longfin squid in Trimester 2. The 
Council is considering this action because the productivity of the 
longfin squid stock may be negatively impacted if excessive fishing 
effort in T2, which occurs on the inshore spawning grounds, does not 
allow sufficient spawning and/or hatching from egg mops. Additional 
information and relevant background documents are available on the 
Council's Web site at http://www.mafmc.org/actions/squid-capacity-amendment. The public hearing document, which describes and analyzes 
the alternatives, will be posted there by April 18, 2017.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aid should be directed to M. Jan Saunders, (302) 526-5251, at 
least 5 days prior to any meeting date.

    Dated: April 3, 2017.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-06807 Filed 4-5-17; 8:45 am]
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