[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 164 (Friday, August 25, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40564-40565]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-18048]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF632


South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

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

ACTION: 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: Advisory Panel Selection Committee (Closed); 
Habitat Protection and Ecosystem-Based Management Committee; Southeast 
Data, Assessment and Review (SEDAR) Committee; Snapper Grouper 
Committee; Personnel Committee (Closed); Mackerel Cobia Committee; and 
Executive Finance Committee. There will also be meetings of the full 
Council. The Council will also hold two formal public comment sessions 
and take action as necessary.

DATES: The Council meeting will be held from 9 a.m. on Monday, 
September 11, 2017 until 1 p.m. on Friday, September 15, 2017.

ADDRESSES: 
    Meeting address: The meeting will be held at the Town & Country 
Inn, 2008 Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC 29407; phone: (843) 571-
1000; fax: (843) 766-9444.
    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/. 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 (8/25/17). Comments 
received by close of business the Monday before the meeting (9/4/17) 
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 9/4/17), 
individuals submitting a 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, September 14, 2017 will be a part of the 
meeting administrative record.
    The items of discussion in the individual meeting agendas are as 
follows:

Full Council Session, Monday, September 11, 2017, 9 a.m. Until 5 p.m.

    1. The Council will hold a special session to address management 
measures proposed for red snapper following introductions and approval 
of the June 2017 Council meeting minutes. The Council will receive 
presentations on new red snapper data for consideration and discuss 
options for possibly requesting Emergency Action by NOAA Fisheries for 
a 2017 red snapper season. In addition, the Council will review public 
hearing comments and management alternatives in Amendment 43 to the 
Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan to modify the annual catch 
limit (ACL) for red snapper. Public comment will be accepted on options 
for considering an Emergency Action request and on Amendment 43.
    2. The Council is scheduled to take final action to approve 
Amendment 43 for Secretarial Review. The Council may also approve a 
request for Emergency Action relative to red snapper.

AP Selection Committee, Tuesday, September 12, 2017, 8:30 a.m. Until 10 
a.m. (Closed Session)

    1. The Committee will review the structure of the Habitat 
Protection and Ecosystem-Based Management Advisory Panel and provide 
recommendations.
    2. The Committee will review applications and provide 
recommendations for appointments to advisory panels.

Habitat Protection and Ecosystem-Based Management Committee, Tuesday, 
September 12, 2017, 10 a.m. Until 12 p.m.

    1. The Committee will review, modify, and approve the Council's 
Essential Fish Habitat Policy Statement on Artificial Reefs and provide 
guidance on the draft Fishery Ecosystem Plan II Implementation Plan.
    2. The Committee will receive an update on the Fishery Ecosystem 
Plan II Online System and a section update, an overview of the Habitat 
and Ecosystem Tools and Model development, discuss and provide guidance 
to staff.

SEDAR Committee, Tuesday, September 12, 2017, 1:30 p.m. Until 2:30 p.m.

    1. The Committee will receive a report from the Scientific and 
Statistical Committee (SSC) on the proposed Research Track Process for 
conducting stock assessments and provide guidance to staff.
    2. The Committee will receive an update on the status of a joint 
Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) Workshop between the 
South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Councils and 
provide guidance to staff.
    3. The Committee will also discuss guidance to the SEDAR Steering 
Committee as appropriate and provide direction to staff.

Snapper Grouper Committee, Tuesday, September 12, 2017, 2:30 p.m. Until 
5:30 p.m. and Wednesday, September 13, 2017 From 8:30 a.m. Until 4 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.
    2. The Committee will receive an overview of Vision Blueprint 
Regulatory Amendment 26 addressing recreational management actions and 
alternatives and Vision Blueprint Regulatory Amendment 27 addressing 
commercial management actions and alternatives, as identified in the 
2016-2020 Vision Blueprint for the Snapper Grouper Fishery. The 
Committee will modify the documents as necessary and provide guidance 
to staff.
    3. The Committee will receive an update from Council staff on the 
Commercial Fishery Socio-economic

[[Page 40565]]

Characterization/Portfolio analysis currently underway.
    4. The Committee will review projections for red grouper, review 
management options and provide guidance to staff on development of an 
amendment to address management needs.
    5. The Committee will discuss an amendment to address the Control 
Rule for Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC Control Rule Amendment) and 
possible adjustments to accountability measures for various management 
plans, discuss, and provide direction to staff.
    6. The Committee will receive an update on the Wreckfish Individual 
Transferable Quota (ITQ) review, including a report from a recent 
meeting of shareholders, and provide guidance to staff.
    7. The Committee will address Atlantic coast-wide issues, including 
coast-wide plans to address climate change. This includes a review of 
state-by-state regulations for snapper grouper species in the Greater 
Atlantic Region and data collection and monitoring efforts. The 
Committee will discuss working with the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management 
Council to have them work with the states north of North Carolina to 
implement complementary regulations for snapper grouper species 
occurring in the Mid-Atlantic.
    Formal Public Comment, Wednesday, September 13, 2017, 4:30 p.m.--
Public comment will be accepted on items on the Council agenda. The 
Council Chair, based on the number of individuals wishing to comment, 
will determine the amount of time provided to each commenter.

Personnel Committee (Closed), Thursday, September 14, 2017, 8 a.m. 
Until 9 a.m.

    1. The Committee will conduct the performance review for the 
Executive Director.

Mackerel Cobia Committee, Thursday, September 14, 2017, 9 a.m. Until 12 
p.m.

    1. The Committee will receive an update on commercial catches 
versus quotas for species managed under ACLs and an update on the 
status of amendments currently under Secretarial review.
    2. The Committee will also receive an update on the status of a 
request for recalculation of the 2015 and 2016 recreational landings 
for Atlantic cobia, discuss and provide direction to staff.
    3. The Committee will receive an update on development of the 
Interstate Atlantic Cobia Management Plan from the Atlantic States 
Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) and updates from states on the 2017 
Atlantic cobia season. The Committee will review public scoping 
comments on draft Amendment 31 to the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Fishery 
Management Plan (FMP) addressing complementary management of Atlantic 
cobia with ASMFC or removal from the FMP. The Committee will provide 
guidance to staff.
    4. The Committee will receive an overview of Atlantic king mackerel 
trip limits, discuss, and provide guidance to staff.

Executive Finance Committee, Thursday, September 14, 2017, 1:30 p.m. 
Until 4 p.m.

    1. The Committee will receive a report from the August 2017 webinar 
meeting of the Executive Finance Committee and provide guidance as 
necessary.
    2. The Committee will review the South Atlantic Regional Operations 
Agreement and the Council Follow-up and Priorities documents and 
provide guidance to staff.
    3. 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.
    4. The Committee will discuss materials available for Council 
meetings and provide guidance to staff.

Council Session: Thursday, September 14, 2017, 4 p.m. Until 5 p.m. and 
Friday, September 15, 2017, 8:30 a.m. Until 1 p.m. (Partially Closed 
Session if Needed)

    The Full Council will reconvene beginning on Thursday afternoon 
with a Call to Order, adoption of the agenda, announcements and 
introductions, presentation of the Law Enforcement Officer of the Year 
award, and election of a new Council Chair and Vice-Chair.
    The Council will receive a Legal Briefing on Litigation from NOAA 
General Counsel (if needed) during Closed Session. The Council will 
receive the Executive Director's Report, an update on the Council's 
Citizen Science Program, and an overview of the economic value of South 
Atlantic fisheries. The Council will also receive reports from NOAA 
Fisheries on the status of commercial and recreational catches versus 
ACLs for species not covered during an earlier committee meeting, 
status of the South Atlantic For-Hire Amendment, status of Bycatch 
Collection Programs, landings of dolphin fish caught with pelagic 
longline gear by vessel permit type, and the status of commercial 
electronic logbook reporting. The Council will review any Exempted 
Fishing Permits received by NOAA Fisheries as necessary. The Council 
will receive Committee reports from the Advisory Panel Selection, 
Habitat and Ecosystem-Based Management, SEDAR, Snapper Grouper, 
Mackerel Cobia, 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: August 22, 2017.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-18048 Filed 8-24-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P