[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 221 (Friday, November 17, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54331-54332]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-24958]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF823


Caribbean Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice of a public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Caribbean Fishery Management Council's (Council) 
Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will hold a 5-day meeting in 
December to discuss the items contained in the agenda in the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

DATES: The meetings will be held from December 4 to December 8, 2017, 
from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. These are new dates due to the passing of 
hurricanes Irma and Maria through Puerto Rico.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Council Office, 270 
Mu[ntilde]oz Rivera Avenue, Suite 401, San Juan, Puerto Rico.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Caribbean Fishery Management Council, 
270 Mu[ntilde]oz Rivera Avenue, Suite 401, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918-
1903, telephone: (787) 766-5926.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
--Call to Order
--Adoption of Agenda
--Overview
    Review outcomes from previous meeting
--Review Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) Control Rule Language
    Review suggestions from General Counsel and Southeast Fisheries 
Science Center (SEFSC) on text of Tier 4 of the control rule
    Develop language to define ``consensus'' as used in determining 
Tier assignments (or otherwise alter language to remove the term)
--Action 2: Finalize establishment of stock/stock complexes for each of 
the Puerto Rico, St. Croix, St. Thomas/St. John Fishery Management 
Plans (FMPs)
--Determine use of Indicator Species to recommend to the Council
--Finalize recommendations on:

[[Page 54332]]

--Criteria used to select indicator species
--How indicator species will be used to determine management reference 
points for stock complexes
--Action 3: Management Reference Points for Stocks/Stock complexes in 
each of the Puerto Rico, St. Thomas/St. John and St Croix FMPs
Tiered ABC Control Rule:
--Review and finalize Tier assignments (4a or 4b): Puerto Rico, St. 
Croix, St. Thomas/St. John
--Define process for determining the scalars used in Tiered ABC Control 
Rule
--Define process for determining the buffer from the overfishing limit 
(OFL) to ABC (scientific uncertainty buffer) used in the Tiered ABC 
Control Rule.
--Choice of scalar and scientific uncertainty buffer for Tiers 4a and 
4b for the applicable stocks.
Stocks/stock complexes to which the Tiered ABC CR cannot be applied:
--Recommendations on time series of landings data (year sequences) to 
establish reference points for the applicable stocks/stock complexes.
--Recommendations on the establishment of the maximum sustainable yield 
proxy (e.g., mean, median, following the Caribbean Annual Catch Limit 
Amendments' approach) for the applicable stocks/stock complexes.
--Recommendations on the scientific uncertainty buffer to determine the 
ABC for the applicable stocks/stock complexes.
--Recommendations to the Caribbean Fishery Management Council
--Other Business

    The order of business may be adjusted as necessary to accommodate 
the completion of agenda items. The meeting will begin on December 4, 
2017 at 9 a.m. Other than the start time, interested parties should be 
aware that discussions may start earlier or later than indicated. In 
addition, the meeting may be extended from, or completed prior to the 
date established in this notice.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. For more information or request for sign language 
interpretation and other auxiliary aids, please contact Mr. Miguel A. 
Rol[oacute]n, Executive Director, Caribbean Fishery Management Council, 
270 Mu[ntilde]oz Rivera Avenue, Suite 401, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918-
1903, telephone: (787) 766-5926, at least 5 days prior to the meeting 
date.

    Dated: November 14, 2017.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-24958 Filed 11-16-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P