[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 233 (Wednesday, December 6, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 57588]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-26309]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF875


New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice; public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is 
scheduling a public meeting of its Joint Habitat Advisory Panel and 
Plan Development Team to consider actions affecting New England 
fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from 
this group will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration 
and action, if appropriate.

DATES: This meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 20, 2017 at 9 
a.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the University of Massachusetts 
Dartmouth, 836 South Rodney French Blvd., New Bedford, MA 02744; Phone: 
(508) 999-8197
    Council address: New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water 
Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, 
New England Fishery Management Council; telephone: (978) 465-0492.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Agenda

    The Joint Habitat Advisory Panel and Plan Development Team (PDT) 
plan to review the Coral Amendment, specifically reviewing the PDT's 
suggested changes to Broad Zone Option 7 and recommend further boundary 
adjustments as needed, reviewing available analysis of this option and 
recommending a preferred broad zone alternative to the Habitat 
Committee. The group plans to also discuss the Clam Dredge Framework 
with emphasis on reviewing fishery, surfclam, and habitat data to 
better understand spatial patterns and tradeoffs between habitat 
vulnerability and access to fishing grounds, with a specific focus on 
the Great South Channel Habitat Management Area, brainstorm exemption 
area alternatives and outline next steps in the development of the 
framework.
    They also plan to review a general update on Fishing Effects model 
project and discuss fishing gear data elements--review draft list of 
m[eacute]tiers including gear dimensions. The group will also receive 
and information update on Offshore wind development. Other business may 
be discussed as necessary.
    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 these meetings. Action will be restricted to 
those issues specifically listed in this notice and any issues arising 
after publication of this notice that require emergency action under 
section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, provided the public has 
been notified of the Council's intent to take final action to address 
the emergency.

Special Accommodations

    This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, at (978) 465-
0492, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date. Consistent with 16 
U.S.C. 1852, a copy of the recording is available upon request.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: December 1, 2017.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-26309 Filed 12-5-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P