[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 242 (Tuesday, December 19, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 60187]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-27292]



[[Page 60187]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF886


South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of public scoping meetings.

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SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold a series of public scoping meetings via webinar pertaining to 
Amendment 13 to the Spiny Lobster Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the 
Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Region. The amendment addresses 
alternatives for bully net regulations and enhanced cooperative 
management.

DATES: The scoping meetings will be held via webinar on January 8 and 
January 9, 2018.

ADDRESSES: 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].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The scoping meetings will be conducted via 
webinar accessible via the internet from the Council's website at 
www.safmc.net. The scoping meetings will begin at 6 p.m. Registration 
for the webinars is required. Registration information will be posted 
on the Council's website at www.safmc.net as it becomes available.

Amendment 13 to the Spiny Lobster Fishery Management Plan

    The draft amendment currently addresses inconsistencies between 
State of Florida spiny lobster regulations and those in federal waters 
including options for endorsement, marking, and gear prohibitions for 
bully net gear in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off Florida. The 
amendment also addresses re-establishing the procedure for enhanced 
cooperative management protocol for roles of federal and State of 
Florida agencies for the management of spiny lobster. Additional 
options to address bag limits on board commercial bully netters and 
divers, degradable panels in lobster traps, and the definition of 
artificial habitat are also included. The measures are expected to help 
management and enforcement of spiny lobster harvest by creating 
consistent regulations in state and federal waters.
    During the scoping meetings, Council staff will present an overview 
of the amendment and will be available for informal discussions and to 
answer questions via webinar. Members of the public will have an 
opportunity to go on record to record their comments for consideration 
by the Council.

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: December 14, 2017.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-27292 Filed 12-18-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P