[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 29 (Monday, February 12, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 5996]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-02729]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG016


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

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 Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold a webinar-based meeting with the public for the purpose of 
providing instruction to for-hire operators on electronic reporting of 
vessel trip reports (VTRs).

DATES: This meeting will be held Friday, March 2, 2018, from 10 a.m. to 
12:30 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held via webinar (http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/evtr2018/) with a telephone audio connection 
(provided when connecting).
    Council address: Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 N. 
State St., Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901; telephone: (302) 674-2331.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Loftus, eVTR Outreach Workshop 
Coordinator; telephone: (410) 295-5997; email: [email protected] 
or Christopher M. Moore, Ph.D. Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council; telephone: (302) 526-5255. The Council's website, 
www.mafmc.org also has details on the proposed agenda, webinar access, 
and briefing materials.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NOAA Fisheries has issued a final rule 
requiring the use of electronic vessel trip reports (VTRs) by vessel 
owners/operators holding Federal charter or party permits for species 
managed by a Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council FMP while on trips 
carrying passengers for hire. Electronic VTRs must be submitted through 
a NOAA-approved software application within 48 hours following the 
completion of a fishing trip. Vessels with Federal charter or party 
permits for any of the following species will be bound by this rule:

 Atlantic mackerel
 Squid
 Butterfish
 Summer Flounder
 Scup
 Black sea bass
 Bluefish
 Tilefish

    This action takes effect March 12, 2018, and changes only the 
required method of transmitting VTRs and the submission date; the 
required data elements and all other existing reporting requirements 
will not change. This webinar meeting will provide information on the 
new requirements and options to assist affected parties to comply and 
training on select systems in preparation for this action.

Special Accommodations

    This meeting is 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 the meeting date.

    Dated: February 7, 2018.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-02729 Filed 2-9-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P