[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 40 (Wednesday, February 28, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 8654]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-04104]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG042


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Alaska 
Groundfish and Halibut Seabird Working Group; Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS Alaska Groundfish and Halibut Seabird Working Group will 
meet to discuss use of electronic monitoring (EM) to report seabird 
bycatch and a discussion on the challenges of quantifying seabird 
bycatch in the trawl fisheries.

DATES: The meeting will be held on March 20, 2018, from 1 p.m. to 5 
p.m., and on March 21, 2018, from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Alaska Daylight 
Time.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the NMFS Alaska Regional Office 
located at 709 W 9th St., Room 445C, Juneau, AK. Photo identification 
is required to enter this facility.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anne Marie Eich, 907-586-7172.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Alaska Groundfish and Halibut Seabird 
Working Group formed as a result of the 2015 biological opinion on 
effects of the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands 
groundfish fisheries on short-tailed albatross. The working group is 
tasked with reviewing information for mitigating effects of the 
groundfish fisheries on short-tailed albatross and other seabirds. The 
workgroup will hold an in-person meeting in Juneau, Alaska on March 20 
and 21, 2018. Meeting topics include the use of EM to report seabird 
bycatch and a discussion on the challenges of quantifying seabird 
bycatch in trawl fisheries. NMFS will keep the North Pacific Fishery 
Management Council (Council) apprised of the working group's activities 
and any resulting recommendations for methods to reduce seabird 
bycatch. Any changes to seabird avoidance regulations are expected to 
follow the standard Council process.

Special Accommodations

    This workshop will be physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Anne Marie Eich, 907-586-7172, at 
least 5 working days prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: February 23, 2018.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-04104 Filed 2-27-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P