[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 100 (Wednesday, May 23, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23899-23902]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-11023]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG240


South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Meeting of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council.

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SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold meetings of the following: Personnel Committee (Closed Session); 
Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) Selection Committee (Closed 
Session); Southeast Data, Assessment and Review (SEDAR) Committee 
(Partially Closed Session); Citizen Science Committee (Partially Closed 
Session); Spiny Lobster Committee; Law Enforcement Commitment; Habitat 
Protection and Ecosystem-Based Management Committee; Snapper Grouper 
Committee; Joint Habitat Ecosystem, Shrimp, and Golden Crab Committees; 
Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Committee; Mackerel Cobia Committee; 
Standard Operating, Policy, and Procedure (SOPPs) Committee; and the 
Executive Finance Committee. The Council will meet as a Committee of 
the Whole to address the Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) Control Rule 
and have a meeting of the full Council.
    The Council will also hold an informal Question and Answer Session, 
a formal public comment session, and take action as necessary. A For-
Hire Electronic Reporting Outreach Training Session will also be held.

DATES: The Council meeting will be held from 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 
10, 2018 until 1 p.m. on Friday, June 15, 2018.

ADDRESSES: 
    Meeting address: The meeting will be held at the Bahia Mar 
Doubletree by

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Hilton, 801 Seabreeze Boulevard, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316; phone: (855) 
610-8733; fax: (954) 627-6359.
    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]. Meeting information 
is available from the Council's website at: http://safmc.net/meetings/council-meetings/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public comment: Written comments may be 
directed to Gregg Waugh, Executive Director, South Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council (see Council address) or electronically via the 
Council's website at http://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/council-meetings/. 
The public comment form is open for use when the briefing book is 
posted to the website on the Friday, two weeks prior to the Council 
meeting (5/25/18). Comments received by close of business the Monday 
before the meeting (6/4/18) will be compiled, posted to the website as 
part of the meeting materials, and included in the administrative 
record; please use the Council's online form available from the 
website. For written comments received after the Monday before the 
meeting (after 6/4/18), individuals submitting a comment must use the 
Council's online form available from the website. Comments will 
automatically be posted to the website and available for Council 
consideration. Comments received prior to noon on Thursday, June 14, 
2018 will be a part of the meeting administrative record.
    The items of discussion in the individual meeting agendas are as 
follows:

Personnel Committee (Closed Session), Sunday, June 10, 2018 From 1:30 
p.m. Until 6 p.m. and Monday, June 11, 2018, 8 a.m. Until 11 a.m.

    1. The Personnel Committee will meet in Closed Session to discuss 
personnel issues relative to budget and provide recommendations for 
Council consideration.

SSC Selection Committee (Closed Session), Monday, June 11, 2018, 11 
a.m. Until 12 Noon

    1. The Committee will review applications and provide 
recommendations for appointments.

SEDAR Committee (Partially Closed Session), Monday, June 11, 2018, 1 
p.m. Until 2 p.m.

    1. The Committee will review applications and provide 
recommendations for appointments (Closed Session).
    2. The Committee will review Terms of Reference for cobia and 
yellowtail snapper stock assessments, receive SSC comments, and updates 
on assessment activities.

Citizen Science Committee (Partially Closed)--Monday, June 11, 2018, 2 
p.m. until 3 p.m.

    1. The Committee will review applicants for the Operations 
Committee and make recommendations for appointments (Closed Session).
    2. The Committee will receive an update on program development, 
review draft Citizen Science research needs, and provide 
recommendations as appropriate.
    3. The Committee will receive an update on the Citizen Science 
pilot project and provide recommendations as appropriate.

Law Enforcement Committee (Partially Closed), Monday, June 11, 2018, 3 
p.m. Until 4 p.m.

    1. The Committee will review nominations for Law Enforcement 
Officer of the Year and provide recommendations for Council 
consideration. (Closed Session).
    2. The Committee will receive a report from the Law Enforcement 
Advisory Panel, discuss and provide recommendations as appropriate.
    3. The Committee will receive a report on U.S. Coast Guard Law 
Enforcement priorities, discuss and provide recommendations for Council 
consideration.

Spiny Lobster Committee, Monday, June 11, 2018, 4 p.m. Until 5 p.m.

    1. The Committee will receive an update on the status of catches 
versus annual catch limit (ACLs) and a report from the Spiny Lobster 
Advisory Panel.
    2. The Committee will review draft Spiny Lobster Amendment 13 
addressing bullynets and measures recommended by the Florida Fish and 
Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), select preferred alternatives, 
and provide recommendations for taking the draft amendment to public 
hearings.

Habitat and Ecosystem-Based Management Committee Meeting, Monday, June 
11, 2018, 5 p.m. Until 6 p.m.

    1. The Committee will receive a report from the Habitat Advisory 
Panel and provide guidance to staff as necessary.
    2. The Committee will receive an update on habitat and ecosystem 
tools and model development, and review and approve actions on habitat 
as appropriate.

Snapper Grouper Committee, Tuesday, June 12, 2018, 8 a.m. Until 5 p.m., 
and Wednesday, June 13, 2018, 8 a.m. Until 4:30 p.m.

    1. The Committee will receive updates from NOAA Fisheries on 
commercial and recreational catches versus quotas for species under 
ACLs and the status of amendments under formal Secretarial review.
    2. The Committee will receive an update from NOAA Fisheries on the 
red snapper season for 2018, the status of the 2017 catches, and the 
length of the 2018 season, discuss and take action as necessary.
    3. The Committee will discuss an extension of the interim rule for 
the annual catch limit for golden tilefish, discuss and consider 
requesting an extension from NOAA Fisheries.
    4. The Committee will receive a report from the Snapper Grouper 
Advisory Panel and take action as necessary. The Committee will also 
receive a presentation on a case study examining bag limit and trip 
satisfaction in the for-hire sector specific to black sea bass.
    5. The Committee will receive a report from the SSC including 
results of stock assessment reviews for black sea bass and vermilion 
snapper, Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) recommendations for blueline 
tilefish north of Cape Hatteras, Red Snapper ABC Workgroup update, and 
golden tilefish ABC recommendations. The Committee will take action as 
necessary. The Committee will also receive an update on the Southeast 
Reef Fish Survey.
    6. The Committee will review draft Snapper Grouper Amendment 46 
addressing permitting and reporting measures for private recreational 
anglers, provide guidance to staff, and consider approval for public 
scoping. The Committee will also review draft Snapper Grouper Amendment 
29 addressing best fishing practices and the use of powerheads for 
harvesting species in the snapper grouper complex, provide guidance to 
staff, and consider approval for public scoping.
    7. The Committee will receive an overview of the Vision Blueprint

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Regulatory Amendment 26 addressing recreational management actions and 
alternatives as identified in the 2016-2020 Vision Blueprint for the 
Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan. The Committee will modify the 
document as necessary, select preferred alternatives, and approve all 
actions.
    8. The Committee will receive an overview of Vision Blueprint 
Regulatory Amendment 27 addressing commercial management actions and 
alternatives, as identified in the 2016-2020 Vision Blueprint for the 
Snapper Grouper Fishery and a presentation on discard mortality of gray 
triggerfish. The Committee will modify the document as necessary, 
select preferred alternatives, and approve all actions.
    9. The Committee will review a draft scoping document for Snapper 
Grouper Amendment 47 addressing options for a moratorium on federal 
for-hire permits, discuss and provide guidance to staff, and consider 
approval for public scoping.
    10. The Committee will receive an overview of Regulatory Amendment 
30 addressing a rebuilding plan for red grouper, review, provide 
guidance to staff, and consider approval for public scoping.
    11. The Committee will receive an overview of draft Snapper Grouper 
Regulatory Amendment 28 addressing golden tilefish management, consider 
public comments, and consider approval for formal Secretarial review.
    12. The Committee will receive an overview of draft Snapper Grouper 
Amendment 42 addressing sea turtle release gear, review scoping 
comments and modify/approve actions and alternatives to be analyzed. 
The Committee will also receive an overview of draft Regulatory 
Amendment 31 addressing management measures for yellowtail snapper and 
provide guidance to staff.

Informal Question and Answer Session, Tuesday, June 12, 2018, 5 p.m.

    Formal Public Comment, Wednesday, June 13, 2018, 4:30 p.m.--Public 
comment will be accepted on items on the Council agenda including 
Snapper Grouper Amendment 28 (golden tilefish) and Coastal Migratory 
Pelagic (CMP) Amendment 31 (Atlantic cobia) that the Council is 
considering for final approval. The Council is also accepting public 
comment on Executive Order 13771 (2 for 1 regulations) to identify 
regulations that are (1) outdated, (2) unnecessary, or (3) ineffective. 
The Council Chair, based on the number of individuals wishing to 
comment, will determine the amount of time provided to each commenter.

ABC Control Rule--Committee of the Whole, Thursday, June 14, 2018, 8 
a.m. Until 10 a.m.

    1. The Committee of the Whole will receive an overview of the 
modified ABC Control Rule Amendment, receive SSC comments, discuss and 
develop recommendations and consider scoping alternatives.
    2. The Committee of the Whole will receive an overview of 
Recreational Accountability Measures, discuss, and develop 
recommendations.

Joint Habitat and Ecosystem-Based Management, Shrimp, and Golden Crab 
Committee Meeting, Thursday, June 14, 2018, 10 a.m. Until 11 a.m.

    1. The Committees will receive an overview of the joint Coral 
Amendment 10/Shrimp Amendment 11/Golden Crab Amendment 10 addressing 
access and transit provisions and options for Vessel Monitoring Systems 
(VMS) for the golden crab fishery. The Committees will also receive 
reports from the Coral AP, Shrimp AP, and Golden Crab AP before 
discussing the joint amendment, provide recommendations, and consider 
approving for public scoping.

Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Committee, Thursday, June 14, 2018, 11 
a.m. Until 12 p.m.

    1. The Committee will review options for incorporating Special 
Management Zones into regulations for the HMS bottom longline fishery 
and provide guidance to staff.

Mackerel Cobia Committee, Thursday, June 14, 2018, 1 p.m. Until 3 p.m.

    1. The Committee will receive an update on commercial and 
recreational catches versus ACLs, a report from the Mackerel Cobia AP, 
and an update on landing and effort estimates for tournaments from the 
Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP).
    2. The Committee will review Coastal Migratory Pelagics Framework 
Amendment 6 addressing Atlantic king mackerel trip limits, confirm 
preferred alternatives, and consider approval for public hearings.
    3. The Committee will review Coastal Migratory Pelagics Amendment 
31 addressing proposed management measures for Atlantic cobia, receive 
a response from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission 
addressing management concerns, receive an update from the Cobia Stock 
Identification Workshop, review the document, and consider approving 
the amendment for formal Secretarial review.

SOPPs Committee, Thursday, June 14, 2018, 3 p.m. Until 4 p.m.

    1. The Committee will receive an overview of changes proposed to 
the SOPPs and Council Handbook, discuss, and provide direction to staff 
as appropriate.

Executive/Finance Committee, Thursday, June 14, 2018, 4 p.m. Until 5:30 
p.m.

    1. The Committee will receive an overview of the current Magnuson-
Stevens Reauthorization efforts, discuss, and provide guidance to 
staff.
    2. The Committee will receive an overview of the draft Calendar 
Year 2018 budget, the Council's Follow Up document and priorities list, 
discuss, and provide guidance to staff.
    3. The Committee will receive an overview of regulatory reform 
efforts, Atlantic Coast-Wide Group discussion, and the Council's 
consideration for an Aquaculture Fishery Management Plan, discuss, and 
provide guidance to staff. The Committee will also receive a report 
from the Council Coordination Committee's May 2018 meeting, discuss, 
and provide guidance to staff.

For Hire Electronic Reporting Outreach Training, Thursday, June 14, 
2018, 6 p.m.

    The Council will hold a workshop as part of a series of training 
sessions targeting charter vessel owners/operators.

Council Session: Friday, June 15, 2018, 8 a.m. Until 1 p.m. (Partially 
Closed Session if Needed)

    The Full Council will begin with the Call to Order, adoption of the 
agenda, approval of minutes, announcements and introductions, and 
awards/recognition.
    The Council will receive a Legal Briefing on Litigation from NOAA 
General Counsel (if needed) during Closed Session. The Council will 
receive staff reports including the Executive Director's Report, a 
presentation on the MyFishCount Recreational Reporting pilot project, 
and a report on the Economic Impacts of Fisheries for Council-managed 
Species.
    Updates will be provided by NOAA Fisheries including a report on 
the status of commercial catches versus ACLs for species not covered 
during an earlier committee meeting, the status of Recreational and 
Commercial Quota Monitoring Tables on the NOAA Fisheries Southeast 
Regional Office website, data-related reports, a protected resources 
update, update on the status of the of the Commercial Electronic 
Logbook Program, and a presentation on

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the method used to determine dolphin pelagic longline landings by 
permit type. The Council will discuss and take action as necessary.
    The Council will review any Exempted Fishing Permits received as 
necessary. The Council will receive Committee reports from the Snapper 
Grouper, Mackerel Cobia, Spiny Lobster, Law Enforcement, SSC Selection, 
ABC Control Rule Committee of the Whole, SEDAR, Habitat, Joint Habitat 
and Ecosystem-Based Management/Shrimp/Golden Crab, Citizen Science, 
Personnel, SOPPs, and Executive Finance Committees, and take action as 
appropriate.
    The Council will receive agency and liaison reports; and discuss 
other business and upcoming meetings.
    Documents regarding these issues are available from the Council 
office (see ADDRESSES).
    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 this meeting. Action will be restricted to 
those issues specifically identified in this notice and any issues 
arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action 
under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council's 
intent to take final action to address the emergency.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for auxiliary aids should be directed to the 
council office (see ADDRESSES) 5 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: May 18, 2018.
Rey Israel Marquez,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-11023 Filed 5-22-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P