[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 170 (Friday, August 31, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44576-44578]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-18979]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG446


South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

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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: Advisory Panel Selection Committee 
(Closed Session); Southeast Data, Assessment and Review (SEDAR) 
Committee; Standard Operating, Policy, and Procedure (SOPPs) Committee; 
Spiny Lobster Committee; Habitat Protection and Ecosystem-Based 
Management Committee; Snapper Grouper Committee; Mackerel Cobia 
Committee; and Executive Finance Committee. The Council meeting week 
will also include a Recreational Fishing Workshop, a formal public 
comment period, and a meeting of the full Council.

DATES: The Council meeting will be held from 1 p.m. on Sunday, 
September 16, 2018 until 12 p.m. on Friday, September 21, 2018.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Town and Country Inn, 2008 
Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC phone: (843) 571-1000; fax: (843) 766-
9444.
    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/safmc-meetings/council-meetings/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Public comment: Written comments may be directed to Gregg Waugh, 
Executive Director, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (see 
ADDRESSES) 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 (8/31/18). Comments 
received by close of business the Monday before the meeting (9/10/18) 
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 9/10/18), 
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, September 20, 2018 will be a part of the 
meeting administrative record.
    The items of discussion in the individual meeting agendas are as 
follows:

Recreational Workshop, Sunday, September 16, 2018 From 1 p.m. Until 5 
p.m. and Monday, September 17, 2018, 8:30 a.m. Until 12 p.m.

    The Council is cooperating with the American Sportfishing 
Association (ASA), Coastal Conservation Association (CCA), and Yamaha 
Marine Group to conduct a Recreational Workshop prior to the Council 
meeting. The September workshop is part of a 3-phrase project to 
explore approaches to innovative management of the private recreational 
sector of the South Atlantic Snapper Grouper fishery. Participants 
include Council members and Snapper Grouper advisory panel 
representatives, and other invited representatives identified by ASA 
from the recreational fishing community that are familiar with the 
Council process and recreational fishing issues. The public is welcome 
to attend and listen to the workshop and subsequent regional meetings. 
Comments on the September workshop may be provided during the Council 
meeting public comment session scheduled for Wednesday, September 19, 
2018 at 4 p.m.

Swearing in of New Council Members, Monday, September 17, 2018, 1:30 
p.m. Until 1:40 p.m.

    Newly appointed Council members will be sworn to duty by the NOAA 
Fisheries Regional Administrator.

Advisory Panel Selection Committee (Closed Session), Monday, September 
17, 2018, 1:40 p.m. Until 2:30 p.m.

    1. The Committee will review applications for open seats on its 
System Management Plan Workgroup and advisory panels and provide 
recommendations for appointments.
    2. The Committee will also discuss improving communication with 
advisory panels and provide direction to staff.

SEDAR Committee, Monday, September 17, 2018, 2:30 p.m. Until 3:30 p.m.

    The Committee will receive an update on stock assessment activities 
including an overview of projects, Steering Committee actions, discuss 
items for the next Steering Committee meeting, and provide guidance to 
staff as needed.

SOPPs Committee, Monday, September 17, 2018, 3:30 p.m. Until 5 p.m.

    The Committee will review and approve proposed changes to the 
Council Handbook and develop recommendations as appropriate.

Spiny Lobster Committee, Tuesday, September 18, 2018, 8:30 a.m. Until 
9:30 a.m.

    1. The Committee will receive an update on the status of 2017-2018 
catches versus annual catch limit (ACLs) and an update from NOAA 
Fisheries on the status of amendments under formal review.
    2. The Committee will review Spiny Lobster Amendment 13 addressing 
bullynets and measures recommended by the Florida Fish and Wildlife 
Conservation Commission (FWC), consider public comment, and consider 
approval for formal Secretarial review.

Habitat Protection and Ecosystem-Based Management Committee, Tuesday, 
September 18, 2018, 9:30 a.m. Until 12 p.m.

    1. The Committee will discuss ways to address species migration 
northwards along the Atlantic Coast, with input from the New England 
Fishery Management Council, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management 
Council, and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. The 
committee will provide guidance and take action as appropriate.
    2. The committee will receive an update on the Fishery Ecosystem 
Plan II Dashboard and tools, an overview of NOAA Fisheries Ecosystem-
Based Fishery Management Implementation Plan draft for the South 
Atlantic Region, and take action as needed.

Snapper Grouper Committee Meeting, Tuesday, September 18, 2018, 1:30 
p.m. Until 5 p.m. and Wednesday, September 19, 2018, 8:30 a.m. Until 
3:00 p.m.

    1. The committee will receive updates from NOAA fisheries on 
commercial catches versus quotas for species under ACLS and the status 
of amendments under formal secretarial review.
    2. The Committee will review public scoping comments received for 
Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 29 addressing best practices and 
options for use of powerhead gear and approve actions and alternatives 
to be analyzed as appropriate.
    3. The Committee will receive an overview of Vision Blueprint 
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

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Committee will modify the document as necessary, select preferred 
alternatives, and approve all actions.
    4. 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. The Committee will modify the document as 
necessary and consider approval for formal Secretarial review.
    5. The Committee will review public scoping comments for Snapper 
Grouper Amendment 47 addressing federal for-hire permit modification 
options and provide guidance to staff.
    6. The Committee will receive an overview of Regulatory Amendment 
30 addressing a rebuilding plan for red grouper, modify the draft 
amendment as necessary and approve preferred alternatives.
    7. The Committee will review public scoping comments for Snapper 
Grouper Regulatory Amendment 32 addressing yellowtail snapper 
accountability measures, review the draft amendment, modify actions, 
and consider approval for public hearings.
    8. The Committee will review Abbreviated Framework Amendment 2 
addressing measures for vermilion snapper and black sea bass, modify 
the draft amendment as necessary, choose preferred alternatives, and 
consider approval for formal Secretarial review.

Mackerel Cobia Committee, Wednesday, September 19, 2018, 3 p.m. Until 4 
p.m.

    1. The Committee will receive an update on commercial catches 
versus ACLs, and an update on the status of amendments under formal 
review by NOAA Fisheries.
    2. The Committee will review Coastal Migratory Pelagics Framework 
Amendment 6 addressing Atlantic king mackerel trip limits, confirm 
preferred alternatives, and consider approval for formal Secretarial 
Review.

Formal Public Comment, Wednesday, September 19, 2018, 4 p.m.

    Public comment will be accepted on items on the Council meeting 
agenda scheduled to be approved for Secretarial Review: Snapper Grouper 
Abbreviated Framework 2 Amendment (vermilion snapper and black sea 
bass); Snapper Grouper Vision Blueprint Regulatory Amendment 27 
(commercial measures); CMP Framework Amendment 6 (King mackerel trip 
limits); and Spiny Lobster Amendment 13 (Update management procedures 
and bully net measures). Public comment will also be accepted on all 
agenda items. The Council Chair, based on the number of individuals 
wishing to comment, will determine the amount of time provided to each 
commenter.

Executive/Finance Committee, Thursday, September 20, 2018, 8:30 a.m. 
Until 12 p.m.

    1. The Committee will receive an overview of the current Magnuson-
Stevens Reauthorization efforts and the CCC Working Paper which 
includes positions on reauthorization, discuss, and provide guidance to 
staff.
    2. The Committee will receive an overview of the draft Calendar-
Year 2018 budget and approve the budget.
    3. The committee will review the Council's Follow Up document and 
Priorities list, discuss, and provide guidance to staff.
    4. The Committee will receive an update on regulatory reform 
efforts, a review of NOAA Fisheries issues open for comment, and an 
overview of the Law Enforcement Advisory Panel meeting schedule. The 
committee will discuss these agenda items and provide guidance to 
staff.

Council Session: Thursday, September 20, 2018, 1:30 p.m. Until 5 p.m. 
and Friday, September 21, 2018, 8:30 a.m. Until 12 p.m. (Partially 
Closed Session if Needed)

    The Full Council will begin with the Call to Order, adoption of the 
agenda, approval of minutes, election of chair and vice chair, 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, and 
updates from Council staff on the MyFishCount pilot project, outreach 
for for-hire electronic reporting requirements, the Council's Citizen 
Science Program, and the transition to an electronic newsletter.
    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, data-related reports, protected 
resources updates, update on the status of the of the Commercial 
Electronic Logbook Program, and the status of the Marine Recreational 
Information Program (MRIP) conversions for recreational fishing 
estimates. The Council will discuss and take action as necessary.
    The Council will review any Exempted Fishing Permits received as 
necessary. The Council will receive an overview of MRIP and Revisions 
from NOAA Fisheries as well as Draft Amendment 11 to the 2006 
Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan 
for Management of Shortfin Mako Sharks and take action as appropriate.
    The Council will receive committee reports from the Snapper 
Grouper, Mackerel Cobia, Spiny Lobster, AP Selection, SEDAR, Habitat, 
SOPPs, and Executive Finance Committees, as well a report from the 
Recreational Workshop, 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: August 28, 2018.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-18979 Filed 8-30-18; 8:45 am]
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