[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 180 (Monday, September 17, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46918-46920]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-20133]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XG446
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of a postponement of the South Atlantic Fishery
Management Council meetings.
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SUMMARY: A meeting of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council
originally scheduled for September 16-21, 2018 has been postponed due
to the threat of Hurricane Florence. The meeting has been rescheduled
for September 30--October 5, 2018. 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. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
DATES: The Council meeting has been rescheduled and will be held from 1
p.m. on Sunday, September 30, 2018 until 12 p.m. on Friday, October 5,
2018.
ADDRESSES:
Meeting address: The meetings 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
Council address) or electronically via the Council's website at http://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/council-meetings/. The online public comment
form is open. Comments received by close of business the Monday before
the meeting (9/24/18) will be compiled, posted to the website as part
of the meeting materials, and included in the administrative record;
please use the
[[Page 46919]]
Council's online form available from the website. For written comments
received after the Monday before the meeting (after 9/24/18),
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, October 4, 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 30, 2018 From 1 p.m. Until 5
p.m. and Monday, October 1, 2018, 8:30 a.m. Until 12 p.m.
1. 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, October 3, 2018
at 4 p.m.
Swearing in of New Council Members, Monday, October 1, 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 (Partially Closed Session), Monday,
October 1, 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, October 1, 2018, 2:30 p.m. Until 3:30 p.m.
1. 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, October 1, 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, October 2, 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,
October 2, 2018, 9:30 a.m. Until 12 p.m.
1. Committee discussions on ways to address species migration
northwards along the Atlantic Coast with input from the Mid-Atlantic
Fishery Management Council and the New England Fishery Management
Council will be rescheduled at a later date.
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, October 2, 2018, 1:30 p.m.
Until 5 p.m. and Wednesday, October 3, 2018, 8:30 a.m. Until 3 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 2016-20 Vision Blueprint for the
Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan. The 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 2016-20 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, October 3, 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, October 3, 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
[[Page 46920]]
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, October 4, 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, October 4, 2018, 1:30 p.m. Until 5 p.m. and
Friday, October 5, 2018, 8:30 a.m. Until 12 p.m. (Partially Closed
Session if Needed) (the Committee Reports Will Be Moved to Thursday)
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 these meetings. 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: September 12, 2018.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-20133 Filed 9-14-18; 8:45 am]
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