[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 189 (Friday, September 28, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49066-49067]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-21178]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG496


Fisheries of the South Atlantic; South Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council; Public Meeting

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 South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold a meeting of its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) in 
Charleston, SC. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

DATES: The SSC will meet 1 p.m.-5:30 p.m., Monday, October 15, 2018; 
8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Tuesday, October 16, 2018; and 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m., 
Wednesday, October 17, 2018.

ADDRESSES: 
    Meeting address: The meeting will be held at the Town & Country Inn 
and Suites, 2008 Savannah Hwy., Charleston, SC 29407; phone: (800) 334-
6660 or (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, 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, North Charleston, SC 29405; 
phone: (843) 571-4366 or toll free: (866) SAFMC-10; fax: (843) 769-
4520; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following agenda items will be addressed 
by the SSC during the meeting:
    1. Updates on Southeast Data, Assessment and Review (SEDAR) 
projects; approve the terms of reference, schedule, and identify 
participants for the Gulf and South Atlantic Scamp Research Track; and 
approve the terms of reference for the South Atlantic golden Tilefish 
and Snowy Grouper assessments.
    2. Review the findings of a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation 
Commission selectivity study for Red Snapper, determine if they are the 
best scientific information available, and provide recommendations for 
including these findings into the Interim Analysis for Red Snapper.

[[Page 49067]]

    3. Update on ongoing research from NOAA Fisheries' Southeast 
Fisheries Science Center.
    4. Update on the Southeast Reef Fish Survey results from the 2018 
sampling year.
    5. Review revised Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) 
recreational catch estimates for Council managed stocks and consider 
approaches for revising Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) 
recommendations for unassessed stocks.
    6. Review the revised SEDAR assessments for Vermilion Snapper, 
Black Sea Bass, Blueline Tilefish and Red Grouper using the revised 
MRIP catch data; apply the ABC Control Rule and provide fishing level 
recommendations; and discuss uncertainties and changes due to revised 
MRIP numbers.
    7. Review the ABC Control Rule Amendment and analyses, including 
example application of risk tolerance levels.
    8. Review the methodology for a new bag and size limit analysis and 
the findings of the workgroup; discuss uncertainties and determine if 
this analysis is best scientific information available and useful for 
management.
    9. Consider forming a workgroup for the SSC to provide input on the 
South Atlantic Ecosystem Model.
    10. Receive updates and progress reports on ongoing Council 
amendments and activities.
    The meeting is open to the public and will also be available via 
webinar as it occurs. Webinar registration is required. Information 
regarding webinar registration will be posted to the Council's website 
at: http://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/scientific-and-statistical-committee-meetings/ as it becomes available. The meeting agenda, 
briefing book materials, and online comment form will be posted to the 
Council's website two weeks prior to the meeting. Written comment on 
SSC agenda topics is to be distributed to the Committee through the 
Council office, similar to all other briefing materials. Written 
comment to be considered by the SSC shall be provided to the Council 
office no later than one week prior to an SSC meeting. For this 
meeting, the deadline for submission of written comment is 12 p.m., 
Monday, October 8, 2018.
    Multiple opportunities for comment on agenda items will be provided 
during SSC meetings. Open comment periods will be provided at the start 
of the meeting and near the conclusion. Those interested in providing 
comment should indicate such in the manner requested by the Chair, who 
will then recognize individuals to provide comment. Additional 
opportunities for comment on specific agenda items will be provided, as 
each item is discussed, between initial presentations, and SSC 
discussion. Those interested in providing comment should indicate such 
in the manner requested by the Chair, who will then recognize 
individuals to provide comment. All comments are part of the record of 
the meeting.
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in the meeting 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 intent to 
take final action to address the emergency.

Special Accommodations

    This meeting is accessible to people with disabilities. Requests 
for auxiliary aids should be directed to the SAFMC office (see 
ADDRESSES) at least 5 business 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 25, 2018.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-21178 Filed 9-27-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P