[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 217 (Thursday, November 8, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55854-55855]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-24430]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG565


Fisheries of the Gulf of Mexico; Southeast Data, Assessment, and 
Review (SEDAR); Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice of SEDAR 61 Assessment Webinar I for Gulf of Mexico red 
grouper.

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SUMMARY: The SEDAR 61 stock assessment process for Gulf of Mexico red 
grouper will consist of an In-person Workshop, and a series of data and 
assessment webinars. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

DATES: The SEDAR 61 Assessment Webinar I will be held November 29, 
2018, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held via webinar. The webinar is open to 
members of the public. Those interested

[[Page 55855]]

in participating should contact Julie A. Neer at SEDAR (see FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT) to request an invitation providing webinar access 
information. Please request webinar invitations at least 24 hours in 
advance of each webinar.
    SEDAR address: 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, North Charleston, 
SC 29405.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie A. Neer, SEDAR Coordinator; 
(843) 571-4366; email: [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, and 
Caribbean Fishery Management Councils, in conjunction with NOAA 
Fisheries and the Atlantic and Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commissions 
have implemented the Southeast Data, Assessment and Review (SEDAR) 
process, a multi-step method for determining the status of fish stocks 
in the Southeast Region. SEDAR is a multi-step process including: (1) 
Data Workshop, (2) a series of assessment webinars, and (3) A Review 
Workshop. The product of the Data Workshop is a report that compiles 
and evaluates potential datasets and recommends which datasets are 
appropriate for assessment analyses. The assessment webinars produce a 
report that describes the fisheries, evaluates the status of the stock, 
estimates biological benchmarks, projects future population conditions, 
and recommends research and monitoring needs. The product of the Review 
Workshop is an Assessment Summary documenting panel opinions regarding 
the strengths and weaknesses of the stock assessment and input data. 
Participants for SEDAR Workshops are appointed by the Gulf of Mexico, 
South Atlantic, and Caribbean Fishery Management Councils and NOAA 
Fisheries Southeast Regional Office, HMS Management Division, and 
Southeast Fisheries Science Center. Participants include data 
collectors and database managers; stock assessment scientists, 
biologists, and researchers; constituency representatives including 
fishermen, environmentalists, and NGO's; International experts; and 
staff of Councils, Commissions, and state and federal agencies.
    The items of discussion during the Data Webinar are as follows:
    1. Using datasets and initial assessment analysis recommended from 
the in-person workshop, panelists will employ assessment models to 
evaluate stock status, estimate population benchmarks and management 
criteria, and project future conditions.
    2. Participants will recommend the most appropriate methods and 
configurations for determining stock status and estimating population 
parameters.
    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 intent to 
take final action to address the emergency.

Special Accommodations

    The meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to the Council office (see ADDRESSES) at least 5 
business days prior to each workshop.

    Note: The times and sequence specified in this agenda are 
subject to change.


    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: November 5, 2018.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-24430 Filed 11-7-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P