[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 27, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 60822]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-25870]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG646


False Killer Whale Take Reduction Team; Meeting Announcement

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces a public meeting of the False Killer Whale Take 
Reduction Team (FKWTRT) on November 29, 2018 in order to provide 
recommendations on amendments to the False Killer Whale Take Reduction 
Plan (FKWTRP). The meeting will be held via conference call. Members of 
the public may submit written comments; the comments must be received 
within 14 days of the completion of the meeting.

DATES: The meeting of the FKWTRT will be held via conference call on 
November 29, 2018, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time (or 
until business is concluded).

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be conducted via conference call. 
For details on how to call in to the conference line, please contact 
Kevin Brindock, Comments may be submitted to the address provided in 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Brindock, NMFS Pacific Islands 
Regional Office; 1845 Wasp Blvd., Bldg. 176, Honolulu, HI 96818; 
telephone: 808-725-5146; facsimile: 808-725-5146; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 118(f)(1) of the Marine Mammal 
Protection Act (MMPA) requires NMFS to develop and implement take 
reduction plans designed to assist in the recovery or prevent the 
depletion of each strategic stock that interacts with Category I and II 
fisheries. In accordance with Section 118(f)(6) of the MMPA, NMFS 
established the FKWTRT (75 FR 2853, January 19, 2010) to develop a 
draft take reduction plan to assist in the recovery and prevent the 
depletion of the Hawaii pelagic stock and Hawaii insular stock of false 
killer whales. On November 29, 2012, NMFS published regulations 
implementing provisions of the False Killer Whale Take Reduction Plan 
(FKWTRP; 77 FR 71260) to reduce the level of incidental mortality and 
serious injury (M&SI) of these two stocks of false killer whales in the 
Hawaii longline fisheries. In accordance with Section 118(f)(7), NMFS 
convenes periodically the FKWTRT to monitor the effectiveness and 
implementation of the FKWTRP, and to recommend amendments that may be 
necessary to meet that objectives of the FKWTRP. More information can 
be found on the FKWTRT website: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/false-killer-whale-take-reduction.

Meeting Topics

    The purpose of the November 29, 2018, conference call is to review 
current information and develop consensus recommendations for the 
FKWTRP to reduce M&SI of false killer whales and meet the goals of the 
FKWTRP and the MMPA.

Special Accommodations

    The conference call is accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for auxiliary aids should be directed to Kevin Brindock at 
808-725-5146 at least seven working days prior to the meeting.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.

    Dated: November 21, 2018.
Donna Wieting,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-25870 Filed 11-26-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P