[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 239 (Thursday, December 13, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64115-64116]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-26980]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG667


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 II 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 II will be held January 10, 
2019, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern Time.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held via webinar. The webinar is open to 
members of the public. Those interested in participating should contact 
Julie A. Neer at SEDAR (see FOR FURTHER INFORATION 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

[[Page 64116]]

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 Assessment 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: December 10, 2018.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-26980 Filed 12-12-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P