[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 6, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2171-2172]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-01291]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG764


Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) will 
hold a methodology review meeting to evaluate and review fishery 
independent visual survey methodologies, using remotely operate 
vehicles (ROVs), for nearshore groundfish species off the states of 
Oregon and California. The meeting is open to the public.

DATES: The Pacific Council methodology review meeting will be held 
Tuesday, February 12 through Thursday, February 14, 2019. The meeting 
will begin each day at 8:30 a.m. Pacific Standard Time and will end at 
5 p.m. or when business for the day has been completed. This meeting 
will also occur via a ``listen only'' webinar.

ADDRESSES: The Pacific Council methodology review meeting will be held 
at the NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Santa Cruz Laboratory, 
110 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060; telephone: (831) 420-3900.
    The Pacific Council methodology review meeting will also be held by 
webinar. To attend the ``listen-only'' webinar, visit this link: 
https://www.gotomeeting.com/webinar. Enter the Webinar ID: 951-132-995, 
and your email address (required).
    This is a ``listen only'' broadcast, you may use your computer 
speakers or headset to listen. If you do not have a headset or computer 
speakers, you may use your telephone to listen to the meeting by 
dialing this TOLL number +1-213-929-4232 (not a toll-free number); 
enter the phone attendee audio access code: 733-934-828. Enter your 
audio phone pin (shown after joining the webinar). There will be no 
technical assistance available for the ``listen only'' webinar. If 
there are technical difficulties, the broadcast may end and may not be 
restarted.
    Council address: Pacific Fishery Management Council, 7700 NE 
Ambassador Place, Suite 101, Portland, OR 97220.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John DeVore, Staff Officer, 
Pacific Fishery Management Council; telephone: (503) 820-2413.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the Pacific Council 
methodology review meeting is to evaluate and review fishery 
independent visual survey methodologies, using ROVs, for nearshore 
groundfish species off the states of Oregon and California. West coast 
nearshore groundfish stock assessments have identified the current lack 
of fishery-independent data sources as a research and data need. Both 
Oregon and California have conducted ROV surveys of rockfish in 
nearshore areas, focusing on rocky reef habitat, and, in California, on 
areas inside and outside of Marine Protected Areas.
    The goals and objectives specific to the review of the new ROV 
survey methodologies are to: (1) Evaluate the sampling design used in 
recent (2010-17) ROV surveys conducted by the states of Oregon and 
California; (2) evaluate proposed methods to develop indices or 
estimates of abundance for these ROV surveys, including using habitat/
substrate type and Marine Protected Area designation as covariates; (3) 
evaluate proposed methods to estimate size and age compositions of 
observed species; and (4) identify potential impediments to developing 
independent indices or estimates of abundance using these ROV surveys 
and incorporating them into stock assessments. This methodology review 
will likely provide the basis for future ROV surveys and the 
development of indices or estimates of abundance for those areas 
surveyed in Oregon and California, as well as the expansion of such 
methods to other areas within those states and/or within Washington 
State.
    No management actions will be decided by the Pacific Council 
methodology review meeting participants. The Pacific Council 
methodology review meeting participants' role will be development of 
recommendations and reports for consideration by the Pacific Council's

[[Page 2172]]

Scientific and Statistical Committee and the Pacific Council at their 
April meeting in Rohnert Park, CA.
    Although nonemergency issues not contained in the meeting agenda 
may be discussed, those issues may not be the subject of formal action 
during these meetings. Action will be restricted to those issues 
specifically listed 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 of the Pacific 
Council meeting participants to take final action to address the 
emergency.

Special Accommodations

    This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Mr. Kris Kleinschmidt (503) 820-2411 at least 10 
days prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: February 1, 2019.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-01291 Filed 2-5-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P