[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 29 (Tuesday, February 12, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3414-3416]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-02037]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG785


South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of public meetings of the South Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council.

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SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold meetings of the following: Information and Education Committee; 
Snapper Grouper Committee; Dolphin Wahoo Committee; Habitat Protection 
and Ecosystem-Based Management Committee; Mackerel Cobia Committee; 
Executive Finance Committee; Advisory Panel (AP) Selection Committee 
(Closed Session); Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) 
Committee; Standard Operating, Policy, and Procedure (SOPPs) Committee 
(Partially Closed Session), and a Committee of the Whole. The Council 
meeting week will include a formal public comment period, and a meeting 
of the full Council.

DATES: The Council meeting will be held from 8:30 a.m. on Monday, March 
4, 2019 until 12:30 p.m. on Friday, March 8, 2019.

ADDRESSES: 
    Meeting address: The meeting will be held at the Westin Jekyll 
Island, 110 Ocean Way, Jekyll Island, GA 31527; phone: (912) 635-4545; 
fax: (912) 319-2835.
    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, SAFMC; phone: (843) 302-8440 or toll free: (866) SAFMC-10; 
fax: (843) 769-4520; email: [email protected]. Meeting information 
is available from the Council's website at: http://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/council-meetings/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Public comment: Written comments may be directed to Gregg Waugh, 
Executive Director, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (see 
Council address) or electronically via the Council's website at http://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/council-meetings/. Comments received by close 
of business the Monday before the meeting (2/25/19) will be compiled, 
posted to the website as part of the meeting materials, and included in 
the administrative record; please use the Council's online form 
available from the website. For written comments received after the 
Monday before the meeting (after 2/25/19), individuals submitting a 
comment must use the Council's online form available from the website.

[[Page 3415]]

Comments will automatically be posted to the website and available for 
Council consideration. Comments received prior to noon on Thursday, 
March 7, 2019 will be a part of the meeting administrative record.
    The items of discussion in the individual meeting agendas are as 
follows:

Information and Education Committee, Monday, March 4, 2019, 8:30 a.m. 
Until 9 a.m.

    The Committee will receive a report from the Information and 
Education Advisory Panel and provide guidance to staff and take action 
as necessary.

Snapper Grouper Committee, Monday, March 4, 2019, 9 a.m. Until 12:30 
p.m. and Tuesday, March 5, 2019, From 1:30 p.m. Until 5 p.m.

    1. The Committee will receive updates from NOAA Fisheries on 
commercial catches versus quotas for species under annual catch limits 
(ACLs) and the status of amendments under formal Secretarial review.
    2. The Committee will receive an update from NOAA Fisheries on the 
2019 red snapper season, discuss and provide guidance.
    3. The Committee will review Regulatory Framework Amendment 29 to 
the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan (FMP) addressing best 
fishing practices and the use of powerhead gear, and Regulatory 
Amendment 30 addressing the rebuilding plan for red grouper and provide 
guidance to staff for the two amendments.
    4. The Committee will review Snapper Grouper Amendment 42 
addressing sea turtle release gear requirements and Framework 
modifications, modify as necessary, and consider approval for formal 
Secretarial review.
    5. The Committee will receive an overview of the Wreckfish 
Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) Review and provide guidance to 
staff.
    6. The Committee will also receive a presentation from NOAA 
Fisheries' Southeast Regional Permits Office and review the results of 
Recreational Workshops, discuss, and take action as needed.
    7. The Committee will also review a white paper on spearfishing, 
provide guidance on agenda items for the Snapper Grouper AP meeting, 
review outreach materials for the Council's Vision Blueprint for the 
Snapper Grouper FMP Evaluation, review a Spawning Special Management 
Report outline, and provide guidance to staff.

Dolphin Wahoo Committee, Monday, March 4, 2019, 2 p.m. Until 5 p.m.

    1. The Committee will receive updates from NOAA Fisheries on the 
status of commercial catches versus quotas.
    2. The Committee will review draft Amendment 10 to the Dolphin 
Wahoo Fishery Management Plan that includes actions to allow bag-limit 
sales of dolphin by dually-permitted for-hire and commercial permit 
holders, revising annual catch limits and sector allocations for 
dolphin and wahoo to accommodate new data from the Marine Recreational 
Information Program, modifying recreational vessel limits for dolphin 
and other measures. The Committee will review actions in the draft 
amendment and consider approving for public scoping.
    3. The Committee will review a White Paper on potential Ecosystem 
Component species and take action as needed.

Habitat Protection and Ecosystem-Based Management Committee, Tuesday, 
March 5, 2019, 8:30 a.m. Until 12 p.m.

    1. The Committee will hold Atlantic Coast-Wide discussions on ways 
to address species moving northwards along the Atlantic Coast. 
Discussions will include representatives from the New England Fishery 
Management Council, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, and the 
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. The Committee will provide 
guidance to staff and take action as needed.
    2. The Committee will receive an update on habitat and ecosystem 
tools and regional partner coordination, the Council's actions 
regarding habitat and ecosystems, and provide guidance to staff and 
take action as needed.

Committee of the Whole, Wednesday, March 6, 2019, 8:30 a.m. Until 12 
p.m.

    1. The Committee of the Whole will review public scoping comments 
received for the Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) Control Rule 
Amendment, review comments from the Scientific and Statistical 
Committee (SSC), review the document and approve wording for actions 
and alternatives.
    2. The Committee of the Whole will review public scoping comments 
received for the Recreational Accountability Measures (AMs) Amendment, 
review the document and take action as necessary.
    3. The Committee of the Whole will review the draft Allocation 
Review Trigger Policy, provide guidance to staff, and take action as 
needed.
    4. The Committee of the Whole will receive an overview of 
allocation issues, discuss, and take action as needed.

Mackerel Cobia Committee, Wednesday, March 6, 2019, 1:30 p.m. Until 
3:45 p.m.

    1. The Committee will receive an update on the status of commercial 
catches versus ACLs and the status of amendments under review.
    2. The Committee will receive an overview of king mackerel 
commercial trip limits in the Atlantic Southern Zone and Spanish 
mackerel closures in the Atlantic Northern Zone, discuss management 
options, and take action as needed.
    3. The Committee will review draft Framework Amendment 7 to the 
Coastal Migratory Pelagic FMP addressing modifications to Gulf of 
Mexico cobia size limits and take action as needed.
    4. The Committee will discuss items for the Mackerel Cobia Advisory 
Panel to address and provide guidance to staff.

Executive Finance Committee, Wednesday, March 6, 2019, 3:45 p.m. Until 
4 p.m. and Thursday, March 7, 2019 From 1:30 p.m. Until 3:45 p.m.

    1. The Committee will review the Council's ranking of amendments 
for its work schedule, receive a status report on the February and May 
2019 Council Coordination Committee (CCC) meetings, receive an update 
on Magnuson-Stevens Act Reauthorization efforts and the CCC Working 
Paper which includes positions on reauthorization, discuss, and provide 
guidance to staff.
    2. The Committee will review the draft Calendar-Year 2019 
Operational Budget and take action as appropriate.
    3. The Committee will review the Council's Follow Up Document, 
Priorities and Tiering List, discuss, and provide guidance to staff.
    Formal Public Comment, Wednesday, March 6, 2019, 4 p.m.--Public 
comment will be accepted on items on the Council meeting agenda 
scheduled to be approved for Secretarial Review: Snapper Grouper 
Amendment 42 (sea turtle release gear and Framework procedures) and the 
Gulf Council's Carry Over Amendment (CMP & Spiny Lobster). Public 
comment will also be accepted on all agenda items. The Council Chair, 
based on the number of individuals wishing to comment, will determine 
the amount of time provided to each commenter.

[[Page 3416]]

Advisory Panel Selection Committee (Closed Session), Thursday, March 7, 
2019, 8:30 a.m. Until 10 a.m.

    1. The Committee will review applicants for open seats on its 
advisory panels and the System Management Plan Workgroup and provide 
recommendations for the Council's consideration.

SEDAR Committee, Thursday, March 7, 2019, 10 a.m. Until 11 a.m.

    1. The Committee will receive an assessment activities schedule 
update, an overview of SEDAR Steering Committee guidance, and provide 
direction to staff and take action as needed.

SOPPs Committee (Partially Closed), Thursday, March 7, 2019, 11 a.m. 
Until 12 p.m.

    1. The Committee will discuss Harassment and Professional Conduct 
(Closed Session).
    2. In open session, the Committee will review and approve proposed 
changes to the Council Handbook and develop recommendations as 
appropriate.

Council Session: Thursday, March 7, 2019, 4 p.m. Until 5:30 p.m. and 
Friday, March 8, 2019, 8:30 a.m. Until 12:30 p.m. (Partially Closed 
Session if Needed)

    The Full Council will begin with the Call to Order, adoption of the 
agenda, and approval of minutes.
    The Council will receive a Legal Briefing on Litigation from NOAA 
General Counsel (if needed) during Closed Session. The Council will 
receive staff reports including the Executive Director's Report, 
updates on the MyFishCount pilot project, Gulf Council Carry Over 
Amendment, the Council's Citizen Science Program, and a draft letter to 
NOAA Fisheries Highly Migratory Species stating concerns over the 
impacts of large coastal sharks on fisheries managed by the Council.
    Updates will be provided by NOAA Fisheries including a report on 
the status of commercial catches versus ACLs for species not covered 
during an earlier committee meeting, data-related reports, status of 
Spiny Lobster Amendment 13, protected resources updates, update on the 
status of the of the Commercial Electronic Logbook Program, and the 
status of the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) 
conversions for recreational fishing estimates. The Council will 
discuss and take action as necessary.
    The Council will review any Exempted Fishing Permits received as 
necessary.
    The Council will also receive an update on the Marine Resources 
Education Program.
    The Council will receive committee reports from the Snapper 
Grouper, Mackerel Cobia, Information and Education, Habitat, SEDAR, AP 
Selection, Dolphin Wahoo, Committee of the Whole, SOPPs, and Executive 
Finance Committees, and take action as appropriate.
    The Council will receive agency and liaison reports; and discuss 
other business and upcoming meetings and take action as necessary. 
Documents regarding these issues are available from the Council office 
(see ADDRESSES).
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come 
before these groups for discussion, those issues may not be the subject 
of formal action during these meetings. 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 Council's 
intent to take final action to address the emergency.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for auxiliary aids should be directed to the 
Council office (see ADDRESSES) 5 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: February 7, 2019.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-02037 Filed 2-11-19; 8:45 am]
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