[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 90 (Thursday, May 9, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20327-20329]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-09595]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XH032


South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Meeting of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold meetings of the following: Personnel Committee (Closed Session); 
Standard Operations, Procedures and Policy (SOPPs) Committee; Executive 
Finance Committee; Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) Selection 
Committee (Closed Session); Advisory Panel (AP) Selection Committee 
(Closed Session); Law Enforcement Committee (Partially Closed Session); 
Spiny Lobster Committee; Snapper Grouper Committee; Dolphin Wahoo 
Committee; Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) Committee 
(Partially Closed Session); Mackerel Cobia Committee; and a Committee 
of the Whole. The Council meeting week will include an informal public 
discussion session, a formal public comment period, training sessions 
for For-Hire Electronic Reporting, a Saltonstall-Kennedy presentation 
and feedback sessions, and a meeting of the full Council.

DATES: The Council meeting will be held from 8 a.m. on Monday, June 10, 
2019 until 1 p.m. on Friday, June 14, 2019.

ADDRESSES: 
    Meeting address: The meeting will be held at the Marriott 
Hutchinson Island, 555 NE Ocean Blvd., Stuart, FL 34996; phone: 772/
225-3700; fax 772/225-0003.
    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 (6/3/19) 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 6/3/19), individuals submitting a 
comment must use the Council's online form available from the website. 
Comments will automatically be posted to the website and available for 
Council consideration. Comments received prior to noon on Thursday, 
June 13, 2019 will be a part of the meeting administrative record.
    The items of discussion in the individual meeting agendas are as 
follows:

Personnel Committee--Monday, June 10, 2019, 8 a.m. Until 9 a.m. (Closed 
Session)

    1. The Committee will discuss personnel issues and provide 
recommendations for Council consideration.

SOPPs Committee--Monday, June 10, 2019, 9 a.m. Until 9:30 a.m.

    1. The Committee will review proposed changes to the Council 
Handbook, discuss and provide recommendations as appropriate.
    2. The Committee will receive an overview on the Council's SOPPs 
and timing for review, discuss and provide guidance as needed.

[[Page 20328]]

Executive Finance Committee--Monday, June 10, 2019, 9:30 a.m. Until 12 
p.m.; Wednesday, June 12, 2019, 3:45 p.m.-4 p.m.; and Thursday, June 
13, 2019, 3:30 p.m.-4 p.m.

    1. The Committee will receive a report from the May 2019 meeting of 
the Council Coordination Committee (CCC), an update on the Magnuson-
Stevens Reauthorization and the Modern Fisheries Act, and an overview 
of the CCC Working Paper, discuss and provide guidance to staff.
    2. The Committee will review the draft Calendar Year (CY) 2019 
Operational Budget, discuss and approve for Council consideration
    3. The Committee will review a prioritization schedule for work on 
amendments, discuss and provide guidance to staff.

SSC Selection Committee, Monday, June 10, 2019, 1:30 p.m. Until 2:30 
p.m. (Closed Session)

    The Committee will review applications for open seats on the SSC 
and provide recommendations for Council consideration.

Advisory Panel Selection Committee, Monday, June 10, 2019, 2:30 p.m. 
Until 3:30 p.m. (Closed Session)

    The Committee will review applications for open seats on advisory 
panels and workgroups, discuss structure of advisory panels as 
necessary, and provide recommendations for Council consideration.

Law Enforcement Committee, Monday, June 10, 2019, 3:30 p.m. Until 4:30 
p.m. (Partially Closed Session)

    1. The Committee will review nominees for Law Enforcement Officer 
of the Year and provide recommendations for Council consideration. 
(Closed Session)
    2. The Committee will receive a report from the Law Enforcement 
Advisory Panel, discuss and provide guidance to staff.

Spiny Lobster Committee, Monday, June 10, 2019, 4:30 p.m. Until 5:30 
p.m.

    1. The Committee will receive a report on the status of commercial 
and recreational catches versus annual catch limits (ACLs).
    2. The Committee will receive an overview of Spiny Lobster 
Amendment 13 addressing updated procedures for coordinated management 
with Florida and bully net regulations, discuss and provide guidance to 
staff.
    3. The Committee will receive an overview on commercial trip limits 
for spiny lobster in federal waters off the coasts of NC, SC, and GA, 
discuss and provide guidance to staff.
    4. The Committee will receive an overview of the Gulf Council Carry 
Over Amendment addressing species in the joint Coastal Migratory 
Pelagic Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and the Spiny Lobster FMP, 
discuss and consider approval for formal Secretarial review.

Snapper Grouper Committee, Tuesday, June 11, 2019, 8:30 a.m. Until 4:50 
p.m. and Wednesday, June 12, 2019, From 8:30 a.m. Until 12 p.m.

    1. The Committee will receive updates from NOAA Fisheries on 
commercial and recreational 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 Dr. Marcel Reichert on 
the Southeast Reef Fish Survey (SERFS) and reports from the Snapper 
Grouper Advisory Panel and the SSC.
    3. The Committee will receive an update on Snapper Grouper 
Amendment 38 addressing blueline tilefish, an update on development of 
the Council's System Management Plan for managed areas, and will review 
an options paper for removing species in the Jacks Complex from the 
Snapper Grouper FMP.
    4. The Committee will review an options paper for draft Regulatory 
Amendment 33 addressing season modifications for red snapper, consider 
public input, and consider approving for public hearing.
    5. The Committee will review Regulatory Framework Amendment 29 to 
the Snapper Grouper FMP addressing best fishing practices and the use 
of powerhead gear, consider public input, select preferred alternatives 
and approve all actions.
    6. The Committee will receive an update on Regulatory Amendment 30 
addressing the rebuilding plan for red grouper and consider approval 
for formal Secretarial review.
    7. The Committee will receive an overview of the Wreckfish 
Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) Review, review the final draft 
document, and provide guidance to staff.
    8. The Committee will receive a presentation on the Economic 
Performance of the Snapper Grouper fishery.

Saltonstall-Kennedy (S-K) Presentation, Tuesday, June 11, 2019, 4:50 
p.m. Until 5 p.m.

    1. The Council will receive an overview of the S-K process and the 
opportunity for the public to comment.

S-K Panel Discussion, Tuesday, June 11, 2019, 5 p.m. and Wednesday, 
June 12, 2019, 5 p.m.

    JRD & Associates, Inc. were contracted by NOAA Fisheries to conduct 
an assessment of the Saltonstall-Kennedy (S-K) Grant Program. As part 
of their analysis, they are conducting feedback sessions and interviews 
across the country at the fishery management council meetings to 
collect information from the fishing industry to determine their 
interest in the S-K project results and the best methods to disseminate 
and share the S-K project results.

Informal Question & Answer Session, Tuesday, June 11, 2019, 5 p.m.

    NOAA Fisheries and the Council will hold an informal Q&A Session 
for the public.

Training Session for For-Hire Electronic Reporting, Tuesday, June 11, 
2019, 5 p.m. and Wednesday, June 12, 2019, 4 p.m.

    NOAA Fisheries and the Council will hold training sessions 
targeting federally permitted for-hire captains on use of approved 
methods for electronic reporting. Note: The training sessions are 
dependent upon the Final Rule being published for the South Atlantic 
For-hire Electronic Reporting Amendment prior to the Council meeting.

Dolphin Wahoo Committee, Wednesday, June 12, 2019, 1:30 p.m. Until 3:45 
p.m.

    1. The Committee will receive updates from NOAA Fisheries on the 
status of commercial and recreational catches versus annual catch 
limits.
    2. The Committee will review the goals and objectives of the 
Dolphin Wahoo FMP and Amendment 10 to the Dolphin Wahoo FMP. Draft 
Amendment 10 currently includes actions to: Allow bag-limit sales of 
dolphin by dually-permitted for-hire and commercial permit holders; 
revise annual catch limits and sector allocations for dolphin and wahoo 
to accommodate new data from the Marine Recreational Information 
Program; modify recreational vessel limits for dolphin; modify gear, 
bait, and training requirements in the commercial longline fishery for 
dolphin and wahoo to align with Highly Migratory Species requirements; 
and other measures. The Committee will review actions in the draft 
amendment and consider approving for public scoping.
    3. The Committee will review public scoping comments on adding 
bullet mackerel and frigate mackerel as

[[Page 20329]]

Ecosystem Component species and provide guidance to staff.

Formal Public Comment, Wednesday, June 12, 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 
Regulatory Amendment 30 (red grouper) and the Gulf Council's Carry Over 
Amendment (CMP & Spiny Lobster), and consideration of requesting 
emergency action to increase the Atlantic Group king mackerel 
commercial trip limit. 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.

SEDAR Committee, Thursday, June 13, 2019, 8:30 a.m. Until 9:30 a.m. 
(Partially Closed Session)

    1. The Committee will discuss appointments to upcoming SEDAR 
assessments and provide recommendations for Council consideration. 
(Closed Session)
    2. The Committee will receive an Assessment Activities update, a 
report from the SSC, and an overview of the Research and Monitoring 
Plan, discuss and take action as necessary.

Committee of the Whole, Thursday, June 13, 2019, 9:30 a.m. Until 2:30 
p.m.

    1. The Committee of the Whole will receive a presentation on the 
management history of sector allocations by the Council, discuss and 
take action as needed.
    2. The Committee of the Whole will review the draft Allocation 
Review Trigger Policy, provide guidance to staff, and take action as 
needed.

Mackerel Cobia Committee, Thursday, June 13, 2019, 2:30 p.m. Until 3:30 
p.m.

    1. The Committee will receive an update on the status of commercial 
and recreational catches versus ACLs and the status of amendments under 
formal Secretarial review.
    2. The Committee will receive a report from the Mackerel Cobia 
Advisory Panel, consider recommendations and take action as 
appropriate.
    3. The Committee will discuss possible emergency action to increase 
the Atlantic king mackerel commercial trip limit and develop 
recommendations for Council consideration.
    4. The Committee will receive an overview of Framework Amendment 8 
to the Coastal Migratory Pelagic FMP addressing king mackerel 
commercial trip limits in Season 2 in the Atlantic Southern Zone and 
consider approving for public scoping.
    5. The Committee will receive an update on previous considerations 
to address Spanish mackerel closures in the Atlantic Northern Zone, 
discuss management options, and take action as needed.

Council Session: Thursday, June 13, 2019, 4 p.m. Until 5:30 p.m. and 
Friday, June 14, 2019, 8:30 a.m. Until 1 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, the Council's Citizen Science 
Program, and an update from the April 2019 meeting of the Atlantic 
Large Whale Take Reduction Team.
    Updates will be provided by NOAA Fisheries including a report on 
the status of commercial and recreational catches versus ACLs for 
species not covered during an earlier committee meeting, data-related 
reports, 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 receive committee reports from the Snapper 
Grouper, Mackerel Cobia, Spiny Lobster, SSC Selection, SEDAR, AP 
Selection, Dolphin Wahoo, Committee of the Whole, SOPPs, Personnel, and 
Executive Finance Committees, and take action as appropriate.
    The Council will also receive a presentation from NOAA Fisheries 
Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Division on actions currently being 
considered for sharks and bluefin tuna, and a presentation on 
management within the Biscayne National Park 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 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 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: May 6, 2019.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-09595 Filed 5-8-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P