[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 99 (Wednesday, May 22, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23526-23527]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-10714]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XH038


New England 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 New England Fishery Management Council (Council, NEFMC) 
will hold a three-day meeting to consider actions affecting New England 
fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

DATES: The meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 11, 2019 through 
Thursday, June 13, 2019, beginning at 9 a.m. on June 11 and 8:30 a.m. 
on June 12 and 13.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton, 363 
Maine Mall Road, So. Portland, ME 04106; telephone: (207) 775-6161; 
online at https://doubletree3.hilton.com/en/hotels/maine/doubletree-by-hilton-hotel-portland-me-PWMMMDT/index.html?WT.mc_id=zDA01MB 2OLG34YX.
    Council address: New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water 
Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950; telephone: (978) 465-0492; 
www.nefmc.org.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, 
New England Fishery Management Council; telephone: (978) 465-0492, ext. 
113.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Agenda

Tuesday, June 11, 2019

    After introductions and brief announcements, the meeting will begin 
with reports from the Council Chairman and Executive Director, NMFS's 
Regional Administrator for the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries 
Office (GARFO), liaisons from the Northeast Fisheries Science Center 
(NEFSC) and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC), 
representatives from NOAA General Counsel and NOAA's Office of Law 
Enforcement, and staff from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries 
Commission (ASMFC) and the U.S. Coast Guard. The Habitat Committee then 
will cover three issues: (1) Research planning efforts for the Great 
South Channel Habitat Management Area; (2) a report from the Habitat 
Plan Development Team (PDT) on a Fishing Effects Model; and (3) 
offshore energy developments. Next, members of the public will have the 
opportunity to speak during an open comment period on issues that 
relate to Council business but are not included on the published agenda 
for this meeting. The Council asks the public to limit remarks to 3-5 
minutes.
    After the lunch break, the Council will review alternatives and 
take final action on Framework Adjustment 6 to the Atlantic Herring 
Fishery Management Plan (FMP), which contains 2019-21 specifications 
for the fishery and proposes a new overfishing definition. The Scallop 
Committee will report next on three items. First, the Council will 
approve 2020-21 priorities for the Scallop Research Set-Aside Program. 
Second, the Council will

[[Page 23527]]

initiate Framework Adjustment 32 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop FMP, which 
contains specifications for the 2020 fishing year, 2021 default 
specifications, and other measures. Third, the Council will review 
scoping comments for Amendment 21 to the Scallop FMP, which is being 
developed to address Northern Gulf of Maine Management Area issues, 
limited access general category (LAGC) possession limits, and LAGC 
individual fishing quota (IFQ) transfers. The Council will review goals 
and objectives for Amendment 21 at this meeting. Then, the Council will 
discuss the recent Research Set-Aside Program Review and receive input 
from both the Scallop and Herring Committees on the review panel's 
findings and recommendations. After that, the Council will adjourn for 
the day.

Wednesday, June 12, 2019

    The Council will begin its morning session with a presentation from 
the Northeast Fisheries Science Center's Fishery Management and 
Research Division. The presentation will cover: (1) The division's role 
and responsibilities; (2) cooperative research activities; and (3) 
observer program updates. The Council then will receive a presentation 
from its Whiting PDT on causes and sources of high groundfish bycatch 
in the small-mesh multispecies (whiting) fishery based on an analysis 
of sea sampling data. Next, the Council will receive a report from a 
sub-panel of the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) that was 
charged with reviewing the scientific validity of information and 
analyses for Amendment 23 to the Northeast Multispecies (Groundfish) 
FMP, which is being developed to improve groundfish monitoring. This 
discussion will flow into the Groundfish Committee Report. Here, the 
Council is scheduled to approve the range of alternatives for further 
analysis in Amendment 23. The Council also will initiate Framework 
Adjustment 59 to the Groundfish FMP, which includes: (1) 2020 total 
allowable catches for U.S./Canada stocks of Eastern Georges Bank cod, 
Eastern Georges Bank haddock, and Georges Bank yellowtail flounder; (2) 
2020-22 specifications for all stocks; and (3) other measures as 
needed.
    Following the lunch break, the Council will continue its groundfish 
discussion until all related business is concluded. Next, the Council 
will receive an update on potential strategies for addressing 
recreational fishing issues more effectively. This discussion will be 
followed by a GARFO briefing on the ``Modernizing Recreational 
Fisheries Management Act of 2018,'' better known as the ``Modern Fish 
Act.'' The Council then will receive a presentation on new and revised 
electronic vessel reporting requirements for charter/headboat (for-
hire) vessels with South Atlantic permits. NMFS Highly Migratory 
Species (HMS) issues will wrap up the afternoon. First, the Council 
will receive a presentation on a series of scoping meetings and public 
hearings being conducted by the HMS Division on four proposed 
management actions, which cover a number of bluefin tuna, shark, gear, 
quota system, and research issues. Next, the Council will receive a 
report on the HMS Advisory Panel's May 21-23, 2019 meeting, which will 
include input on the proposed NMFS HMS actions. Under this agenda item, 
the Council also will discuss bigeye tuna and yellowfin tuna management 
under the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic 
Tunas (ICCAT) before adjourning for the day.

Thursday, June 13, 2019

    The third day of the meeting will begin with a progress report from 
the Ecosystem-Based Fishery Management (EBFM) Committee, which is 
developing an example Fishery Ecosystem Plan (eFEP) for Georges Bank. 
The Committee will provide updates on several components of the eFEP, 
including ones related to data and monitoring, incentive-based 
measures, and draft ecosystem forage fish management strategies. The 
report also will include a short overview of initial planning efforts 
for a Management Strategy Evaluation (MSE) related to ecosystem-based 
fishery management. The Monkfish Committee then will present two 
actions asking the Council to: (1) Initiate Framework Adjustment 12 to 
the Monkfish FMP, which includes 2020-22 specifications and any other 
needed measures; and (2) approve 2020-21 priorities for the Monkfish 
Research Set-Aside Program. Next, the Council will discuss the Mid-
Atlantic Fishery Management Council's Commercial Electronic Vessel Trip 
Reporting (eVTR) Omnibus Framework Action, which proposes to implement 
electronic VTRs for all vessels with commercial permits for species 
managed by the Mid-Atlantic Council. The New England Council's 
discussion will focus on two jointly managed species between the 
Councils, those being monkfish and spiny dogfish. The New England 
Council then will determine a path forward regarding commercial eVTRs 
in its own fisheries, including monkfish and dogfish, given the Mid-
Atlantic Council's evolving action. Afterwards, GARFO will provide a 
presentation on the results of the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction 
Team's April 23-26, 2019 meeting and discuss next steps for rulemaking.
    Following the lunch break, the Council will take up the Skate 
Committee Report. The Council will initiate Framework Adjustment 8 to 
the Northeast Skate Complex FMP, which includes 2020-21 specifications 
and other measures if needed. Second, the Council will discuss 
Amendment 5 to the Skate FMP, which proposes to establish a limited 
access program for the skate wing and/or skate bait fisheries. Next, 
the Council will receive a presentation on the joint Northeast 
Fisheries Science Center and GARFO Regional Strategic Plan for 2020-23, 
which highlights collective priorities. Finally, the Council will close 
out the meeting with ``other business.''
    Although non-emergency issues not contained on this agenda may come 
before the Council for discussion, those issues may not be the subject 
of formal action during this meeting. Council 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 Council's 
intent to take final action to address the emergency. The public also 
should be aware that the meeting will be recorded. Consistent with 16 
U.S.C. 1852, a copy of the recording is available upon request.

Special Accommodations

    This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Thomas A. Nies (see ADDRESSES) at least 5 days 
prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: May 17, 2019.
Rey Israel Marquez,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-10714 Filed 5-21-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P