[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 166 (Tuesday, August 27, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44863-44865]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-18459]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XV035


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.

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SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold meetings of the following: Personnel Committee/Committee of the 
Whole (Closed Session); Snapper Grouper Committee; Protected Resources 
Committee; Dolphin Wahoo Committee; Executive Finance Committee; 
Habitat Protection and Ecosystem-Based Management Committee; Joint 
Habitat Ecosystem, Shrimp, and Golden Crab Committee; and Mackerel 
Cobia Committee. The Council meeting week will include a training 
session for Council members on Robert's Rules, 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, 
September 16, 2019 until 1 p.m. on Friday, September 20, 2019.

ADDRESSES:

[[Page 44864]]

    Meeting address: The meeting will be held at the Town and Country 
Inn, 2008 Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC 29407; phone: (843) 571-
1000.
    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 
ADDRESSES) 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 (9/9/19) 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 9/9/19), 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, 
September 19, 2019 will be a part of the meeting administrative record.
    The items of discussion in the individual meeting agendas are as 
follows:

Robert's Rules Training--Monday, September 16, 2019, 8:30 a.m. Until 12 
p.m.

    1. Council members will receive training on the use of Robert's 
Rules for meeting purposes.

Personnel Committee/Committee of the Whole--Monday, September 16, 2019, 
1:30 p.m. Until 6 p.m. (Closed Session)

    1. The Committee/Council will discuss personnel issues and provide 
guidance to staff.
    2. The Committee/Council will conduct executive director interviews 
and select a new executive director.

Snapper Grouper Committee, Tuesday, September 17, 2019, 8:30 a.m. Until 
5:30 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 preliminary results from the August 
19-21, 2019 Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC)/Marine 
Recreational Information Program (MRIP) Workshop to address issues with 
recreational data.
    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, discuss outreach 
needs, and consider recommendation for Council approval for formal 
Secretarial Review.
    4. The Committee will receive an update on Snapper Grouper 
Abbreviated Framework Amendment 3 addressing management of blueline 
tilefish and take action as needed.
    5. The Committee will review the Wreckfish Individual Transferable 
Quota (ITQ) Review document and consider recommending approval for 
formal Secretarial review.
    6. The Committee will review Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 
33 addressing season modifications for red snapper, consider public 
hearing comments, select preferred alternatives, and provide guidance 
to staff as needed.
    7. The Committee will review Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 
34 addressing Special Management Zones (SMZs) for North Carolina and 
South Carolina and consider recommending the amendment for public 
hearings.
    8. The Committee will provide guidance on agenda items for the 
upcoming Snapper Grouper Advisory Panel meeting, review the draft 2021-
2026 Vision Blueprint for the Snapper Grouper Fishery, and a white 
paper on authorized gear for harvesting lionfish and take action as 
necessary.

Protected Resources Committee, Wednesday, September 18, 2019, 8 a.m. 
Until 8:30 a.m.

    1. The Committee will receive an overview of the Memorandum of 
Understanding (MOU) between the Council and NOAA Fisheries, discuss and 
take action as needed.
    2. The Committee will receive updates on Biological Opinions for 
Dolphin Wahoo and Highly Migratory Species Fisheries, updates on other 
Protected Resources issues, and take action as needed.

Dolphin Wahoo Committee, Wednesday, September 18, 2019, 8:30 a.m. Until 
3:45 p.m.

    1. The Committee will receive updates from NOAA Fisheries on the 
status of commercial catches versus annual catch limits.
    2. The Committee will receive a report from the Dolphin Wahoo 
Advisory Panel, discuss recommendations, and take action as necessary.
    3. The Committee will review the goals and objectives of the 
Dolphin Wahoo FMP and provide guidance to staff. The Committee will 
also review Amendment 10 to the Dolphin Wahoo FMP. Draft Amendment 10 
currently includes actions to revise annual catch limits, sector 
allocations, and accountability measures, and options to reduce the 
vessel limit for dolphin. The amendment would also remove Operator Card 
requirements; 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.
    4. The Committee will review draft Amendment 12 with measures to 
add bullet mackerel and frigate mackerel as Ecosystem Component species 
to the Dolphin Wahoo FMP, consider appropriate regulatory actions, and 
provide guidance to staff.

Executive Finance Committee--Wednesday, September 18, 2019, 3:45 p.m. 
until 4 p.m. and Thursday, September 19, 2019, 3:30 p.m. Until 5 p.m.

    1. The Committee will consider ranking of amendments for the 
Council's work schedule and provide guidance to staff.
    2. The Committee will receive a report from the November 2019 
meeting of the Council Coordination Committee (CCC) and an update on 
the Magnuson-Stevens Reauthorization, discuss and provide guidance to 
staff.
    3. The Committee will receive an update on the status of the 
Calendar Year (CY) 2019 Budget, discuss and take action as necessary.
    4. The Committee will review a prioritization schedule for work on 
amendments, discuss and provide guidance to staff.
    Formal Public Comment, Wednesday, September 18, 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

[[Page 44865]]

Amendment 29 (Best Practices and Powerheads) and the Wreckfish ITQ 
Review document. Public comment will also be accepted on items for 
scoping/public hearings and all other agenda items. The Council Chair, 
based on the number of individuals wishing to comment, will determine 
the amount of time provided to each commenter.

Habitat Protection and Ecosystem-Based Management Committee, Thursday, 
September 19, 2019, 8:30 a.m. Until 10 a.m.

    1. The Committee will receive an overview of Council actions 
relevant to Habitats and Ecosystems, review the Habitat Protection and 
Ecosystem-Based Management Advisory Panel Report, discuss and take 
action as needed.

Joint Habitat Protection and Ecosystem-Based Management Committee, 
Shrimp Committee, and Golden Crab Committee Meeting, Thursday, 
September 19, 2019, 10 a.m. Until 12 p.m.

    1. The Committees will review a comprehensive amendment (Coral 
Amendment 10/Shrimp Amendment 11/Golden Crab Amendment 10) addressing 
access to managed areas, transit provisions, and options for vessel 
monitoring systems (VMS) for the golden crab fishery, discuss and 
consider approval for public scoping.

Mackerel Cobia Committee, Thursday, September 19, 2019, 1:30 p.m. Until 
3:30 p.m.

    1. The Committee will receive an update on the status of commercial 
catches versus ACLs and the status of amendments under formal 
Secretarial review.
    2. 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, 
review analyses, select preferred alternatives, and consider approving 
for public hearings.
    3. The Committee will review a white paper to address Spanish 
mackerel closures in the Atlantic Northern Zone and other management 
measures, discuss possible port meetings for the king and Spanish 
mackerel fisheries, and take action as necessary.
    4. The Committee will review a Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management 
Council Framework action to modify federal for-hire trip limits in the 
Gulf reef fish and Coastal Migratory Pealgics fisheries, discuss and 
take action as necessary.
    5. The Committee will also discuss agenda items for the upcoming 
Mackerel Cobia Advisory Panel meeting, provide direction to staff, and 
take action as necessary.

Council Session: Friday, September 20, 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, approval of minutes, and presentations for the 2018 Law 
Enforcement of the Year award and Council staff recognition.
    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, and 
updates on the MyFishCount pilot project and the Council's Citizen 
Science Program.
    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, the Southeast Geographic Strategic 
Plan, data-related reports (for-hire amendment and bycatch), 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 reports from the following committees: 
Snapper Grouper; Mackerel Cobia; Protected Resources; Dolphin Wahoo; 
Habitat Protection and Ecosystem-Based Management; Joint Habitat/
Shrimp/Golden Crab; Executive Finance; and Personnel. The Council will 
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 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: August 22, 2019.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-18459 Filed 8-26-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P