[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 12 (Friday, January 17, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3033-3034]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-00766]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XA011]


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 meeting will be held Tuesday, February 4 through Thursday, 
February 6, 2020. The meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m., Pacific Standard 
Time, each day and will continue until 5 p.m., or until business for 
the day has been completed.

ADDRESSES: The Pacific Council methodology review meeting will be held 
in the Conference Room (Room 188) of the NMFS Southwest Fisheries 
Science Center, Santa Cruz Laboratory, 110 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, 
CA 95060; contact and telephone: Dr. John Field, (831) 420-3907. 
Official government issued identification (e.g., state issued 
identification card, federal identification card, etc.) will be 
required in order to enter the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Todd Phillips, Staff Officer, 
Pacific Fishery Management Council; telephone: (503) 820-2426.

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 (2010-19) 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/age compositions of observed 
individuals of each 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 
Scientific and Statistical Committee and

[[Page 3034]]

the Pacific Council at their June meeting in San Diego, 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

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Mr. Kris Kleinschmidt 
([email protected], (503) 820-2412) at least 10 days prior to 
the meeting date.

    Dated: January 14, 2020.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-00766 Filed 1-16-20; 8:45 am]
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