[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 22 (Monday, February 3, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 5943]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-02012]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XY069]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Alaska 
Groundfish and Halibut Seabird Working Group; 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: NMFS Alaska Groundfish and Halibut Seabird Working Group will 
meet to discuss vessel-specific seabird bycatch mortality, electronic 
monitoring seabird species identification work, and an update on new 
studies examining seabird bycatch in the trawl fisheries.

DATES: The meeting will be held on March 11, 2020, from 1 p.m. to 5 
p.m., and on March 12, 2020, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Alaska Daylight 
Time.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the NMFS Alaska Regional Office 
located at 709 W 9th St., Room 445C, Juneau, AK. Photo identification 
is required to enter this facility.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph Krieger, 907-586-7650.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Alaska Groundfish and Halibut Seabird 
Working Group formed as a result of the 2015 biological opinion on 
effects of the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands 
groundfish fisheries on short-tailed albatross. The working group is 
tasked with reviewing information for mitigating effects of the 
groundfish fisheries on short-tailed albatross and other seabirds. The 
workgroup will hold an in-person meeting in Juneau, Alaska on March 11 
and 12, 2020. Meeting topics include vessel-specific seabird bycatch 
mortality and proposed work on vessel-specific seabird bycatch 
reduction; electronic monitoring seabird species identification work; 
and an update on new studies examining seabird bycatch in the trawl 
fisheries.
    NMFS will keep the Council apprised of the working group's 
activities and any resulting recommendations for methods to reduce 
seabird bycatch. Any changes to seabird avoidance regulations are 
expected to follow the standard Council process.

Special Accommodations

    This workshop will be physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Joseph Krieger, 907-586-7650, at 
least 5 working days prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: January 29, 2020.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-02012 Filed 1-31-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P