[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 97 (Tuesday, May 19, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29931-29932]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-10774]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XW030]


General Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section to the Inter-
American Tropical Tuna Commission and Scientific Advisory Subcommittee 
to the General Advisory Committee; and U.S. Stakeholder Call; Meeting 
Announcements

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting; format revision and cancellation of 
meeting.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces a revision to the format of the public meeting 
of the Scientific Advisory Subcommittee (SAS) to the General Advisory 
Committee (GAC) scheduled on June 17, 2020, and a public meeting of the 
GAC to the U.S. Section to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission 
(IATTC) scheduled on June 18, 2020. These meetings will now be held 
solely via webinar instead of in-person, due to the current local 
guidance and travel restrictions. The timing of the meetings is 
adjusted accordingly. Additionally, NMFS announces that the U.S. 
Stakeholder conference call to discuss IATTC tropical tuna management 
in the eastern Pacific Ocean scheduled for May 22, 2020, is cancelled, 
and the content of that call will be included in the SAS and GAC 
webinars. The meeting topics are described under the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section of this notice.

DATES: The meeting of the SAS will be held on June 17, 2020, from 10 
a.m. to 3 p.m. PDT (or until business is concluded). The meeting of the 
GAC will be held on June 18, 2020, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. PDT (or 
until business is concluded).

ADDRESSES: Please notify William Stahnke (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT) by May 29, 2020, if you plan to attend either or both 
webinars. Instructions will be emailed to meeting participants before 
the meetings occur.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Stahnke, West Coast Region, 
NMFS, at [email protected], or at (562) 980-4088.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 5, 2020, NMFS announced that it 
scheduled a public meeting of the SAS to the GAC on June 17, 2020, and 
a public meeting of the GAC to the U.S. Section to the IATTC on June 
18, 2020 (85 FR 12907). However, due to the current local guidance and 
travel restrictions, NMFS is holding these meetings solely by webinar, 
instead of in-person as previously announced. In addition, on March 5, 
2020, NMFS announced a public meeting via conference call with U.S. 
stakeholders to discuss issues related to IATTC tropical tuna 
management in the eastern Pacific Ocean that was scheduled on May 22, 
2020, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. PDT (85 FR 12907). NMFS is canceling that 
conference call and including the content of that call in the SAS and 
GAC webinars. Tropical tunas will be an agenda item for both webinars, 
focusing on the new models and stock assessment results during the SAS 
webinar, and management options during the GAC webinar. While SAS and 
GAC members will discuss first, public stakeholders will have an 
opportunity to provide input as well.
    In accordance with the Tuna Conventions Act (16 U.S.C. 951 et 
seq.), the U.S. Department of Commerce, in consultation with the 
Department of State (the State Department), appoints a GAC to the U.S. 
Section to the IATTC, and a SAS that advises the GAC. The U.S. Section 
consists of the four U.S. Commissioners to the IATTC and 
representatives of the State Department, NOAA, Department of Commerce, 
other U.S. Government agencies, and stakeholders. The GAC advises the 
U.S. Section with respect to U.S.

[[Page 29932]]

participation in the work of the IATTC, focusing on the development of 
U.S. policies, positions, and negotiating tactics. The purpose of the 
SAS is to advise the GAC on scientific matters. NMFS West Coast Region 
staff provide administrative support for the GAC and SAS. The meetings 
of the GAC and SAS are open to the public, unless in executive session. 
The time and manner of public comment will be at the discretion of the 
Chairs for the GAC and SAS. The SAS and GAC meetings will no longer be 
held in-person in the Pacific Conference Room at NMFS, Southwest 
Fisheries Science Center in La Jolla, California, and will instead be 
held by webinar only.
    Currently, the 95th meeting of the IATTC, the 41st Meeting of the 
Parties to the Agreement on the International Dolphin Conservation 
Program (AIDCP), and IATTC and AIDCP working group meetings are 
scheduled to be held from August 3 to August 15, 2020, in La Jolla, 
California. For more information and updates on these meetings, please 
visit the IATTC's website: https://www.iattc.org/MeetingsENG.htm.

SAS and GAC Meeting Topics

    In a memorandum from the IATTC Director to the IATTC Commissioners 
and Heads of Delegation on April 27, 2020 (Ref. No. 0189-410), the 
IATTC Director announced a phased approach to the 2020 meeting of the 
Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) to the IATTC, which is currently 
still being discussed. Depending on the outcome of those discussions, 
and the final approach to the 2020 meeting of the SAC to the IATTC, the 
SAS and GAC meeting topics described below may need to be adjusted.
    The SAS meeting agenda will include, but is not limited to, the 
following topics:
    (1) Outcomes of the 2020 stock assessments and stock status updates 
for tuna, tuna-like species, and other species caught in association 
with those fisheries in the eastern Pacific Ocean;
    (2) Evaluation of the IATTC Staff's Recommendations to the 
Commission for 2020;
    (3) Issues related to non-target species, such as sharks, seabirds, 
sea turtles;
    (4) Evaluation of U.S. priorities for the 95th meeting of the IATTC 
and priorities from other IATTC members; and
    (5) Other issues as they arise.
    The GAC meeting agenda will include, but is not limited to, the 
following topics:
    (1) Outcomes of the 2020 stock assessments and stock status updates 
for tuna, tuna-like species, and other species caught in association 
with those fisheries in the eastern Pacific Ocean;
    (2) Issues related to non-target species, such as sharks, seabirds, 
sea turtles;
    (3) Recommendations and evaluations by the SAS;
    (4) Recommendations to the U.S. Section on issues that may arise at 
the 95th meeting of the IATTC, including the IATTC Staff's 
Recommendations to the Commission, U.S. priorities, and priorities from 
other IATTC members; and
    (5) Other issues as they arise.

Special Accommodations

    Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to William Stahnke (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT) by May 29, 2020.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 951 et seq.

    Dated: May 14, 2020.
H[eacute]l[egrave]ne M.N. Scalliet,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-10774 Filed 5-14-20; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P