[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 102 (Wednesday, May 27, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31748-31750]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-11394]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XA179]


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: Information and Education Committee; 
Dolphin Wahoo Committee; Snapper Grouper Committee; Southeast Data, 
Assessment and Review (SEDAR) Committee; Citizen Science Committee; 
Executive Committee; and Mackerel Cobia Committee. The meeting week 
will also include a formal public comment session and meeting of the 
Full Council (partially Closed Session). Due to public health concerns 
associated with COVID-19 and current travel restrictions, the meeting 
originally planned for Key West, FL will be held via webinar.

DATES: The Council meeting will be held from 10 a.m. on Monday, June 8, 
2020, until 12 p.m. on Thursday, June 11, 2020.

ADDRESSES:  Meeting address: The meeting will be held via webinar. 
Webinar registration is required. Details are included in SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION.

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].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Meeting information, including agendas, 
overviews, and briefing book materials will be posted on the Council's 
website at: http://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/council-meetings/. Webinar 
registration links for each meeting day will also be available from the 
Council's website.
    Public comment: Written comments may be directed to John 
Carmichael, Executive Director, South Atlantic Fishery Management 
Council (see Council address) 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 (6/1/20) 
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 6/1/20), 
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 9 a.m. on Thursday, June 11, 2020 will be a part of the 
meeting administrative record.
    The items of discussion in the individual meeting agendas are as 
follows:

[[Page 31749]]

Council Session (Closed)--Monday, June 8, 2020, 10 a.m. Until 10:45 
a.m.

    The Council will meet in full session and receive an overview of 
the process for conducting the meeting via webinar. The Council will 
also review applicants for the Council's Scientific and Statistical 
Committee (SSC), and the Socio-Economic Panel (SEP) and make 
appointments as necessary. A legal briefing on litigation will also be 
held if needed.

Information and Education Committee, Monday, June 8, 2020, 11 a.m. 
Until 12 p.m.

    1. The Committee will receive a report from the Information and 
Education Advisory Panel.
    2. The Committee will receive an update on the Best Fishing 
Practices outreach campaign, review the draft Best Practices web page, 
receive a briefing on upcoming outreach activities and provide 
direction to staff.

Dolphin Wahoo Committee, Monday, June 8, 2020, 1:30 p.m. Until 4:30 
p.m.

    1. The Committee will receive catch level recommendations from the 
SSC for dolphin and wahoo and take action as necessary. The Committee 
will also receive an update on the Biological Opinion (BiOp) for the 
Highly Migratory Species longline fishery.
    2. The Committee will receive an overview of draft Amendment 10 to 
the Dolphin Wahoo Fishery Management Plan (FMP) with actions that 
currently address: Revisions to recreational data and catch level 
recommendations, redefining Optimum Yield in the dolphin fishery, 
modifications to accountability measures, and other management 
revisions to the dolphin and wahoo fisheries. The Committee will review 
the draft Amendment and provide direction to staff.
    3. The Committee will receive an overview of draft Amendment 12 to 
the Dolphin Wahoo FMP with measures to add bullet mackerel and frigate 
mackerel as Ecosystem Component species to the Dolphin Wahoo FMP and 
provide guidance to staff.
    4. The Committee will receive an update from staff on the Dolphin 
Wahoo Participatory Workshops and also provide recommendations for Mid-
Atlantic Fishery Management Council representation on the Dolphin Wahoo 
Advisory Panel.

Snapper Grouper Committee, Tuesday, June 9, 2020, 9 a.m. Until 4:30 
p.m.

    1. The Committee will receive updates from NOAA Fisheries the 
status of amendments under formal Secretarial review, including 
Regulatory Amendment 33 to the Snapper Grouper FMP and the 2020 Red 
Snapper Season.
    2. The Committee will review impacts of COVID-19 on the snapper 
grouper fishery and discuss potential management responses.
    3. The Committee will receive reports on the greater amberjack 
stock assessment from NOAA Fisheries Southeast Fisheries Science Center 
(SEFSC) and from the SSC, and discuss and determine the Acceptable 
Biological Catch (ABC) and management response.
    4. The Committee will receive an overview of Regulatory Amendment 
34 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan (FMP) addressing 
proposed Special Management Zone (SMZ) designation for artificial reefs 
in federal waters off North Carolina and South Carolina, review public 
hearing comments, make edits to the Amendment as appropriate and 
provide recommendations for final Secretarial approval.
    5. The Committee will receive reports on the red porgy stock 
assessment from NOAA Fisheries SEFSC and from the SSC, and discuss and 
determine the ABC and management response.

SEDAR Committee, Wednesday, June 10, 2020, 9 a.m. Until 10 a.m.

    The Committee will receive an update on SEDAR stock assessment 
activities, a report from the SEDAR Steering Committee, and approve 
Terms of Reference for upcoming stock assessments.

Citizen Science Committee, Wednesday, June 10, 2020, 10 a.m. Until 12 
p.m.

    1. The Committee will provide guidance on the Citizen Science 
Program Evaluation including program goals, objectives, strategies, and 
indicators, and discuss the program evaluation plan.
    2. The Committee will also receive programmatic and project 
updates.

Executive Committee, Wednesday, June 10, 2020, 1:30 p.m. Until 2:30 
p.m.

    1. The Committee will review the Council Priorities and workplan 
and provide revisions as needed.
    2. The Committee will receive an update on the Council Coordination 
Committee Meeting.
    3. The Committee will also review and provide recommendations on 
policies relative to: Internal research funding and selection process; 
staff performance evaluation process; and sexual harassment prevention 
training.

Mackerel Cobia Committee, Wednesday, June 10, 2020, 2:30 p.m. Until 
3:45 p.m.

    1. The Committee will receive an update on the current status of 
amendments under formal Secretarial review.
    2. The Committee will receive reports on the king mackerel stock 
assessment from NOAA Fisheries SEFSC and from the SSC, and discuss and 
determine the ABC and management response.
    3. The Committee will review impacts of COVID-19 on the mackerel 
cobia fishery and discuss potential management responses.
    Formal Public Comment, Wednesday, June 10, 2020, 4 p.m.--Public 
comment will be accepted via webinar on items on the Council meeting 
agenda scheduled to be approved for Secretarial Review: Regulatory 
Amendment 34 to the Snapper Grouper FMP (SMZ designations for 
artificial reefs off NC and SC). Public comment will also be accepted 
on 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.

Council Session: Thursday, June 11, 2020, 9 a.m. Until 12 p.m.

    The Full Council will begin with the Call to Order, adoption of the 
agenda, and approval of minutes.
    The Council will receive updates from staff regarding allocation 
discussions by the Council's Socio-Economic Panel and a recently 
released report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office 
providing recommendations for documented processes for allocation 
reviews. The Council will discuss and provide direction to staff.
    The Council will receive a staff report on the impacts of COVID-19 
on the Council office operations, reports from state agency 
representatives on COVID-19 impacts, and an update on the status of the 
CARES Act relative to COVID-19 relief funds. The Council will discuss 
impacts, consider any necessary response including emergency action, 
and take action as appropriate.
    The Council will receive an update on the Joint Council Workgroup 
on Section 102 of the Modern Fish Act and provide guidance to the South 
Atlantic Fishery Management Council representatives on the workgroup.
    NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office staff will provide an 
update on the status of the For-Hire Electronic Reporting Amendment.
    The Council will review any Exempted Fishing Permits received as 
needed and provide recommendations.

[[Page 31750]]

    The Council will receive reports from the following committees: 
Information and Education; Dolphin Wahoo; Snapper Grouper; SEDAR; 
Citizen Science; Mackerel Cobia; and Executive; and review the SSC 
Selection Recommendations. The Council will take action as appropriate.
    The Council will receive agency and liaison reports, 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 this meeting. 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: May 21, 2020.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-11394 Filed 5-26-20; 8:45 am]
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