[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 167 (Thursday, August 27, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52957-52958]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-18874]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XA419]


Public Information Session Regarding Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Stock 
Assessment

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

ACTION: Notice; notification of public information session.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is holding a public conference call and webinar for the 
Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section to the International Commission 
for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) and other interested 
stakeholders to provide an update on the status of recent work by the 
Standing Committee on Research and Statistics (SCRS) Bluefin Tuna 
Species Group to assess the western Atlantic and eastern Atlantic/
Mediterranean bluefin tuna stocks.

DATES: An operator-assisted conference call and webinar information 
session that is open to the public will be held on September 3, 2020, 
from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. EDT. (Phone number 888-935-0267; verbal password: 
``ICCAT''; WebEx link: t.ly/iJxD; WebEx password: ICCAT). Participants 
must dial in by phone to receive audio and log on to the WebEx to view 
the presentation. Participants are strongly encouraged to dial in and 
log on 15 minutes prior to the meeting.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Terra Lederhouse at 301-427-8360 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ICCAT's SCRS recently held the scheduled 
virtual meeting of its Bluefin Tuna Species Group to conduct stock 
assessments for the western Atlantic and eastern Atlantic/Mediterranean 
stocks of bluefin tuna. The work undertaken by the Bluefin Tuna Species 
Group, of which some analytical work is still ongoing, is considered 
preliminary until adopted by the SCRS by correspondence in late 
September 2020. At that time, the SCRS will also develop and adopt 
management advice for the Commission for both stocks of bluefin tuna. 
While it would be premature to speculate on the conclusions of the 
assessment or its implications, including with respect to management 
advice, NMFS scientists will provide the Advisory Committee to the U.S. 
Section to ICCAT and other interested stakeholders with an update on 
the preliminary results of the stock assessments at the September 3, 
2020 webinar. NMFS will provide an opportunity for participants to ask 
questions regarding the presentation on the assessment work and will 
announce the timing and format for the question and answer period at 
the beginning of the conference call.
    The webinar is specifically an update on the stock assessment 
progress and not on development of U.S. positions.
    A Fall meeting of the Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section to 
ICCAT will be held after the final stock assessment results and SCRS 
management advice have been published to discuss additional topics 
related to the assessment results.


[[Page 52958]]


    Dated: August 24, 2020.
Alexa Cole,
Director, Office of International Affairs and Seafood Inspection, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-18874 Filed 8-26-20; 8:45 am]
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