[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 211 (Friday, October 30, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68855-68856]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-24030]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XA512]


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

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces a combined public meeting of the Scientific 
Advisory Subcommittee (SAS) to the General Advisory Committee (GAC), 
and the GAC to the U.S. Section to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna 
Commission (IATTC). This meeting will be held virtually on November 10, 
2020, via webinar. The meeting topics are described under the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice.

DATES: The virtual meeting of the SAS and GAC will be held on November 
10, 2020, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. PST (or until business is 
concluded).

ADDRESSES: Please notify William Stahnke (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT) if you plan to attend the webinar. Instructions will be 
emailed to meeting participants before the meeting occurs.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 18, 2020, NMFS hosted a combined 
virtual SAS and GAC meeting (85 FR 36562; June 17, 2020), in which NMFS 
indicated that it would host a second virtual SAS and GAC meeting on a 
date to be determined later in the year based on scheduling for 
relevant IATTC meetings. The IATTC Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) 
meeting was held on October 26-28, 2020, and the IATTC annual meeting 
is expected to be held from November 30 to December 4, 2020. As such, 
NMFS is hosting a second virtual SAS and GAC meeting where priority 
items such as final stock assessments, tropical tuna management 
measures, Pacific bluefin tuna measures, observer issues, and other 
administrative topics will be discussed in light of information 
presented at the SAC meeting, in advance of the IATTC annual meeting.
    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. 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 SAS and GAC. The meetings of the SAS and GAC 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 SAS and 
GAC.
    Currently, the 95th meeting of the IATTC and IATTC working group 
meetings are scheduled to be held, in a virtual format, from November 
30 to December 4, 2020. 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

    As was the case at the prior combined SAS and GAC meeting (85 FR 
36562; June 17, 2020), this SAS and GAC meeting will also have a 
streamlined agenda.
    The meeting agenda will include, but is not limited to, the 
following topics:
    (1) Outcomes of the final 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) Discussion of tropical tuna management measure, Pacific Bluefin 
tuna measures, observer issues, and administrative topics;
    (4) Recommendations and evaluations by the SAS and GAC; 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).

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


[[Page 68856]]


    Dated: October 26, 2020.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-24030 Filed 10-29-20; 8:45 am]
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