[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 221 (Monday, November 16, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73029-73031]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-25231]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XA642]


Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of public meetings and a partially closed meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold its 138th Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), Pelagic and 
International Standing Committee, Executive and Budget Standing 
Committee, and 184th Council meetings to take actions on fishery 
management issues in the Western Pacific Region. A portion of the 
Council's Executive and Budget Standing Committee meeting will be 
closed to the public.

DATES: The meetings will be held between November 30 and December 4, 
2020. For specific times and agendas, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held by web conference via WebEx. 
Instructions for connecting to the web conference and providing oral 
public comments will be posted on the Council website at 
www.wpcouncil.org. For assistance with the web conference connection, 
contact the Council office at (808) 522-8220.
    The following venues will be the host sites for the 184th Council 
meeting: Cliff Pointe, 304 W. O'Brien Drive, Hagatna, Guam; BRI 
Building Suite 205, Kopa Di Oru St., Garapan, Saipan, CNMI; and,Tedi of 
Samoa Building Suite 208B, Fagatogo Village, American Samoa.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director, 
Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; phone: (808) 522-8220.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: All times shown are in Hawaii Standard Time. 
The 138th SSC meeting will be held between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on 
November 30-December 1, 2020. The Pelagic and International Standing 
Committee will be held between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on December 1, 2020. 
The Executive and Budget Standing Committee meeting will be held 
between 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on December 1, 2020. The portion of the 
Executive and Budget Standing Committee from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. will 
be closed to the public in accordance with Section 302(i)(3) of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA). The 
184th Council meeting will be held between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. on 
December 2 to 4, 2020.
    Please note that the evolving public health situation regarding 
COVID-19 may affect the conduct of the December Council and its 
associated meetings. At the time this notice was submitted for 
publication, the Council anticipated convening the Council meeting by 
web conference with host site locations in Guam, CNMI and American 
Samoa. Council staff will monitor COVID-19 developments and will 
determine the extent to which in-person public participation at host 
sites will be allowable consistent with applicable local and federal 
safety and health guidelines. If public participation will be limited 
to web conference only or on a first-come-first-serve basis consistent 
with applicable guidelines, the Council will post notice on its website 
at www.wpcouncil.org.
    Agenda items noted as ``Final Action'' refer to actions that result 
in Council transmittal of a proposed fishery management plan, proposed 
plan amendment, or proposed regulations to the U.S. Secretary of 
Commerce, under Sections 304 or 305 of the MSA. In addition to the 
agenda items listed here, the Council and its advisory bodies will hear 
recommendations from Council advisors. An opportunity to submit public 
comment will be provided throughout the agendas. The order in which 
agenda items are addressed may change and will be announced in advance 
at the Council meeting. The meetings will run as late as necessary to 
complete scheduled business.
    Background documents for the 184th Council meeting will be 
available at www.wpcouncil.org. Written public comments on final action 
items at the 184th Council meeting should be received at the Council 
office by 5 p.m. HST, November 27, 2020, and should be sent to Kitty M. 
Simonds, Executive Director; Western Pacific Fishery Management 
Council, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813, phone: 
(808) 522-8220 or fax: (808) 522-8226; or email: 
[email protected]. Written public comments on all other agenda 
items may be submitted for the record by email throughout the duration 
of the meeting. Instructions for providing oral public comments during 
the meeting will be posted on the Council website. This meeting will be 
recorded for the purposes of generating the minutes of the meeting.

Agenda for the 138th Scientific and Statistical Committee Meeting

Monday, November 30, 2020, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

1. Introductions
2. Approval of Draft Agenda and Assignment of Rapporteurs
3. Status of the 137th SSC Meeting Recommendations
4. Report from Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Director
5. Pelagic Fisheries
    A. Southern Exclusion Zone and Deep-set Longline Catch Rates
    B. Oceanic Whitetip Shark Issues
1. Updated Post-release Mortality of Oceanic Whitetip Sharks
2. Analyses of Fisher Effects on Oceanic Whitetip Catch Rates
3. Oceanic Whitetip Shark Working Group Report
    C. Reasonable and Prudent Measures (RPMs) and/or Reasonable and 
Prudent Alternatives (RPAs) for the Hawaii and American Samoa Longline 
Fisheries (Action Item)
    D. Regional Bigeye Tuna Research Plan
    E. International Fisheries
1. Potential Catch Limits for North Pacific Striped Marlin (Action 
Item)
2. Proposed Tropical Tuna Measure for Western Central Pacific Fisheries 
Commission (WCPFC)
    F. Public Comment
    G. SSC Discussion and Recommendations
6. Island Fisheries
    A. Territorial Bottomfish Fishery
1. Update on the American Samoa Interim Measure
2. Options for the American Samoa Bottomfish Acceptable Biological 
Catch for Fishing Year 2021-2022 (Action Item)
3. Options for American Samoa Bottomfish Rebuilding Plan (Action Item)
4. Options for the Guam Bottomfish Rebuilding Plan (Action Item)
    B. Plans for Hawaii Fishery Management
    C. Public Comment
    D. SSC Discussion and Recommendations

Tuesday, December 1, 2020, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

7. Protected Species

[[Page 73030]]

    A. Seabird Mitigation Measures
1. Review of Experimental Fishing Permit
2. Options for Including Tori Lines in the Hawaii Longline Fishery 
Seabird Mitigation Measures
    B. Stories of Conservation Success: Results of Interviews With 
Hawaii Longline Fishers
    C. Ecosystem-based Fishery Management Project TurtleWatch 
Validation
    D. Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Marine Mammal Protection Act 
(MMPA) Updates
1. Status of ESA Consultations
2. Coral Critical Habitat
3. Insular False Killer Whale (FKW) Draft Recovery Plan
4. FKW Take Reduction Plan
5. Other Updates
    E. Public Comment
    F. SSC Discussion and Recommendations
8. Other Business
    A. March 2021 SSC Meeting Dates
9. Summary of SSC Recommendations to the Council

Agenda for the Pelagic and International Standing Committee

Tuesday, December 1, 2020, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

1. North Pacific Striped Marlin
    A. Proposed Conservation and Management Measure (CMM) for North 
Pacific Striped Marlin
    B. Options for Catch and/or Effort Limits for North Pacific Striped 
Marlin for Amendment 8 (Action Item)
2. Proposed Conservation and Management Measure for Tropical Tunas
3. Oceanic Whitetip Working Group Report
4. RPMs and/or RPAs for the Hawaii and American Samoa Longline 
Fisheries (Action Item)
5. Other Issues
6. Public Comment
7. Discussion and Recommendations

Agenda for the Executive and Budget Standing Committee

Tuesday, December 1, 2020, 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. 
CLOSED)

1. Financial Reports
2. Administrative Reports
3. Council Family Changes
4. Update on Litigation (Closed Session--pursuant to MSA Sec.  
302(i)(3))
5. Election of Officers
6. Meetings and Workshops
7. Other Issues
8. Public Comment
9. Discussion and Recommendations

Agenda for the 184th Council Meeting

Wednesday, December 2, 2020, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Approval of the 184th Agenda
3. Approval of the 183rd Meeting Minutes
4. Executive Director's Report
5. Agency Reports
    A. National Marine Fisheries Service
1. Pacific Islands Regional Office
2. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
    B. NOAA Office of General Counsel Pacific Islands Section
    C. Enforcement
1. US Coast Guard
2. NOAA Office of Law Enforcement
3. NOAA Office of General Counsel Enforcement Section
    D. U.S. State Department
    E. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
    F. Public Comment
    G. Council Discussion and Action
6. Pelagic & International Fisheries
    A. Region Bigeye Tuna Research Plan
    B. Oceanic Whitetip Working Group Report
    C. North Pacific Striped Marlin
1. Proposed CMM for North Pacific Striped Marlin
2. Options for Catch and/or Effort Limits for North Pacific Striped 
Marlin for Amendment 8 (Initial Action)
    D. RPMs and/or RPAs for the Hawaii and American Samoa Longline 
Fisheries (Initial Action)
    E. International Fisheries
1. WCPFC
    a. WCPFC Committee Outcomes
    b. US Permanent Advisory Committee
2. Proposed CMM for Tropical Tunas
3. Virtual Roundtable on Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing 
and the Western Pacific Region
    F. Advisory Group Report and Recommendations
1. Pelagic Plan Team
2. Advisory Panel
3. Scientific & Statistical Committee
    G. Standing Committee Report and Recommendations
    H. Public Comment
    I. Council Discussion and Action
    J. Standing Committee Report and Recommendations
    K. Public Comment
    L. Council Discussion and Action
7. Protected Species
    A. Seabird Mitigation Measures
1. Review of Experimental Fishing Permit
2. Options for Including Tori Lines in the Hawaii Longline Fishery 
Seabird Mitigation Measures
    B. Stories of Conservation Success: Results of Interviews with 
Hawaii Longline Fishers
    C. Ecosystem-based Fishery Management Project TurtleWatch 
Validation
    D. ESA and MMPA Updates
1. Status of ESA Consultations
2. Coral Critical Habitat
3. Insular FKW Draft Recovery Plan
4. FKW Take Reduction Plan
5. Other Updates
    E. Advisory Group Report and Recommendations
1. Pelagic Plan Team
2. Advisory Panel
3. Scientific & Statistical Committee
    F. Public Comment
    G. Council Discussion and Action

Wednesday, December 2, 2020, 4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items

Thursday, December 3, 2020, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

8. American Samoa Archipelago
    A. Motu Lipoti
    B. Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources Report
1. CARES Act distribution of funds
2. Catchit Logit App Training
3. Bottomfish Fono Resolution
    C. American Samoa Bottomfish Fisheries
1. Update on the Bottomfish Fishery Interim Measure
2. Options for Annual Catch Limits 2021-22 (Initial Action)
3. Options for Bottomfish Stock Rebuilding Plan (Initial Action)
    D. Status of the American Samoa Large Vessel Prohibited Area
    E. Advisory Group Report and Recommendations
1. Advisory Panel
2. Scientific & Statistical Committee
    F. Public Comment
    G. Council Discussion and Action
9. Mariana Archipelago
    A. Guam
1. Isla Informe
2. Department of Agriculture/Division Aquatic and Wildlife Resources 
Report
    a. CARES Act distribution of funds
    b. Catchit Logit App Training
    c. Mandatory Licensing and Reporting
3. Options for Guam Bottomfish Stock Rebuilding Plan (Initial Action)
4. Report on the Compact of Free Association Renegotiation
    B. CNMI
1. Arongol Fal[uacute]
2. Department of Land and Natural Resource/Division of Fish and 
Wildlife Report
    a. CARES Act distribution of funds
    b. Catchit Logit App Training
    C. Advisory Group Reports and Recommendations

[[Page 73031]]

1. Advisory Panel
2. Scientific & Statistical Committee
    D. Public Comment
    E. Council Discussion and Action
10. Program Planning and Research
    A. National Legislative Report
    B. Electronic Technologies Implementation Plan
    C. Status of Pacific Islands Marine Monuments
    D. Update on Interagency US Seafood Trade Task Force
    E. Regional Communications & Outreach Report
    F. Advisory Group Report and Recommendations
1. Advisory Panel
2. Non-Commercial Fisheries Advisory Committee
3. Fishing Industry Advisory Committee
4. Scientific & Statistical Committee
    G. Public Comment
    H. Council Discussion and Action

Friday, December 4, 2020, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

11. Hawai`i Archipelago & Pacific Remote Island Areas (PRIA)
    A. Moku Pepa
    B. Department of Land Natural Resources/Division of Aquatic 
Resources Report
1. CARES Act funding distribution
    C. Plans for Hawaii Fishery Management
    D. Advisory Group Report and Recommendations
1. Advisory Panel
2. Fishing Industry Advisory Committee
3. Scientific & Statistical Committee
    E. Public Comment
    F. Council Discussion and Action
13. Administrative Matters
    A. Financial Reports
1. Current Grants
    B. Administrative Reports
    C. Program Plan Report
    D. Council Coordination Committee
    E. Council Family Changes
    F. Meetings and Workshops
    G. Code of Ethics Training
    H. Standing Committee Report and Recommendations
    I. Public Comment
    J. Council Discussion and Action
14. Election of Officers
15. Other Business

    Non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before 
the Council for discussion and formal Council action during its 184th 
meeting. However, Council action on regulatory issues will be 
restricted to those issues specifically listed in this document and any 
regulatory issue arising after publication of this document that 
requires emergency action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council's intent to 
take action to address the emergency.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are accessible to people with disabilities. Requests 
for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be 
directed to Kitty M. Simonds, (808) 522-8220 (voice) or (808) 522-8226 
(fax), at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: November 10, 2020.
Diane M. DeJames-Daly,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-25231 Filed 11-13-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P