[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 224 (Thursday, November 19, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73691-73693]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-25586]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XA631]


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: Snapper Grouper Committee; Dolphin 
Wahoo Committee; Habitat and Ecosystem-Based Management Committee, 
Mackerel Cobia Committee; Executive Committee (partially Closed 
Session); and Citizen Science Committee. The meeting week will also 
include a formal public comment session and a meeting of the Full 
Council (with a partially Closed Session). Due to public health 
concerns associated with COVID-19 and current travel restrictions, the 
meeting originally planned for Wrightsville Beach, NC will be held via 
webinar.

DATES: The Council meeting will be held from 9 a.m. on Monday, December 
7, 2020 until 5 p.m. on Thursday, December 10, 2020.

ADDRESSES:  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, briefing materials and the meeting registration link will be 
posted on the Council's website at: http://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/council-meetings/.
    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: https://safmc.wufoo.com/forms/m1ijpb670ziz2jz/. Comments 
received by close of business the Monday before the meeting (11/30/20) 
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. Written comments 
received after the Monday before the meeting must be submitted using 
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 Wednesday, December 
9, 2020 will be a part of the meeting administrative record.
    The items of discussion in the individual meeting agendas are as 
follows:

Meeting Agenda

Council Session I, Monday, December 7, 2020, 9 a.m. Until 12 p.m. 
(Closed Session)

    The Council will consider appointments for open advisory panel 
seats, review the composition of the Mackerel Cobia Advisory Panel 
(AP), and advisory panel policies. A legal briefing on litigation will 
also be provided if needed.

Council Session II, Monday, December 7, 2020, 1:30 p.m. Until 2:30 p.m. 
and 5 p.m. Until 6 p.m.

    The Council will discuss the Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) 
Control Rule including carry-over and phase-in provisions. Beginning at 
5 p.m. Council members will receive a presentation on Draft Amendment 
14 to the 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory

[[Page 73692]]

Species Fishery Management Plan (FMP) from NOAA Fisheries. The 
amendment addresses the ABC Control Rule, phase-in and carry over, and 
annual catch limit (ACL) provisions.

Snapper Grouper Committee, Monday, December 7, 2020, 2:30 p.m. Until 5 
p.m. and Tuesday, December 8, 2020 from 8:30 a.m. Until 12 p.m.

    The Committee will: Receive an update from NOAA Fisheries on the 
status of amendments under review; receive an overview of the stock 
assessment for yellowtail snapper, discuss and provide recommendations 
for Council consideration; and discuss whether nine snapper grouper 
species continue to need conservation and management under the Snapper 
Grouper FMP and consider options. The Committee will review comments 
provided by Wreckfish Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) shareholders 
and dealers regarding Amendment 48 to the Snapper Grouper FMP 
addressing Wreckfish ITQ Modernization and is scheduled to approve the 
amendment for public scoping. The Committee will review potential 
management measures to end overfishing and revise the rebuilding plan 
for Red Porgy through draft Amendment 50 to the Snapper Grouper FMP and 
is scheduled to approve the amendment for public scoping. The Committee 
will receive an options paper addressing catch levels and management 
measures for greater amberjack.

Habitat Protection and Ecosystem-Based Management Committee, Tuesday, 
December 8, 2020, 1:30 p.m. Until 5 p.m.

    The Committee will: Review Coral Amendment 10 addressing 
modifications to area closures for the deepwater shrimp fishery; 
receive an update on the Ecopath with Ecosim Model Review; receive a 
report from the Habitat Protection and Ecosystem-Based Management 
Advisory Panel (AP); receive a Fishery Ecosystem Plan (FEP) Roadmap 
Progress Report, and discuss the development of a Habitat and Ecosystem 
Program Blueprint.

Dolphin Wahoo Committee, Wednesday, December 9, 2020, 8:30 a.m. Until 
12 p.m.

    The Committee will receive an update from NOAA Fisheries on the 
review status of Amendment 12 to the Dolphin Wahoo FMP addressing 
bullet and frigate mackerel and receive a report from the Dolphin Wahoo 
AP. The Committee will review draft Amendment 10 to the Dolphin Wahoo 
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 
is scheduled to approve the amendment for public hearing.

Mackerel Cobia Committee, Wednesday, December 9, 2020, 1:30 p.m. Until 
3:45 p.m.

    The Committee will receive a report from the Mackerel Cobia AP, 
address management measures for Atlantic king mackerel following the 
recent stock assessment (Framework Amendment 10) and is scheduled to 
approve the amendment for public scoping. The Committee will consider 
modifications to catch levels and management measures to end 
overfishing of Gulf cobia (Amendment 32 to the Coastal Migratory 
Pelagics FMP).
    Formal Public Comment, Wednesday, December 9, 2020, 4 p.m..--Public 
comment will be accepted via webinar on all items on the Council 
meeting agenda. Highlighted items scheduled to be approved for public 
scoping: Amendment 48 to the Snapper Grouper FMP (Wreckfish ITQ 
Modernization); Amendment 50 to the Snapper Grouper FMP (red porgy); 
and Framework Amendment 10 to the Coastal Migratory Pelagics FMP. 
Additionally, Amendment 10 to the Dolphin Wahoo FMP (dolphin wahoo 
management measures) is scheduled to be approved for public hearings. 
The Council Chair will determine the amount of time provided to each 
commenter based on the number of individuals wishing to comment.

Executive Committee, Thursday, December 10, 2020, 8:30 a.m. Until 12 
p.m. (Partially Closed Session)

    The Committee will conduct the annual performance review for the 
Council's Executive Director in Closed Session. In Open Session, the 
Committee will receive an update on the Council's 2021 budget and 
review the 2021 FMP Work Schedule.

Citizen Science Committee, Thursday, December 10, 2020, 10:30 a.m. 
Until 12 p.m.

    The Committee will review Citizen Science Program Planning efforts, 
the Citizen Science Program Evaluation Plan, and receive an update on 
Citizen Science program and projects activities.

Council Session III, Thursday, December 10, 2020, 1:30 p.m. Until 5 
p.m.

    The Council will receive a report from the Executive Director, an 
update on development of the proposed approach to determine sector 
allocations, and an update on climate change scenario planning. The 
Council will also receive a report from the Council's Scientific and 
Statistical Committee, if needed, on any items not previously addressed 
during committee meetings. The Council will receive a report from the 
Outreach and Communications AP and another from the Southeast Data, 
Assessment and Review (SEDAR) Steering Committee.
    NOAA Fisheries Southeast Fisheries Science Center staff will 
provide an update on staff restructuring and a report on the status of 
commercial electronic logbooks.
    NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office staff will provide an 
update on the status of For-Hire Electronic Reporting and the status of 
their evaluation of bycatch reporting efforts in the South Atlantic. 
The Council will also receive a Protected Resources report.
    The Council will receive reports from the following committees: 
Snapper Grouper; Mackerel Cobia; Dolphin Wahoo; Habitat Protection and 
Ecosystem-Based Management; Citizen Science; and Executive. The Council 
will also address advisory panel appointments.
    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 these meetings. 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.


[[Page 73693]]


    Note:  The times and sequence specified in this agenda are 
subject to change.


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

    Dated: November 16, 2020.
Rey Israel Marquez,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-25586 Filed 11-18-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P