[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 7 (Tuesday, January 12, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 2383]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-00419]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XA753]


South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Hearings

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

ACTION: Notice of public hearings.

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SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold a series of public scoping meetings via webinar pertaining to 
Amendment 10 to the Coral, Coral Reef and Live Hard Bottom Habitat 
Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The amendment addresses establishing a 
Shrimp Fishery Access Area along the eastern border of the northern 
extension of the Oculina Bank Coral Habitat Area of Particular Concern 
(HAPC).

DATES: The public hearings will be held via webinar on February 8 and 
9, 2021.

ADDRESSES: 
    Council address: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 4055 
Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, N Charleston, SC. 29405

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Iverson, Public Information 
Officer, SAFMC; phone: (843) 571-4366 or toll free: (866) SAFMC-10; 
fax: (843) 769-4520; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The scoping meetings will be conducted via 
webinar and accessible via the internet from the Council's website at 
https://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/public-hearings-scoping-meetings/. The 
scoping meeting on February 8, 2021 will begin at 5 p.m. and the 
scoping meeting on February 9, 2021 will begin at 9 a.m. Registration 
for the webinars is required. Registration information, a copy of the 
Public Scoping Document, an online public comment form and any 
additional information as needed will be posted on the Council's 
website at https://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/public-hearings-scoping-meetings/ as it becomes available. Public scoping comments are due by 5 
p.m. on February 10, 2021.

Amendment 10 to the Coral, Coral Reef and Live Hard Bottom Habitat FMP

    The draft amendment currently addresses a request from the rock 
shrimp industry to create a Shrimp Fishery Access Area (SFAA) along the 
eastern boundary of the northern extension of the Oculina Bank Coral 
HAPC to allow rock shrimp trawling and access to historic rock shrimp 
fishing grounds. Vessels fishing for rock shrimp in the South Atlantic 
region are required to carry approved Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) 
to harvest or possess rock shrimp. Establishing a SFAA would allow 
access to the area at times where the species is found slightly west of 
the existing boundary while retaining the integrity of the eastern 
boundary of the Oculina Bank Coral HAPC, maintaining the prohibition on 
all other bottom tending gear.
    During the scoping meetings, Council staff will present an overview 
of the amendment and will be available for informal discussions and to 
answer questions via webinar. Members of the public will have an 
opportunity to go on record to record their comments for consideration 
by the Council.

Special Accommodations

    These hearings 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: January 7, 2021.
Rey Israel Marquez,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-00419 Filed 1-11-21; 8:45 am]
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