[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 78 (Monday, April 26, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 22034]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-08540]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XB025]


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 hearings 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 May 12 and 13, 
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 
public hearings will begin at 5 p.m. Registration for the webinars is 
required. Registration information, a copy of the Public hearing 
summary and presentation, and an online public comment form will be 
posted on the Council's website at https://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/public-hearings-scoping-meetings/ on April 28, 2021. The Council will 
accept public comment on Coral Amendment 10 from April 28, 2021 through 
5 p.m. on May 14, 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 public hearings, Council staff will present an overview 
of the amendment and will be available to answer questions. 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: April 20, 2021.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-08540 Filed 4-23-21; 8:45 am]
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