[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 160 (Monday, August 23, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47063-47064]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-17991]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XB343]


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 of the South Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council.

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SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold meetings of the following: Snapper Grouper Committee; Dolphin 
Wahoo Committee; Mackerel Cobia Committee; and Habitat and Ecosystem-
Based Management Committee. The meeting week will also include a formal 
public comment session and a meeting of the Full Council.

DATES: The Council meeting will be held from 1 p.m. on Monday, 
September 13, 2021, until 12 p.m. on Friday, September 17, 2021. See 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES: Meeting address: The meeting will be held at the Town and 
Country Inn, 2008 Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC 29407; phone: (884) 
201-3033. The meeting will also be available via 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, and briefing book materials will be posted on the Council's 
website at: http://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/council-meetings/. Webinar 
registration links for the meeting will also be available from the 
Council's website.
    Public comment: Public comment on items on this agenda may be 
submitted through the Council's online comment form available from the 
Council's website at: http://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/council-meetings/. Comments will be accepted from August 30, 2021, until 
September 17, 2021. These comments are accessible to the public, part 
of the Administrative Record of the meeting, and immediately available 
for Council consideration.
    The items of discussion in the individual meeting agendas are as 
follows:

Council Session I, Monday, September 13, 2021, 1 p.m. Until 5:30 p.m.

    The Council will receive reports from state agencies, Council 
liaisons, NOAA Office of Law Enforcement, and the U.S. Coast Guard. The 
Council will receive updates on the Council's Citizen Science Program, 
outreach and communications efforts, development of the Allocations 
Decision Tool, the Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) Control Rule, the 
Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan, and additional topics as 
needed.

Snapper Grouper Committee, Tuesday, September 14, 2021, 8:30 a.m. Until 
5:30 p.m. and Wednesday, September 15, 2021, 8:30 a.m. Until 12 p.m.

    The Committee will receive an overview of the current two-for-one 
permit requirement for the South Atlantic Unlimited Snapper Grouper 
Commercial Fishing Permit and review comments from the Snapper Grouper 
Advisory Panel (AP). The committee will also receive an overview 
proposed modifications to greater amberjack management through 
Amendment 49 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and 
review recommendations from the Snapper Grouper AP. The Committee will 
review recommendations from the Snapper Grouper AP on proposed 
management measures for snowy grouper through Snapper Grouper Amendment 
51 and consider approving the amendment for public scoping. Snapper 
Grouper Amendment 44 addressing yellowtail snapper management measures 
will also be reviewed and considered for scoping approval.
    The Committee will review recommendations from its Scientific and 
Statistical Committee regarding red snapper management and review an

[[Page 47064]]

options paper addressing short-term management measures. The Committee 
will review proposed measures for the wreckfish fishery through Snapper 
Grouper Amendment 48 and modifications to red porgy management through 
Snapper Grouper Amendment 50. The Committee will receive guidance on 
rebuilding options from NOAA Fisheries for gag grouper, discuss 
vermilion snapper trip limits, receive an update on the South Atlantic 
Red Snapper Count and the Greater Amberjack Count in the South Atlantic 
and Gulf of Mexico, discuss topics for the next meeting of the Snapper 
Grouper AP, and receive a brief on an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) 
application.

Dolphin Wahoo Committee, Wednesday, September 15, 2021, 1:30 p.m. Until 
3:45 p.m.

    The Committee will receive an update on the status of Amendment 10 
to the Dolphin Wahoo FMP. The Amendment includes actions addressing: 
Revisions to recreational data and catch level recommendations; 
modifications to recreational accountability measures; measures to 
allow properly permitted commercial vessels with trap, pot or buoy gear 
on board to possess commercial quantities of dolphin and wahoo; removal 
of the current Operator Card requirement; and reductions in the 
recreational vessel limit for dolphin. The Council approved the 
amendment for Secretarial review during its June 2021 meeting. The 
Committee will also consider management measures to include in a future 
framework amendment.
    Formal Public Comment, Wednesday, September 15, 2021, 4 p.m.--
Public comment will be accepted from individuals attending the meeting 
on all items on the Council meeting agenda. The Council will be 
accepting public hearing comments on Amendment 50 to the Snapper 
Grouper FMP addressing management measures for red porgy.
    The Council Chair will determine the amount of time provided to 
each commenter based on the number of individuals wishing to comment.

Mackerel Cobia Committee, Thursday, September 16, 2021, 8:30 a.m. Until 
12 p.m.

    The Committee will review Coastal Migratory Pelagics (CMP) 
Amendment 34 addressing management measures for Atlantic king mackerel 
in the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico and CMP Amendment 32 
addressing management measures to end overfishing for Gulf of Mexico 
cobia. Both amendments will be considered for public hearing approval.

Habitat Protection and Ecosystem-Based Management Committee, Thursday, 
September 16, 2021, 1:30 p.m. Until 3 p.m.

    The Committee will review Amendment 10 to the Coral FMP, which 
would establish a shrimp fishery access area for the deepwater shrimp 
fishery along the Oculina Bank Habitat Area of Particular Concern and 
consider approving the amendment for Secretarial Review. The Committee 
will also receive an update on the Habitat and Ecosystem Blueprint and 
discuss topics for the next meeting of the Habitat Protection and 
Ecosystem-Based Management AP.

Council Session II, Thursday, September 16, 2021, From 3 p.m. Until 
5:30 p.m., and Friday, September 17, 2021, 8:30 a.m. Until 12 p.m.

    The Council will present the 2020 Law Enforcement Officer of the 
Year Award and hold elections of the Chair and Vice-Chair.
    The Council will receive an update from NOAA Fisheries Office of 
Protected Resources, review the Exempted Fishing Permit request, review 
the FMP Workplan, receive a staff report from the Executive Director 
and an update on Climate Change Scenario Planning. The Council will 
receive reports from NOAA Fisheries Southeast Fisheries Science Center 
and from the Southeast Regional Office.
    The Council will receive reports from the following committees: 
Snapper Grouper; Dolphin Wahoo; Mackerel Cobia; and Habitat Protection 
and Ecosystem-Based Management.
    The Council will discuss other business, 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.

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

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

    Dated: August 18, 2021.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-17991 Filed 8-20-21; 8:45 am]
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