[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 218 (Tuesday, November 16, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63338-63340]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-24963]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XB586]


South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

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: Mackerel Cobia Committee; Snapper 
Grouper Committee; Southeast Data, Assessment and Review (SEDAR) 
Committee; Citizen Science Committee; and Outreach and Communications 
Committee. The meeting week will also include a formal public comment 
session and a meeting of the Full Council (partially Closed Session).

DATES: The Council meeting will be held from 8:30 a.m. on Monday, 
December 6, 2021, until 12 p.m. on Friday, December 10, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Meeting address: The meeting will be held at the Beaufort 
Hotel, 2400 Lennoxville Road, Beaufort, NC 28516; phone: (252) 728-
3000. The meeting will also be available via webinar. Registration is 
required. See 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 agenda items 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 November 19, 2021, until December 10, 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, December 6, 2021, 8:30 a.m. Until 10 a.m. 
(Closed Session) and 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

    The Council will review applications for open seats on its advisory 
panels and the Socio-Economic Sub-panel of its Scientific and 
Statistical Committee. Participants for the SEDAR 82 assessment 
addressing South Atlantic Triggerfish and for the SEDAR 76 assessment 
for South Atlantic Black Sea Bass will also be reviewed and approved. 
The Council will receive a legal briefing if needed.
    The Council will then meet in Open Session to receive reports from 
state agencies, Council liaisons, NOAA Office of Law Enforcement, and 
the U.S. Coast Guard. The Council will receive an update on the review 
of Standardized

[[Page 63339]]

Bycatch Reporting Methodology (SBRM) in Council Fishery Management 
Plans from NOAA Fisheries and recommendations on SBRM from its 
Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC). Council members will review 
any Exempted Fishery Permit applications and additional topics as 
needed.

Mackerel Cobia Committee, Monday, December 6, 2021, 1:30 p.m. Until 5 
p.m.

    The Committee will review public hearings comments received for 
Coastal Migratory Pelagics (CMP) Amendment 34 addressing management 
measures for Atlantic king mackerel and Spanish mackerel in the South 
Atlantic and continue work on the amendment. The Committee will also 
review public hearing input received on CMP Amendment 32 addressing 
management measures to end overfishing for Gulf of Mexico cobia and is 
scheduled to recommend approval of the amendment for Secretarial 
review. The Committee will also review management options for draft CMP 
Amendment 33 addressing Gulf migratory group king mackerel.

Snapper Grouper Committee, Tuesday, December 7, 2021, 8:30 a.m. Until 
5:30 p.m. and Wednesday, December 8, 2021, 8:30 a.m. Until 3:45 p.m.

    The Committee will receive a presentation on the Ecopath Project on 
Red Snapper Recruitment including modelling team discussion and SSC 
comments. The Committee will discuss possible revisions to management 
of the Snapper Grouper fishery including framework options and items to 
consider for long-term management, and consider input from its Snapper 
Grouper Advisory Panel (AP) and the Private Recreational Reporting 
Workgroup. The Committee will also review a white paper on South 
Atlantic Snapper Grouper Commercial Fishing Permits and consider 
recommendations from the Snapper Grouper AP.
    The Committee will receive a presentation from NOAA Fisheries 
Southeast Fisheries Science Center on the SEDAR 68 Scamp Research Track 
Assessment and review SSC recommendations. The Committee will review 
options and recommendations from the Snapper Grouper AP for the 
following draft amendments to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management 
Plan (FMP): Amendment 51 addressing snowy grouper; Amendment 52 
addressing golden tilefish; and Amendment 53 addressing gag, and is 
scheduled to approve the amendments for public scoping.
    The Committee will also review proposed modifications to greater 
amberjack management through Amendment 49 to the Snapper Grouper FMP 
and is scheduled to approve the amendment for public hearings. The 
Committee will review public scoping comments and recommendations from 
the Snapper Grouper AP for Snapper Grouper Amendment 44 addressing 
yellowtail snapper management measures and continue work on Snapper 
Grouper Amendment 50 with modifications to red porgy management. The 
Committee will receive updates on projects for the South Atlantic Red 
Snapper Count and the Greater Amberjack Count in the Gulf of Mexico and 
South Atlantic, and review any additional recommendations from the 
Snapper Grouper AP.
    Formal Public Comment, Wednesday, December 8, 2021, 4 p.m.--Public 
comment will be accepted from individuals attending the meeting on all 
items on the Council meeting agenda. The Council Chair will determine 
the amount of time provided to each commenter based on the number of 
individuals wishing to comment.

Council Session II, Thursday, December 9, 2021, 8 a.m. Until 9 a.m. 
(Closed Session)

    The Council will meet in Closed Session to conduct an annual 
performance review of its Executive Director.

SEDAR Committee, Thursday, December 9, 2021, 9 a.m. Until 11 a.m.

    The Committee will receive a report from the SEDAR Steering 
Committee and consider revisions to current Council processes and 
approvals relative to stock assessments due to changes in SEDAR. The 
Committee will review the Terms of Reference and schedules for the 
following: SEDAR 68 Scamp Operational Assessment; SEDAR 82 Gray 
Triggerfish Research Track Assessment; SEDAR 83 Vermillion Snapper 
Operational Assessment; and the SEDAR 86 Red Grouper Operational 
Assessment. The Committee will also review the 2024 golden Tilefish 
Operational Statement of Work and address stock assessment 
prioritization.

Citizen Science Committee, Thursday, December 9, 2021, 11 a.m. Until 12 
p.m.

    The Committee will receive an update on the Council's Citizen 
Science Program and the program's research priorities and consider 
approving for adoption.

Outreach and Communications Committee, Thursday, December 9, 2021, 1:30 
p.m. Until 3 p.m.

    The Committee will receive a report from the Outreach and 
Communications AP, receive an update on the status of the Sea Grant 
Fellowship for outreach, and receive a demonstration of the Council's 
new website.

Council Session III, Thursday, December 9, 2021, From 3 p.m. Until 5:30 
p.m., and Friday, December 10, 2021, 8:30 a.m. Until 12 p.m.

    The Council will present the 2020 Law Enforcement Officer of the 
Year Award, discuss any applications for Exempted Fishery Permits, 
consider any legal briefing, and any SSC recommendations not covered 
earlier, if needed. The Council will receive staff reports, a briefing 
on the Kitty Hawk Offshore Wind Project, and review the FMP workplan 
and upcoming meetings. The Committee will receive reports from earlier 
Council sessions and reports from the following committees: Mackerel 
Cobia; Snapper Grouper; SEDAR, Citizen Science, and Outreach and 
Communications. The Council will also receive a report from the 
November 2021 meeting of its Executive Committee.
    The Council will receive reports from NOAA Fisheries Southeast 
Fisheries Science Center including an update on commercial e-logbook 
progress and from the Southeast Regional Office, including updates on 
the Southeast For-Hire Electronic Reporting Program, SAFE Report 
status, a protected resources update, and a blueline tilefish summary.
    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 this meeting. 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.

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    Note: The times and sequence specified in this agenda are subject 
to change.
    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: November 10, 2021.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-24963 Filed 11-15-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P