[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 218 (Tuesday, November 16, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63340-63342]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-24964]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XB587]


Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold its 142nd Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), Executive 
and Budget Standing Committee, and 189th Council meetings to take 
actions on fishery management issues in the Western Pacific Region.

DATES: The meetings will be held between November 30 and December 9, 
2021. For specific times and agendas, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held by web conference via Webex. 
Instructions for connecting to the web conference and providing oral 
public comments will be posted on the Council website at 
www.wpcouncil.org. For assistance with the web conference connection, 
contact the Council office at (808) 522-8220.
    The Council has arranged host sites only for the 189th Council 
meeting at the following venues: Cliff Pointe, 304 W. O'Brien Drive, 
Hagatna, Guam; BRI Building Suite 205, Kopa Di Oru St., Garapan, 
Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI); and, Tedi 
of Samoa Building Suite 208B, Fagatogo Village, American Samoa.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Kitty M. Simonds, Executive 
Director, Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; phone: (808) 522-
8220.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: All times shown are in Hawaii Standard Time. 
The 142nd SSC meeting will be held between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. on 
November 30-December 2, 2021. The Executive and Budget Standing 
Committee meeting will be held between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. on December 6, 
2021. The 189th Council meeting will be held between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. 
on December 7-9, 2021.
    Please note that the evolving public health situation regarding 
COVID-19 may affect the conduct of the December Council and its 
associated meetings. At the time this notice was submitted for 
publication, the Council anticipated convening the meeting by web 
conference with host site locations in Guam, CNMI and American Samoa 
for the 189th Council meeting only. Council staff will monitor COVID-19 
developments and will determine the extent to which in-person public 
participation at host sites will be allowable consistent with 
applicable local and federal safety and health guidelines. If public 
participation will be limited to web conference only or on a first-
come-first-serve basis consistent with applicable guidelines, the 
Council will post notice on its website at www.wpcouncil.org.
    Agenda items noted as ``Final Action'' refer to actions that may 
result in Council transmittal of a proposed fishery management plan, 
proposed plan amendment, or proposed regulations to the U.S. Secretary 
of Commerce, under Sections 304 or 305 of the MSA. In addition to the 
agenda items listed here, the Council and its advisory bodies will hear

[[Page 63341]]

recommendations from Council advisors. An opportunity to submit public 
comment will be provided throughout the agendas. The order in which 
agenda items are addressed may change and will be announced in advance 
at the Council meeting. The meetings will run as late as necessary to 
complete scheduled business.
    Background documents for the 189th Council meeting will be 
available at www.wpcouncil.org. Written public comments on final action 
items at the 189th Council meeting should be received at the Council 
office by 5 p.m. HST, December 3, 2021, and should be sent to Kitty M. 
Simonds, Executive Director; Western Pacific Fishery Management 
Council, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813, phone: 
(808) 522-8220 or fax: (808) 522-8226; or email: [email protected]. 
Written public comments on all other agenda items may be submitted for 
the record by email throughout the duration of the meeting. 
Instructions for providing oral public comments during the meeting will 
be posted on the Council website. This meeting will be recorded (audio 
only) for the purposes of generating the minutes of the meeting.

Agenda for the 142nd SSC Meeting

Tuesday, November 30, 2021, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

1. Introductions
2. Approval of Draft Agenda and Assignment of Rapporteurs
3. Status of the 141st SSC Meeting Recommendations
4. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) Director Report
5. Program Planning and Research
    A. Report on the Territorial Creel Survey Expansion
    B. Report on the Center for Independent Experts (CIE) Review of the 
Territorial Creel Survey Expansion
    C. Improving Collaboration Between Stakeholders: Territorial 
Bottomfish Stock Assessment in the Pacific Islands
    D. Report on the American Samoa Bottomfish Data Workshop with the 
Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources (DMWR)
    E. SSC Working Group Report on American Samoa Bottomfish Data 
Evaluation
    F. Council Coordination Committee (CCC) Reports
    1. Area-Based Management Working Group
    2. Environmental Justice
    G. Public Comment
    H. SSC Discussion and Recommendations
6. Protected Species
    A. Hawaii Longline Fishery Seabird Mitigation Measures
    1. Modification of Seabird Interaction Mitigation Measures in the 
Deep-Set Longline Fishery (Action Item)
    2. Hawaii Shallow-Set Longline Fishery Experimental Fishing Permit
    B. False Killer Whale Issues
    1. Report of the False Killer Whale Weak Hook Study
    2. Hawaii Longline Acoustic Monitoring Study
    3. Take Reduction Plan Research Priorities
    C. Endangered Species Act (ESA) Consultations for the Hawaii Deep-
set Longline Fishery, American Samoa Longline Fishery, and Bottomfish 
Fisheries
    D. ESA and Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) Updates
    E. Public Comment
    F. SSC Discussion and Recommendations

Wednesday, December 1, 2021, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

7. Pelagic and International Fisheries
    A. American Samoa Longline Fishery Report
    B. Hawaii Longline Fishery Report
    C. Hawaii Community Tagging Program
    D. Horizontal Movements, Utilization Distributions, and Mixing 
Rates of Yellowfin Tuna
    E. SSC Working Group on Area-Based Management
    F. International Fisheries
    1. South Pacific Regional Fishery Management Organization Science 
Committee
    2. 18th Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) 
Regular Session
    G. Public Comment
    H. SSC Discussion and Recommendations

Thursday, December 2, 2021, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

8. Other Business
    A. March 15-17, 2022 SSC Meeting Dates
9. Summary of SSC Recommendations to the Council

Agenda for the Executive and Budget Standing Committee

Monday, December 6, 2021, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

1. Financial Reports
2. Administrative Reports
3. Fall CCC Report
    A. Area-Based Management Working Group
    B. Environmental Justice
4. Council Programs
5. Council Family Changes
6. Meetings and Workshops
7. Other Issues
8. Public Comment
9. Discussion and Recommendations

Agenda for the 189th Council Meeting

Tuesday, December 7, 2021, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Approval of the 189th Agenda
3. Approval of the 187th and 188th Meeting Minutes
4. Executive Director's Report
5. Agency Reports
    A. NMFS
    1. Pacific Islands Regional Office
    2. PIFSC
    B. NOAA Office of General Counsel Pacific Islands Section
    C. Enforcement
    1. U.S. Coast Guard
    2. NOAA Office of Law Enforcement
    3. NOAA Office of General Counsel Enforcement Section
    D. U.S. State Department
    E. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
    F. Public Comment
    G. Council Discussion and Action
6. Program Planning and Research
    A. National Legislative Report
    B. Report on the Territorial Creel Survey Expansion
    C. Report on the CIE Review of the Territorial Creel Survey 
Expansion
    D. Improving Collaboration Between Stakeholders: Territorial 
Bottomfish Stock Assessment in the Pacific Islands
    E. Regional Communications and Outreach Report
    F. Advisory Group Report and Recommendations
    1. Advisory Panel (AP)
    2. Fishing Industry Advisory Committee (FIAC)
    3. Non-Commercial Fishing Advisory Committee (NCFAC)
    4. Social Science Planning Committee
    5. SSC
    G. Public Comment
    H. Council Discussion and Action

Tuesday, December 7, 2021, 4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

    Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items

Wednesday, December 8, 2021, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

7. Mariana Archipelago
    A. Guam
    1. Department of Agriculture/Division Aquatic and Wildlife 
Resources Report

[[Page 63342]]

    2. Isla Informe
    3. The Pacific Community (SPC) Regional Technical Meeting on 
Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture
    B. CNMI
    1. Arongol Fal[uacute]
    2. Department of Lands Natural Resources/Division of Fish and 
Wildlife Report
    C. Advisory Group Report and Recommendations
    1. AP
    2. FIAC
    3. NCFAC
    4. SSC
    D. Public Comment
    E. Council Discussion and Action
8. American Samoa Archipelago
    A. Motu Lipoti
    B. DMWR Report
    C. Report on the American Samoa Bottomfish Data Workshop with DMWR
    D. SSC Report on the American Samoa Bottomfish Data Evaluation
    E. SPC Regional Technical Meeting on Coastal Fisheries and 
Aquaculture
    F. Advisory Group Report and Recommendations
    1. AP
    2. FIAC
    3. NCFAC
    4. SSC
    G. Public Comment
    H. Council Discussion and Action
9. Protected Species
    A. Hawaii Longline Fishery Seabird Mitigation Measures
    1. Modification of Seabird Interaction Mitigation Measures in the 
Deep-Set Longline Fishery (Final Action)
    2. Hawaii Shallow-Set Longline Fishery Experimental Fishing Permit
    B. False Killer Whale Issues
    1. Report of the False Killer Whale Weak Hook Study
    2. Hawaii Longline Acoustic Monitoring Study
    C. ESA Consultations for the Hawaii Deep-Set Longline Fishery, 
American Samoa Longline Fishery, and Bottomfish Fisheries
    D. ESA and MMPA Updates
    E. Advisory Group Report and Recommendations
    1. AP
    2. FIAC
    3. NCFAC
    4. SSC
    F. Public Comment
    G. Council Discussion and Action

Thursday, December 9, 2021, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

10. Pelagic and International Fisheries
    A. American Samoa Longline Fishery Report
    B. Hawaii Longline Fishery Report
    C. Hawaii Community Tagging Program
    D. Area-Based Management Working Group Reports
    1. CCC Working Group
    2. SSC Working Group
    E. International Fisheries
    1. WCPFC 17th Technical and Compliance Committee
    2. WCPFC 17th Northern Committee Report
    3. Permanent Advisory Committee
    4. South Pacific Albacore Management Issues
    5. Outcome of WCPFC 18th Regular Session
    F. Advisory Group Report and Recommendations
    1. AP
    2. FIAC
    3. NCFAC
    4. SSC
    G. Pelagic and International Standing Committee
    H. Public Comment
    I. Council Discussion and Action
11. Hawaii Archipelago and Pacific Remote Island Areas
    A. Moku Pepa
    B. Department of Land and Natural Resources/Division of Aquatic 
Resources Report (Legislation, Enforcement)
    C. Green Turtle Management
    D. Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Proposed National Marine Sanctuary 
Update
    E. Advisory Group Report and Recommendations
    1. AP
    2. FIAC
    3. NCFAC
    4. SSC
    F. Public Comment
    G. Council Discussion and Action
12. Administrative Matters
    A. Council Member and Staff Ethics Training
    B. Financial Reports
    C. Administrative Reports
    D. Fall CCC Report
    1. Environmental Justice
    E. Proposed Coral Reef Projects
    F. Council Family Changes
    G. Meetings and Workshops
    H. Standing Committee Report
    I. Public Comment
    J. Council Discussion and Action
13. Other Business
14. Election of Officers

    Non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before 
the Council for discussion and formal Council action during its 189th 
meeting. However, Council action on regulatory issues will be 
restricted to those issues specifically listed in this document and any 
regulatory issue arising after publication of this document that 
requires emergency action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council's intent to 
take action to address the emergency.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are accessible to people with disabilities. Requests 
for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be 
directed to Kitty M. Simonds, (808) 522-8220 (voice) or (808) 522-8226 
(fax), at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.
    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. 2021-24964 Filed 11-15-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P