[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 220 (Thursday, November 16, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78728-78729]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-25356]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XD522]


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.

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SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold meetings of the following: Mackerel Cobia Committee, Dolphin Wahoo 
Committee, Snapper Grouper Committee, Citizen Science Committee, 
Habitat and Ecosystem Committee, and the Southeast Data, Assessment and 
Review (SEDAR) 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 8:30 a.m. on Monday, 
December 4, 2023, until 12 p.m. on Friday, December 8, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Meeting address: The meeting will be held at The Beaufort 
Hotel, 2440 Lennoxville Road, Beaufort, NC 28516; phone: (252) 728-
3000. The meeting will also be available via webinar. 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: https://safmc.net/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: https://safmc.net/events/december-2023-council-meeting/. 
Written comments will be accepted from November 17, 2023, until 
December 8, 2023. These comments are accessible to the public, part of 
the Administrative Record of the meeting, and immediately available for 
Council consideration. A formal public comment session will also be 
held during the Council meeting.
    The items of discussion in the individual meeting agendas are as 
follows:

Council Session I, Monday, December 4, 2023, 8:30 a.m. Until 12 p.m. 
(Closed Session)

    The Council will meet in Closed Session to receive a litigation 
brief from NOAA General Counsel and consider appointments to advisory 
panels, workgroups, and the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) 
and Socio-Economic Panel (SEP).

Council Session I, Monday, December 4, 2023, 1:30 p.m. Until 5 p.m.

    The Council will receive reports from NOAA Office of Law 
Enforcement, the U.S. Coast Guard, Council liaisons, and state 
agencies. The Council will also receive a report on Congressional 
activities relative to fisheries and reports from recent meetings of 
the Council's Executive Committee, SSC, and Outreach and Communications 
Advisory Panel (AP).
    The Council will receive a presentation from NOAA Fisheries on the 
Southeast For-Hire Integrated Electronic Reporting (SEFHIER) Program 
and a presentation from NOAA Fisheries Southeast Fisheries Science 
Center on an update on the reliability of commercial discards.

Mackerel Cobia Committee, Tuesday, December 5, 2023, 8:30 a.m. Until 10 
a.m.

    The Committee will receive a report from the Mackerel Cobia AP, 
review public scoping comments for Amendment 13 to the Coastal 
Migratory Pelagics Fishery Management Plan addressing catch level 
adjustments for Spanish mackerel, and receive an update on plans to 
conduct port meetings for the mackerel fishery.

Dolphin Wahoo Committee, Tuesday, December 5, 2023, 10 a.m. Until 11 
a.m.

    The Committee will receive a report from the Dolphin Wahoo AP and 
an update on the Management Strategy Evaluation for Dolphin.

Snapper Grouper Committee, Tuesday, December 5, 2023, 11 a.m. Until 5 
p.m., and Wednesday, December 6, 2023, 8:30 a.m. Until 3:45 p.m.

    The Committee will receive a briefing on Exempted Fishing Permit 
applications, an update on amendments to the Snapper Grouper Fishery 
Management Plan under development, a System Management Plan Workgroup 
update, and a report from the Wreckfish Advisory Group and Sub-
Committee relative to Amendment 48 addressing wreckfish management. The 
Committee will consider recommendations from the Snapper Grouper AP for 
Amendment 46 addressing a private recreational permit for the snapper 
grouper fishery and consider approving the amendment for public 
hearings.
    The Committee will address Regulatory Amendment 36 addressing gag 
and black grouper vessel limits and on-demand gear for black sea bass 
and consider approving for public scoping, and consider Snapper Grouper 
AP recommendations for Amendment 55 addressing management measures for 
scamp and yellowmouth grouper. The Committee will discuss Regulatory 
Amendment 35 addressing red snapper management and re-consider 
submitting the amendment for Secretarial review, and discuss yellowtail 
snapper management. The Committee will receive an update on Best 
Fishing Practices Outreach and AP recommendations on topics not on the 
agenda.

Wednesday, December 6, 2023, 4 p.m.

    Public comment will be accepted from individuals attending the 
meeting in person and via webinar 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.

Citizen Science Committee, Thursday, December 7, 2023, 8:30 a.m.-10:30 
a.m.

    The Committee will review and approve updated research priorities 
for the Council's Citizen Science Program, receive an update on the 
SciFish platform and a demonstration, and an update on the Citizen 
Science Program.

Habitat and Ecosystem Committee, Thursday, December 7, 2023, 10:30 a.m. 
Until 12 p.m.

    The Committee will receive a report from the Habitat Advisory Panel 
and address plans for the 5-year Essential Fish Habitat Review. The 
Committee will receive an update on the Habitat Blueprint and review 
the draft workplan and annual report outline. The

[[Page 78729]]

Committee will address coral management and provide guidance on the 
utilization of deepwater coral modelling for management and 
resubmission of Coral Amendment 10.

SEDAR Committee, Thursday, December 7, 2023, 1:30 p.m. Until 2:30 p.m.

    The Committee will receive a report from the SEDAR Steering 
Committee, address Terms of Reference for the SEDAR assessment of 
Florida Keys/East Coast Florida and Gulf of Mexico hogfish (SEDAR 94), 
review the SEDAR schedule, and select species to consider for 2027 
assessments.

Council Session II, Thursday, December 7, 2023, 2:30 p.m. Until 5 p.m. 
and Friday, December 8, 2023, 8:30 a.m. Until 12 p.m.

    The Council will receive a litigation brief if needed, receive a 
staff report, and a report from the Council Coordination Committee. The 
Council will review Allocations Review Guidelines and consider 
approval, receive an update on stakeholder meetings planning, and 
receive a presentation on offshore wind activities. The Council will 
approve topics for a meeting of the Law Enforcement AP and receive 
reports from NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office and the Southeast 
Fisheries Science Center. The Council will receive Committee reports, 
review its workplan, review upcoming meetings, and take action as 
necessary. The Council will discuss any other business as needed.
    Documents regarding these issues are available from the Council 
office (see ADDRESSES).
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come 
before these groups 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: November 13, 2023.
Rey Israel Marquez,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-25356 Filed 11-15-23; 8:45 am]
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