[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 18 (Friday, January 26, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5208-5209]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-01562]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XD666]


South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of public scoping meetings.

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SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold two public scoping meetings via webinar pertaining to Regulatory 
Amendment 36 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Snapper 
Grouper Fishery in the South Atlantic Region. This amendment revises 
the recreational vessel limits for gag and black grouper and considers 
necessary regulatory changes to accommodate the use of on-demand gear 
for the black sea bass pot commercial fishery.

DATES: The scoping meetings will be held via webinar February 12 and 
13, 2024, beginning at 6 p.m., EDT. For specific dates and times, see 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held via webinar. The webinar is open 
to members of the public. Information, including a link to webinar 
registration will be posted on the Council's website at: https://safmc.net/public-hearings-and-scoping/ when it becomes available.
    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: Scoping documents, an online public comment 
form, and other materials will be posted to the Council's website at 
https://safmc.net/public-hearings-and-scoping/ as they become 
available. Written comments should be addressed to John Carmichael, 
Executive Director, SAFMC, 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, N 
Charleston, SC 29405. Written comments must be received by February 16, 
2024, by 5 p.m. During the meetings, Council staff will provide an 
overview of actions being considered in the amendment. Staff will 
answer clarifying questions on the presented information and the 
proposed actions. Following the presentation and questions, the public 
will have the opportunity to provide comments on the amendment.

Regulatory Amendment 36 to the Snapper Grouper FMP

    Amendment 53 to the FMP for the Snapper Grouper Fishery of the 
South Atlantic Region became effective October 23, 2023, and 
established recreational vessel limits of 2 fish per vessel per day or 
per trip (depending on private recreational or for-hire component) of 
gag and black grouper. The Council intended for these limits to instead 
be an aggregate limit of 2 gag or black grouper per vessel. Therefore, 
the Council is considering revision of these recreational vessel limits 
to the originally intended aggregate limit through Regulatory Amendment 
36.

[[Page 5209]]

    Regulatory Amendment 36 also addresses accommodation of on-demand 
(also known as `ropeless') gear for black sea bass pots for the 
commercial sector. On-demand gear reduces the probability of 
entanglements by whales and other protected species by not having 
vertical lines in the water column for the entire time that the pots 
are being fished. This type of gear has been experimentally used for 
the last several years under exempted fishing permits (EFP), the latest 
of which expires in April 2025. Scoping for Regulatory Amendment 36 
will inform the Council of what changes to gear marking, 
identification, and stowage requirements are necessary to enable 
practical use of this type of gear in the commercial pot fishery beyond 
the EFP expiration. The Council will then determine a plan for 
addressing these changes through Regulatory Amendment 36 and other 
future amendments, as necessary.

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: January 23, 2024.
Diane M. DeJames-Daly,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-01562 Filed 1-25-24; 8:45 am]
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