[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 168 (Thursday, August 28, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50780-50782]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-19972]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XK00
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 a joint meeting of its Executive and Finance Committees, a meeting
of its Standard Operating, Policy and Procedure (SOPPs) Committee,
Advisory Panel Selection Committee (Closed Session), Joint Ecosystem-
based Management and Habitat Committees, Shrimp Committee, Spiny
Lobster Committee, Snapper Grouper Committee, Southeast Data,
Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) Committee, Allocation Committee, Limited
Access Privilege (LAP) Program Committee, Dolphin Wahoo Committee, a
joint meeting of its Golden Crab Advisory Panel and Deepwater Shrimp
Advisory Panel, and a meeting of the full Council.
The Council will also hold a public comment session regarding:
Amendment 7 to the Shrimp Fishery Management Plan (FMP) addressing rock
shrimp endorsements and economic reporting for the shrimp fishery; a
Generic Import Amendment for the Spiny Lobster FMP addressing
requirements for imported spiny lobster; Amendment 16 to the Snapper
Grouper FMP addressing measures to end overfishing for gag grouper and
vermilion snapper and interim allocations of these two species for
commercial and recreational fisheries; and Interim Rule measures to
address overfishing of red snapper and other snapper grouper complex
species. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for additional details.
DATES: The meeting will be held in September 2008. See SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION for specific dates and times.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Charleston Marriott, 170
Lockwood Boulevard, Charleston, SC 29403; telephone: (800) 968-3569 or
(843) 723-3000. Copies of documents are available from Kim Iverson,
Public Information Officer, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council,
4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, North Charleston, SC 29405.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Iverson, Public Information
Officer; telephone: (843) 571-4366 or toll free at (866) SAFMC-10; fax:
(843) 769-4520; email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Meeting Dates:
1. Joint Golden Crab Advisory Panel and Deepwater Shrimp Advisory Panel
Meeting: September 15, 2008, 1 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. (Concurrent
Session)
The Golden Crab and Deepwater Shrimp Advisory Panels will review
alternatives for Allowable Golden Crab Fishing Areas and Shrimp Fishery
Access Areas within the proposed deepwater Coral Habitat Areas of
Particular Concern. In addition the Deepwater Shrimp AP will discuss
proposed alternatives in the draft Shrimp Amendment 7 document
pertaining to the rock shrimp fishery.
2. Council Session: September 15, 2008, 1 p.m. until 2:30 p.m.
The Council will meet in full session to receive a report from the
Allocation Committee from its July 8-9, 2008 meeting. The Council will
consider Committee recommendations and take action as appropriate.
3. Joint Executive/Finance Committees Meeting: September 15, 2008, 2:30
p.m. until 4 p.m.
The Executive and Finance Committees will meet to review the status
of the Calendar Year 2008 Activities Schedule and budget, the status of
the Fiscal Year 2009 budget, and discuss the benefits of establishing a
Council Data Collection Improvement Committee.
4. SOPPs Committee Meeting: September 15, 2008, 4 p.m. until 5 p.m.
The SOPPs Committee will receive an update on the status of the
Secretarial review of the Council's SOPPs and develop changes to the
SOPPs if necessary.
5. Advisory Panel Selection Committee Meeting (Closed Session):
September 15, 2008, 5 p.m. until 6 p.m.
The Advisory Panel Selection Committee will meet in Closed Session
to review applications and develop recommendations for Council
consideration.
6. Joint Ecosystem-based Management and Habitat Committees Meeting:
September 16, 2008, 8 a.m. until 12 noon.
The Ecosystem-based Management and Habitat Committees will review
the Fishery Ecosystem Plan (FEP) and approve the FEP for a second round
of public hearings. The Committees will discuss recommendations from
the Joint Golden Crab and Deepwater Shrimp Advisory Panels, Review the
Comprehensive Ecosystem Amendment (CEA) addressing the designation of
Deepwater Coral Habitat Areas of Particular Concern, and approve the
CEA for a second round of public hearings. The Committees will also
discuss the proposal for a National Monument off the southeast coast
and other habitat-related issues.
7. Shrimp Committee Meeting: September 16, 2008, 1:30 p.m. until 2:30
p.m.
The Shrimp Committee will review advisory panel and public hearing
comments received on Amendment 7 to the Shrimp FMP, modify Amendment 7
if necessary, and develop a recommendation for submitting Amendment 7
for formal Secretarial review and approval.
[[Page 50781]]
8. Spiny Lobster Committee Meeting: September 16, 2008, 2:30 p.m. until
3:30 p.m.
The Spiny Lobster Committee will review public hearing comments,
advisory panel comments, and actions by the Caribbean Fishery
Management Council and the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council
concerning a three-Council Generic Import Amendment (GIA) to address
management issues regarding the import of spiny lobster. The Caribbean
Fishery Management Council has administrative lead for this amendment.
The Committee will develop recommendations for submitting the GIA for
formal Secretarial review and approval. The Committee will also review
the status of State of Florida actions on spiny lobster, and develop a
timeline for addressing Annual Catch Limit requirements.
9. Snapper Grouper Committee Meeting: September 16, 2008, 3:30 p.m.
until 5 p.m. and September 17, 2008, 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.
The Council's Snapper Grouper Committee will receive a report on
activities pertaining to the Oculina Bank, review Amendment 16 public
hearing comments and comments received on the Supplemental Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS), modify Amendment 16 as
necessary, and develop recommendations for submitting Amendment 16 for
formal Secretarial review. The Committee will review the Interim Rule
addressing red snapper and species addressed in Amendment 16 (gag,
vermilion snapper, black grouper, and red grouper) and develop
recommendations for submitting the Interim Rule for formal Secretarial
review. The Committee will also review an options paper for Amendment
17, modify the document as appropriate, provide further direction to
staff, and discuss and develop comments on the Annual Catch Limit
Proposed Rule.
10. SEDAR Committee Meeting: September 17, 2008, 5 p.m. until 6 p.m.
The SEDAR Committee will meet to discuss the SEDAR 16 stock
assessment review process for king mackerel in the South Atlantic and
Gulf of Mexico and develop recommendations for the SEDAR Steering
Committee.
11. Allocation Committee Meeting: September 18, 2008, 8 a.m. until 9
a.m.
The Allocation Committee will discuss future outlook components of
an allocation equation and provide guidance to staff.
12. LAPP Committee Meeting: September 18, 2008, 9 a.m. until 10 a.m.
The LAPP Committee will review and discuss the Wreckfish Individual
Transferable Quota (ITQ) Program, develop recommendations for
appointments to the Golden Tilefish Workgroup, and develop a Workgroup
meeting timeline.
13. Dolphin Wahoo Committee Meeting: September 18, 2008, 10 a.m. until
12 noon
The Dolphin Wahoo Committee will review the Dolphin Wahoo FMP,
receive a presentation on changes in the recreational harvest, and
review recent recreational and commercial catch levels.
14. Council Session: September 18, 2008, 1:30 p.m. until 6 p.m. and
September 19, 2008, 8 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.
Council Session: September 18, 2008, 1:30 p.m. until 6 p.m.
From 1:30 p.m. - 2 p.m., the Council will call the meeting to
order, adopt the agenda, and approve the June 2008 meeting minutes. The
Council will also elect a Chairman and Vice-Chairman.
From 2 p.m. - 2:30 p.m., the Council will hear a report from the
Shrimp Committee and approve Amendment 7 for submission to the
Secretary of Commerce, and consider other Committee recommendations and
take action as appropriate.
Note: A public comment session will be held at 2:00 p.m. regarding
Amendment 7 to the Shrimp FMP.
From 2:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., the Council will receive a report from
the Spiny Lobster Committee and approve the Generic Import Amendment
for submission to the Secretary of Commerce, consider other
recommendations, and take action as appropriate.
Note: A public comment session will be held at 2:30 p.m. regarding
the Spiny Lobster Generic Import Amendment.
From 3 p.m. - 6 p.m., the Council will receive a report from the
Snapper Grouper Committee, approve Amendment 16 for submission to the
Secretary of Commerce, approve an Interim Rule for submission to the
Secretary of Commerce, consider other Committee recommendations, and
take action as appropriate.
Note: A public comment session will be held beginning at 3 p.m.
regarding Snapper Grouper Amendment 16. The Council will take public
comment on the Interim Rule immediately following the public comment on
Amendment 16.
Council Session: September 19, 2008, 8 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.
From 8 a.m. - 8:15 a.m., the Council will receive a legal briefing
on litigation (Closed Session).
From 8:15 a.m. - 8:45 a.m., the Council will receive a presentation
on the Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species FMP.
From 8:45 a.m. - 9:15 a.m., the Council will receive a presentation
on forage fish.
From 9:15 a.m. - 9:30 a.m., the Council will receive a report from
the Joint Executive and Finance Committees, consider recommendations,
and take action as appropriate.
From 9:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m., the Council will receive a report from
the SOPPs Committee, consider recommendations, and take action as
appropriate.
From 9:45 a.m. - 10 a.m., the Council will receive a report from
the AP Selection Committee, consider recommendations, and take action
as appropriate.
From 10 a.m. - 10:15 a.m., the Council will receive a report from
the Joint Habitat and Ecosystem-Based Committees, approve the FEP and
the Comprehensive Ecosystem Amendment for a second round of public
hearings, consider other recommendations and take action as
appropriate.
From 10:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m., the Council will receive a report
from the SEDAR Committee, consider recommendations, and take action as
appropriate.
From 10:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m., the Council will receive a report
from the Allocation Committee, consider recommendations, and take
action as appropriate.
From 10:45 a.m. - 11 a.m., the Council will receive a report from
the LAPP Committee, appoint a Golden Tilefish Workgroup, consider other
Committee recommendations and take action as appropriate.
From 11 a.m. - 11:15 a.m., the Council will receive a report from
the Dolphin Wahoo Committee, consider recommendations and take action
as appropriate.
From 11:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., the Council will receive status
reports from NOAA Fisheries' Southeast Regional Office, NOAA Fisheries'
Southeast Fisheries Science Center, agency and liaison reports, review
Experimental Fishing Permit applications as necessary, and discuss
other business including upcoming meetings.
Documents regarding these issues are available from the Council
office (see ADDRESSES).
[[Page 50782]]
Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come
before this Council for discussion, those issues may not be the
subjects of formal final Council action during these meetings. Council
action will be restricted to those issues specifically listed in this
notice and any issues arising after publication of this notice that
require emergency action under section 305 (c) of the Magnuson-Stevens
Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council's intent to
take final action to address the emergency.
Except for advertised (scheduled) public hearings and public
comment, the times and sequence specified on this agenda are subject to
change.
Special Accommodations
These meetings are physically accessible to people with
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed to the Council office (see ADDRESSES)
by September 11, 2008.
Dated: August 25, 2008.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-19972 Filed 8-27-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S