[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 98 (Friday, May 22, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23997-23998]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-12027]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XP39
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC); Public Meetings
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic
andAtmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public meetings.
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SUMMARY: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council), its
Research Set-Aside Committee (RSA), its Squid, Mackerel, Butterfish
Committee (SMB), its Surfclam, Ocean Quahog, and Tilefish Committee,
its Ecosystems and Ocean Planning Committee, its Executive Committee,
and its Annual Catch Limits (ACL) and Accountability Measures (AM)
Committee will hold public meetings.
DATES: The meetings will be held Monday, June 8, 2009 through Thursday,
June 11, 2009. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and
times.
ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Radisson Martinique on
Broadway, 49 West 32nd Street, New York, NY 10001; telephone: (212)
736-3800.
Council address: Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 300 S.
New St., Room 2115, Dover, DE 19904; telephone: (302) 674-2331.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel T. Furlong, Executive Director,
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; telephone: (302) 674-2331 ext.
19.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On Monday, June 8 (in closed session) the
RSA Committee will meet with NMFS officials from noon until 3 p.m. The
RSA Committee will meet (in open session) NMFS Cooperative Research
staff from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. On Tuesday, June 9, the Squid, Mackerel,
Butterfish Committee will meet from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m. The Surfclam,
Ocean Quahog, and Tilefish Committee will meet from 11 a.m. until 12:30
p.m. The Ecosystems and Ocean Planning Committee will meet from 1:30
p.m. until 4:30 p.m. A scoping session for Sea Turtle Conservation and
Recovery in Relation to the Atlantic Trawl Fisheries will be held from
7 p.m. until 9 p.m. On Wednesday, June 10, the Council will hold its
Business Session from 8 a.m. until 9:45 a.m. From 9:45 a.m. until 10:30
a.m., NMFS officials will provide a presentation regarding the agency's
Sea Turtle Conservation and Recovery Strategy. From 10:30 a.m. until 12
p.m., the Council will discuss Amendment 11 to Squid, Mackerel, and
Butterfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). From 1 p.m. until 3 p.m., the
Council will discuss Amendment 5 to the Monkfish FMP. From 3 p.m. until
4:30 p.m., Squid, Mackerel, and Butterfish Specifications for 2010 will
be developed and adopted. From 4:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m., Surfclam and
Ocean Quahog Specifications for 2010 will be developed and adopted. On
Thursday, June 11, the Executive Committee will meet from 8 a.m. until
9 a.m. The ACL/AM Committee will meet from 9 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. The
Council will convene at 10:30 a.m. to receive a presentation on the New
England Council's Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Omnibus Amendment from
10:30 a.m. until noon. From 1 p.m. until 1:30 p.m., the Council will
receive a presentation from Rutgers University Scientists regarding
``Developing Ecological Indicators for Spatial Fisheries Management''.
NMFS' officials will provide a Marine Debris Program presentation from
1:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. From 2:30 p.m. until 4 p.m., the Council will
receive Committee Reports and discuss and act on any continuing or new
business.
Agenda items by day for the Council's Committees and the Council
itself are: Monday, June 8, the RSA Committee with the NMFS'
Cooperative Research Staff will hold a closed session to review and
comment on 2010 RSA proposals. In open session, the RSA Committee will
receive a presentation from the NMFS' Cooperative Research Staff on
NMFS' draft Cooperative Research Strategic plan, review and discuss
Mid-Atlantic RSA program performance and ways to improve program
coordination with other cooperative research efforts, and develop
comments as appropriate for Council consideration. On Tuesday, June 9,
the Squid, Mackerel, and Butterfish Committee will meet with Advisors
to review the Scientific and Statistical Committee's (SSC) advice and
Monitoring Committee's recommendations for the 2010 quota levels and
associated management measures; develop quota specifications and
associated management measures for Council consideration and action;
review and address status of Amendment 11; and, review and discuss
butterfish bycatch in Hudson Canyon. The Surfclam, Ocean Quahog, and
Tilefish Committee will meet with Advisors to review staff
recommendations for the 2010 quota specifications and associated
[[Page 23998]]
management measures for surfclams and ocean quahogs; and, develop quota
specifications and associated management measures for Council
consideration and action. The Ecosystem and Ocean Planning Committee
will meet to review and discuss NMFS' Report to Congress [State of
Science to Support an Ecosystem Approach to Regional Fishery
Management--MSA Section 406(f)]; receive an update on status of
proposed LNG facilities in the Mid-Atlantic Council's jurisdiction off
New Jersey/New York; and, receive an overview of NMFS' role and
responsibilities regarding non-fishery uses of the ocean. An evening
scoping session for Sea Turtle Conservation and Recovery in Relation to
the Atlantic Trawl Fisheries will be held. On Wednesday, June 10, the
Council will convene to conduct its regular Business Session, receive
Organizational, Council Liaison, Executive Director Reports, and
receive a report on the status of MAFMC's FMPs. A presentation will be
provided by NMFS officials on Sea Turtle Strategy and Potential Impacts
on Mid-Atlantic Fisheries. The Council will review alternatives
associated with the proposed management measures and select preferred
alternatives for Amendment 11 to the Squid, Mackerel, and Butterfish
FMP. The Council will also review and adopt the Public Hearing Document
(PHD) and associated Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)
regarding Amendment 11. The Council will review the Monkfish Advisory
Panel, Oversight Committee, and the SSC recommendations, and identify
measures to be developed and considered in the DEIS for Amendment 5 to
the Monkfish FMP. The Council will review the SMB Committee's
recommendations for 2010 quota specifications and associated management
measures, and develop and adopt 2010 quota specifications and
associated management measures for Atlantic mackerel, squids, and
butterfish. The Council will review the Surfclam and Ocean Quahog
Committee's recommendations for 2010 quota specifications (year 3 of
the existing 2008-10 multi-year quota specifications) and associated
management measures, and, as appropriate, adopt any changes to the 2010
quota specifications. On Thursday June 11, the Executive Committee will
meet to review highlights of the May 2009 Council Coordination
Committee (CCC) meeting, review and discuss proposed rules for Marine
Protected Areas (MPA) designations and Council operations Statement of
Operating Practices and Procedures (SOPP), and consider scheduling a
one-day meeting to address ACL/AM options. The ACL /AM Committee will
review comments received during the current scoping period, and discuss
possible additions, deletions, or modifications to description of
alternatives to be considered in the Omnibus Amendment based on
comments received. The Council will then receive a presentation by a
New England Council official regarding its Essential Fish Habitat (EFH)
Omnibus Amendment and potential impact on Mid-Atlantic Fisheries. The
Council will receive a presentation by Rutgers University Scientists
regarding ``Developing Ecological Indicators for Spatial Fisheries
Management'' and a presentation by a NMFS' official regarding its
Marine Debris Program. The Council will then hear Committee Reports and
conduct any continuing and new business.
Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come
before the Council for discussion, these issues may not be the subject
of formal Council action during this meeting. 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 such emergencies.
Special Accommodations
This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities.
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aid should
be directed to M. Jan Bryan, (302) 674-2331 ext 18, at least 5 days
prior to the meeting date.
Dated: May 19, 2009.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-12027 Filed 5-21-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S