[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 34 (Friday, February 18, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9553-9555]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-3650]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XA227
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (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 will hold a
meeting of its Spiny Lobster Committee, Mackerel Committee, Ecosystem-
Based Management Committee, Law Enforcement Advisory Panel, Joint Law
Enforcement Committee and Advisory Panel, Golden Crab Committee, Shrimp
Committee, Southeast Data, Assessment and Review (SEDAR) Committee,
Joint Executive/Finance Committee, Standard Operating, Policy and
Procedures (SOPPs) Committee, Snapper Grouper Committee and a meeting
of the Full Council. The Council will take action as necessary.
The Council will also hold an open informal public question and
answer session regarding agenda items, as well as public comment on
Regulatory Amendment 9 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan
(FMP) addressing commercial trip limits and possible changes to black
sea bass bag limits. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for additional
details.
DATES: The meeting will be held March 7-11, 2011. See SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION for specific dates and times.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Sea Palms Resort and
Conference Center, 5445 Frederica Rd., St. Simons Island, GA 31522;
telephone: (1-800) 841-6268 or (912) 638-3351; fax: (912) 638-5416.
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; e-mail: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Meeting Dates
1. Spiny Lobster Committee Meeting: March 7, 2011, 1:30 p.m. Until 2:30
p.m.
The Spiny Lobster Committee will review the draft of Amendment 10
to the Spiny Lobster Fishery Management Plan for the Gulf of Mexico and
South Atlantic Regions and the Draft Environmental Impact Statement
(DEIS). Amendment 10 addresses the requirements of the Reauthorized
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA)
including establishment of Annual Catch Limits (ACLs) and
Accountability Measures (AMs). The committee will modify Amendment 10/
DEIS based on Gulf Council actions as appropriate and approve the
modified Amendment 10/DEIS for public hearing.
Concurrent Session
2. Law Enforcement Advisory Panel Meeting: March 7, 2011, 1:30 p.m.
Until 5:30 p.m.
The Law Enforcement Advisory Panel (AP) will receive an overview,
followed by a discussion and development of recommendations, on the
following Council actions: Regulatory Amendment 9 to the Snapper
Grouper FMP; black sea bass bag limit analysis; and the Comprehensive
ACL Amendment. The Comprehensive ACL Amendment will specify ACLs, AMs
and other values as mandated in the MSA for species managed by the
Council and not subject to overfishing. This includes species in the
Snapper Grouper, Coral, Golden Crab, and Dolphin Wahoo fishery
management units.
The Committee will also review the Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based
Amendment (CE-BA) 2 that includes regulatory measures pertaining to the
harvest of octocorals and non-regulatory actions that update existing
Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) information. CE-BA 2 also modifies
management of Special
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Management Zones in South Carolina, amends sea turtle release gear
requirements for the commercial snapper grouper fishery, and designates
new EFH and EFH/Habitat Areas of Particular Concern.
The AP will also review and provide recommendations for Regulatory
Amendment 11 to the Snapper Grouper FMP containing alternatives to
modify regulations pertaining to the deepwater species in order to
reduce the socio-economic effects expected from the regulations in
Amendment 17B to the Snapper-Grouper FMP while maintaining or
increasing the biological protection to speckled hind and warsaw
grouper in the South Atlantic.
3. Mackerel Committee Meeting: March 7, 2011, 2:30 p.m. Until 3:30 p.m.
The Mackerel Committee will review the draft of Amendment 18 to the
Coastal Migratory Pelagic FMP for the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic
and the Environmental Assessment (EA) requirements of the MSA to set
ACLs and AMs for species managed in the FMP. The Committee will modify
Amendment 18/EA based on Gulf Council actions as appropriate, approve
the modified Amendment 18/EA for public hearing and provide direction
to staff on Mackerel Amendment 19. Amendment 19 will address the sale
of species in the FMP caught under the bag limit.
4. Ecosystem-Based Management Committee Meeting: March 7, 2011, 3:30
p.m. Until 5:30 p.m.
The Ecosystem-Based Management Committee will review comments from
public hearings, receive an overview of the CE-BA 2 actions and
alternatives and provide guidance to staff. The Committee will give the
initial approval for CE-BA 2 and receive an update on ecosystem
activities.
5. Joint Law Enforcement Committee and Advisory Panel Meeting: March 8,
2011, 8:30 a.m. Until 10 a.m.
The Joint Law Enforcement Committee and Advisory Panel will receive
a presentation on vessel monitoring systems, and the AP will provide
its report to the Committee.
6. Golden Crab Committee Meeting: March 8, 2011, 10 a.m. Until 11 a.m.
The Golden Crab Committee will review public scoping comments to
Amendment 5 to the Golden Crab FMP addressing a catch share program for
the commercial fishery and discuss appropriate changes to the
amendment.
7. Shrimp Committee Meeting: March 8, 2011, 11 a.m. Until 12 noon
The Shrimp Committee will receive a report on the over-wintering
status of the shrimp resource and determine if a closure is necessary.
8. SEDAR Committee Meeting: March 8, 2011, 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
The SEDAR Committee will receive an update on SEDAR activities, a
report on the SEDAR Steering Committee meeting, and follow-up actions.
The Committee will develop recommendations for the May 2011 Steering
Committee meeting.
9. Joint Executive/Finance Committees Meeting: March 8, 2011, 2:30 p.m.
Until 3:30 p.m.
The Joint Executive/Finance Committees will receive a status report
on the Calendar Year (CY) 2011 Council budget and activities, the
status of the Fiscal Year 2011 Congressional budget, and will review
and discuss the tentative CY 2011 Council budget and activities
schedule.
10. SOPPs Committee Meeting: March 8, 2011, 3:30 p.m. Until 5 p.m.
The SOPPs Committee will develop changes to the operational policy
and procedures in accordance with the final rule as proposed by staff.
11. Snapper Grouper Committee Meeting: March 9, 2011, 8:30 a.m. Until 5
p.m., and March 10, 2011, 8:30 a.m. Until 10 a.m.
The Snapper Grouper Committee will receive a report on activities
within the Oculina Bank Experimental Closed Area and receive a report
from the Scientific and Statistical Committee.
The Committee will receive an overview of the black sea bass bag
limit issues and analysis and provide directions to staff.
The Committee will review public hearing comments regarding
Regulatory Amendment 9, modify the amendment as appropriate, and
approve the amendment for formal Secretarial review. Regulatory
Amendment 9 addresses commercial trip limits for black sea bass,
vermilion snapper, gag and greater amberjack.
The Committee will review and modify as appropriate Regulatory
Amendment 11 and receive a report on the status of Amendment 18A.
Amendment 18A includes improvements for fisheries statistics along with
actions to modify the golden tilefish and black sea bass commercial
fisheries.
The Committee will review the public hearing comments, modify, and
recommend the initial approval of the Comprehensive Annual Catch Limit
(ACL) Amendment.
The Committee will report on the status of Amendments 20, 21, 22
and 24 to the Snapper Grouper FMP. Amendment 20 concerns the current
Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) program for wreckfish. Amendment 21
addresses alternatives for management of the snapper grouper fishery,
including effort and participation reductions, endorsements, catch
shares, and regional quotas. Amendment 22 includes options for long-
term management measures for red snapper in the South Atlantic as the
stock rebuilds. Amendment 24 addresses requirements under the MSA for
red grouper, including establishment of ACLs, AMs and a rebuilding
plan.
Note: There will be an informal public question and answer
session with an administrator from the National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS) and the Council Chairman on March 9, 2011 beginning
at 5:30 p.m.
Council Session: March 10, 2011, 10:30 a.m. until 5:15 p.m. and
March 11, 2011, 8:30 a.m. until 12 noon (Note: a portion of the meeting
will be Closed.)
Council Session: March 10, 2011, 10:30 a.m. until 5:15 p.m.
From 10:30 a.m.-10:45 a.m., the Council will call the meeting to
order, adopt the agenda, and approve the December 2010 meeting minutes.
Note: A public comment period on Snapper Grouper Regulatory
Amendment 9 and black sea bass bag limit changes will be held on
March 10, 2011 beginning at 10:45 a.m. and followed by public
comment regarding any other items on the Council agenda.
From 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m., the Council will receive a report from
the Snapper Grouper Committee, approve Regulatory Amendment 9 for
submission to the Secretary of Commerce, approve the black sea bass
recreational bag limit changes, give the initial approval of the
Comprehensive ACL Amendment, address issues from Regulatory Amendment
11, consider other Committee recommendations, and take action as
appropriate.
From 3:30 p.m.-3:45 p.m., the Council will receive a report from
the Spiny Lobster Committee, approve Spiny Lobster Amendment 10/DEIS
for public hearing, consider other Committee recommendations, and take
action as appropriate.
From 3:45 p.m.-4 p.m., the Council will receive a report from the
Mackerel Committee, approve Mackerel Amendment 18/EA for public
hearing, consider other Committee
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recommendations, and take action as appropriate.
From 4 p.m.-4:15 p.m., the Council will receive a report from the
Ecosystem-Based Management Committee, give initial approval of the CE-
BA 2, consider other Committee recommendations, and take action as
appropriate.
From 4:15 p.m.-4:30 p.m., the Council will receive a report from
the Golden Crab Committee, consider Committee recommendations, and take
action as appropriate.
From 4:30 p.m.-4:45 p.m., the Council will receive a report from
the SEDAR Committee, consider Committee recommendations, and take
action as appropriate.
From 4:45 p.m.-5:15 p.m. the Council will receive a legal briefing
on litigation (closed session).
Council Session: March 11, 2011, 8:30 a.m. until 12 noon.
From 8:30 a.m.-8:45 a.m., the Council will receive a report from
the joint Executive/Finance Committees and take action as appropriate.
From 8:45 a.m.-9 a.m., the Council will receive a report from the
SOPPs Committee, approve any changes to SOPPs, consider Committee
recommendations, and take action as appropriate.
From 9 a.m.-9:15 a.m., the Council will receive a report from the
Law Enforcement Committee, consider Committee recommendations, and take
action as appropriate.
From 9:15 a.m.-9:30 a.m., the Council will receive a report from
the Shrimp Committee, consider Committee recommendations, and take
action as appropriate.
From 9:30 a.m.-12 noon, the Council will receive status reports
from NOAA Fisheries' Southeast Regional Office, NOAA Fisheries'
Southeast Fisheries Science Center, review Experimental Fishing Permits
as necessary, receive agency and liaison reports, and discuss other
business including upcoming meetings.
Documents regarding these issues are available from the Council
office (see ADDRESSES).
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 March 3, 2011.
Dated: February 14, 2011.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-3650 Filed 2-17-11; 8:45 am]
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