[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 13, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14735-14736]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-5949]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XB078
New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; public meeting.
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SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council's (Council)
Groundfish Oversight Committee will meet to consider actions affecting
New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
DATES: The meeting will be held on Thursday, March 29, 2012 at 8:30
a.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Providence Biltmore Hotel,
11 Dorrance Street, Providence, RI 02903; telephone: (401) 421-0700.
Council Address: New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water
Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director,
New England Fishery Management Council; telephone: (978) 465-0492.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Agenda
The Groundfish Committee will meet to continue development of two
management actions. The Committee will continue development of an
action to modify measures that apply to sectors. This discussion is
expected to focus primarily on monitoring issues, including goals and
objectives and possible funding mechanisms. The Committee may also
discuss full retention of allocate groundfish species and other sector
framework issues. The Committee will discuss an action to establish
acceptable biological catches (ABCs) and annual catch limits (ACLs) for
fishing years 2013 and 2014. As part of this discussion the Committee
will receive a preliminary report on recently updated assessments and
may discuss further the Council's response to the
[[Page 14736]]
recent Gulf of Maine cod assessment. Setting ABCs/ACLs may also require
modification of recreational fishing measures and the Committee may
begin this discussion. The Committee may also discuss adopting
additional sub-ACLs for the scallop fishery and pursuing the Mixed
Stock Exception for SNE/MA windowpane flounder. The Committee will
receive an update on Plan Development Team work related to possible
modifications to groundfish closed areas. They will receive a report on
the recent Endangered Species Act listing of Atlantic Sturgeon and will
discuss ways to reduce sturgeon takes. The Committee will also discuss
the rockhopper/roller gear restriction in the western Gulf of Maine and
develop a recommended response to a request for clarification from the
National Marine Fisheries Service. Other business may be discussed.
Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come
before this group for discussion, those issues may not be the subject
of formal action during this meeting. 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
This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities.
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids
should be directed to Paul J. Howard (see ADDRESSES) at least 5 days
prior to the meeting date.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: March 7, 2012.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-5949 Filed 3-12-12; 8:45 am]
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