[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 238 (Tuesday, December 11, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 73608-73610]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-29899]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 635
RIN 0648-BB29
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; 2006 Consolidated Highly
Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan; Amendment 5
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public hearings.
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SUMMARY: On November 26, 2012, NMFS published a proposed rule for
Amendment 5 to the 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory Species (HMS)
Fishery Management Plan (FMP) in response to several shark stock
assessments that were completed from 2009 to 2012. As described in the
proposed rule, NMFS is proposing measures that would reduce fishing
mortality and effort in order to rebuild overfished Atlantic shark
species while ensuring that a limited sustainable shark fishery can be
maintained consistent with our legal obligations. The proposed measures
include changes to commercial quotas and species groups, the creation
of several time/area closures, a change to an existing time/area
closure, an increase in the recreational minimum size restrictions, and
the establishment of recreational reporting for certain species of
sharks. Comments received by NMFS will be considered in the development
and finalization of Amendment 5 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP. This
notice announces public hearings, conference calls, and an HMS Advisory
Panel meeting to discuss the proposed rule.
DATES: Written comments will be accepted until February 12, 2013.
Public hearings, conference calls, and an HMS Advisory Panel meeting
for the Amendment 5 proposed rule will be held from December 2012 to
February 2013. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for meeting dates, times,
and locations.
ADDRESSES: Public hearings will be held in Massachusetts, New Jersey,
North Carolina, Florida, and Louisiana, and via phone call/webinar.
NMFS will hold an HMS Advisory Panel meeting in Maryland. See
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for dates, times, and locations.
You may submit comments on this document, identified by NOAA-NMFS-
2012-0161, by any of the following methods:
Submission: Submit all electronic public comments via the
Federal e-Rulemaking Portal www.regulations.gov. To submit comments via
the e-Rulemaking Portal, first click the ``submit a comment'' icon,
then enter NOAA-NMFS-2012-0161 in the keyword search. Locate the
document you wish to comment on from the resulting list and click on
the ``Submit a Comment'' icon on the right of that line.
Mail: Submit written comments to Peter Cooper, 1315 East-
West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Please mark the outside of the
envelope ``Comments on the Draft Amendment 5 to the 2006 Consolidated
HMS FMP.''
Fax: 301-713-1917; Attn: Peter Cooper.
Instructions: Comments must be submitted by one of the above
methods to ensure that the comments are received, documented, and
considered by NMFS. Comments sent by any other method, to any other
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period,
may not be considered. All comments received are a part of the public
record and generally will be posted for public viewing on
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address, etc.) submitted voluntarily by the
sender will be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business
information, or otherwise sensitive or protected information. NMFS will
accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you
wish to remain anonymous). Attachments to electronic comments will be
accepted in Microsoft Word or Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file
formats only.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Cooper, Gu[yacute] DuBeck,
Michael Clark, or Karyl Brewster-Geisz at 301-427-8503.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Atlantic shark fisheries are managed
under the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Management of these species is
described in the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP, which is implemented by
regulations at 50 CFR part 635. Copies of the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP
and amendments are available from NMFS on request (see FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT).
On November 26, 2012 (77 FR 70552), NMFS published a proposed rule
for draft Amendment 5 to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP based on several
shark stock assessments that were completed from 2009 to 2012. The
assessments for Atlantic blacknose, dusky, and scalloped hammerhead
sharks indicated that these species are overfished and experiencing
overfishing. As described in the proposed rule, NMFS is proposing
measures that would reduce fishing mortality and effort in order to
rebuild overfished Atlantic shark species while ensuring that a limited
sustainable shark fishery can be maintained consistent with our legal
obligations and the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP. The proposed measures
include changes to commercial quotas and species groups, the creation
of several time/area closures, a change to an existing time/area
closure, an increase in the recreational minimum size restrictions, and
the establishment of recreational reporting for certain species of
sharks. Any comments received during the comment period will be
considered in the development and finalization of Amendment 5 to the
2006 Consolidated HMS FMP.
Request for Comments
Six public hearings will be held in Florida (2), Louisiana,
Massachusetts, New Jersey, and North Carolina to
[[Page 73609]]
provide the opportunity for public comment on the measures described in
the proposed rule and draft Amendment 5. NMFS will also hold two public
conference calls/webinars to provide individuals opportunity to submit
public comment if they are unable to attend a public hearing.
NMFS expects to consult with the HMS Advisory Panel on January 8,
2013, on the proposed rule and draft Amendment 5. This HMS Advisory
Panel meeting will consist of a presentation of the proposed measures
followed by a discussion with the Advisory Panel. There will also be an
opportunity for public comment in an open session after the Advisory
Panel discussion. See Table 1 for times, dates, and location.
NMFS has also asked to present information on the proposed rule and
draft Amendment 5 to the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic,
Mid-Atlantic, and New England Fishery Management Councils. Information
on the date and time of those presentations will be provided on the
appropriate council agenda.
Table 1--Dates, Times and Locations of Upcoming Public Hearings, Conference Calls, and HMS Advisory Panel
Meeting
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Location contact
Venue Date/time Meeting locations information
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HMS Advisory Panel Meeting........ January 8, 2013, 10 a.m.-3 Silver Spring, MD.... Silver Spring Civic
p.m.. Center, One Veteran's
Place, Silver Spring, MD
20910, (240) 777-5350.
Conference call/Webinar........... January 9, 2013, 1 p.m.-4 ..................... To participate in
p.m.. conference call, call:
(888) 469-2979,
Passcode: 2809363, To
participate in webinar,
RSVP at: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/74030603 register/74030603, A
confirmation email with
webinar log-in
information will be sent
after RSVP is
registered.
Public Hearing.................... January 17, 2013, 5 p.m.-8 Vero Beach, FL....... Vero Beach Community
p.m.. Center, 2266 14th
Avenue, Vero Beach, FL
32960, (772) 770-6517.
Public Hearing.................... January 15, 2013, 4 p.m.-7 Madeira Beach, FL.... Gulf Beaches Public
p.m.. Library, 100 Municipal
Drive, Madeira Beach, FL
33708, (727) 391-2828.
Public Hearing.................... January 22, 2013, 5 p.m.-8 Manalapan, NJ........ Monmouth County Public
p.m.. Library--Headquarters,
125 Symmes Road,
Manalapan, NJ 07726,
(732) 431-7220.
Public Hearing.................... January 24, 2013, 5 p.m.-8 Manteo, NC........... Commissioner's Meeting
p.m.. Room, Dare County
Administration Building,
954 Marshall C. Collins
Drive, Manteo, NC 27954.
Public Hearing.................... January 30, 2013, 5 p.m.-8 Gloucester, MA....... NOAA Fisheries Service,
p.m.. 55 Great Republic Drive,
Gloucester, MA.
Public Hearing.................... February 7, 2013, 5 p.m.-8 Belle Chasse, LA..... Belle Chasse Auditorium,
p.m.. 8398 Hwy 23, Belle
Chasse, LA 70037.
Conference Call................... February 5, 2013, 5 p.m.-8 ..................... To participate in
p.m.. conference call, call:
(888) 469-2979,
Passcode: 2809363, To
participate in webinar,
RSVP at: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/623300105 register/623300105, A
confirmation email with
webinar log-in
information will be sent
after RSVP is
registered.
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NMFS welcomes comments on any aspect or alternative considered in
the proposed rule. NMFS is specifically seeking comments on the
administration of dusky shark bycatch caps program in select areas
given limited additional observer program resources; the name of
reconfigured groupings of sharks that would continue to be managed
collectively in the reminder of what is currently the large coastal
shark complex for quota monitoring purposes; suggestions for improving
angler identification of shark species and reducing dusky shark
mortality in the recreational fishery; and whether NMFS should permit
the transit of closed areas if certain otherwise prohibited gear is
properly stowed and inoperable.
Public Hearing Code of Conduct
The public is reminded that NMFS expects participants at public
hearings and on phone conferences to conduct themselves appropriately.
At the beginning of each meeting, a representative of NMFS will explain
the ground rules (e.g., alcohol is prohibited from the meeting room;
attendees will be called to give their comments in the order in which
they registered to speak; each attendee will have an equal amount of
time to speak; attendees may not interrupt one another; etc.). The NMFS
representative will structure the meeting so that all attending members
of the public will be able to comment, if they so choose, regardless of
the controversial nature of the subject(s). Attendees are expected to
respect the ground rules, and those that do not will be asked to leave
the meeting.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
[[Page 73610]]
Dated: December 5, 2012.
Emily H. Menashes,
Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-29899 Filed 12-10-12; 8:45 am]
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