[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 32 (Friday, February 15, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11156-11159]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-03496]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC501


South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of meetings of the South Atlantic Fishery Management 
Council.

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SUMMARY: In addition to a Council Member Visioning Workshop, the South 
Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold meetings of 
the: Joint South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC)/Gulf of 
Mexico Fishery Management Council (GMFMC) King and Spanish Mackerel 
Committee; Ecosystem-Based Management Committee; Dolphin Wahoo 
Committee; Golden Crab Committee; Snapper Grouper Committee; Ad Hoc 
Data Collection Committee; Information & Education Committee; Law 
Enforcement Committee; Executive Finance Committee; and a meeting of 
the Full Council. The Council will take action as necessary. The 
Council will also hold an informal public question and answer

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session regarding agenda items and a formal public comment session.

DATES: The Council meeting will be held from 9 a.m. on Monday, March 4, 
2013 until 5 p.m. on Friday, March 8, 2013.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Sea Palms Resort and 
Conference Center, 5445 Frederica Road, St. Simons Island, GA 31522; 
telephone: (800) 841-6268 or (912) 638-3351; fax: (912) 638-5416.
    Council address: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 4055 
Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, N. Charleston, SC 29405.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Iverson, Public Information 
Officer, SAFMC; telephone: (843) 571-4366 or toll free: (866) SAFMC-10; 
fax: (843) 769-4520; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The items of discussion in the individual 
meeting agendas are as follows:

Council Member Visioning Workshop Agenda: Monday, March 4, 2013, 9 a.m. 
Until 12 Noon

    Receive a presentation by the Ad Hoc Visioning Committee, discuss 
the process and provide direction to staff.

Joint SAFMC/GMFMC King and Spanish Mackerel Committee Agenda: Monday, 
March 4, 2013, 1:30 p.m. Until 6 p.m.

    1. Receive and discuss updates on the status of commercial and 
recreational catches versus quotas for species under Annual Catch 
Limits (ACLs) and take action as appropriate.
    2. Receive an overview of the Joint South Atlantic/Gulf of Mexico 
Mackerel Amendment 19, pertaining to permits and tournament sale 
requirements, and Amendment 20, regarding boundaries and transit 
provisions. The joint committee will modify the amendments as 
appropriate and provide guidance to staff.
    3. Receive an overview of actions and alternatives in the South 
Atlantic Mackerel Framework, modify the amendment as appropriate and 
provide guidance to staff.

Ecosystem-Based Management Committee Agenda: Tuesday, March 5, 2013, 8 
a.m. Until 10 a.m.

    1. Review and discuss actions and alternatives in Coral Amendment 
8, pertaining to Coral Habitat Areas of Particular Concern (HAPCs) and 
transit through the Oculina HAPC. Provide guidance to staff.
    2. Receive a draft of the Council's Coral Memorandum of 
Understanding (MoU). Review and discuss input from the Habitat and 
Coral Advisory Panels (APs) and provide guidance to staff.
    3. Receive and discuss an update on Ecosystem activities and 
provide guidance to staff.

Dolphin Wahoo Committee Agenda: Tuesday, March 5, 2013, 10 a.m. Until 
11 a.m.

    1. Receive and discuss updates on the status of commercial and 
recreational catches versus quotas and take action as necessary.
    2. Receive an overview of scoping comments as well as the Decision 
Document for Dolphin Wahoo Amendment 5, pertaining to bag limit sales 
of fish and changes to the ACL and the Allowable Biological Catch 
(ABC). Discuss actions and alternatives to Amendment 5 and provide 
direction to staff.

Golden Crab Committee Agenda: Tuesday, March 5, 2013, 11 a.m. Until 12 
Noon

    1. Receive and discuss the status of commercial catches versus 
quotas and take action as necessary.
    2. Receive a report from the Golden Crab AP meeting.
    3. Receive an update on the status of Golden Crab Amendment 6, 
regarding catch shares. Determine whether to proceed with Amendment 6 
and take action as necessary.

Snapper Grouper Committee Agenda: Tuesday, March 5, 2013, 1:30 p.m. 
Until 5:30 p.m. and Wednesday, March 6, 2013, 8:30 a.m. Until 5 p.m.

    1. Receive and discuss updates on the status of commercial and 
recreational catches versus quotas for species under ACLs and take 
action as necessary.
    2. Discuss the status of amendments currently under formal review 
as well as a request for an extension of the yellowtail snapper 
temporary rule.
    3. Receive an overview of Snapper Grouper Amendment 30, regarding 
Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS), including a VMS presentation. Discuss 
the amendment, modify it as appropriate, select preferred alternatives 
and recommend approval of the amendment for public hearings.
    4. Discuss Regulatory Amendment 18, pertaining to vermilion snapper 
and red porgy. Review public hearing comments, modify the amendment as 
appropriate, select preferred alternatives, recommend approval of the 
amendment for formal Secretarial review, and deem the codified text as 
necessary and appropriate.
    5. Discuss Amendment 27, pertaining to blue runner and the 
management authority for yellowtail snapper, mutton snapper and Nassau 
grouper. Review public hearing comments, modify the amendment as 
appropriate, select preferred alternatives, recommend approval of the 
amendment for formal Secretarial review, and deem the codified text as 
necessary and appropriate.
    6. Discuss Regulatory Amendment 14, relating to management measures 
for greater amberjack, mutton snapper, gray triggerfish, hogfish, black 
sea bass, vermilion snapper and gag grouper. Review the options paper, 
provide guidance to staff on actions and alternatives, and discuss the 
timing of the amendment.
    7. Discuss Regulatory Amendment 16 options, relating to management 
measures for the commercial tilefish longline fishery. Review the 
options paper, provide guidance to staff on actions and alternatives, 
and discuss the timing of the amendment.
    8. Discuss Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and HAPCs for speckled 
hind and warsaw grouper. Review the results of the MPA Expert Workgroup 
Meeting, provide guidance to staff on actions and alternatives, and 
discuss timing.

    Note:  There will be an informal public question and answer 
session with the NMFS Regional Administrator and the Council 
Chairman on Wednesday, March 6, 2013, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Ad Hoc Data Collection Committee Agenda: Thursday, March 7, 2013, 8:30 
a.m. Until 12 Noon

    1. Receive an update on the status of the Joint South Atlantic/Gulf 
Generic Dealer Amendment, revise the amendment as appropriate and 
recommend approval of the amendment for formal Secretarial review.
    2. Review information that relates to bycatch action in 
Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based Amendment 3 (CE-BA 3). Revise the 
amendment as appropriate and recommend approval of the amendment for 
formal Secretarial review.
    3. Review the Joint South Atlantic/Gulf Generic For-Hire Reporting 
Amendment that pertains to the South Atlantic. Review the results of 
the Gulf Council actions, revise this portion of the amendment as 
appropriate, and recommend approval of these actions for formal 
Secretarial review. Additionally, review the information in the 
amendment that applies to both the Gulf and the South Atlantic, review 
the results of the Gulf Council actions, provide guidance to staff, and 
recommend approval of the next steps in the development of the 
amendment.
    4. Receive an overview of both the Joint South Atlantic/Gulf 
Generic

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Commercial Logbook Reporting Amendment and the Joint South Atlantic/
Gulf Generic Charterboat Reporting Amendment, review the results of the 
Gulf Council actions, provide guidance to staff, and recommend approval 
of the next steps in the development of the amendments.

Information and Education Committee Agenda: Thursday, March 7, 2013, 
1:30 p.m. Until 3 p.m.

    1. Receive an update on the Joint Outreach Projects: Marine 
Recreational Education Program (MREP) and Managing Our Nations' 
Fisheries 3 Conference.
    2. Receive an update on the use of social media tools, including: 
The Atlantic Coast Communication Group Social Media Workshop; the 
status of the smartphone regulation application; and the Council's use 
of Facebook. Review and discuss the recommendations of the Information 
& Education (I&E) AP and provide committee recommendations for Council 
consideration.
    3. Review and discuss the recommendations of the Joint Law 
Enforcement (LE) and I&E AP meeting regarding outreach efforts for VMS 
and provide direction to staff.
    4. Receive an update on the SAFMC Web site upgrade, review and 
discuss the recommendations of the Joint LE and I&E AP meeting 
regarding the upgrade and provide recommendations for Council 
consideration.
    5. Review and discuss the proposed outreach activities for 2013-14 
as well as recommendations from the I&E AP. Provide recommendations for 
Council consideration.
    6. Review the Council Visioning Process and the Strategic Planning 
Process for the Information & Education Program. Review and discuss 
recommendations from the I&E AP and provide direction to staff.
    7. Discuss the recommendations from the Joint LE and I&E AP meeting 
regarding communication improvements for regulatory and law enforcement 
issues with officers and field offices. Provide direction to staff.

Law Enforcement Committee Agenda: Thursday, March 7, 2013, 3 p.m. Until 
4 p.m.

    1. Receive a report from the LE AP meeting and the Joint LE and I&E 
AP meeting. Discuss the reports and take action as appropriate.

Executive Finance Committee Agenda: Thursday, March 7, 2013, 4 p.m. 
Until 5:30 p.m.

    1. Receive an update on the status of the federal fiscal year (FY) 
2013 budget and the calendar year (CY) 2013 budget expenditures.
    2. Receive an update on the Joint Committee on South Florida 
Management Issues activities.
    3. Discuss Council Follow-up and Priorities and address other 
issues as appropriate.

Council Session Agenda: Friday, March 8, 2013, 8:30 a.m. Until 5 p.m.

    8:30-8:45 a.m.: Call the meeting to order, adopt the agenda and 
approve the December 2012 minutes.
    8:45 a.m.: A formal public comment session will be held on: Snapper 
Grouper Regulatory Amendment 18; Snapper Grouper Amendment 27; the 
extension of the yellowtail snapper temporary rule; Joint South 
Atlantic/Gulf Generic Dealer Amendment; Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based 
Amendment 3; Joint South Atlantic/Gulf Generic For-Hire Reporting 
Amendment (South Atlantic only); followed by comment on any other item 
on the agenda.
    10:30-11:15 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the 
Snapper Grouper Committee and will approve the following amendments for 
formal Secretarial review: The extension of the yellowtail snapper 
temporary rule; Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 18; and Snapper 
Grouper Amendment 27. The Council will approve Snapper Grouper 
Amendment 30 for public hearing. The Council will consider other 
Committee recommendations and take action as appropriate.
    11:15 a.m.-12 noon: The Council will receive a presentation on 
Amendment 8 to the Consolidated Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery 
Management Plan. This amendment pertains to commercial swordfish 
permits.
    1-1:15 p.m.: The Council will receive a legal briefing on 
litigation. (CLOSED SESSION)
    1:15-1:45 p.m.: The Council will receive a report from the Ad Hoc 
Data Collection Committee and will approve the following amendments for 
formal Secretarial review: the Joint South Atlantic/Gulf Generic Dealer 
Amendment; CE-BA 3; and the Joint South Atlantic/Gulf Generic For-Hire 
Reporting Amendment (South Atlantic only). The Council will consider 
other Committee recommendations and take action as appropriate.
    1:45-2 p.m.: The Council will receive a report from the King & 
Spanish Mackerel Committee, consider other recommendations and take 
action as appropriate.
    2-2:15 p.m.: The Council will receive a report from the Ecosystem-
Based Management Committee, consider other recommendations and take 
action as appropriate.
    2:15-2:30 p.m.: The Council will receive a report from the Dolphin 
Wahoo Committee, consider other recommendations and take action as 
appropriate.
    2:30-2:45 p.m.: The Council will receive a report from the Golden 
Crab Committee, consider other recommendations and take action as 
appropriate.
    2:45-3 p.m.: The Council will receive a report from the Information 
& Education Committee, consider other recommendations and take action 
as appropriate.
    3-3:15 p.m.: The Council will receive a report from the Law 
Enforcement Committee, consider other recommendations and take action 
as appropriate.
    3:15-3:30 p.m.: The Council will receive a report from the 
Executive Finance Committee, consider other recommendations and take 
action as appropriate.
    3:30-5 p.m.: The Council will receive presentations and status 
reports from the NOAA Southeast Regional Office (SERO) and the NMFS 
Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC), review and develop 
recommendations on Experimental Fishing Permits, review 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 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

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for auxiliary aids should be directed to the 
council office (see ADDRESSES) 3 days prior to the meeting.

    Note:  The times and sequence specified in this agenda are 
subject to change.



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    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: February 11, 2013.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-03496 Filed 2-14-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P