[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 13, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 15934]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-05786]



[[Page 15934]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC557


North Pacific Fishery Management 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 North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its 
advisory committees will hold public meetings in Anchorage, AK.

DATES: The meetings will be held April 1-9, 2013. See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Anchorage Hilton Hotel, 500 
West 3rd Avenue, Anchorage, AK.
    Council address: North Pacific Fishery Management Council, 605 W. 
4th Avenue, Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 99501-2252.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Witherell, Council staff; 
telephone: (907) 271-2809.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Council will begin its plenary session 
at 8 a.m. on Wednesday April 3, continuing through Tuesday April 9, 
2013. The Scientific Statistical Committee (SSC) will begin at 8 a.m. 
on Monday April 1 and continue through Wednesday April 3, the Council's 
Advisory Panel (AP) will begin at 8 a.m. on Tuesday April 2 and 
continue through Friday April 5. The Enforcement Committee will meet, 
April 2, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. (T). All meetings are open to the public, 
except executive sessions.
    Council Plenary Session:
    The agenda for the Council's plenary session will include the 
following issues. The Council may take appropriate action on any of the 
issues identified.
    1. Executive Director's Report

NMFS Management Report
ADF&G Report
United States Coast Guard (USCG) Report
United States Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) Report
Protected Species Report

    2. Observer Program (Council only): Report from NMFS, outlines of 
first year report and Electronic Monitoring (EM); Report from Observer 
Advisory Committee (OAC).
    3. Groundfish issues; final action on Bering Sea Aleutian Island 
(BSAI) Flatfish Specifications Flexibility; Final action on American 
Fisheries Act (AFA) Vessel replacement Gulf of Alaska (GOA) sideboards.
    4. Steller Sea Lions (SSL) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS); 
review discussion paper on Bering Sea and Aleutian Island Pacific cod 
Allowable Biological Catch (ABC)/Total Allowable Catch (TAC) split; 
Initial review of the SSL EIS; select preliminary preferred alternative 
(PPA); Update on Biological Opinion (BiOp) analytical methods. (SSC 
only)
    5. Scallop Stock Assessment Fishery Evaluation (SAFE): Review and 
approve Scallop SAFE and harvest specifications.
    6. Community Quota Entity (CQE): Initial review/final action on CQE 
halibut/sablefish block restrictions.
    7. Cooperative (Coop) reports and Salmon Prohibited Species Catch 
(PSC) (Council only): Receive Amendment 80 Cooperative reports; receive 
Central Gulf of Alaska (CGOA) Rockfish Coop report; receive AFA pollock 
coop and Individual Program Agreements (IPA) reports; Industry progress 
report on BSAI Chum salmon bycatch; Update on salmon genetics research.
    8. Miscellaneous Issues: Preliminary review of analysis to create 
transit lane near Round Island; discussion paper on Bering Sea 
sablefish TAC specifications; expanded discussion paper on retention of 
4A halibut in BSAI sablefish pots; Crab modeling report (SSC only); 
Research Priorities (SSC only).
    9. Staff Tasking: Review Committees and tasking.
    The SSC agenda will include the following issues:
    1. Round Island Analysis.
    2. Steller Sea Lions.
    3. Scallop SAFE.
    4. CQE block limits.
    5. Crab Modeling.
    6. Salmon Genetics.
    7. Research Priorities.
    The Advisory Panel will address most of the same agenda issues as 
the Council except B reports. The Agenda is subject to change, and the 
latest version will be posted at http://www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/npfmc/.
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come 
before this group for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), 
those issues may not be the subject of formal action during these 
meetings. Actions 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 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 sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Gail Bendixen at (907) 271-2809 at 
least 7 working days prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: March 8, 2013.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-05786 Filed 3-12-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P