[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 98 (Wednesday, May 21, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29169-29172]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-11745]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XD301
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public meetings of the South Atlantic Fishery
Management Council (SAFMC).
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SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will
hold a Visioning Project Workshop, receive a presentation from NOAA
Fisheries on the Development of a National Recreational Fishing Policy,
and hold a joint committee meeting of the Habitat & Environmental
Protection Committee and Ecosystem-Based Management Committee. The
Council will also hold meetings of the: Executive Finance Committee;
Protected Resources Committee; Scientific and Statistical Committee
(SSC) Selection Committee (CLOSED SESSION); Advisory Panel Selection
Committee (CLOSED SESSION); Law Enforcement Committee (CLOSED SESSION);
Southeast Data, Assessment and Review (SEDAR) Committee; Snapper
Grouper Committee; Joint committee meeting of the Dolphin Wahoo
Committee and Snapper Grouper Committee; Highly Migratory Species (HMS)
Committee; King & Spanish Mackerel Committee; Information and Education
Committee; Golden Crab Committee, Data Collection 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
session regarding agenda items and a formal public comment session.
DATES: The Council meeting will be held from 9 a.m. on Monday, June 9,
2014 until 3:15 p.m. on Friday, June 13, 2014.
ADDRESSES:
Meeting address: The meetings will be held at the Sawgrass
Marriott, 1000 PGA Boulevard, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082; telephone:
(800) 457-4653 or (904) 285-7777; fax: (904) 285-0906.
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:
Visioning Workshop, Monday, June 9, 2014, 9 a.m. Until 11:30 a.m.
1. Introduction and overview of the port meetings.
2. Review and discuss state port meeting summaries and comments
received via port meeting discussion forms.
3. Provide direction to staff regarding planning for next steps.
NOAA Fisheries Presentation on Development of a National Recreational
Fishing Policy, Monday, June 9, 2014, 11:30 a.m. Until 12 Noon
1. Staff from NOAA Fisheries will provide the Council with a
presentation on the development of a National Recreational Fishing
Policy.
Joint Habitat Committee and Ecosystem-Based Management Committees,
Monday, June 9, 2014, 1:30 p.m. Until 3:30 p.m.
1. Receive reports from meetings of the Habitat Advisory Panel
(AP), Coral AP and Deepwater Shrimp AP.
2. Review and approve redrafted Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) policy
statements.
3. Receive an update on the status of Coral Amendment 8 addressing
Coral Habitat Areas of Particular Concern (HAPCs) and transit through
the Oculina Bank HAPC.
4. Receive an update on ecosystem activities.
Executive Finance Committee, Monday, June 9, 2014, 3:30 p.m. Until 4:30
p.m.
1. Approve the Calendar Year (CY) 2014 Council budget.
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2. Receive updates on the status of the CY 2014 budget
expenditures.
3. Address the Council Follow-up and priorities.
4. Receive an update on the Joint Committee on South Florida
Management Issues.
5. Receive an overview of proposed Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act bills, a report on the Council
Coordinating Committee meeting, an update on the status of the NOAA
Fisheries Beaufort Lab, and address other issues as appropriate.
Protected Resources Committee, Monday, June 9, 2014, 4:30 p.m. Until
5:30 p.m.
1. Receive an update on ongoing consultations from the NOAA
Fisheries Southeast Regional Office (SERO) Protected Resources
Division.
2. Receive a report on: The final Biological Opinion for the
Southeastern Shrimp Fisheries; a report on the final determination for
coral listings; and the proposed critical habitat for loggerhead sea
turtles.
3. Develop committee recommendations as appropriate.
SSC Selection Committee (Closed Session), Tuesday, June 10, 2014, 8:30
a.m. Until 9:30 a.m.
Review SSC applications and develop recommendations for
appointments and/or reappointments.
AP Selection Committee (Closed Session), Tuesday, June 10, 2014, 9:30
a.m. Until 10:30 a.m.
1. Review advisory panel applications and develop recommendations
for appointments and/or reappointments.
2. Develop committee recommendations as appropriate.
Law Enforcement Committee (Closed Session), Tuesday, June 10, 2014,
10:30 a.m. Until 11 a.m.
Develop recommendations for Law Enforcement Officer of the Year
Award.
SEDAR Committee, Tuesday, June 10, 2014, 11 a.m. Until 12 Noon
1. Receive an update on SEDAR activities.
2. Receive an overview on the Council's assessment priorities.
3. Receive the SEDAR Steering Committee Report, an overview of the
South Atlantic Fishery Dependent Workshop and the Council's assessment
peer review process.
4. Review the 2014 research and monitoring plan.
Snapper Grouper Committee Agenda, Tuesday, June 10, 2014, 1:30 p.m.
Until 5:30 p.m. and Wednesday, June 11, 2014, 8:30 a.m. Until 5 p.m.
1. Receive and discuss the status of commercial and recreational
catches versus quotas for species under Annual Catch Limits (ACLs) with
an overview of the commercial golden tilefish overage. The committee
will take action as appropriate.
2. Receive an update on the status of Snapper Grouper amendments
under formal Secretarial review.
3. Receive a report on the 2014 Red Snapper Season.
4. Receive an report from the Snapper Grouper Advisory Panel and
the Scientific and Statistical Committee and take action as
appropriate.
5. Receive a report on the status of the Oculina Experimental
Closed Area (OECA) evaluation team work, review, modify and approve the
Evaluation Report, determine if any changes are necessary to the OECA,
and provide guidance to staff.
6. Receive an update on South Atlantic fishery-independent surveys.
7. Review Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 16 (removal of the
black sea bass pot closure), modify the draft document, choose
preferred management alternatives, and provide guidance.
8. Review Snapper Grouper Amendment 22 (tags to track recreational
harvest), discuss the amendment, and provide guidance to staff.
9. Review Snapper Grouper Amendment 29 addressing Only Reliable
Catch Stocks (ORCS) and management measures for gray triggerfish;
modify the amendment as appropriate and make recommendations to approve
the amendment for formal review.
10. Review the options paper for Snapper Grouper Amendment 32
addressing blueline tilefish; modify the document, select preferred
alternatives and approve the amendment for public hearings.
11. Review Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 20 addressing snowy
grouper; modify the document, select preferred alternatives and approve
the amendment for public hearings.
12. Review the approach and options for setting gag and wreckfish
fishing level recommendations, including recommendations from the SSC.
Approve the approach, alternatives and provide guidance on timing to
staff.
13. Review the Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 17 scoping
document addressing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and a potential
alternative approach, modify the scoping document as appropriate and
approve for scoping.
14. Review a draft letter supporting the renewal of Corps of
Engineers permits for artificial reef construction off the Northeast
coast of Florida and take action as appropriate.
15. Review the scoping document for Snapper Grouper Amendment 35
addressing species removal, modify as appropriate and approve for
scoping.
16. Review the joint South Atlantic and Gulf Generic Amendment,
modify as appropriate and provide guidance to staff.
17. Discuss the golden tilefish longline endorsement/hook and line
issue for the commercial fishery and take action as necessary.
Note: There will be an informal public question and answer
session with the NMFS Regional Administrator and the Council
Chairman on Wednesday, June 11, 2014, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Joint Dolphin Wahoo Committee and Snapper Grouper Committees, Thursday,
June 12, 2014, 8:30 a.m. Until 10 a.m.
1. Receive and discuss the status of commercial and recreational
catches versus ACLs for dolphin and wahoo.
2. Receive an update on the status of Dolphin Wahoo Amendment 5,
pertaining to bag limit sale of fish and changes to the ACL and the
Allowable Biological Catch (ABC).
3. Receive a report from the Dolphin Wahoo Advisory Panel.
4. Review Dolphin Wahoo Amendment 7 and Snapper Grouper Amendment
33 regarding the issue of transport of fillets from Bahamian waters
into United States waters, modify the amendments as appropriate and
approve for public hearings.
5. Review and discuss the Generic Accountability Measures and
Dolphin Allocation Amendment, modify as appropriate, and approve for
public hearings.
Highly Migratory Species Committee, Thursday, June 12, 2014, 10 a.m.
Until 11 a.m.
1. Discuss shark interaction with South Atlantic fisheries and
provide guidance to staff.
King and Spanish Mackerel Committee, Thursday, June 12, 2014, 11 a.m.
Until 12 Noon and 1:30 p.m. Until 2:30 p.m.
1. Receive and discuss the status of commercial and recreational
catches versus ACLs for Atlantic Group king mackerel, Spanish mackerel,
and cobia.
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2. Receive an update on the status of amendments under Formal
Review and a report from the King and Spanish Mackerel Advisory Panel.
3. Review the Coastal Migratory Pelagics (CMP) Framework Amendment
2 addressing Spanish Mackerel trip limits, modify the document as
appropriate, select preferred alternatives and approve for public
hearings.
4. Review the options paper for Joint CMP Amendment 24 addressing
allocations and shifts in ACLs and provide directions to staff.
Information and Education Committee, Thursday, June 12, 2014, 2 p.m.
Until 3 p.m.
1. Receive a report from the Information and Education Advisory
Panel.
2. Receive a summary of the Council-hosted Science Communication
Workshop.
Golden Crab Committee, Thursday, June 12, 2014, 3 p.m. Until 4 p.m.
1. Receive an update on the status of Commercial Catch versus ACL
for the golden crab fishery.
2. Receive a report from the Golden Crab Advisory Panel meeting and
provide guidance to staff.
3. Review the Generic Accountability Measures and Dolphin
Allocation Amendment, revise the amendment as appropriate and approve
for public hearing.
Data Collection Committee, Thursday, June 12, 2014, 4 p.m. Until 5 p.m.
1. Receive an update on the status of the Joint Gulf and South
Atlantic Council Generic Dealer Amendment and take action as
appropriate.
2. Receive a presentation on the Electronic Technology (Data
Collection and Monitoring) Implementation Plan and take action as
appropriate.
3. Receive a presentation on the status of work in the northeast
relative to the Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based Amendment 3 and take
action as appropriate.
4. Review an options paper on how commercial fishermen could report
electronically and via paper and provide guidance to staff.
5. Receive an update on the Commercial Logbook Pilot Study and take
action as appropriate.
6. Review the Joint South Atlantic and Gulf Council Generic
Charterboat Reporting Amendment, including an overview of the Gulf
Council's actions, status and next steps, receive a report from the
Technical Committee, and take action as appropriate.
Note: A formal public comment session will be held on Thursday,
June 12, 2014, beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Snapper Grouper Amendment
29. Following comment on Amendment 29, public comment will be
accepted regarding any other items on the Council agenda. The amount
of time provided to individuals will be determined by the Chairman
based on the number of individuals wishing to comment.
Council Session: Friday, June 13, 2014, 8:30 a.m. Until 3:15 p.m.
8:30 a.m.-8:45 a.m.: Call the meeting to order, adopt the agenda,
approve the March 2014 minutes, and presentations.
8:45 a.m.-9 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the
Snapper Grouper Committee and is scheduled to either approve or
disapprove Snapper Grouper Amendment 29 for formal Secretarial review.
The Council will also consider approving or disapproving the following
amendments to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan for public
hearings: Amendment 32, Amendment 33, and Regulatory Amendment 20. The
Council will also consider approving or disapproving Regulatory
Amendment 17 for public scoping. The Council will consider other
Committee recommendations and take action as appropriate.
9 a.m.-9:15 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the King &
Spanish Mackerel Committee and is scheduled to approve or disapprove
the South Atlantic Spanish Mackerel Framework Amendment 2 for public
hearings. The Council will consider other Committee recommendations and
take action as appropriate.
9:15 a.m.-9:30 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the
Dolphin Wahoo Committee. The Council is scheduled to approve or
disapprove Amendment 7 to the Dolphin Wahoo Fishery Management Plan and
the Generic Allocation and Accountability Measures Amendment for public
hearings. The Council will consider Committee recommendations and take
action as appropriate.
9:30 a.m.-9:45 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the
Council Member Visioning Workshop, consider recommendations and take
action as appropriate.
9:45 a.m.-10 a.m.: The Council will receive the Law Enforcement
Committee Report and determine the Law Enforcement Officer of the Year
recipient. The Council will consider other committee recommendations
and take action as appropriate.
10 a.m.-10:15 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the
Joint Habitat and Ecosystem-Based Amendment Committee and approve or
disapprove the updated EFH Policy Statements. The Council will consider
other committee recommendations and take action as appropriate.
10:15 a.m.-10:30 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the
Protected Resources Committee, consider Committee recommendations and
will take action as appropriate.
10:30 a.m.-10:45 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the
SEDAR Committee, consider Committee recommendations, and take action as
appropriate.
10:45 a.m.-11 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the
Advisory Panel Selection Committee, consider Committee recommendations
and appoint and/or reappoint members to its advisory panels. The
Council will consider other recommendations and take action as
appropriate.
11 a.m.-11:15 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from its
Executive Finance Committee and is scheduled to approve the CY 2014
Council budget, Council Follow-up and Priorities documents. The Council
will take action on the South Florida Management issues as appropriate,
consider other Committee recommendations and take action as
appropriate.
11:15 a.m.-11:30 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the
Data Collection Committee, consider recommendations and take action as
appropriate.
11:30 a.m.-11:45 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the
SSC Selection Committee, consider Committee recommendations and appoint
and/or reappoint members to its SSC. The Council will consider other
recommendations and take action as appropriate.
11:45 a.m.-12 noon: The Council will receive a report from the HMS
Committee, consider Committee recommendations and take action as
appropriate.
1:30 p.m.-1:45 p.m.: The Council will receive a report from the
Golden Crab Committee, and approve or disapprove the Generic
Accountability Measures and Dolphin Allocation Amendment for public
hearing. The Council will consider other Committee recommendations and
take action as appropriate.
1:45 p.m.-2 p.m.: The Council will receive a report from the
Information and Education Committee, consider Committee
recommendations, and take action as appropriate.
2 p.m.-3:15 p.m.: The Council will receive status reports from NOAA
Fisheries SERO and the Southeast Fisheries Science Center. The Council
will review and develop
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recommendations on Experimental Fishing Permits as necessary; review
agency and liaison reports; and discuss other business and 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 these meetings. 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.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: May 16, 2014.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-11745 Filed 5-20-14; 8:45 am]
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