[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 220 (Friday, November 14, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68218-68221]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-27000]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XD614
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting of the South Atlantic Fishery
Management Council (SAFMC).
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SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will
hold meetings of the: Habitat and Environmental Protection Committee;
Protected Resources Committee; Personnel Committee (closed session);
Advisory Panel Selection Committee (closed session); Southeast Data,
Assessment and Review (SEDAR) Committee; Snapper Grouper Committee; a
joint meeting of the Dolphin Wahoo Committee and Snapper Grouper
Committee; King & Spanish Mackerel Committee; Executive Finance
Committee; Golden Crab Committee; Data Collection Committee; and a
meeting of the Full Council. The Council will also hold a Council
Member Visioning Project Workshop
[[Page 68219]]
and receive a presentation on the Biscayne National Park Fishery
Management Plan as part of the meeting. 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, December
1, 2014 until 1:30 p.m. on Friday, December 5, 2014.
ADDRESSES:
Meeting address: The meeting will be held at the Doubletree
Riverfront Hotel, 100 Middle Street, New Bern, NC 28560; telephone:
(252) 638-3585.
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 Visioning Workshop, Monday, December 1, 2014, 9 a.m. Until 12
Noon
Council members will receive a recap the October 2014 Visioning
Workshop, review the draft Snapper Grouper goals and objectives,
continue to work on the Visioning process and provide direction to
staff.
Presentation: Biscayne National Park Fishery Management Plan, Monday,
December 1, 2014, 1:30 p.m. Until 2:30 p.m.
Council members will receive a presentation on the Biscayne
National Park Fishery Management Plan.
Habitat and Environmental Protection Committee, Monday, December 1,
2014, 2:30 p.m. Until 4 p.m.
1. The Committee will receive an update on the status of Amendment
8 to the Coral Fishery Management Plan addressing expansion of
deepwater coral Habitat Areas of Particular Concern, receive an update
on the rock shrimp Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) and bycatch analysis,
and provide direction to staff.
2. The Committee will receive a briefing on the proposed nomination
for an Oculina National Marine Sanctuary.
Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) Selection Committee, Monday,
December 1, 2014, 4 p.m. Until 4:30 p.m.
The Committee will review the SSC polices and provide guidance to
staff on any policy revisions.
Protected Resources Committee, Monday, December 1, 2014, 4:30 p.m.
Until 5:30 p.m.
1. The Committee will receive a report on formal consultations and
other Protected Resources updates, and receive an overview of the
Nassau Grouper Proposed Rule. The committee will discuss and take
action as necessary.
2. The Committee will receive an overview of the Atlantic Large
Whale Take Reduction Plan requirements, discuss and take action as
necessary. The Committee will also receive updates on American Eel
status and the Atlantic sturgeon stock assessment.
Personnel Committee, Tuesday, December 2, 2014, 8:30 a.m. Until 9:30
a.m. (Closed Session)
The Committee will conduct the Executive Director's performance
review and receive a briefing on proposed changes to the staff's health
insurance.
Advisory Panel Selection Committee, Tuesday, December 2, 2014, 9:30
a.m. Until 11 a.m. (Closed Session)
The Committee will review applications for open seats and provide
recommendations to Council for consideration.
SEDAR Committee, Tuesday, December 2, 2014, 11 a.m. Until 12 Noon
The Committee will receive an update on SEDAR activities and
develop guidance for the Council's SEDAR Steering Committee members.
Snapper Grouper Committee, Tuesday, December 2, 2014, 1:30 p.m. Until
5:30 p.m. and Wednesday, December 3, 2014 From 8:30 a.m. Until 5 p.m.
1. The Committee will receive an update on the status of amendments
currently under review, a report from the Snapper Grouper Advisory
Panel, and a report from the Scientific and Statistical Committee.
2. The Committee will receive an overview of Snapper Grouper
Regulatory Amendment 16 addressing the current seasonal closure for the
black sea bass pot fishery, and presentations on analyses conducted by
Council staff, analyses conducted by NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional
Office, and on risk of entanglement changes for pot gear since the 2006
Biological Opinion from NOAA Fisheries. The Committee will modify the
document, choose preferred alternatives if possible, and is scheduled
to recommend approval of the amendment for public hearings.
3. The Committee will receive an overview of Snapper Grouper
Regulatory Amendment 22 addressing proposed management measures for gag
and wreckfish and public comment received. The Committee will review
the document, modify as necessary and is scheduled to recommend
approving the amendment for formal Secretarial review.
4. The Committee will receive an overview of Snapper Grouper
Amendment 22 addressing the use of tags to track harvest. The Committee
will receive a presentation from the North Carolina Division of Marine
Fisheries on the Catch Card Program, discuss the draft amendment, and
provide guidance to staff.
5. The Committee will receive an overview of Snapper Grouper
Amendment 36 pertaining to Spawning Special Management Zones. The
Committee will receive a presentation on observations of spawning
activity, review the amendment, modify as needed, and provide guidance
to staff.
6. The Committee will receive an overview of Snapper Grouper
Amendment 35 addressing the removal of species from the Snapper Grouper
Fishery Management Unit and measures affecting endorsements for the
commercial golden tilefish fishery. The Committee will review the
amendment, modify as appropriate, and is scheduled to approve the
amendment for public hearing.
Note: There will be an informal public question and answer
session with the NMFS Regional Administrator and the Council
Chairman on Wednesday, December 3, 2014, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Joint Snapper Grouper Committee and Dolphin Wahoo Committee, Thursday,
December 4, 2014, 8:30 a.m. Until 10:30 a.m.
1. The Committees will receive an update on the status of
commercial and recreational catches versus annual catch limits (ACLs)
for dolphin and wahoo. The Committees will also receive an overview of
Dolphin Wahoo Amendment 7/Snapper Grouper Amendment 33 pertaining to
measures to allow fillets to be brought back into the U.S. Exclusive
Economic Zone from The Bahamas. The Committees will review the Decision
Document, modify the amendment as appropriate, and is scheduled to
approve the amendment for formal Secretarial review.
[[Page 68220]]
2. The Committees will receive an overview of the Generic
Accountability Measures and Dolphin Allocation Amendment, review the
Decision Document, modify the amendment as appropriate, and is
scheduled to approve the amendment for Secretarial review.
King and Spanish Mackerel Committee, Thursday, December 4, 2014, 10:30
a.m. Until 12 Noon
1. The Committee will receive an update on the status of amendments
under formal review and a report from the Gulf of Mexico Fishery
Management Council meeting.
2. The Committee will receive overview of the SEDAR 38 stock
assessment for king mackerel, receive a report from the SSC, and take
action as necessary to specify any changes to the ACLs through the
development of future amendments.
3. The Committee will receive an overview of a Discussion Paper for
Amendment 24 addressing ACLs and allocations for Atlantic Spanish
Mackerel and provide direction to staff.
Executive Finance Committee, Thursday, December 4, 2014, 1:30 p.m.
Until 2:30 p.m.
1. The Committee will receive an update on the status of the
Calendar Year 2014 budget expenditures, review the Council Follow Up
document and priorities, receive an update on Joint South Florida
Committee issues and address other issues as appropriate.
Golden Crab Committee, Thursday, December 4, 2014, 2:30 p.m. Until 3:30
p.m.
1. The Committee will receive an update on commercial catches
versus the ACL for golden crab.
2. The Committee will receive an overview of the Generic
Accountability Measures and Dolphin Allocation Amendment, review and
modify the amendment as appropriate, and is scheduled to approve the
amendment for submission to the Secretary of Commerce.
Data Collection Committee, Thursday, December 4, 2014, 3:30 p.m. Until
5 p.m.
1. The Committee will receive an update on the status of work on
Bycatch Reporting in the Southeast from NOAA Fisheries, a presentation
on the Electronic Technology Implementation Plan for data collection
and monitoring, an overview status update on the Implementation Plan
for Commercial Logbook Electronic Reporting, and a presentation on the
status of the commercial electronic logbook pilot project. The
Committee will provide direction to staff as appropriate.
2. The Committee will also receive an overview of the Joint South
Atlantic and Gulf Council Generic Charterboat Reporting Amendment,
including actions by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, a
final report from the Technical Committee, and provide guidance to
staff as appropriate.
Note: A formal public comment session will be held on Thursday,
December 4, 2014, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Public comment will be
accepted on the following items scheduled for final Council action
at this meeting: (1) Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 22 (gag
and wreckfish); (2) Dolphin Wahoo Amendment 7/Snapper Grouper
Amendment 33 (fillets from The Bahamas); and (3) Generic
Accountability Measures and Dolphin Allocation Amendment. Following
comment on these amendments, public comment will be accepted
regarding any other items on the Council agenda. The Chairman, based
on the number of individuals wishing to comment, will determine the
amount of time provided to each commenter.
Council Session: Friday, December 5, 2014, 8:30 a.m. Until 1:30 p.m.
8:30 a.m.-8:45 a.m.: Call the meeting to order, adopt the agenda,
and approve the September 2014 minutes.
8:45 a.m.-9:15 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the
Snapper Grouper Committee and is scheduled to either approve or
disapprove Regulatory Amendment 22 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery
Management Plan for formal Secretarial review. The Council will also
consider approving or disapproving Amendment 35 and Regulatory
Amendment 16 for public hearings, 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
King and Spanish Mackerel Committee, consider Committee recommendations
and take action as appropriate.
9:30 a.m.-9:45 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the SSC
Selection Committee, consider Committee recommendations and take action
as appropriate.
9:45 a.m.-10 a.m.: The Council will receive the Council Visioning
Workshop Report, consider recommendations and take action as
appropriate.
10 a.m.-10:15 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the
Habitat Committee, consider 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
take action as appropriate.
10:30 a.m.-10:45 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the
Advisory Panel Selection Committee, consider Committee recommendations
for appointment/reappointment of new members and will take action as
appropriate. The Council will consider other Committee recommendations
and take action as appropriate.
10:45 a.m.-11 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the
SEDAR Committee, consider Committee recommendations, and take action as
appropriate.
11 a.m.-11:15 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the
Joint Dolphin Wahoo and Snapper Grouper Committees and approve or
disapprove Dolphin Wahoo Amendment 7 and Snapper Grouper Amendment 33
(fillets from the Bahamas) for formal Secretarial review. The Council
will 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
Executive Finance Committee, approve the Council Follow Up and
Priorities, take action on the South Florida Management issues as
appropriate, and consider Committee recommendations and take action as
appropriate.
11:30 a.m.-11:45 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the
Golden Crab Committee, approve or disapprove the Generic Accountability
Measures and Dolphin Allocation Amendment for formal review, consider
other Committee recommendations and take action as appropriate.
11:45 a.m.-12 noon: The Council will receive a report from the Data
Collection Committee, consider Committee recommendations and take
action as appropriate.
12 noon-1:30 p.m.: The Council will receive status reports from
NOAA Fisheries SERO and the Southeast Fisheries Science Center. The
Council will review and develop 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 these groups 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
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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: November 10, 2014.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-27000 Filed 11-13-14; 8:45 am]
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