[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 223 (Thursday, November 19, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72418-72421]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-29560]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XE319
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: 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: Personnel Committee (Closed Session); Southeast
Data, Assessment and Review (SEDAR) Committee; Habitat Protection and
Ecosystem-Based Management Committee; Snapper Grouper Committee;
Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) Selection Committee (Closed
Session); Information and
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Education Committee; King and Spanish Mackerel Committee; Data
Collection Committee; Dolphin Wahoo Committee; Spiny Lobster Committee;
Protected Resources Committee; Executive Finance Committee; and a
meeting of the Full Council. The Council will also hold a Council
Member Visioning Workshop for the Snapper Grouper Fishery. The Council
will take action as necessary. The Council will also hold a formal
public comment session.
DATES: The Council meeting will be held from 8 a.m. on Monday, December
7, 2015 until 3:30 p.m. on Friday, December 11, 2015.
ADDRESSES:
Meeting address: The meeting will be held at the Doubletree by
Hilton, 2717 W. Fort Macon Raod, Atlantic Beach, NC 28512; phone: 800/
222-8733 or 252/240-1155; fax 252/222-4065.
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; phone: (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, Monday, December 7, 2015, 8 a.m.
until 10:15 a.m.
Council members will receive a recap of the October 2015 Council
Visioning Workshop, review and approve the Vision Blueprint for the
snapper grouper fishery, review the Evaluation Plan for the Vision
Blueprint, and review/develop approaches for applying the blueprint.
Personnel Committee, Monday, December 7, 2015, 10:15 a.m. until 6
p.m. (Closed Session)
The Committee will conduct interviews and provide recommendations
for hiring a new Executive Director for the Council. Note: all Council
members will participate in this Committee meeting.
SEDAR Committee, Tuesday, December 8, 2015, 8 a.m. until 9:30 a.m.
1. The Committee will receive updates on SEDAR activities, review
the SEDAR Steering Committee report and provide guidance as
appropriate.
2. The Committee will receive a presentation on NOAA Fisheries
Assessment Prioritization, and discuss and provide guidance for
application to Council stocks and SEDAR.
Habitat Protection and Ecosystem-Based Management Committee,
Tuesday, December 8, 2015, 9:30 a.m. until 12 p.m.
1. The Committee will receive a report from the Habitat Advisory
Panel and an overview of the redrafted Essential Fish Habitat (EFH)
Policy on Energy Exploration, Development and Transportation and
provide recommendations as appropriate.
2. The Committee will receive an overview of the Fishery Ecosystem
Plan II Development, EFH Updates and Regional Ecosystem Coordination, a
presentation on Lenfest Fisheries Ecosystem Task Force Activities and
provide recommendations as appropriate.
Snapper Grouper Committee, Tuesday, December 8, 2015, 1:30 p.m.
until 5:30 p.m. and Wednesday, December 9, 2015 from 8:30 a.m. until
5:30 p.m.
1. The Committee will receive an update on the status of commercial
and recreational catches versus quota for species under Annual Catch
Limits (ACLs) and an update of actions currently under formal review by
NOAA Fisheries.
2. The Committee will receive a report from the Council's
Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) and the Snapper Grouper
Advisory Panel.
3. The Committee will receive an overview of Snapper Grouper
Regulatory Amendment 16 addressing modifications of the current
seasonal closure of the commercial black sea bass pot fishery, modify
the document as appropriate and provide recommendations for approving
the amendment for Secretarial Review.
4. The Committee will review Snapper Grouper Amendment 37
addressing measures for hogfish, discuss and modify the document as
appropriate, select preferred management alternatives, and recommend
approval for public hearing.
5. The Committee will receive a report on a study on blueline
tilefish stock identification, discuss management options and provide
direction to staff.
6. The Committee will review Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment
25 addressing management measures for blueline tilefish, yellowtail
snapper, and black sea bass, consider public hearing input, modify the
document as appropriate, select preferred alternatives, and provide
recommendations for approval for Secretarial Review.
7. The Committee will review Snapper Grouper Amendment 41
addressing management measures for mutton snapper, modify the document
as appropriate and provide recommendations for approval of the draft
amendment for public scoping.
8. The Committee will review Snapper Grouper Amendment 36 to
establish Spawning Special Management Zones (SMZs), modify the document
as necessary, select remaining preferred alternatives and approve all
actions.
9. The Committee will receive an overview of the System Management
Plan for Deepwater Marine Protected Areas established in Snapper
Grouper Amendment 14, modify the document as necessary and provide
recommendations for approval.
10. The Committee will receive an overview of management for red
snapper, discuss management approaches and timing for addressing red
snapper and provide direction to staff. The Committee will also discuss
approaches to monitor recreational harvest of deepwater species and
provide direction to staff.
Formal Public Comment, Wednesday, December 9, 2015, 5:30 p.m.--
Public comment will first be accepted on items before the Council for
final action: Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 16 (removal of the
black sea bass pot closure) and Snapper Grouper Regulatory Amendment 25
(blueline tilefish, yellowtail snapper and black sea bass). Public
comment will then be accepted on any other items on the Council agenda.
The Council Chair, based on the number of individuals wishing to
comment, will determine the amount of time provided to each commenter.
SSC Selection Committee, Thursday, December 10, 2015, 8 a.m. until
8:30 a.m. (Closed Session)
The Committee will review applications and provide recommendations
for appointment, and consider designating Social and Economic Scientist
specific seats on the SSC.
Information and Education Committee, Thursday, December 10, 2015,
8:30 a.m. until 9 a.m.
The Committee will receive a report from the Information and
Education Advisory Panel and provide recommendations as appropriate.
King and Spanish Mackerel Committee, Thursday, December 10, 2015, 9
a.m. until 10:30 a.m.
1. The Committee will receive updates on the status of recreational
and commercial catches versus ACLs.
2. The Committee will receive an overview of the decision document
for Amendment 26 to the Coastal Migratory Pelagics Fishery Management
Plan, modify the document as appropriate, select preferred alternatives
and provide
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recommendations for approval for public hearings.
Data Collection Committee, Thursday, December 10, 2015, 10:30 a.m.
until 12 p.m.
1. The Committee will receive an update on the Commercial Logbook
Pilot Study and the Implementation Plan for Commercial Logbook
Reporting, discuss and take action as appropriate.
2. The Committee will receive an overview of the South Atlantic
For-Hire Reporting Amendment Decision Document, modify as appropriate,
select preferred alternatives and provide recommendations for approval
for public hearings. The Committee will also receive an update on the
agenda for the upcoming Citizen Science Workshop, discuss, and take
action as appropriate.
Dolphin Wahoo Committee, Thursday, December 10, 2015, 1:30 p.m.
until 3 p.m.
1. The Committee will receive updates on the status of recreational
and commercial catches versus ACLs for dolphin and wahoo.
2. The Committee will receive an update on the status of amendments
under review and an overview of Regulatory Amendment 1 to the Dolphin
Wahoo FMP to establish a commercial trip limit for the dolphin fishery
in federal waters off the Atlantic coast. The Committee will review the
document as appropriate, select preferred alternatives and provide
recommendations as appropriate.
3. The Committee will discuss actions to include in draft Amendment
10 to the Dolphin Wahoo FMP and provide direction to staff.
Spiny Lobster Committee, Thursday, December 10, 2015, 3 p.m. until
4 p.m.
1. The Committee will receive updates on the status of recreational
and commercial catches versus ACLs for spiny lobster.
2. The Committee will review spiny lobster landings for 2014-2015,
a notification from NOAA Fisheries regarding spiny lobster landings,
and landings from pervious years, discuss landings and take action as
necessary. The Committee will also discuss the need for a joint meeting
of the Spiny Lobster Advisory Panels from both the South Atlantic and
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Councils and provide direction to
staff.
Protected Resources Committee, Thursday, December 10, 2015, 4 p.m.
until 5 p.m.
1. The Committee will receive updates on protected resources
related issues from NOAA Fisheries
2. The Committee will review the compliance policy for turtle
excluder devices in the Southeast shrimp fishery, the status of the
Endangered Species Act/Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act Integration Agreement, and receive an update from the
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service on protected resources related issues.
Executive Finance Committee, Thursday, December 10, 2015, 5 p.m.
until 6 p.m.
1. The Committee will review the Calendar Year 2015 budget
expenditures, Council Activities and Accomplishments during 2015,
review the Council Follow-up and priorities, and provide
recommendations as appropriate.
2. The Committee will discuss standards and procedures for
participating in Council webinar meetings, the concept of participating
with the other Regional Fishery Management Councils in supporting a
representative to look out for Council interests and to keep the
Council informed, and address other issues as appropriate.
Council Session: Friday, December 11, 2015 8 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.
8-8:15 a.m.: Call the meeting to order, adopt the agenda, and
approve the September 2015 meeting minutes.
8:15-9:15 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the Snapper
Grouper Committee, and approve/disapprove Snapper Grouper Regulatory
Amendment 16 (removal of the black sea bass pots season) for formal
Secretarial Review; approve/disapprove Snapper Grouper Regulatory
Amendment 25 (blueline tilefish, yellowtail snapper and black sea bass)
for formal Secretarial Review; approve/disapprove all actions in
Snapper Grouper Amendment 36 (Spawning SMZs); approve/disapprove
Snapper Grouper Amendment 37 (hogfish) for public hearing; and approve/
disapprove Snapper Grouper Amendment 41 (mutton snapper) for public
scoping. The Council will consider other recommendations and take
action as appropriate.
9:15-9:30 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the Mackerel
Committee, approve/disapprove Amendment 26 to the Coastal Migratory
Pelagics FMP for public hearings, consider other Committee
recommendations, and take action as appropriate.
9:30-9:45 a.m.: The Council will receive a Council Member Visioning
Workshop report, approve/disapprove the Vision Blueprint for the
Snapper Grouper Fishery, approve/disapprove the Evaluation Plan for the
Vision Blueprint, consider other Committee recommendations, and take
action as appropriate.
9:45-10 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the Habitat
Protection and Ecosystem-Based Management Committee, consider committee
recommendations, and take action as appropriate.
10-10:15 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the Protected
Resources Committee, consider recommendations and take action as
appropriate.
10:15-10:45 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the SEDAR
Committee, consider Committee recommendations and take action as
appropriate.
10:45-11 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the Executive
Finance Committee, approve the Council Follow-Up and Priorities,
consider other Committee recommendations and take action as
appropriate.
11-11:15 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the Dolphin
Wahoo Committee, consider committee recommendations and take action as
appropriate.
11:15-11:30 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the Data
Collection Committee, approve/disapprove the South Atlantic For-Hire
Reporting Amendment for public hearings, consider other Committee
recommendations and take action as appropriate.
11:30 a.m.-11:45 a.m.: The Council will receive a report from the
Spiny Lobster Committee, consider Committee recommendations and take
action as appropriate.
11:45-12 p.m.: The Council will receive a report from the SSC
Selection Committee, consider Committee recommendations and take action
as appropriate.
1:30-1:45 p.m.: The Council will receive a report from the
Information and Education Committee, consider Committee recommendations
and take action as appropriate.
1:45-3:30 p.m.: The Council will receive status reports from NOAA
Fisheries Southeast Regional Office and the Southeast Fisheries Science
Center; review and develop recommendations on Experimental Fishing
Permits as necessary; receive 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
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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: November 16, 2015.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-29560 Filed 11-18-15; 8:45 am]
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