[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 220 (Tuesday, November 15, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80041-80044]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-27434]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XF039
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.
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SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will
hold meetings of the: Advisory Panel Selection Committee (Partially
Closed Session); Law Enforcement Committee; Scientific and Statistical
Committee (SSC) Selection Committee; Protected Resources Committee;
Habitat Protection and Ecosystem-Based Management Committee; Southeast
Data, Assessment and Review (SEDAR) Committee (Partially Closed
Session); Spiny Lobster Committee; Joint Dolphin Wahoo/Snapper Grouper
and Mackerel Cobia Committees; Information and Education Committee;
Executive Finance Committee; Snapper Grouper Committee; Personnel
Committee (Closed Session); Highly Migratory Species Committee;
Mackerel Cobia Committee; Citizen Science Committee; Data Collection
Committee; and a meeting of the Full Council.
The Council will take action as necessary. The Council will also
hold a formal public comment session. The
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Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) will also conduct a
public hearing in conjunction with the Council meeting.
DATES: The Council meeting will be held from 8:30 a.m. on Monday,
December 5, 2016 until 1 p.m. on Friday, December 9, 2016.
ADDRESSES:
Meeting address: The meeting will be held at the DoubleTree by
Hilton Atlantic Beach Oceanfront, 2717 West Fort Macon Road, 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]. Meeting information is
available from the Council's Web site at: http://safmc.net/meetings/council-meetings/.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Public comment: Written comments may be directed to Gregg Waugh,
Executive Director, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (see
ADDRESSES) or electronically via the Council's Web site at: https://goo.gl/forms/QAZYglsYhWIkQZNV2. The public comment form is open for use
when the briefing book is posted to the Web site on the Friday, two
weeks prior to the Council meeting. Comments received by close of
business the Monday before the meeting (November 28, 2016) will be
compiled, posted to the Web site as part of the meeting materials, and
included in the administrative record. For written comments received
after the Monday before the meeting (after 11/28), individuals sending
the comment must use the Council's online form available from the Web
site. Comments will automatically be posted to the Web site and
available for Council consideration. Comments received prior to noon on
Thursday, December 8, 2016 will be a part of the meeting administrative
record.
The items of discussion in the individual meeting agendas are as
follows:
Advisory Panel Selection Committee (Partially Closed Session), Monday,
December 5, 2016, 8:30 a.m. Until 9:30 a.m.
1. The Committee will review applications for the SEDAR Pool
Advisory Panel and provide recommendations (Closed Session).
2. The Committee will review options for the structure of an
advisory panel for the Council's System Management Plan addressing
protected areas and provide guidance and timing for the advisory panel
as necessary.
Law Enforcement Committee, Monday, December 5, 2016, 9:30 a.m. Until
10:30 a.m.
1. The Committee will receive a report on the level of commercial
logbook reporting at the time of permit renewal, discuss compliance
with logbook reporting requirements, and provide recommendations as
appropriate.
2. The Committee will also follow up on items from the earlier
joint meeting of the Law Enforcement Committee and Advisory panel
provide recommendations as appropriate.
SSC Selection Committee, Monday, December 5, 2016, 10:30 a.m. Until 12
p.m.
The Committee will review the SSC Conflict of Interest Policy, the
SSC Public Comment Policy, and the SSC Update on complex analysis
review process. The Committee will provide guidance as needed.
Protected Resources Committee, Monday, December 5, 2016, 1:30 p.m.
Until 2:30 p.m.
The Committee will receive an update from NOAA Fisheries' Protected
Resources Office, review the Biological Opinion for Snapper Grouper,
appoint a Council member to the Large Whale Take Reduction Team, and
receive an update from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
Habitat Protection and Ecosystem-Based Management Committee, Monday,
December 5, 2016, 2:30 p.m. Until 5 p.m.
1. The Committee will receive a report from the Habitat Protection
and Ecosystem-Based Management Advisory Panel and provide
recommendations as appropriate.
2. The Committee will review and approve the Council's Essential
Fish Habitat Policy Statements for the Fishery Ecosystem Plan II.
3. The Committee will receive an update on the Habitat and
Ecosystem Tools and Model Development, Council actions pertaining to
Habitat, and a report from the Lenfest Ecosystem Task Force and proved
recommendations as appropriate.
SEDAR Committee, Tuesday, December 6, 2016, 8:30 a.m. Until 10:30 a.m.
(Partially Closed)
1. The Committee will discuss and provide recommendations for
appointments for the following stock assessments: SEDAR 50 Blueline
Tilefish; SEDAR 48 Black Grouper, SEDAR 56 Black Sea Bass, and the
SEDAR Stock Identification and Meristics Workshop. (Closed Session)
2. The Committee will receive updates on SEDAR projects, review the
SEDAR Steering Committee Report, and assessment priorities, including
SSC prioritization recommendations and a long-term assessment plan. The
Committee will provide recommendations as appropriate.
Spiny Lobster Committee, Tuesday, December 6, 2016, 10:30 a.m. Until
11:30 a.m.
1. The Committee will receive a presentation on Spiny Lobster
regulations in Florida, review recommendations from the SSC for
establishing Overfishing Levels and Acceptable Biological Catch for
Spiny Lobster, and provide recommendations to staff.
2. The Committee will also receive an overview of a Discussion
Document on action to restrict recreational traps in the South Atlantic
Exclusive Economic Zone and provide direction to staff.
Joint Dolphin Wahoo/Snapper Grouper/Mackerel Cobia Committees, Tuesday,
December 6, 2016, 1 p.m. Until 4 p.m.
1. The Committees will receive updates from NOAA Fisheries on
commercial and recreational catches of Dolphin and Wahoo versus annual
catch limits (ACLs), status of amendments, and the 2015 commercial
landings for Yellowtail Snapper.
2. The Committee will review Dolphin Wahoo Amendment 10/Snapper
Grouper Amendment 44 addressing allocations of Dolphin and Yellowtail
Snapper, provide direction to staff, and recommend approval of the
joint amendment for public hearings.
3. The Committees will receive an overview of draft options for a
Limited Entry program for federal For-Hire Permits in the Snapper
Grouper, Coastal Migratory Pelagic, and Dolphin Wahoo fisheries in the
South Atlantic/Atlantic, review options, modify the document if
necessary, and provide guidance as appropriate.
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Information and Education Committee, Tuesday, December 6, 2016, 4 p.m.
Until 5 p.m.
The Committee will receive a report from the Information and
Education Advisory Panel meeting and provide guidance to staff.
Executive/Finance Committee, Tuesday, December 6, 2016, 5 p.m. Until 6
p.m. and Thursday, December 8, 2016, From 4:30 p.m. Until 5:30 p.m.
1. The Committee will receive a presentation on the Final Rule for
National Standard 1 Guidelines, discuss and provide guidance to staff.
2. The Committee will receive an overview of Electronic Reporting
Project Proposals, discuss and take action as necessary.
3. The Committee will receive an update on the status of
expenditures for Calendar Year (CY) 2016; review the Draft CY 2017
Budget; review, modify, and approve the Council Follow-up and work
priorities; and provide recommendations as appropriate.
3. The Committee will discuss standards and procedures for
participating in Council webinar meetings and take action as
appropriate.
Snapper Grouper Committee, Wednesday, December 7, 2016, 8 a.m. Until
4:30 p.m. and Thursday, December 8, 2016, 9 a.m. Until 10 a.m.
1. The Committee will receive updates from NOAA Fisheries on the
status of commercial and recreational catches versus quotas for species
under Annual Catch Limits (ACLs) and the status of amendments currently
under Secretarial review.
2. The Committee will receive reports from the Snapper Grouper
Advisory Panel meeting and the SSC meeting, discuss and provide
recommendations as appropriate.
3. The Committee will receive presentations on the efficacy of
descending devices for deepwater grouper and commercial logbook discard
data for red grouper, discuss and take action as appropriate.
4. The Committee will review Snapper Grouper Amendment 41
addressing management measures for mutton snapper, modify the document
as appropriate, and provide recommendations to approve/disapprove the
amendment for formal Secretarial Review.
5. The Committee will receive the Annual Review of the Vision
Blueprint for the Snapper Grouper Fishery addressing long-term
management needs and provide recommendations as appropriate. The
Committee will also review options for the Recreational Visioning
Blueprint Amendment (Vision Blueprint Regulatory Amendment 26) and the
Commercial Visioning Blueprint Amendment (Vision Blueprint Regulatory
Amendment 27), modify the documents as appropriate, and approve for
public scoping.
6. The Committee will receive a presentation of Red Snapper
landings by County in Florida, receive an overview of management
options for Red Snapper to be addressed in Snapper Grouper Amendment
43, modify the document as necessary, and provide recommendations to
approve/disapprove the options paper for public scoping.
7. The Committee will consider an emergency rule for the 2017
season of Golden Tilefish and provide guidance to staff for amendment
development.
Formal Public Comment, Wednesday, December 7, 2016, 4:30 p.m.--
Public comment will be accepted on items on the Council agenda. Comment
will be accepted first on items before the Council for Secretarial
approval: (1) Snapper Grouper Amendment 41 (Mutton Snapper); (2)
Coastal Migratory Pelagic Amendment 29 (Gulf of Mexico King Mackerel
Allocations); (3) Coastal Migratory Pelagic Amendment 30 (Atlantic
Cobia Fishing Year); and (4) Atlantic For-Hire Electronic Reporting
Amendment. The Council Chair, based on the number of individuals
wishing to comment, will determine the amount of time provided to each
commenter.
Personnel Committee, Thursday, December 8, 2016, 8 a.m. Until 9 a.m.
(Closed Session)
The Committee will conduct the Executive Director's Performance
Review.
Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Committee, Thursday, December 8, 2016,
10 a.m. Until 11 a.m.
The Committee will receive a presentation from NOAA Fisheries HMS
on draft Amendment 5b to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic HMS Fishery
Management Plan addressing management measures for Dusky Shark and
provide guidance to staff.
Mackerel Cobia Committee, Thursday, December 8, 2016, 11 a.m. Until 12
p.m.
1. The Committees will receive status updates from NOAA Fisheries
on commercial and recreational catches versus annual catch limits
(ACLs) for species under ACLs and amendments currently under
Secretarial review.
2. The Committee will receive an overview of Amendment 29 to the
Coastal Migratory Pelagic (CMP) Fishery Management Plan for the Gulf of
Mexico and South Atlantic Region addressing allocations of Gulf Group
King Mackerel, modify as necessary, and provide recommendations to
approve/disapprove the amendment for formal Secretarial Review.
3. The Committee will receive an overview of CMP Amendment 30
addressing modifications to the Fishing Year for Atlantic Cobia, review
public hearing comments, modify the document as necessary, and
recommend approval/disapproval of the amendment for formal Secretarial
Review.
4. The Committee will review the ASMFC's Public Information
Document for the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Cobia and
provide comments and guidance as appropriate.
Citizen Science Committee, Thursday, December 8, 2016, 1:30 p.m. Until
2:30 p.m.
The Committee will receive a program development update on the
Council's Citizen Science Program, discuss and take action as
necessary.
Data Collection Committee, Thursday, December 8, 2016, 2:30 p.m. Until
4:30 p.m.
1. The Committee will receive an update on the status of the
Bycatch Reporting Amendment and the final Standardized Bycatch
Reporting Methodology (SBRM) rule from NOAA Fisheries, discuss and
provide direction to staff.
2. The Committee will receive an update on the status of voluntary
commercial logbook electronic reporting, discuss and take action as
necessary.
3. The Committee will receive an update on the status of the Pilot
For-Hire Electronic Reporting Project being conducted jointly between
the Council and the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program,
review and take action as necessary.
4. The Committee will also receive a report on the status of the
Headboat Electronic Reporting Program and associated outreach, an
overview of the For-Hire Reporting Amendment, review the amendment and
provide recommendations for approval/disapproval of the amendment for
Secretarial Review.
Public Hearing--Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
(ASMFC)--Public Information Document for the Interstate Fishery
Management Plan (FMP) for Cobia, Thursday, December 8, 2016, 6 p.m.--
The ASMFC will hold a public hearing in conjunction with the Council
meeting
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to solicit comment on the Public Information Document addressing state
management of Cobia. Stakeholders are asked to provide information
about changes observed in the fishery and provide input on potential
management measures as well as any additional issues that should be
included in the draft FMP. The Public Information Document includes
draft goals and objectives of the plan; commercial and recreational
measures; coast-wide, regional, or state-by-state measures; and other
issues.
Council Session: Friday, December 9, 2016, 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m.
(Partially Closed)
The Full Council will convene on Friday morning with a Call to
Order, announcements and introductions, and approve the September 2016
meeting minutes. The Council will present the Law Enforcement Officer
of the Year award and make other presentations as appropriate.
The Council will receive a Legal Briefing on Litigation from NOAA
General Counsel (if needed) during Closed Session.
The Council will receive a report from the Snapper Grouper
Committee and approve/disapprove Snapper Grouper Amendment 41 (Mutton
Snapper) for Secretarial review and approve Snapper Grouper Amendment
43 (red snapper), the Recreational Visioning Amendment, and the
Commercial Visioning Amendment for public scoping. The Council will
consider other Committee recommendations and take action as
appropriate.
The Council will receive a report from the Mackerel Cobia
Committee, approve/disapprove Coastal Migratory Pelagic Amendment 29
(Gulf of Mexico King Mackerel Allocations) and Coastal Migratory
Pelagic Amendment 30 (Atlantic Cobia Fishing Year) for Secretarial
review, consider other Committee recommendations, and take action as
appropriate.
The Council will receive a report from the Data Collection
Committee and approve/disapprove the Atlantic For-Hire Amendment
(Electronic Reporting) for Secretarial Review, consider other committee
recommendations, and take action as appropriate.
The Council will receive a report from the Joint Dolphin Wahoo/
Snapper Grouper/Mackerel Cobia Committee, approve/disapprove Joint
Dolphin Wahoo Amendment 10/Snapper Grouper Amendment 44 (Allocations
for Dolphin and Yellowtail Snapper) for public hearings, consider other
recommendations, and take action as appropriate.
The Council will continue to receive committee reports from
Information & Education, Protected Resources, Advisory Panel Selection,
SSC Selection, SEDAR, Habitat and Ecosystem-Based Management, Law
Enforcement, Spiny Lobster, HMS, Citizen Science, and Executive Finance
Committees, review recommendations and take action as appropriate.
The Council will receive status reports from NOAA Fisheries
Southeast 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 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 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 9, 2016.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-27434 Filed 11-14-16; 8:45 am]
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