[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 62 (Thursday, March 31, 1994)] [Unknown Section] [Page 0] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 94-7710] [[Page Unknown]] [Federal Register: March 31, 1994] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE [I.D. 032394D] New England Fishery Management Council; Meeting and Hearing AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public meeting, and public hearing. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold public meetings and a public hearing to consider actions affecting the New England fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone. DATES: The meetings will be held on Wednesday, April 6, 1994, at 1:30 p.m., and on Thursday, April 7, 1994, at 8:30 a.m. The public hearing will be held on April 7 at 1:30 p.m. ADDRESSES: The meetings and hearing will take place at the King's Grant Inn, Rt. 128 at Trask Lane, Danvers, MA 01923; telephone: 508-774-6800. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Douglas G. Marshall, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council, 5 Broadway, Saugus, MA 01906; telephone: 617-231-0422. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 6, the Council meeting will begin with a report from the Lobster Oversight Committee (Committee). The Committee will discuss any recommended changes to the regulations proposed for Amendment 5 to the American Lobster Fishery Management Plan and membership on the Effort Management Teams. The Chairman of the Sea Scallop Oversight Committee will brief the Council on the recent joint meeting of the Scallop Industry Advisory Committee and the Scallop Plan Development Team. The session will conclude with reports from the Council Chairman; Council Executive Director; Director, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional Director); Northeast Fisheries Science Center liaison; Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council liaison; and representatives from the U.S. Department of State, Coast Guard, Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. Abbreviated Rulemaking Actions--Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan A decision on a closure area for Massachusetts Bay was postponed from the March 17, 1994, Council meeting to the April meeting, pending further data analysis. During the April 6 session, the Marine Mammal Committee will discuss final recommendations on a time/area closure plan (plan) to reduce the Gulf of Maine harbor porpoise bycatch. The plan will then be forwarded to NMFS for consideration as a framework adjustment to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP). On April 7, further recommendations for framework adjustment to the FMP will be discussed. They include final action on measures addressed initially at the February and March Council meetings. The Council will consider: (1) A 100-lb (45.36-kg) winter flounder possession limit; (2) A multispecies groundfish possession limit while fishing with small mesh with a retention limit up to 500 lbs (226.8 kg) or 10 percent, whichever is less, of all species not subject to the minimum mesh-size requirement specified in the FMP, and (3) An effort-reduction program based on 365 days from the date of implementation instead of a calendar year. Public Hearing The Council will hold a public hearing on April 7 at 1:30 p.m. to consider a Flexible Area Action System closure to protect haddock in the vicinity of Area I, as defined in the FMP. Based on public comments, the NMFS fact-finding report, and a review of impacts, the Council will make a recommendation to the Regional Director. These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Douglas G. Marshall at 617-213- 0422 at least 5 days prior to the meeting date. Dated: March 25, 1994. Richard H. Schaefer, Director of Office of Fisheries, Conservation and Management, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 94-7710 Filed 3-30-94; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P