[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 230 (Wednesday, December 1, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67252-67253]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-31203]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 112699B]
New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce
ACTION: Notice of public meetings.
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SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is
scheduling a number of public meetings of its oversight committees in
December, 1999 to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in
the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from these groups
will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and
action, if appropriate.
DATES: The meetings will be held between Monday, December 13 and
Tuesday, December 21, 1999. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific
dates and times.
ADDRESSES: Meetings will be held in Portsmouth, NH, Portland, ME and
Danvers, MA. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific locations.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director,
New England Fishery Management Council; (781) 231-0422.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Meeting Dates and Agendas
Monday, December 13,1999, 8:30 a.m.--Joint Groundfish Committee and
Advisory Panel Meeting
Location: Sheraton Ferncroft Hotel, 50 Ferncroft Road, Danvers, MA
01923; telephone: (978) 777-2500.
Independent meeting of the Groundfish Advisory Panel from 8:30-9:00
a.m. to discuss its role and responsibilities; the joint meeting
convenes at 9:00 a.m.
1. The committee will continue development of recommendations and
options regarding exemptions for access to groundfish closed areas;
options will be included in the Northeast Multispecies Fishery
Management Plan (FMP) annual adjustment; the committee's
recommendations may address exemptions for recreational party/charter
vessels, scallop gear, handline gear, and any other fishing gears
currently listed as ``exempted'' with respect to the multispecies
fishery.
2. Possible development of recommendations for management measures
for recreational groundfish fisheries also to be included in the
multispecies annual adjustment; recommendations may include bag limits,
catch restrictions in groundfish closed areas, or any other
recreational measures that can be implemented through a framework
adjustment to the Multispecies FMP.
3. Discussion and development of recommendations regarding access
to the Georges Bank closed areas by scallop vessels; these may include
seasons for access, boundaries of the areas to be opened to scallop
vessels, multispecies trip limits, and bycatch total allowable catches
(TACs) for multispecies.
Tuesday, December 14, 1999, 10:00 a.m.--Capacity Committee Meeting
Location: Holiday Inn by the Bay Hotel, 88 Spring Street, Portland,
ME 04101; telephone: (207) 775-2311.
Review and prioritization of identified fishing capacity issues;
initial identification of options for addressing capacity issues;
review of a proposed outline for a report to the Council on fishing
capacity issues; preliminary briefing on the development by the
Northeast Fisheries Science Center of an economic model that estimates
the economic impacts of the fishing industry on a community;
discussions on information necessary to support future committee
deliberations.
Tuesday, December 14, 1999, 9 a.m., and Wednesday, December 15,
1999, 8:30 a.m.--Experimental Fisheries and Research Steering Committee
Location: Sheraton Ferncroft Hotel, 50 Ferncroft Road, Danvers, MA
01923; telephone: (978) 777-2500.
Discussion of committee organization, purpose, tasks, process and
information needs, followed by a brief report on the status of sea
scallop TAC research set-aside associated with Framework Adjustment 12
to the Scallop FMP.
Tuesday, December 21, 1999, 9:30 a.m.--Joint Habitat Committee and
Advisory Panel Meeting
Location: Sheraton Ferncroft Hotel, 50 Ferncroft Road, Danvers, MA
01923; telephone: (978) 777-2500.
Discussion of NMFS' request for comments on the Essential Fisher
Habitat interim final rule; discussion of a structured process to
designate Habitat Areas of Particular Concern (HAPCs); discussion of
issues concerning the development of a dedicated habitat research area,
including a review of materials for scoping and a workshop.
Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come
before this Council for discussion, those issues may not be the subject
of formal Council action during this meeting.
[[Page 67253]]
Council action will be restricted to those issues specifically listed
in this notice and any issues arising after publication of this notice
that require emergency action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-
Stevens 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 accessible to people with physical disabilities.
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids
should be directed to Paul J. Howard (see ADDRESSES) at least 5 days
prior to the meeting dates.
Dated: November 26, 1999.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-31203 Filed 11-30-99; 8:45 am]
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