81 FR 26776 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Stock Assessment of Eastern Bering Sea Pollock; Peer Review Meeting

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 86 (May 4, 2016)

NMFS has requested the Center for Independent Experts (CIE) to conduct a peer review of the agency's stock assessment of Eastern Bering Sea walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma). The CIE is a group affiliated with the University of Miami that provides independent peer reviews of NMFS science nationwide, including reviews of stock assessments for fish and marine mammals. The Eastern Bering Sea pollock stock assessment is reviewed annually by the Alaska Fisheries Science Center, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) Plan Team, and the NPFMC Scientific and Statistical Committee. The CIE review will examine whether the assessment incorporates the best available scientific information and provides a reasonable approach to understanding the population dynamics and stock status of Eastern Bering Sea pollock. The public is invited to attend and observe the presentations and discussions between the CIE panel and the NMFS scientists who collected and processed the data, and designed the underlying model.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 86 (Wednesday, May 4, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 26776]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-10445]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE581


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Stock 
Assessment of Eastern Bering Sea Pollock; Peer Review Meeting

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of a public meeting.

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SUMMARY: NMFS has requested the Center for Independent Experts (CIE) to 
conduct a peer review of the agency's stock assessment of Eastern 
Bering Sea walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma). The CIE is a group 
affiliated with the University of Miami that provides independent peer 
reviews of NMFS science nationwide, including reviews of stock 
assessments for fish and marine mammals. The Eastern Bering Sea pollock 
stock assessment is reviewed annually by the Alaska Fisheries Science 
Center, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) Plan Team, 
and the NPFMC Scientific and Statistical Committee. The CIE review will 
examine whether the assessment incorporates the best available 
scientific information and provides a reasonable approach to 
understanding the population dynamics and stock status of Eastern 
Bering Sea pollock. The public is invited to attend and observe the 
presentations and discussions between the CIE panel and the NMFS 
scientists who collected and processed the data, and designed the 
underlying model.

DATES: The public meeting will be held from May 16 through May 19, 
2016, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time.

ADDRESSES: The review will be held at the NMFS Alaska Fisheries Science 
Center, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., Building 4, Seattle, WA 98115. Photo 
identification is required to enter this facility.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Ianelli, 206-526-6510.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The CIE panel will consist of three peer 
reviewers who will assess materials related to the topic, participate 
in a review workshop with the NMFS scientists who developed the model 
and the analytical approach, and produce a report. This review will be 
highly technical in nature and will cover mathematical details of the 
analytical approach. More information about the CIE is available on its 
Web site at www.ciereviews.org.
    Members of the public are invited to observe, and will be provided 
opportunities to contribute each day from May 16 through May 19, 2016. 
The final report will be available prior to the September NPFMC Plan 
Team meetings and will consist of individual reports from each panelist 
and a summary report. The results of the review will be presented 
during the September 2016 NPFMC Plan Team meeting, which will be 
announced at a later time in the Federal Register.

Special Accommodations

    These workshops will be physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Ron Felthoven, 206-526-4114, at 
least 10 working days prior to the meeting date.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: April 29, 2016.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-10445 Filed 5-3-16; 8:45 am]
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