81_FR_917 81 FR 912 - New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

81 FR 912 - New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 5 (January 8, 2016)

Page Range912-913
FR Document2016-00141

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council, NEFMC) will hold a three-day meeting to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 5 (Friday, January 8, 2016) 
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 5 (Friday, January 8, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 912-913]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-00141]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE386


New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council, NEFMC) 
will hold a three-day meeting to consider actions affecting New England 
fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

DATES: The meeting will be held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 
January 26, 27, and 28, 2016, starting at 9 a.m. on January 26, and at 
8:30 a.m. on both January 27 and 28.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Sheraton Portsmouth 
Harborside Hotel, 250 Market Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801; telephone: 
(603) 431-2300, or online at www.sheratonportsmouth.com/.
    Council address: New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water 
Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950; telephone: (978) 465-0492.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, 
New England Fishery Management Council; telephone: (978) 465-0492, ext. 
113.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Agenda

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

    After introductions and any announcements, the Council meeting will 
open with brief reports from the NEFMC Chairman and Executive Director, 
the NOAA Regional Administrator for the Greater Atlantic Region, 
Northeast Fisheries Science Center and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management 
Council liaisons, NOAA General Counsel and Office of Law Enforcement 
representatives, and staff from the Atlantic States Marine

[[Page 913]]

Fisheries Commission and the U.S Coast Guard. Following these reports, 
the Council will receive an update on plans for a February sea scallop 
workshop being held to explore concerns about inshore scallop fishing 
in the Northeast. Next, the public will have an opportunity to make 
brief comments on items that are relevant to Council business but 
otherwise not listed on the published agenda.
    Following a lunch break, the Council's Risk Policy Working Group 
will provide an update on finalizing what is being termed a ``roadmap'' 
that contains guidance on the implementation of the NEFMC's recently 
approved risk policy. The Atlantic Herring Committee will then provide 
a briefing on the following: (a) The development of Amendment 8 to the 
Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan (FMP), an action that will the 
focus on long-term harvest strategies for Atlantic herring, including 
an acceptable biological catch control rule that explicitly accounts 
for herring's role in the ecosystem, and the issue of localized 
depletion; (b) revising the Georges Bank haddock catch cap 
accountability measure through a framework adjustment to the Herring 
FMP; and (c) the use of portside data in river herring/shad catch cap 
monitoring.

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

    The second day of the meeting will begin with an overview to be 
provided by NOAA Fisheries on its Fishery Dependent Data Project, to be 
followed by a Council and public comments on the topic. The Observer 
Policy Committee will report on its development of an Industry-Funded 
Monitoring Amendment (IFM). At this meeting, the committee will review 
a draft environmental assessment and select preferred alternatives for 
the omnibus elements of the action for purposes of public review. They 
include: Standard cost responsibilities, framework provisions for IFM 
programs, service provider requirements, a prioritization process to 
allocate federal funding, and a monitoring set-aside option. The 
Council is expected to select preferred alternatives for the herring 
and mackerel alternatives in this draft amendment at its April 2016 
meeting.
    After a lunch break, the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) 
will present its recommendations, if any, for a revised overfishing 
limit and an acceptable biological catch for witch flounder for fishing 
years 2016-18. The Council will receive an update on additional topics 
discussed by the SSC at their January 20 meeting, as appropriate. 
During the Groundfish Committee's report, the Council expects to take 
final action on the 2016-18 fishery specifications for witch flounder 
and receive an update on the development of measures to address its the 
2016 groundfish priorities. These include potential changes to the at-
sea monitoring program and the management process for recreational 
fishing. The day will conclude with a review of NOAA's Draft Catch 
Share Guidance document and approval of NEFMC comments on the draft.

Thursday, January 28, 2015

    The final meeting day will begin with an overview of the Northeast 
Regional Planning Body's (RPB) Regional Ocean Plan, followed by Council 
discussion of the plan and other work products developed by the RPB. 
The Small Mesh Multispecies Committee will present an overview of the 
scoping comments received for Amendment 22 to the Northeast 
Multispecies FMP and ask for approval of the range of issues to be 
addressed in the action. The major topic under consideration is the 
development of a limited access program for the small mesh fishery, 
which is comprised of whiting (silver and offshore hake) and red hake. 
The Council also will consider Northeast Regional Coordinating Council-
recommended changes to the Stock Assessment Workshop/Stock Assessment 
Review Committee process. The Council meeting will adjourn after its 
members address any other outstanding Council business.
    Although other non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda 
may come before this Council for discussion, those issues may not be 
the subject of formal action during this meeting. 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 that the public has been notified of the Council's intent to 
take final action to address the emergency.

Special Accommodations

    This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Thomas A. Nies (see ADDRESSES) at least 5 days 
prior to the meeting date.

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

     Dated: January 5, 2016.
Jeffrey N. Lonergan,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-00141 Filed 1-7-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

912 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 5 / Friday, January 8, 2016 / Notices Enforcement Boarding Form. After testimony (1:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m.) on Kathy Pereira (see ADDRESSES) at least 5 lunch, the Reef Fish Management Final Action Reef Fish Amendment days prior to the meeting date. Committee will review the Scientific 39—Regional Management of Dated: January 5, 2016. and Statistical Committee (SSC) Recreational Red Snapper, Final Action Jeffrey N. Lonergan, Summary Report, and discuss Draft Reef Generic Electronic Charter Vessel Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fish Amendment 43—To Add West Reporting Amendment, and for Final Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. Florida Hogfish Stock to Fishery Action Shrimp Amendment 17A— [FR Doc. 2016–00140 Filed 1–7–16; 8:45 am] Management Unit (FMU) and establish Addressing the Expiration of the Shrimp BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Annual Catch Limits (ACL). They will Permit Moratorium; and hold an open also review a draft framework action to public comment period regarding any modify gear restrictions for yellowtail other fishery issues or concern. People DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE snapper; review the scoping document wishing to speak before the Council for Amendment 33—Reef Fish Limited should complete a public comment card National Oceanic and Atmospheric Access Privilege Program, and discuss prior to the comment period. Administration Amendment 36—Red Snapper Thursday, January 28, 2016; 8:30 a.m.– RIN 0648–XE386 Individual Fishing Quotas (IFQ) 4 p.m. Modifications. The Council will receive committee New England Fishery Management Tuesday, January 26, 2016; 8:30 a.m.–5 reports from the Administrative Policy/ Council; Public Meeting p.m. Budget, Mackerel, Data Collection, AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries The Reef Fish Management Shrimp, and Reef Fish Management Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Committee will discuss taking final Committees; and, vote on Exempted Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), action on Reef Fish Amendment 39— Fishing Permits (EFP) applications, if Commerce. Regional Management of Recreational any. Lastly, the Council will discuss Red Snapper; and, review draft ACTION: Notice of public meeting. Other Business items; and receive Amendment 41—Red Snapper summary reports from supporting SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management for Federally Permitted agencies: South Atlantic Council, Gulf Management Council (Council, NEFMC) Charter Vessels and draft Amendment States Marine Fisheries Commission, will hold a three-day meeting to 42—Federal Reef Fish Headboat U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Fish and Wildlife consider actions affecting New England Management. After lunch, the Service, and Department of State. fisheries in the exclusive economic zone committee will discuss draft Options— Meeting Adjourns (EEZ). Red Snapper Recreational annual catch target (ACT) Adjustment and National The timing and order in which agenda DATES: The meeting will be held on Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) season items are addressed may change as Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, projection and probability methodology. required to effectively address the issue. January 26, 27, and 28, 2016, starting at The Reef Fish Management Committee The latest version will be posted on the 9 a.m. on January 26, and at 8:30 a.m. will discuss gray triggerfish acceptable Council’s file server, which can be on both January 27 and 28. biological catch (ABC) accessed by going to the Council’s Web ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at recommendations and provide guidance site at http://www.gulfcouncil.org and the Sheraton Portsmouth Harborside to staff on the rebuilding plan clicking on FTP Server under Quick Hotel, 250 Market Street, Portsmouth, parameters. Finally, the Reef Fish Links. For meeting materials, select the NH 03801; telephone: (603) 431–2300, Management Committee will discuss the ‘‘Briefing Books/Briefing Book 2016–01’’ or online at Ad Hoc Private Recreational Advisory folder on Gulf Council file server. The www.sheratonportsmouth.com/. Panel, and review any other business. username and password are both Council address: New England ‘‘gulfguest’’. The meetings will be Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Wednesday, January 27, 2016; 8:30 Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950; webcast over the internet. A link to the a.m.–5:30 p.m. telephone: (978) 465–0492. webcast will be available on the The Mackerel Management Council’s Web site, http:// FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Committee will review the Joint Public www.gulfcouncil.org. Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, Hearing Draft for Coastal Migratory Although other non-emergency issues New England Fishery Management Pelagics (CMP) Amendment 26— not contained in this agenda may come Council; telephone: (978) 465–0492, ext. Changes in Allocations, Stock before this Council for discussion, those 113. Boundaries and Sale Provisions for Gulf issues may not be the subjects of formal SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: of Mexico and Atlantic Migratory action during this meeting. Council Groups of King Mackerel; and review action will be restricted to those issues Agenda the CMP Advisory Panel specifically listed in this notice and any Tuesday, January 26, 2016 recommendations. issues arising after publication of this The Full Council will convene mid- notice that require emergency action After introductions and any morning with a Call to Order, under section 305(c) of the Magnuson- announcements, the Council meeting Announcements and Introductions; Stevens Act, provided that the public will open with brief reports from the Adoption of Agenda and Approval of has been notified of the Council’s intent NEFMC Chairman and Executive mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES6 Minutes; and review Exempt Fishing to take final action to address the Director, the NOAA Regional Permit (EFPs) Applications, if any. The emergency. Administrator for the Greater Atlantic Council will then receive presentations Region, Northeast Fisheries Science on Landing Summaries, Illegal Special Accommodations Center and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Unreported and Unregulated Fishing This meeting is physically accessible Management Council liaisons, NOAA and Seafood Traceability, and NOAA’s to people with disabilities. Requests for General Counsel and Office of Law Catch Share Review Guidelines. After sign language interpretation or other Enforcement representatives, and staff lunch, the Council will receive public auxiliary aids should be directed to from the Atlantic States Marine VerDate Sep<11>2014 23:39 Jan 13, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\08JAN1.SGM 08JAN1

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 5 / Friday, January 8, 2016 / Notices 913 Fisheries Commission and the U.S Coast appropriate. During the Groundfish Dated: January 5, 2016. Guard. Following these reports, the Committee’s report, the Council expects Jeffrey N. Lonergan, Council will receive an update on plans to take final action on the 2016–18 Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable for a February sea scallop workshop fishery specifications for witch flounder Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. being held to explore concerns about and receive an update on the [FR Doc. 2016–00141 Filed 1–7–16; 8:45 am] inshore scallop fishing in the Northeast. development of measures to address its BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Next, the public will have an the 2016 groundfish priorities. These opportunity to make brief comments on include potential changes to the at-sea items that are relevant to Council monitoring program and the DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE business but otherwise not listed on the management process for recreational National Oceanic and Atmospheric published agenda. Following a lunch break, the fishing. The day will conclude with a Administration Council’s Risk Policy Working Group review of NOAA’s Draft Catch Share Guidance document and approval of RIN 0648–XE387 will provide an update on finalizing what is being termed a ‘‘roadmap’’ that NEFMC comments on the draft. South Atlantic Fishery Management contains guidance on the Thursday, January 28, 2015 Council; Public Meetings implementation of the NEFMC’s recently approved risk policy. The The final meeting day will begin with AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Atlantic Herring Committee will then an overview of the Northeast Regional Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and provide a briefing on the following: (a) Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Planning Body’s (RPB) Regional Ocean The development of Amendment 8 to Commerce. Plan, followed by Council discussion of the Atlantic Herring Fishery ACTION: Notice of Public Hearings/ the plan and other work products Management Plan (FMP), an action that Scoping and Advisory Panel Meeting. developed by the RPB. The Small Mesh will the focus on long-term harvest Multispecies Committee will present an SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery strategies for Atlantic herring, including overview of the scoping comments Management Council (SAFMC) will an acceptable biological catch control received for Amendment 22 to the hold a series of public hearings/scoping rule that explicitly accounts for Northeast Multispecies FMP and ask for meetings pertaining to Amendments 41 herring’s role in the ecosystem, and the approval of the range of issues to be and 37 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery issue of localized depletion; (b) revising addressed in the action. The major topic Management Plan (FMP) for the South the Georges Bank haddock catch cap under consideration is the development Atlantic, and Atlantic Generic accountability measure through a of a limited access program for the small Charterboat/Headboat Reporting framework adjustment to the Herring mesh fishery, which is comprised of Amendment, and Amendment 26 to the FMP; and (c) the use of portside data in whiting (silver and offshore hake) and Coastal Migratory Pelagic (mackerel) river herring/shad catch cap monitoring. red hake. The Council also will consider Fishery Management Plan for the Gulf of Wednesday, January 27, 2016 Northeast Regional Coordinating Mexico and South Atlantic. Scoping The second day of the meeting will comments will be accepted for Snapper Council-recommended changes to the begin with an overview to be provided Grouper Amendment 41 addressing Stock Assessment Workshop/Stock by NOAA Fisheries on its Fishery management measures for mutton Assessment Review Committee process. snapper. Public Hearings will be held Dependent Data Project, to be followed The Council meeting will adjourn after by a Council and public comments on for Snapper Grouper Amendment 37 its members address any other pertaining to management measures for the topic. The Observer Policy outstanding Council business. Committee will report on its hogfish, the Atlantic Charterboat/ development of an Industry-Funded Although other non-emergency issues Headboat Reporting Amendment, and Monitoring Amendment (IFM). At this not contained in this agenda may come Mackerel Amendment 26 addressing meeting, the committee will review a before this Council for discussion, those management measures for king mackerel draft environmental assessment and issues may not be the subject of formal in the Gulf of Mexico and South select preferred alternatives for the action during this meeting. Council Atlantic. Note that the Florida Fish and omnibus elements of the action for action will be restricted to those issues Wildlife Conservation Commission purposes of public review. They specifically listed in this notice and any (FWC) will solicit public input on include: Standard cost responsibilities, issues arising after publication of this mutton snapper management measures framework provisions for IFM programs, notice that require emergency action for Florida State waters during selected service provider requirements, a under section 305(c) of the Magnuson- public hearing/scoping meetings held in prioritization process to allocate federal Stevens Act, provided that the public Florida (see DATES and SUPPLEMENTARY funding, and a monitoring set-aside INFORMATION). The Council will also has been notified of the Council’s intent option. The Council is expected to hold a meeting of its Mackerel Advisory to take final action to address the select preferred alternatives for the Panel in conjunction with the public emergency. herring and mackerel alternatives in this hearing/scoping meeting scheduled in draft amendment at its April 2016 Special Accommodations Cocoa Beach, FL. meeting. DATES: The series of public hearings/ After a lunch break, the Scientific and This meeting is physically accessible scoping meetings will be held from mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES6 Statistical Committee (SSC) will present to people with disabilities. Requests for January 25–February 8, 2016. The its recommendations, if any, for a sign language interpretation or other public hearing/scoping meetings will be revised overfishing limit and an auxiliary aids should be directed to held from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. with the acceptable biological catch for witch Thomas A. Nies (see ADDRESSES) at least exception of the public hearing/scoping flounder for fishing years 2016–18. The 5 days prior to the meeting date. meeting in Morehead City that will Council will receive an update on Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. begin at 5 p.m. and a public hearing via additional topics discussed by the SSC webinar that will begin at 6 p.m. The at their January 20 meeting, as meeting of the Mackerel Advisory Panel VerDate Sep<11>2014 23:39 Jan 13, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\08JAN1.SGM 08JAN1


Document Created: 2016-01-16 01:15:14
Document Modified: 2016-01-16 01:15:14
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of public meeting.
DatesThe meeting will be held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, January 26, 27, and 28, 2016, starting at 9 a.m. on January 26, and at 8:30 a.m. on both January 27 and 28.
ContactThomas A. Nies, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council; telephone: (978) 465-0492, ext. 113.
FR Citation81 FR 912 
RIN Number0648-XE38
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