82 FR 21791 - Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 89 (May 10, 2017)

Page Range		21791-21791
FR Document		2017-09438

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a public hearing via webinar to solicit public comments on Draft Reef Fish Amendment 47--Modify Vermilion Snapper ACLs and MSY Proxies.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 89 (Wednesday, May 10, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 89 (Wednesday, May 10, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 21791]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-09438]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF407


Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice; public hearing via webinar.

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SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold a public hearing via webinar to solicit public comments on Draft 
Reef Fish Amendment 47--Modify Vermilion Snapper ACLs and MSY Proxies.

DATES: The public hearing will take place via webinar on Wednesday, May 
24, 2017; starting at 6 p.m. EDT and will conclude no later than 9 p.m. 
Written public comments must be received on or before 5 p.m. EDT on 
Tuesday, May 16, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 N. Lois 
Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607; telephone: (813) 348-1630; 
www.gulfcouncil.org.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Atran, Senior Fishery 
Biologist, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: (813) 
348-1630, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Based on the results of a 2016 vermilion 
snapper stock assessment, the Council's Scientific and Statistical 
Committee (SSC) concluded that the vermilion snapper stock is neither 
overfished nor undergoing overfishing. The SSC provided recommendations 
for the overfishing limit (OFL) during 2017-21 based on a proxy for 
maximum sustainable yield (MSY) of 30% SPR, and recommended acceptable 
biological catch (ABC) during 2017-2021 based on fishing at a fishing 
mortality rate that was 75% of the OFL fishing mortality rate. The 
Council accepted 30% SPR as the preferred MSY proxy, but also asked for 
analysis of the OFL and ABC yields at 26% SPR, which is a slightly less 
conservative MSY proxy, resulting in higher yields but also a smaller 
spawning stock biomass.
    The Council needs to take two actions in this amendment. Action 1 
is to adopt an MSY proxy. The alternatives are: (1) To not adopt a 
proxy (no action), (2) adopt the proxy of 30% SPR (preferred 
alternative), or (3) adopt the proxy of 26% SPR. Action 2 is to set 
annual catch limits (ACLs) for 2017-21. The alternatives are: (1) To 
keep the current 3.42 million pound whole weight ACL that was 
implemented in 2012 using a data-poor method, (2) set ACL equal to the 
annual estimate of ABC for each year 2017-21 (which would result in a 
declining annual yield) with the 2021 ACL remaining in place for 
subsequent years, (3) set ACL equal to a constant catch corresponding 
to the average ABC during 2017-21 (preferred alternative), or (4) set 
ACL equal to the equilibrium ABC, which is the catch level at which no 
further declines are projected under current biological conditions. The 
specific ACL yields for Alternatives 2, 3, and 4 depend upon the 
selection of MSY proxy in Acton 1.
    Staff and a Council member will be available to answer any 
questions and the public will have the opportunity to provide testimony 
on the amendment and other related testimony.
    The schedule is as follows:
    Wednesday, May 24, 2017, Webinar--6 p.m. EDT at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5395690967655721217.
    After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing 
information about joining the webinar.
    Public documents may be obtained by contacting the Gulf of Mexico 
Fishery Management Council at (813) 348-1630 or on their Web site at 
www.gulfcouncil.org.

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

    Dated: May 4, 2017.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-09438 Filed 5-9-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 89 / Wednesday, May 10, 2017 / Notices 21791

http://www.regulations.gov/ Done in Washington, DC, this 5th day of higher yields but also a smaller
#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2017-0015 or May 2017. spawning stock biomass.
in our reading room, which is located in Michael C. Gregoire, The Council needs to take two actions
Room 1141 of the USDA South Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant in this amendment. Action 1 is to adopt
Building, 14th Street and Independence Health Inspection Service. an MSY proxy. The alternatives are: (1)
Avenue SW., Washington, DC. Normal [FR Doc. 2017–09499 Filed 5–9–17; 8:45 am] To not adopt a proxy (no action), (2)
reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 BILLING CODE 3410–34–P adopt the proxy of 30% SPR (preferred
p.m., Monday through Friday, except alternative), or (3) adopt the proxy of
holidays. To be sure someone is there to 26% SPR. Action 2 is to set annual
help you, please call (202) 799–7039 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE catch limits (ACLs) for 2017–21. The
before coming. alternatives are: (1) To keep the current
National Oceanic and Atmospheric 3.42 million pound whole weight ACL
Supporting documents and any Administration that was implemented in 2012 using a
comments we received regarding our data-poor method, (2) set ACL equal to
determination of nonregulated status of RIN 0648–XF407
the annual estimate of ABC for each
the antecedent organism, MS8 canola, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management year 2017–21 (which would result in a
may be inspected in our reading room. Council; Public Meetings declining annual yield) with the 2021
Supporting documents may also be ACL remaining in place for subsequent
found on the APHIS Web site for MS11 AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries years, (3) set ACL equal to a constant
canola (the organism under evaluation) Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and catch corresponding to the average ABC
under APHIS Petition Number 16–235– Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), during 2017–21 (preferred alternative),
01p. Commerce. or (4) set ACL equal to the equilibrium
ACTION: Notice; public hearing via ABC, which is the catch level at which
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. webinar. no further declines are projected under
Cindy Eck, Document Control Officer/ current biological conditions. The
Team Leader, Policy Coordination SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery specific ACL yields for Alternatives 2, 3,
Programs, Biotechnology Regulatory Management Council (Council) will and 4 depend upon the selection of
Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit hold a public hearing via webinar to MSY proxy in Acton 1.
147, Riverdale, MD 20737–1236; (301) solicit public comments on Draft Reef Staff and a Council member will be
851–3954, email: cynthia.a.eck@ Fish Amendment 47—Modify Vermilion available to answer any questions and
aphis.usda.gov. Snapper ACLs and MSY Proxies. the public will have the opportunity to
DATES: The public hearing will take provide testimony on the amendment
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April place via webinar on Wednesday, May and other related testimony.
12, 2017, we published in the Federal 24, 2017; starting at 6 p.m. EDT and will The schedule is as follows:
Register (82 FR 17625–17626, Docket conclude no later than 9 p.m. Written Wednesday, May 24, 2017, Webinar—
No. APHIS–2017–0015) a notice public comments must be received on or 6 p.m. EDT at: https://
advising the public that the Animal and before 5 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, May 16, attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/
Plant Health Inspection Service has 2017. 5395690967655721217.
reached a preliminary decision to ADDRESSES: Gulf of Mexico Fishery After registering, you will receive a
extend our determination of Management Council, 2203 N. Lois confirmation email containing
nonregulated status of InVigor® MS8 Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607; information about joining the webinar.
canola (hereinafter MS8 canola) to telephone: (813) 348–1630; Public documents may be obtained by
Bayer’s canola event MS11 in response www.gulfcouncil.org. contacting the Gulf of Mexico Fishery
to a request from Bayer CropScience LP. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Management Council at (813) 348–1630
MS11 canola has been genetically Steven Atran, Senior Fishery Biologist, or on their Web site at
engineered for male sterility and Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management www.gulfcouncil.org.
resistance to the herbicide glufosinate- Council; telephone: (813) 348–1630, Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
ammonium using the same mechanism steven.atran@gulfcouncil.org. Dated: May 4, 2017.
of action as MS8 canola. The notice also SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Based on Tracey L. Thompson,
made available for public comment our the results of a 2016 vermilion snapper
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
draft environmental assessment, stock assessment, the Council’s Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
preliminary regulatory determination, Scientific and Statistical Committee
[FR Doc. 2017–09438 Filed 5–9–17; 8:45 am]
preliminary finding of no significant (SSC) concluded that the vermilion
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
impact, and plant pest risk similarity snapper stock is neither overfished nor
assessment for the proposed undergoing overfishing. The SSC
determination of nonregulated status. provided recommendations for the DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Comments on the notice were overfishing limit (OFL) during 2017–21
based on a proxy for maximum National Oceanic and Atmospheric
required to be received on or before May
sustainable yield (MSY) of 30% SPR, Administration
12, 2017. We are extending the
and recommended acceptable biological
comment period on Docket No. APHIS– RIN 0648–XF406
catch (ABC) during 2017–2021 based on
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

2017–0015 for an additional 15 days. fishing at a fishing mortality rate that
This action will allow interested Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management
was 75% of the OFL fishing mortality Council; Public Meetings
persons additional time to prepare and rate. The Council accepted 30% SPR as
submit comments. the preferred MSY proxy, but also asked AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7701–7772 and 7781– for analysis of the OFL and ABC yields Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
7786; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and at 26% SPR, which is a slightly less Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
371.3. conservative MSY proxy, resulting in Commerce.

VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:21 May 09, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\10MYN1.SGM 10MYN1

Document Created: 2017-05-10 00:00:57
Document Modified: 2017-05-10 00:00:57

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice; public hearing via webinar.
Dates		The public hearing will take place via webinar on Wednesday, May 24, 2017; starting at 6 p.m. EDT and will conclude no later than 9 p.m. Written public comments must be received on or before 5 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, May 16, 2017.
Contact		Steven Atran, Senior Fishery Biologist, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: (813) 348-1630, [email protected]
FR Citation		82 FR 21791
RIN Number		0648-XF40

82 FR 21791 - Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 89 (May 10, 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration