83_FR_2154 83 FR 2144 - New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

83 FR 2144 - New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 10 (January 16, 2018)

Page Range2144-2145
FR Document2018-00567

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

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 10 (Tuesday, January 16, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 16, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2144-2145]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-00567]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF946


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 two-day meeting to consider actions affecting New England 
fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

DATES: The meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 30, and Wednesday, 
January 31, 2018, beginning at 10 a.m. on January 30 and 9 a.m. on 
January 31.

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

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 30, 2018

    After introductions and brief announcements, the meeting will begin 
with reports from the Council Chairman and Executive Director, NMFS's 
Regional Administrator for the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries 
Office (GARFO), liaisons from the Northeast Fisheries Science Center 
(NEFSC) and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, representatives 
from NOAA General Counsel and the Office of Law Enforcement, and staff 
from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) and U.S. 
Coast Guard. Next, the Council will receive an industry-funded 
monitoring briefing from GARFO that includes: (1) An update with 
preliminary results on the agency's electronic monitoring project 
aboard midwater trawl vessels participating in the Atlantic herring and 
mackerel fisheries; and (2) information on industry-funded monitoring 
service providers. The Skate Committee will report next. The Council is 
expected to initiate Framework Adjustment 6 to the Northeast Skate 
Complex Fishery Management Plan (FMP) to consider adjustments to the 
skate wing possession limit.
    After a lunch break, members of the public will have the 
opportunity to speak during an open comment period on issues that 
relate to Council business but are not included on the published agenda 
for this meeting. The Council asks the public to limit remarks to 3-5 
minutes. The Habitat Committee will report after the public comment 
period. The Council is scheduled to take final action on coral 
protection measures for the continental slope and canyons south of 
Georges Bank in its Omnibus Deep-Sea Coral Amendment. The Council took 
final action on coral protection measures for the Gulf of Maine in June 
of 2017. In other habitat-related business, the Council will: (1) 
Review NMFS's decision on Omnibus Habitat Amendment 2 and discuss how 
it relates to the Council's 2018 habitat priorities; and (2) review 
comments on offshore wind projects. The Council then will hear from its 
Research Steering Committee and first review and possibly approve the 
committee's recommendations for potential improvements to the Council's 
research priority-setting process. The Council also will receive an 
update on issues related to the Northeast Cooperative Research Program 
and be briefed on management reviews of completed research projects. 
Following these actions, the Council will adjourn for the day.

Wednesday, January 31, 2018

    The second day of the meeting will begin with a closed session in 
order for the Council to consult on Scientific and Statistical 
Committee appointments for 2018-20. The first item of business in the 
open session will be an update on the ongoing external review of 
Council operations, known as the Council Program Review. Next, the 
Council will receive a report on the latest meeting of the Northeast 
Trawl Advisory Panel and discuss several issues related to the workings 
of the panel, including NEFSC engagement and previous/future studies 
and projects. This discussion will be followed by a National Fish and 
Wildlife Foundation-funded report on implementing electronic monitoring 
in New England's groundfish fishery. The Council then will receive a 
presentation on the NEFSC's ``2007-2015 Final Report on the Performance 
of the Northeast Multispecies Fishery,'' followed by the Scientific and 
Statistical Committee's report, which is centered on providing 
overfishing limit and acceptable biological catch recommendations for 
Atlantic halibut to the Council.
    Following a lunch break, the Council will begin its Groundfish 
Committee report, which will cover recreational fishery measures and 
the Council's Groundfish Monitoring Amendment 23. On the recreational 
end, the Council will: (1) Provide recommendations to GARFO on fishing 
year 2018 recreational measures for Gulf of Maine cod and haddock; (2) 
possibly consult with GARFO on fishing year 2018 recreational measures 
for Georges Bank cod; and (3) consider recommending a new control date 
for the party/charter fishery. Regarding Amendment 23 to the Northeast 
Multispecies Fishery Management Plan, which is focused on monitoring in 
the groundfish fishery, the Council will: (1) Receive a progress report 
on the amendment's development; and (2) discuss the

[[Page 2145]]

possibility of holding a groundfish workshop or establishing a working 
group dedicated to monitoring issues. Finally, the Council will close 
out the meeting with ``other business.''
    Although non-emergency issues not contained on this agenda may come 
before the 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 Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council's 
intent to take final action to address the emergency. The public also 
should be aware that the meeting will be recorded. Consistent with 16 
U.S.C. 1852, a copy of the recording is available upon request.

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.

    Dated: January 10, 2018.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-00567 Filed 1-12-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P



                                               2144                          Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 10 / Tuesday, January 16, 2018 / Notices

                                               considered during this period. Speakers                 ADDRESSES:   The meeting will be held at               Amendment 2 and discuss how it
                                               who wish to expand upon their oral                      the Sheraton Harborside, 250 Market                    relates to the Council’s 2018 habitat
                                               statements, those who had wished to                     Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801;                          priorities; and (2) review comments on
                                               speak but could not be accommodated                     telephone: (603) 431–2300; online at                   offshore wind projects. The Council
                                               on the agenda, and those who were                       www.sheratonportsmouth.com.                            then will hear from its Research
                                               unable to attend in person are invited to                  Council Address: New England                        Steering Committee and first review and
                                               submit written statements to VCAT,                      Fishery Management Council, 50 Water                   possibly approve the committee’s
                                               NIST, 100 Bureau Drive, MS 1060,                        Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950;                 recommendations for potential
                                               Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, via fax at                telephone: (978) 465–0492;                             improvements to the Council’s research
                                               301–216–0529 or electronically by email                 www.nefmc.org.                                         priority-setting process. The Council
                                               to stephanie.shaw@nist.gov.                             FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                       also will receive an update on issues
                                                 All visitors to the NIST site are                     Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director,                    related to the Northeast Cooperative
                                               required to pre-register to be admitted.                New England Fishery Management                         Research Program and be briefed on
                                               Please submit your name, time of                        Council; telephone: (978) 465–0492, ext.               management reviews of completed
                                               arrival, email address and phone                        113.                                                   research projects. Following these
                                               number to Stephanie Shaw by 5:00 p.m.                   SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                                                                                                                              actions, the Council will adjourn for the
                                               Eastern Time, Monday, January 29,                                                                              day.
                                               2018. Non-U.S. citizens must submit                     Agenda
                                                                                                                                                              Wednesday, January 31, 2018
                                               additional information; please contact                  Tuesday, January 30, 2018
                                               Ms. Shaw. Ms. Shaw’s email address is                                                                             The second day of the meeting will
                                               stephanie.shaw@nist.gov and her phone                      After introductions and brief                       begin with a closed session in order for
                                               number is 301–975–2667. For                             announcements, the meeting will begin                  the Council to consult on Scientific and
                                                                                                       with reports from the Council Chairman                 Statistical Committee appointments for
                                               participants attending in person, please
                                                                                                       and Executive Director, NMFS’s                         2018–20. The first item of business in
                                               note that federal agencies, including
                                                                                                       Regional Administrator for the Greater                 the open session will be an update on
                                               NIST, can only accept a state-issued
                                                                                                       Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office                     the ongoing external review of Council
                                               driver’s license or identification card for
                                                                                                       (GARFO), liaisons from the Northeast                   operations, known as the Council
                                               access to federal facilities if such license
                                                                                                       Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) and                   Program Review. Next, the Council will
                                               or identification card is issued by a state
                                                                                                       Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management                        receive a report on the latest meeting of
                                               that is compliant with the REAL ID Act
                                                                                                       Council, representatives from NOAA                     the Northeast Trawl Advisory Panel and
                                               of 2005 (Pub. L. 109–13), or by a state
                                                                                                       General Counsel and the Office of Law                  discuss several issues related to the
                                               that has an extension for REAL ID
                                                                                                       Enforcement, and staff from the Atlantic               workings of the panel, including NEFSC
                                               compliance. NIST currently accepts                      States Marine Fisheries Commission                     engagement and previous/future studies
                                               other forms of federal-issued                           (ASMFC) and U.S. Coast Guard. Next,                    and projects. This discussion will be
                                               identification in lieu of a state-issued                the Council will receive an industry-                  followed by a National Fish and
                                               driver’s license. For detailed                          funded monitoring briefing from                        Wildlife Foundation-funded report on
                                               information please contact Ms. Shaw at                  GARFO that includes: (1) An update                     implementing electronic monitoring in
                                               301–975–2667 or visit: http://nist.gov/                 with preliminary results on the agency’s               New England’s groundfish fishery. The
                                               public_affairs/visitor/.                                electronic monitoring project aboard                   Council then will receive a presentation
                                               Kevin Kimball,                                          midwater trawl vessels participating in                on the NEFSC’s ‘‘2007–2015 Final
                                               Chief of Staff.                                         the Atlantic herring and mackerel                      Report on the Performance of the
                                               [FR Doc. 2018–00566 Filed 1–12–18; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                       fisheries; and (2) information on                      Northeast Multispecies Fishery,’’
                                                                                                       industry-funded monitoring service                     followed by the Scientific and Statistical
                                               BILLING CODE 3510–13–P
                                                                                                       providers. The Skate Committee will                    Committee’s report, which is centered
                                                                                                       report next. The Council is expected to                on providing overfishing limit and
                                               DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE                                  initiate Framework Adjustment 6 to the                 acceptable biological catch
                                                                                                       Northeast Skate Complex Fishery                        recommendations for Atlantic halibut to
                                               National Oceanic and Atmospheric                        Management Plan (FMP) to consider                      the Council.
                                               Administration                                          adjustments to the skate wing                             Following a lunch break, the Council
                                                                                                       possession limit.                                      will begin its Groundfish Committee
                                               RIN 0648–XF946                                             After a lunch break, members of the                 report, which will cover recreational
                                               New England Fishery Management                          public will have the opportunity to                    fishery measures and the Council’s
                                               Council; Public Meeting                                 speak during an open comment period                    Groundfish Monitoring Amendment 23.
                                                                                                       on issues that relate to Council business              On the recreational end, the Council
                                               AGENCY:  National Marine Fisheries                      but are not included on the published                  will: (1) Provide recommendations to
                                               Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and                    agenda for this meeting. The Council                   GARFO on fishing year 2018
                                               Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),                      asks the public to limit remarks to 3–5                recreational measures for Gulf of Maine
                                               Commerce.                                               minutes. The Habitat Committee will                    cod and haddock; (2) possibly consult
                                               ACTION: Notice of public meeting.                       report after the public comment period.                with GARFO on fishing year 2018
                                                                                                       The Council is scheduled to take final                 recreational measures for Georges Bank
                                               SUMMARY:   The New England Fishery                      action on coral protection measures for                cod; and (3) consider recommending a
                                               Management Council (Council, NEFMC)                     the continental slope and canyons south                new control date for the party/charter
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES




                                               will hold a two-day meeting to consider                 of Georges Bank in its Omnibus Deep-                   fishery. Regarding Amendment 23 to the
                                               actions affecting New England fisheries                 Sea Coral Amendment. The Council                       Northeast Multispecies Fishery
                                               in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).                   took final action on coral protection                  Management Plan, which is focused on
                                               DATES: The meeting will be held on                      measures for the Gulf of Maine in June                 monitoring in the groundfish fishery,
                                               Tuesday, January 30, and Wednesday,                     of 2017. In other habitat-related                      the Council will: (1) Receive a progress
                                               January 31, 2018, beginning at 10 a.m.                  business, the Council will: (1) Review                 report on the amendment’s
                                               on January 30 and 9 a.m. on January 31.                 NMFS’s decision on Omnibus Habitat                     development; and (2) discuss the


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                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 10 / Tuesday, January 16, 2018 / Notices                                            2145

                                               possibility of holding a groundfish                     DATES:  Comments or requests for a                     the Snake River basin for nearly 20
                                               workshop or establishing a working                      public hearing on the applications must                years. The permit would continue to
                                               group dedicated to monitoring issues.                   be received at the appropriate address or              cover the following actions: One general
                                               Finally, the Council will close out the                 fax number (see ADDRESSES) no later                    fish population inventory; one project
                                               meeting with ‘‘other business.’’                        than 5 p.m. Pacific standard time on                   designed to monitor fish health
                                                  Although non-emergency issues not                    February 15, 2018.                                     throughout the state; two projects
                                               contained on this agenda may come                       ADDRESSES: Written comments on the                     looking at natural and hatchery Chinook
                                               before the Council for discussion, those                applications should be sent to the                     salmon production (in which sockeye
                                               issues may not be the subject of formal                 Protected Resources Division, NMFS,                    may rarely be captured); one project
                                               action during this meeting. Council                     1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Suite 1100,                       monitoring natural steelhead; and one
                                               action will be restricted to those issues               Portland, OR 97232–1274. Comments                      project centering on monitoring sockeye
                                               specifically listed in this notice and any              may also be sent via fax to 503–230–                   salmon recovery in Idaho. Much of the
                                               issues arising after publication of this                5441 or by email to nmfs.nwr.apps@                     work being conducted under these
                                               notice that require emergency action                    noaa.gov (include the permit number in                 projects is covered by other ESA
                                               under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-                   the subject line of the fax or email).                 authorizations; the work contemplated
                                               Stevens Fishery Conservation and                                                                               here is only the work that portion of the
                                                                                                       FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rob
                                               Management Act, provided the public                                                                            research that may affect sockeye salmon.
                                                                                                       Clapp, Portland, OR (ph.: 503–231–
                                               has been notified of the Council’s intent                                                                      The purposes of the research are
                                                                                                       2314), Fax: 503–230–5441, email:
                                               to take final action to address the                                                                            therefore to monitor listed salmonid
                                                                                                       Robert.Clapp@noaa.gov). Permit
                                               emergency. The public also should be                                                                           health, help guide sockeye salmon
                                                                                                       application instructions are available
                                               aware that the meeting will be recorded.                                                                       recovery operations, and to rescue
                                                                                                       from the address above, or online at
                                               Consistent with 16 U.S.C. 1852, a copy                                                                         sockeye salmon in need imperiled by
                                                                                                       https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov.
                                               of the recording is available upon                                                                             circumstances such as being trapped by
                                                                                                       SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                             low flows. The benefits to the salmon
                                               request.
                                                                                                       Species Covered in This Notice                         would come in the form of information
                                               Special Accommodations
                                                                                                                                                              to help guide resource managers in
                                                 This meeting is physically accessible                   The following listed species are
                                                                                                                                                              restoring the listed fish and, as stated,
                                               to people with disabilities. Requests for               covered in this notice:
                                                                                                                                                              in directly rescuing them from peril.
                                               sign language interpretation or other                     Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus
                                                                                                                                                              The fish would be captured by various
                                               auxiliary aids should be directed to                    tshawytscha): Endangered upper
                                                                                                                                                              methods—screw traps, electrofishing,
                                               Thomas A. Nies (see ADDRESSES) at least                 Columbia River (UCR); threatened
                                                                                                                                                              hook-and-line-angling, mid-water
                                               5 days prior to the meeting date.                       Snake River (SR) spring/summer (spr/
                                                                                                                                                              trawl—and most captured fish would
                                                                                                       sum), threatened SR fall-run.
                                                 Dated: January 10, 2018.                                                                                     immediately be released. The
                                                                                                         Steelhead (O. mykiss): Threatened
                                               Tracey L. Thompson,                                                                                            researchers do not intend to kill any of
                                                                                                       UCR; threatened SR; threatened middle
                                               Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable                                                                  the captured fish, but a few may die as
                                                                                                       Columbia River (MCR).
                                               Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.             Sockeye salmon (O. nerka):                           an inadvertent result of the research.
                                               [FR Doc. 2018–00567 Filed 1–12–18; 8:45 am]             Endangered SR.                                         Permit 1134–7R
                                               BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
                                                                                                       Authority                                                The Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish
                                                                                                                                                              Commission (CRITFC) is seeking to
                                                                                                          Scientific research permits are issued
                                                                                                                                                              renew for five years a permit under
                                               DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE                                  in accordance with section 10(a)(1)(A)
                                                                                                                                                              which they have been conducting
                                                                                                       of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and
                                               National Oceanic and Atmospheric                                                                               research for nearly 20 years. The permit
                                                                                                       regulations governing listed fish and
                                               Administration                                                                                                 would continue covering five study
                                                                                                       wildlife permits (50 CFR parts 222–226).
                                                                                                                                                              projects that, among them, would
                                               RIN 0648–XF945                                          NMFS issues permits based on findings
                                                                                                                                                              annually take adult and juvenile
                                                                                                       that such permits: (1) Are applied for in
                                                                                                                                                              threatened SR spring/summer Chinook
                                               Endangered and Threatened Species;                      good faith; (2) if granted and exercised,              salmon and adult and juvenile
                                               Take of Anadromous Fish                                 would not operate to the disadvantage                  threatened SR steelhead in the Snake
                                                                                                       of the listed species that are the subject             River basin. There have been some
                                               AGENCY:   National Marine Fisheries
                                                                                                       of the permit; and (3) are consistent                  changes in the research over the last ten
                                               Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
                                                                                                       with the purposes and policy of section                years; nonetheless, the projects
                                               Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
                                                                                                       2 of the ESA. The authority to take                    proposed are largely continuations of
                                               Commerce.
                                                                                                       listed species is subject to conditions set            ongoing research. They are: Project 1—
                                               ACTION: Notice; applications for one new                forth in the permits.
                                               scientific research permit and five                                                                            Adult Spring/summer and Fall Chinook
                                                                                                          Anyone requesting a hearing on an                   Salmon and Summer Steelhead Ground
                                               scientific research permit renewals.                    application listed in this notice should               and Aerial Spawning Ground Surveys;
                                               SUMMARY:   Notice is hereby given that                  set out the specific reasons why a                     Project 2—Cryopreservation of Spring/
                                               NMFS has received six scientific                        hearing on that application would be                   summer Chinook Salmon and Summer
                                               research permit application requests                    appropriate (see ADDRESSES). Such                      Steelhead Gametes; Project 3—Adult
                                               relating to Pacific salmon and steelhead.               hearings are held at the discretion of the             Chinook Salmon Abundance Monitoring
                                               The proposed research is intended to                    Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,                 Using Video Weirs, Acoustic Imaging,
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES




                                               increase knowledge of species listed                    NMFS.                                                  and passive integrated transponder (PIT)
                                               under the Endangered Species Act                        Applications Received                                  tag Detectors in the South Fork Salmon
                                               (ESA) and to help guide management                                                                             River; Project 4—Snorkel, Seine, fyke
                                               and conservation efforts. The                           Permit 1124–6R                                         net, Minnow Trap, and Electrofishing
                                               applications may be viewed online at:                     The IDFG is seeking to renew for five                Surveys and Collection of Juvenile
                                               https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov/preview/                     years a permit under which they have                   Chinook Salmon and Steelhead; and
                                               preview_open_for_comment.cfm.                           been conducting six research projects in               Project 5—Juvenile Anadromous


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Document Created: 2018-01-13 02:02:29
Document Modified: 2018-01-13 02:02:29
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, January 30, and Wednesday, January 31, 2018, beginning at 10 a.m. on January 30 and 9 a.m. on January 31.
ContactThomas A. Nies, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council; telephone: (978) 465-0492, ext. 113.
FR Citation83 FR 2144 
RIN Number0648-XF94

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