[Federal Register: November 27, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 228)] [Proposed Rules] [Page 65571-65572] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr27no98-25] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 648 [I.D. 111698A] New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Public meeting. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a 2-day public meeting to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone. DATES: The meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 9, 1998, at 9:00 a.m. and on Thursday, December 10, 1998, at 8:30 a.m. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Sheraton Colonial Hotel, 427 Walnut Street, Wakefield, MA 01880; telephone (781) 245-9300. Requests for special accommodations should be addressed to the New England Fishery Management Council, 5 Broadway, Saugus, MA 01906-1036; telephone: (781) 231-0422. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council (781) 231-0422. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Wednesday, December 9, 1998 The meeting will begin with reports on recent activities from the Council Chairman, Executive Director, the NMFS Acting Regional Administrator, Northeast Fisheries Science Center and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council liaisons, and representatives of the Coast Guard, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Following reports, the Chairman of the Herring Committee will ask for approval of draft regulations and other documents associated with the submission of the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Atlantic Herring Fishery to NMFS. After a noon break, the Council intends to seek approval of management measures and draft regulations for Amendment 12 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP (for whiting, offshore hake, and red hake). As part of the whiting discussion, the Council also will resolve issues relative to meeting the plan objectives, the Sustainable Fisheries Act requirements, and provide an update on document [[Page 65572]] preparation and submission of the final amendment to NMFS. The Wednesday agenda will conclude with the Multispecies Monitoring Committee (MSMC) Annual Report. Information presented will include projected groundfish landings through April 1999, target total allowable catches for the 1999-2000 fishing year, and options for reaching or maintaining fishing mortality objectives that achieve rebuilding for the principal groundfish species. Thursday, December 10, 1998 The Council will make a number of decisions at this meeting based on information presented in the MSMC Report. These include action on Framework Adjustments 26 and 27 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP. The Council intends to approve final action on Framework Adjustment 26, which contains measures to protect cod, prior to the May 1 start of the 1999 fishing year. Alternatives under consideration include an increase in the size and/or duration of the existing Gulf of Maine groundfish closed areas, the possible addition of areas to conserve the Georges Bank cod stock, and a modification to the Gulf of Maine cod trip limit ``running clock'' feature. The Council also intends to approve initial action on Framework Adjustment 27 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP. Framework Adjustment 27 would contain measures that meet the 1999 fishing year rebuilding plan objectives and might include area closures, trip limits, adjustments to days-at-sea or gear/mesh modifications. This Council meeting will conclude after any other outstanding business has been addressed. Although other issues not contained in this agenda may come before this Council for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, those issues may not be the subject of formal Council action during this meeting. Council action will be restricted to those issues specifically listed in this notice. Special Accommodations This meeting is physically accessible to people with 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 date. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: November 20, 1998. Richard W. Surdi, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 98-31651 Filed 11-25-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F