[Federal Register: January 15, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 10)] [Notices] [Page 2630] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr15ja99-51] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 011199B] North Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public meetings. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory committees will meet in Anchorage, AK, the week of February 1, 1999. DATES: 1. The Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will meet beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, February 1, continuing through at least Tuesday, February 2, 1999. 2. The Advisory Panel (AP) will begin meeting at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, February 1, and continue through Thursday, February 4, 1999. 3. The Council will meet jointly with the Alaska Board of Fisheries beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 2, and begin their regular plenary session at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 3, continuing through a portion of Monday, February 8, 1999. Other workgroup or committee meetings may be held during the week. Notices of these meetings will be posted at the hotel. All meetings are open to the public with the exception of Council executive sessions, which may be held during the noon hour during the meeting week, if necessary, to discuss personnel, international issues, or litigation. ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Anchorage Hilton Hotel, 500 W. Third Avenue, Anchorage, AK. Council address: North Pacific Fishery Management Council, 605 W. 4th Ave., Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 99501-2252. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Council staff, phone: 907-271-2809. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The agenda for the Council's joint meeting with the Alaska Board of Fisheries will include reports and discussion of the following subjects: halibut, groundfish and crab management issues, limited entry for the scallop fisheries off Alaska, progress on a shark management plan, Steller sea lion protection measures, and the American Fisheries Act. The agenda for the Council's plenary session will include the following issues. The Council may take appropriate action on any of the issues identified. 1. Reports from NMFS on the current status of the groundfish fisheries off Alaska, from the International Pacific Halibut Commission on 1999 halibut quotas and from Groundfish Forum on the results of an experimental fishery to test gear to minimize bycatch. 2. NOAA Legal Counsel will provide a briefing on the new recusal regulations for Council members. 3. Receive a report on the implementation of emergency rules to protect Steller sea lions, review necessary actions for 1999 and review alternatives and options for implementation of additional or alternative measures in 2000. 4. Discuss progress on implementation of fishery management measures in 1999 required by the American Fisheries Act as well as discuss development of further amendments for 2000 and beyond. The Council will also review the disapproval of emergency rules by NMFS and consider a Council response. 5. Review of a discussion paper of proposed management measures for the Alaska halibut charterboat fleet, and review of proposals received by the Alaska Board of Fisheries for halibut local area management plans. 6. Receive status reports on the multi-species community development quota (CDQ) program, the individual fishing quota (IFQ) fee program, and the IFQ weighmaster program. 7. Review alternative management measures to reduce bycatch of seabirds in the groundfish fisheries. 8. Receive reports and discuss further development of issues related to ecosystems management and the gathering of social and economic data for fishery management actions. 9. Identify research priorities to forward to NMFS. 10. Groundfish amendments scheduled for action are as follows: a. Final action on revisions to the prohibited species catch allocations for Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) chinook salmon. b. Discussion of total catch measurement in the groundfish fisheries. c. Final action on an amendment to address retention of demersal shelf rockfish in the Gulf of Alaska IFQ fisheries. d. Final action on an amendment to the improved retention/ utilization (IR/IU) program; review progress on report to Congress on IR/IU. e. Receive status report on a pilot halibut avoidance program from the Vessel Bycatch Allowance/Halibut Mortality Avoidance Program Committee. f. Discuss the differences between the Federal and state definitions of ``pelagic trawl'' and determine whether revisions are necessary. 11. Final action on license limitation program for the scallop fisheries off Alaska. 12. Progress report on a rebuilding plan for bairdi crab in the BSAI. 13. Review the overfishing definition for the Salmon Fishery Management Plan and determine appropriate action. 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 the meeting. Council action will be restricted to those issues specifically identified in the agenda listed in this notice. Special Accommodations These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Helen Allen, 907-271-2809, at least 7 working days prior to the meeting date. Dated: January 12, 1999. Richard W. Surdi, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 99-1013 Filed 1-14-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F