[Federal Register: April 29, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 82)]
[Notices]               
[Page 20960-20961]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29ap02-51]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 042202G]

 
Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

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SUMMARY: The 80th meeting of the Western Pacific Fishery Management 
Council's (Council) Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will 
convene May 14 through May 16, 2002, in Lihue, HI.

DATES: The SSC meeting will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 14, 
2002, and from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 15-16, 2002.

ADDRESSES: The 80th SSC meeting will be held at the Kauai Marriott 
Resort and Beach Club, 3610 Rice Street, Kalapaki Beach, Lihue, HI; 
telephone: (808-245-5050).
    Council address: Western Pacific Fishery Management Council, 1164 
Bishop St., Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kitty M. Simonds, ExecutiveDirector; 
telephone: 808-522-8220.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The SSC will discuss and may make 
recommendations to the Council on the agenda items below. The order in 
which agenda items will be addressed can change.

Tuesday, May 14, 2002, 9 a.m.

1. Introductions
2. Approval of Draft Agenda and Assignment of Rapporteurs
3. Approval of the Minutes of the 79th Meeting
4. Comprehensive Sustainable Fisheries Act Amendment
    Maximum Sustainable Yield/overfishing control rules
5. Crustaceans Fisheries (Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) 
lobsters)
    A. Report on the Modeling Workshop
    B. Plan Team report
    C. Discussion and recommendations
6. Bottomfish Fisheries
    A. Research on Hapuupuu
    B. Annual Report Modules
    C. NWHI Framework Adjustment
    D. Plan Team Recommendations
    E. Public comment
    F. Discussion and recommendations
7. Hawaiian Monk Seals
    A. Quarterly Report on Activities of the Marine Mammal Research 
Program (MMRP)
    B. Monk Seal Recovery Team update
    C. Marine Mammal Commission review of MMRP
    D. Simulation model
    E. Discussion and recommendations

Wednesday, May 15, 2002, 8:30 a.m.

1. Pelagic Fisheries
    A. 1st quarter 2002 Hawaii and American Samoa longline reports
    B. Hawaii recreational fishery data base
    C. Economic Study of the Hawaii and American Samoa longline 
fisheries
    D. American Samoa limited entry program
    E. Emergency action - Hawaii longline fishery (new area closure and 
swordfish trip limit)
    F. Sea turtle conservation and management
    i. Section 10 permitted Honolulu Lab mitigation research
    ii. New Biological Opinion
    iii. Pacific sea turtle recovery plan/implementation teams
    iv. Report from the International Leatherback Survival Conference
    v. Turtle Excluder Device (TEDs) certification program
    G. Hawaii recreational fishery log book pilot project
    H. Pelagics Fishery Management Plan (FMP) Amendment 9, Shark 
management, redraft
    I. Pelagic Fisheries Research Program
    i. New Projects
    ii. 15th Standing Committee on Tunas and Billfish (agendas, working 
groups)
    J. International Meetings
    i. South Pacific Tuna Treaty
    ii. 2nd International Fishers Forum
    K. Public comment
    L. Discussion and recommendations

Thursday, May 16, 2002, 8:30 a.m.

1. Precious Corals Fisheries
    A. Status
    B. Plan Team Report
    C. Discussion and recommendations
2. Ecosystem and Habitat
    A. Meso-pelagic ecosystem studies
    B. Coral reef assessment surveys of the NWHI and American Samoa
    C. Refining Essential Fish Habitat designations
    D. Status Reef fish stock assessment workshop
    E. Ecosystem Planning workshop
    F. Marine Protected Areas Policy Working Group report
    G. Invasive Species
    H. Public Comment
    I. Discussion and recommendations
3. Status of Initiatives
    A. Council/NMFS long term research planning for Western Pacific 
Region
    B. NMFS Pacific Islands Region structure
    C. Discussion and recommendations
4. Other Business
5. Summary of Recommendations to Council
6. Meeting Schedule for 2002
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come 
before this group for discussion, those issues may not be the subject 
of formal action during this meeting. Action will be restricted to 
those issues specifically identified 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.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Kitty M. Simonds, 808-522-8220 
(voice) or 808-522-8226 (fax), at least 5 days prior to meeting date.


[[Page 20961]]


    Dated: April 24, 2002.
Theophilus R. Brainerd,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-10484 Filed 4-26-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S