[Federal Register: June 1, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 104)] [Notices] [Page 29271-29272] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr01jn99-35] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 052499G] New England 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 New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Herring Committee (joint with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Herring Section); Mid- Atlantic Plans Committee, Groundfish Committee and Advisory Panel, Interspecies Committee, Enforcement Committee and Advisory Panel, and Habitat Committee and Advisory Panel in June, 1999 to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from these groups will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate. DATES: The meetings will held between Monday, June 14, 1999 and Monday, June 28, 1999. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times. ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held in Peabody, Saugus and Wakefield, MA; and Portsmouth, NH. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific locations. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council (781) 231-0422. Requests for special accommodations should be addressed to the New England Fishery Management Council, 5 Broadway, Saugus, MA 01906-1036; telephone: (781) 231-0422. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Meeting Datea and Agendas Monday, June 14, 1999, at 10 a.m. and Tuesday, June 15, at 9 a.m.-- Joint NEFMC Herring Committee and Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Herring Section Meeting Location: Holiday Inn, One Newbury Street (Route 1), Peabody, MA 01960; telephone: (978) 535-4600. The committee and section will review the draft Atlantic Herring Stock Assessment and Fisheries Economics (SAFE) Report and recommend specifications for the 2000 fishing year. They also will develop recommendations for management measures for the 2000 fishing year (such as total allowable catch (TAC) set-asides, changes to the spawning closures in federal waters, or other framework adjustments). After reviewing the Herring Advisory Panel's recommendations on the subject, the committee and section will begin development of a limited entry or controlled access system for Management Area 1A in the Gulf of Maine. They will consider the Advisory Panel recommendation to establish an August 1, 1999 control date for the Atlantic herring fishery. There also will be a discussion of the 1999 large vessel annual specification. Wednesday, June 16, 1999, 9:30 a.m.--Mid-Atlantic Plans Committee Meeting Location: New England Fishery Management Council Office, 5 Broadway, Saugus, MA 01906; telephone: (781) 231-0422. The committee will review a Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council proposal for tilefish closures and proposed mackerel management measures. The committee also will discuss coordinating the Atlantic herring and mackerel fishery management plans. Thursday, June 17, 1999, 9:30 a.m.--Groundfish Committee and Groundfish Advisory Panel Joint Meeting Location: Sheraton Colonial Hotel, One Audubon Road, Wakefield, MA 01960; telephone: (781) 245-9300. The committee and panel will discuss and prepare a draft management policy for closed areas, including a statement of purpose and consideration of exceptions, for commercial and recreational fisheries for possible inclusion in Amendment 13 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan. The committee and panel will discuss the current cod stock boundaries and its effects on management policy, and advise the Council on possible alternative management area boundaries. The committee and panel also will review Amendment 13 scoping comments and industry proposals for management alternatives. It will continue the development of recommendations to the Council on issues and measures to be included in a public hearing document for Amendment 13, including but not limited to: management of the recreational and party/ charter fishery, management policy and strategy for the commercial fishery, action to rebuild all stocks in the fishery management unit as needed under the Council's new overfishing definitions; management of fleet fishing capacity, including possible implementation of a two- tiered permit system to address latent fishing permits; proposals for industry support of scientific research and conservation engineering programs; modification of the annual adjustment schedule and possible change to the timing of the fishing year; the use of electronic vessel monitoring systems; and other issues that may be identified during the scoping process. Monday, June 21 at 9:30 a.m. and Tuesday, June 22 at 9 a.m.-- Scientific and Statistical Committee Meeting Location: New England Fishery Management Council Office, 5 Broadway, Saugus, MA 01906; telephone: (781) 231-0422. Review of scientific information and analyses for the Herring (SAFE) Report and discussion of meeting procedures and protocols. Tuesday, June 22, 1999, 10 a.m. and Wednesday, June 23, 1999, at 9 a.m.--Interspecies Committee Meeting Location: Sheraton Colonial Hotel, One Audubon Road, Wakefield, MA 01880; telephone: (781)245-9300. The committee will receive a presentation on U.S. Global Ocean Ecosystems Dynamics (GLOBEC) Program experiments and discuss managing capacity and latent effort, changing fishing years, small vessel permit upgrading restrictions and other relevant business. Thursday, June 24, 1999, 9:30 a.m.--Joint Enforcement Committee and Advisory Panel Meeting Location: New England Fishery Management Council Office, 5 [[Page 29272]] Broadway, Saugus, MA 01906; telephone: (781) 231-0422 The committee and panel will review draft enforcement guidelines for Council consideration. Monday, June 28, 1999, 9:30 a.m.--Habitat Committee and Advisory Panel Joint Meeting Location: Sheraton Plymouth Inn, 180 Water Street Plymouth, MA 02360; telephone: (508) 747-4900. The committee and panel will review the 1999 Habitat Annual Review Report and consider recommending additional Habitat Areas of Particular Concern, in addition to measures to protect essential fish habitat (EFH). The committee also will consider habitat-related issues to be addressed during development of the next Groundfish and Sea Scallop Amendments. They will review NMFS's EFH consultation process and coordination criteria. 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 These meetings are 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 dates. Dated: May 25, 1999. Bruce C. Morehead, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 99-13827 Filed 5-28-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F