67 FR 28 pgs. 6231-6232 - New England Fishery ManagementCouncil; Public Meetings
Type: NOTICEVolume: 67Number: 28Pages: 6231 - 6232
Docket number: [I.D. 020402D]
FR document: [FR Doc. 02-3114 Filed 2-8-02; 8:45 am]
Agency: Commerce Department
Sub Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 020402D]
New England Fishery ManagementCouncil; Public Meetings
AGENCY:
NationalMarine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),Commerce.
ACTION:
Notice of public meetings.
SUMMARY:
The New England FisheryManagement Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Groundfish OversightCommittee and Scallop Oversight Committee in February, 2002 to consider actions affectingNew England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from thesegroups will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate.
DATES:
The meetings will be held on Friday,February 22 and Monday, February 25, 2002. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times.
ADDRESSES:
The meetings will be held in Mansfield and Danvers, MA. See SUPPLEMENTARYINFORMATION for specific locations.
Council address : NewEngland Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council; (978)465-0492.
SUPPLEMENTARYINFORMATION:
Meeting Dates and Agendas
Friday,February 22, 2002, 9:30 a.m. --Groundfish Oversight Committee Meeting.
Location: Holiday Inn, 31 Hampshire Street, Mansfield, MA 02048; telephone: (508)339-2200.
The Groundfish Oversight Committee will meet to discussAmendment 10 to the Scallop Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and Amendment 13 to theNortheast Multispecies FMP. The Committee will first discuss Amendment 10 to the ScallopFMP. The committee will evaluate habitat and bycatch technical advice from the joint meetingof the Habitat Technical Team, the Groundfish Plan Development Team (PDT), and the ScallopPDT. Recommendations will be developed for draft alternatives in Scallop FMP Amendment 10to minimize, to the extent practicable, bycatch and habitat impacts from scallop fishing.
The Committee will then discuss Amendment 13 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP. Amendment 13 will establish rebuilding programs for overfished groundfish stocks, and will alsoend overfishing on stocks in that condition. The Committee will review available information onthe biological objectives for the FMP, including the mortality and biomass targets for stocks suchas Gulf of Maine cod. The Committee will also explore alternatives for crafting managementrecommendations for Amendment 13 that will incorporate additional input and advice from NewEngland fishermen. The Committee is considering an approach that would have managementmeasures in geographic areas developed by fishermen that fish in those areas. The details,advantages, and limitations of this approach will be discussed and the Committee will prepare arecommendation for the Council. Finally, the Committee will continue its review anddevelopment of specific management alternatives for further analysis.
TheCommittee's discussion on Amendment 13 may be influenced by a pending court order in thematter of Conservation Law Foundation et al. v. Donald Evans et al. Should a court order beissued prior to the meeting, the Committee's discussions will include an evaluation of the impactsof that order on the development of Amendment 13. This court order may also constrain orexpand the Committee's discussions on measures that are to be used for Amendment 13.
Monday, February 25, 2002, 9:30 a.m. -- Scallop Oversight Committee Meeting.
Location: Sheraton Ferncroft, 50 Ferncroft Road, Danvers, MA 01923;telephone: (978) 777-2500.
The Oversight Committee will continue development ofmanagement alternatives for Draft Amendment 10 to the Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan(FMP). The committee will evaluate habitat and bycatch technical advice from the joint meetingof the Habitat Technical Team, the Groundfish Plan Development Team (PDT), and the ScallopPDT. Recommendations will be developed for draft alternatives in Scallop FMP Amendment 10to minimize, to the extent practicable, bycatch and habitat impacts from scallop fishing. Otherissues and measures associated with Amendment 10 may also be developed.
Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before this group fordiscussion, those issues may not be the subject of formal action during this meeting. Action willbe restricted to those issues specifically listed in this notice and any issues arising afterpublication of this notice that require emergency action under section 305(c) of theMagnuson-Stevens Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council's intent to take finalaction to address the emergency.
Special Accommodations
These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign languageinterpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Paul J. Howard (see ADDRESSES ) at least 5 days prior to the meeting dates.
February 4, 2002.
Richard W. Surdi,
ActingDirector, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-3114 Filed 2-8-02; 8:45 am]
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