[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 230 (Monday, November 30, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76535-76536]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-26317]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XA678]


Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; Pacific Island 
Fisheries; Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice; public meeting.

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SUMMARY: NMFS and the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council 
(Council) will convene a Western Pacific Stock Assessment Review 
(WPSAR) of a 2020 stock assessment update for seven deep-water 
bottomfish species (``Deep 7'' bottomfish complex) in the Main Hawaiian 
Islands.

DATES: The WPSAR panel will meet on December 16-17, 2020. For specific 
times and agenda, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held by web conference via WebEx. Audio 
and visual portions for all of the web conferences can be accessed at: 
https://wprfmc.webex.com/join/info.wpcouncilnoaa.gov. Web conference 
access information and instructions for providing public comments will 
be posted on the Council website at www.wpcouncil.org. For assistance 
with the web conference connection, contact the Council office at (808) 
552-8220.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kitty Simonds, Executive Director, 
Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council; telephone: (808) 
522-8220.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NMFS Pacific Islands Fisheries Science 
Center (PIFSC) conducted a stock assessment update for the Main 
Hawaiian Island Deep 7 bottomfish complex. PIFSC previously conducted a 
Benchmark stock assessment for the Deep 7 bottomfish in 2018 using a 
Bayesian surplus production model fit to commercial catch and effort 
data and independent survey biomass estimates. This assessment update 
used the methodology of the 2018 benchmark assessment and updated it 
with data through 2019.
    PIFSC used this assessment update to estimate biomass and stock 
status of the Deep 7 bottomfish complex through time, and evaluated 
stock status against the maximum sustainable yield based reference 
points described in the Council's Fishery Ecosystem Plan for the Hawaii 
Archipelago. The 2020 assessment update provides projections to inform 
setting of acceptable biological catch and annual catch limits for 
2021-24.
    The WPSAR panel will meet virtually beginning at 9 a.m., Hawaii 
Standard Time (HST), each day. A public comment period will be provided 
at the end of the first day. The agenda order may change and the 
meeting will run as late as necessary to complete scheduled business.

Meeting Agenda

Wednesday, December 16, 2020, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. HST

1. Introduction
2. Review objectives and terms of reference
3. Review of stock assessment updates
4. Summary of comments and analysis during desktop phase
5. Questions to presenters
6. Public comment

[[Page 76536]]

Thursday, December 17, 2020, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. HST

7. Panel presentation on the review results and recommendations
8. Questions to reviewers
9. Adjourn

Special Accommodations

    This virtual meeting will be accessible to people with 
disabilities. Please direct request for accommodations to the Council 
Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) at least 5 days prior to 
the meeting date.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: November 24, 2020.
Diane M. DeJames-Daly,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-26317 Filed 11-27-20; 8:45 am]
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