[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 33 (Monday, February 22, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10550-10551]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-03515]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XA877]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Alaska 
Groundfish and Halibut Seabird Working Group; Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: NMFS Alaska Groundfish and Halibut Seabird Working Group will 
meet to discuss seabird/fisheries interactions (vessel collisions), 
development of an Alaska coordinated strategic plan for reporting and 
monitoring fisheries interactions with birds listed under the 
Endangered Species Act, and an update on whether or not the short-
tailed albatross is actually two distinct species.

DATES: The meeting will be held on March 10, 2021, from 9 a.m. to 4:30

[[Page 10551]]

p.m., and on March 11, 2020, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Alaska Daylight 
Time.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held virtually.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph Krieger, 907-586-7650.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Alaska Groundfish and Halibut Seabird 
Working Group formed as a result of the 2015 biological opinion on 
effects of the Fishery Management Plans for the Gulf of Alaska and 
Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands groundfish fisheries on short-tailed 
albatross.\1\ The working group is tasked with reviewing information 
for mitigating effects of the groundfish and halibut fisheries on 
short-tailed albatross and other seabirds. The workgroup will hold a 
virtual meeting March 10 and 11, 2021. Meeting topics include seabird/
fisheries interactions (vessel collisions), development of an Alaska 
coordinated strategic plan for reporting and monitoring fisheries 
interactions with birds listed under the Endangered Species Act, and 
update on whether or not the short-tailed albatross is actually two 
distinct species. For participation information and meeting agenda, 
please contact Joseph Krieger (<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cea4a1bdabbea6e0a5bca7aba9abbc8ea0a1afafe0a9a1b8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a0cacfd3c5d0c88ecbd2c9c5c7c5d2e0cecfc1c18ec7cfd6">[email protected]</span></a>).
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    \1\ Available at: https://www.fws.gov/alaska/pages/endangered-species-program/consultation-endangered-species.
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    NMFS will keep the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council 
(Council) apprised of the working group's activities and any resulting 
recommendations for methods to reduce seabird bycatch. Any changes to 
seabird avoidance regulations are expected to follow the standard 
Council process.

Special Accommodations

    Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Joseph Krieger, 907-586-7650, at least 5 working 
days prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: February 17, 2021.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-03515 Filed 2-19-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P


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