Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 80 / Tuesday, April 25, 2000 / Notices 24185

input to stock assessments. Vessel

operations would be under the

supervision and control of NEFSC

scientific personnel.

The stratified random sampling will

occur at depths of 60–100 fathoms and

101–200 fathoms outside of all

multispecies closed areas (Closed Area

II and Nantucket Lightship Closed

Area). Participating commercial Illex

Squid vessels will employ standardized,

scientific towing and sampling

protocols. Towing will occur at 100 predetermined stations at one half hour

intervals and a tow speed of 3.5 knots.

The codend mesh size of the liners will

measure 1 inch (25.4 mm) diamond

throughout the codend circumference

for a total length of 30 feet.

The target species is Illex Squid,

however some bycatch may be

encountered. Any and all species

landed for commercial purposes will be

done so in accordance with the

respective fishery requirements and

landing restrictions. Illex length, weight

and age data will be recorded along with

other physical parameters (bottom

temperature, depth, vessel speed and

location data). Total catch weight

information will be recorded for all

other species retained. The survey will

commence on or about May 20, 2000,

and will continue through May 31,

2000. Timing is critical to survey

success, which intends to capture the

spring migration of Illex onto the

continental shelf.

EFPs would be issued to two

participating Federally permitted Illex

Squid vessels to exempt them from the

gear restrictions of the Atlantic

Mackerel, Squid and Butterfish Fishery

Management Plan.

Special Accommodations

These meetings are physically

accessible to people with disabilities.

Requests for sign language

interpretation or other auxiliary aids

should be directed to Joanna Davis at

the Council (see ADDRESSES) at least 5

days prior to the meeting date.

Dated: April 20, 2000.

Richard W. Surdi,

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 00–10303 Filed 4–24–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

[I.D. 041900A]

Pacific Fishery Management Council;

Public Meeting

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

SUMMARY: The Pacific Fishery

Management Council’s (Council)

Groundfish Stock Assessment Review

(STAR) Panel will hold a work session

which is open to the public.

DATES: The STAR Panel for bank

rockfish and darkblotched rockfish will

meet beginning at 1:00 p.m., May 15,

2000 and continue through May 19 until

business is completed. Except for

Monday, May 15, 2000, the STAR Panel

will meet each day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The STAR Panel for bank

rockfish and darkblotched rockfish will

be held in The Marilyn Potts Guin

Library, Hatfield Marine Science Center,

Oregon State University, 2030 Marine

Science Drive, Newport, OR 97365.

Council address: Pacific Fishery

Management Council, 2130 SW Fifth

Avenue, Suite 224, Portland, OR 97201.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan

Waldeck, Fishery Management Analyst;

telephone: (503) 326–6352.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

purpose of the meeting is to review draft

stock assessment documents for bank

rockfish and darkblotched rockfish and

any other pertinent information, work

with stock assessment teams to make

necessary revisions, and produce STAR

Panel reports for use by the Council

family and other interested persons.

Although non-emergency issues not

contained in the STAR Panel agenda

may come before the panel for

discussion, those issues may not be the

subject of formal panel action during

this meeting. Panel action will be

restricted to those issues specifically

listed 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 panel’s intent to take

final action to address the emergency.

Special Accommodations

The meeting is physically accessible

to people with disabilities. Requests for

sign language interpretation or other

auxiliary aids should be directed to Mr.

John Rhoton at (503) 326–6352 at least

5 days prior to the meeting date.

Dated: April 19, 2000.

Richard W. Surdi,

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 00–10301 Filed 4–24–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

[I.D. 041700A]

Marine Mammals; Photography Permit

(File No. 980–1570)

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Receipt of application.

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that

Mr. Clive Lonsdale, Lonsdale Films, 113

Fakenham Road, Great Ryburg, Norfolk

NR21 7AQ, United Kingdom, has

applied in due form for a permit to take

orcas (Orcinus orca) and gray whales

(Eschrichtius robustus) for purposes of

commercial photography.

DATES: Written comments must be

received on or before May 25, 2000.

ADDRESSES: The application and related

documents are available for review

upon written request or by appointment

in the following office(s):

Permits Division, Office of Protected

Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West

Highway, Room 13130, Silver Spring,

MD 20910 (301/713–2289); and

Regional Administrator, Alaska

Region, NMFS, 709 W 9th Street,

Federal Building, Room 461, P.O. Box

21668, Juneau, AK 99802 (907–586–

7235).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

subject permit is requested under the

authority of § 104(c)(6) of the Marine

Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as

amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the

Regulations Governing the Taking and

Importing of Marine Mammals (50 CFR

part 216). Section 104(c)(6) provides for

photography for educational or

commercial purposes involving nonendangered and non-threatened marine

mammals in the wild. NMFS is

currently working on proposed

regulations to implement this provision.

However, in the meantime, NMFS has

received and is processing this request

as a ‘‘pilot’’ application for Level B

Harassment of non-listed and nonVerDate 18<APR>2000 12:55 Apr 24, 2000 Jkt 190000 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\25APN1.SGM pfrm01 PsN: 25APN1