39132 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 122 / Friday, June 23, 2000 / Notices

species, amounts, locations, and rules

governing these NAFO fish quota

allocations were published in the

Federal Register on December 23, 1999

(64 FR 72035). No U.S. fishermen have

thus far expressed interest in the 2000

U.S. fish quota allocations from NAFO.

In addition to fish quota allocations,

the United States received an effort

allocation of 100 fishing days for the

fishing year 2000 available to one vessel

for harvesting shrimp in Division 3M of

the NAFO Regulatory Area. Although no

U.S. fishermen have recently expressed

interest in the U.S. 3M shrimp effort

allocation, NMFS has received inquiries

regarding the possibility of making U.S.

fishing opportunities available to U.S.

fishing interests using foreign vessels

under chartering arrangements.

Under a NAFO Pilot Project in effect

for 2000, a vessel registered to another

NAFO Contracting Party may be

chartered to fish the U.S. allocation

provided that consent for the charter is

obtained from the vessel’s flag State and

the U.S. effort allocation is transferred

to that flag State. Such a transfer must

be adopted by NAFO Parties through a

mail voting process. More details on

U.S. and NAFO requirements for

chartering operations are available from

NMFS (see ADDRESSES).

Due to the lack of interest expressed

thus far by U.S. fishermen in harvesting

2000 NAFO fish quota allocations, and

recent information indicating that

NAFO may adopt a TAC based system

for the 3M shrimp fishery for 2001,

expressions of interest from U.S. fishing

interests intending to make use of

foreign vessels under chartering

arrangements to fish the U.S. 2000 3M

shrimp effort allocation will be

considered (see DATES). Such

expressions of interest should be

directed to the Director, NMFS Office of

Sustainable Fisheries (see ADDRESSES).

All expressions of interest should

include the following information

required by NAFO regarding the

proposed chartering operation: the

name, registration and flag of the

intended vessel; a copy of the charter;

the fishing opportunities granted; the

date from which the vessel is authorized

to commence fishing on these

opportunities; and the duration of the

charter.

In addition, expressions of interest

should be accompanied by a detailed

description of anticipated benefits to the

United States. Such benefits might

include (but are not limited to): the use

of U.S. processing facilities/personnel;

the use of U.S. fishing personnel; other

specific positive effects on U.S.

employment; evidence that fishing by

the chartered vessel would actually take

place; and a willingness to document

the physical characteristics and

economics of the fishery for future use

by the U.S. fishing industry.

In the event that multiple expressions

of interest are made by U.S. fishing

interests proposing the use of chartering

operations from more than one NAFO

Contracting Party, the information

submitted regarding benefits to the

United States will be used in

determining which, if any, NAFO

Contracting Party will receive the

transfer of the U.S. 3M shrimp effort

allocation.

If multiple proposals are submitted by

U.S. fishing interests expressing interest

in chartering operations with the same

NAFO Contracting Party, the United

States may transfer its 3M shrimp effort

allocation to that Party for distribution

as that Party sees fit (pending approval

by NAFO).

All individuals/companies submitting

expressions of interest to NMFS will be

contacted within seven business days of

the end of the comment period and

apprised of the status of their proposal.

Should an expression of interest be

made on behalf of a U.S. registered

vessel or vessels, such proposal will be

given first consideration. If more than

one expression of interest is made on

behalf of a U.S. registered vessel or

vessels, however, it may be necessary to

promulgate regulations to determine

how applicants would be chosen. It is

unlikely that such regulations could be

promulgated in time for the 2000 effort

allocation of 3M shrimp to be used by

a U.S. registered vessel. In the case that

no interest is expressed on behalf of

U.S. vessels, NMFS will determine

whether to initiate the necessary steps

to transfer the U.S. 3M shrimp effort

allocation to another NAFO Contracting

Party for use in a chartering operation.

Dated: June 18, 2000.

Penelope D. Dalton,

Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,

National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 00–15977 Filed 6–22–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

[I.D. 061900C]

Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management

Council; Public Meetings

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery

Management Council will convene

public meetings.

DATES: The meetings will be held July

10–14, 2000.

ADDRESSES: These meetings will be held

at the Westin Beach Resort, 97000 South

Overseas Highway, Key Largo, Florida;

telephone: 305–852–5553.

Council address: Gulf of Mexico

Fishery Management Council, 3018 U.S.

Highway 301 North, Suite 1000, Tampa,

FL 33619.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Wayne E. Swingle, Executive Director,

Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management

Council; telephone: 813–228–2815.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Monday, July 10, 2000

9:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m.—Convene the

Stone Crab Management Committee to

discuss Stone Crab Amendment 7. The

Stone Crab amendment proposes to

extend the trap certificate program for

the commercial stone crab fishery

adopted by the state of Florida into the

federal waters off west Florida. The

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation

Commission, after working with the

stone crab industry and the Council

over the past 4 years, has adopted by

rule a trap certificate program that will

gradually reduce the number of traps

over a 30-year period. The Florida

legislature has approved the portion of

this program pertaining to licenses and

fees. The committee will make

recommendations for the full Council to

take final action on Thursday morning.

1 p.m.–3:30 p.m.—Convene the

Shrimp Management Committee to

review an options paper for an

amendment to require vessel and

operator permits, and receive a National

Marine Fisheries Service(NMFS) report

on the status of the shrimp stocks.

3:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m.—Convene the

Sustainable Fisheries Committee to

discuss resubmission of the Sustainable

Fisheries Act (SFA) Amendment

Bycatch Reporting Measures.

4:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m.—Convene the

Budget Committee to review the status

of the CY2000 budget and CY1999

budget extension.

Tuesday, July 11, 2000

8 a.m.–12 noon—Convene the Reef

Fish Management Committee to receive

a report on the status of the jewfish

stock, to review and discuss red snapper

and grouper stock restoration scenarios,

and to select stock assessments to be

completed by the NMFS Southeast

Fisheries Science Center in FY 2001.

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 122 / Friday, June 23, 2000 / Notices 39133

1:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m.—Convene the

Joint Marine Reserves/Reef Fish

Management Committees to discuss a

Generic Amendment Addressing the

Establishment of Tortugas Marine

Reserves, which proposes to establish

the Tortugas South marine reserve that

will encompass the Riley’s Hump

mutton snapper spawning aggregation

site established by the Council in 1994.

The total area of the proposed Tortugas

South marine reserve is 60 square

nautical miles. The amendment also

proposes to create the Tortugas North

marine reserve cooperatively with the

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

program, the state of Florida, and the

National Park system, which will

encompass an area of 120 square

nautical miles. The portion proposed to

be established by the Council is 13

square nautical miles. The Committees’

recommendations on this amendment

will be considered by the full Council

on Thursday morning.

3:30 p.m.–5 p.m.—Convene the

Habitat Protection Committee to hear a

presentation on the Williams Gas

Pipeline Project and the Gulfstream Gas

Pipeline Project.

Wednesday, July 12, 2000

9 a.m.–11:30 a.m.—Convene the

Mackerel Management Committee to

approve a letter to the states and the

South Atlantic Fishery Management

Council (SAFMC)on the sale of fish, and

to approve the Dolphin/Wahoo Fishery

Management Plan for public hearings.

1 p.m.–The Council will convene.

1:15 p.m.–5 p.m.—Receive public

testimony on Stone Crab Amendment 7,

Resubmission of the Section on Bycatch

Reporting in the SFA Amendment, and

the Generic Amendment Addressing

Establishment of the Tortugas 2000

Marine Reserve.

Thursday, July 13, 2000

8:30 a.m.–9:30 a.m.—Continue public

testimony if necessary.

9:30 a.m.–10 a.m.—Receive a report of

the Stone Crab Management Committee.

10 a.m.–10:30 a.m.—Receive a report

of the Joint Marine Reserves and Reef

Fish Management Committees.

10:30 a.m.–12 noon—Receive a report

of the Reef Fish Management

Committee.

1:30 p.m.–2 p.m.—Receive a report of

the Mackerel Management Committee.

2 p.m.–2:30 p.m.—Receive a report of

the Shrimp Management Committee.

2:30 p.m.–3 p.m.—Receive a report of

the Sustainable Fisheries Management

Committee.

3 p.m.–3:15 p.m.—Receive a report of

the Habitat Protection Committee.

3:15 p.m.–3:30 p.m.—Receive a report

of the Budget Committee.

3:30 p.m.–3:45 p.m.—Receive a report

of the Council Chairman’s Meeting.

3:45 p.m.–4 p.m.—Receive the

SAFMC Liaison report.

4 p.m.–4:15 p.m.—Receive a report on

the Marine Recreational Symposium.

4:15 p.m.–4:30 p.m.—Receive a report

on the Joint U.S./Canadian Observer

Workshop.

4:30 p.m.–4:45 p.m.—Receive

enforcement reports.

4:45 p.m.–5 p.m.—Receive the NMFS

Regional Administrator’s Report.

5 p.m.–5:15 p.m.—Receive Director’s

Reports.

5:15 p.m.–5:30 p.m.—Other Business.

5:30 p.m.–5:45 p.m.—Election of

Temporary Chairman and Vice

Chairman.

Although non-emergency issues not

contained in this agenda may come

before the Council for discussion, in

accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens

Fishery Conservation and Management

Act, these issues may not be the subject

of formal Council action during these

meetings. Council 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 Council’s intent to take

final actions to address such

emergencies. A copy of the Committee

schedule and agenda can be obtained by

calling (813) 228–2815.

These meetings are physically

accessible to people with disabilities.

Requests for sign language

interpretation or other auxiliary aids

should be directed to Anne Alford at the

Council (see ADDRESSES) at least 5 days

prior to the meeting date.

Dated: June 19, 2000.

Richard W. Surdi,

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 00–15974 Filed 6–22–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

[I.D. 061900F]

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 joint public meetings of its

Groundfish Oversight Committee and

Groundfish Advisory Panel, and

separate public meetings of its Capacity,

Scientific and Statistical and Herring

Committees, 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 be held from

July 6 to July 19, 2000. See

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific

agendas, dates and times.

ADDRESSES: See SUPPLEMENTARY

INFORMATION for specific meeting

locations.

Council address: New England

Fishery Management Council, 50 Water

Street, Newburyport, Massachusetts

01950.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul

J. Howard, Executive Director, New

England Fishery Management Council

(978) 465–0492.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Meeting Dates, Locations and Agendas

Thursday, July 6, 2000, 9:30 a.m.—Joint

Groundfish Oversight Committee and

Groundfish Advisory Panel

Location: Trade Winds Motor Inn, 2

Park View Drive, Rockland, Maine

04841; telephone (207) 596–6661.

The committee and advisors will

conduct a joint meeting to continue

development of management options for

Amendment 13 to the Northeast

Multispecies Fishery Management Plan

(FMP). These groups will continue their

discussion of alternatives within the

framework of the status quo

management measures currently in the

FMP. They also may review information

on the current four, year-round area

closures and develop preliminary

options for changes to those areas. The

committee will receive the report of the

June 27 Groundfish Advisory Panel

meeting; review, and possibly act on,

suggestions from the advisors, including

identification of an additional approach

to management that should be

considered for Amendment 13. If time

permits, the committee may continue

development of area management and

sector allocation alternatives.