[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 223 (Tuesday, November 21, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 81062]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-25695]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XD549]


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 seabirds 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 December 6, 2023, from 1 p.m. to 
4:30 p.m., and on December 7, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Alaska 
Daylight Time.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held virtually.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh Moffi, 907-586-7072.

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. 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 December 6 and 7, 2023. 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 the short-tailed albatross population. For participation 
information and meeting agenda, please contact Josh Moffi 
(<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ff95908c978a9ed19290999996bf91909e9ed1989089"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9ff5f0ecf7eafeb1f2f0f9f9f6dff1f0fefeb1f8f0e9">[email protected]</span></a>).
    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 Josh Moffi, 907-586-7072, at least 5 working days 
prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: November 16, 2023.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-25695 Filed 11-20-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P


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