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[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 171 (Thursday, September 4, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46721-46722]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-23495]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 082797B]

North Pacific Fishery Management Council; Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

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SUMMARY: The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its 
advisory committees will meet in Seattle the week of September 22, 
1997.

DATES: The meetings will be held during the week of September 22, 1997. 
See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES: All meetings will be held at the DoubleTree Hotel-Seattle 
Airport, 18740 Pacific Coast Highway South, Seattle, WA. All meetings 
are open to the public with the exception of a Council executive 
session tentatively scheduled for noon on Thursday, September 25, to 
discuss personnel, international issues, or litigation, as necessary.
    Council address: North Pacific Fishery Management Council, 605 W. 
4th Ave., Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 99501-2252.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Council staff, telephone: (907) 271-
2809.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Individual Fishery Quota (IFQ) 
Implementation Team will meet Sunday, September 21, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 
p.m.
    The Scientific and Statistical Committee and Advisory Panel will 
begin meeting at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, September 22, and continue until 
their agendas are completed.
    The Enforcement Committee will meet Monday evening, September 22, 
beginning at 6:00 p.m.
    The Council's regular plenary session will begin at 8:00 a.m. on 
Tuesday, September 23, and continue through Sunday, September 28.
    Other workgroup or committee meetings may be held during the week. 
Notices of these meetings will be posted at the hotel. The agenda for 
the Council's plenary session will include the following issues. The 
Council may take appropriate action on any of the issues identified.
    1. Oaths of office will be administered to newly-appointed Council 
members, and election of officers will take place.
    2. Reports from the NMFS and Alaska Department of Fish and Game on 
the current status of the fisheries off Alaska, and NMFS and U.S. Coast 
Guard reports on enforcement.
    3. Review and approve problem statement and alternatives for 
further analysis for allocation of pollock between inshore and offshore 
sectors. Consider separating the pollock Community Development Quota 
(CDQ) program from the inshore-offshore amendment.
    4. Consider approval of the State of Alaska's recommendations for 
allocation of multi-species CDQs under the license limitation program.
    5. Consider final action for an amendment to the Halibut and 
Sablefish IFQ Program to amend ownership requirements for hired 
skippers, and give initial review of an amendment to initiate rolling 
closures in the sablefish fisheries during annual surveys. Receive a 
report and discussion paper from the International Pacific Halibut 
Commission on a weighmasters program from the IFQ fisheries,
    6. The Council will consider several halibut issues, including:
    a. Consider final action on management alternatives for the Alaska 
halibut guided sport/charterboat industry.
    b. Consider final action on a local area halibut management plan 
for Sitka Sound.
    c. Initial review of changes to the possession limits for halibut.
    d. General discussion of local area halibut management plans.
    7. Under Magnuson-Stevens Act revisions, the Council will consider 
the following subjects:
    a. The IFQ/CDQ fee and registry programs; initial review.
    b. Final action on the North Pacific loan program.
    c. Review proposals for bycatch reduction measures.
    d. Receive progress reports on other mandates, including essential 
fish habitat.
    8. Receive a report on an industry-initiated crab license buyback 
program.
    9. Review progress toward a joint project agreement for managing 
the observer program and review a draft analysis for a third-party 
arrangement for observer procurement services.
    10. Receive a progress report from the Vessel Bycatch 
Accountability committee.
    11. The Council will receive the preliminary 1998 Stock Assessment 
and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) reports for Gulf of Alaska and Bering 
Sea/Aleutian Islands groundfish and release them for public review, and 
set preliminary 1998 harvest allocations, including vessel incentive 
program rate standards, and bycatch allowances.
    12. Other groundfish issues to be addressed include:
    a. Review a proposal and industry recommendations for trip limits 
for pollock and Pacific cod in the Gulf of Alaska.
    b. Review recommendations on groundfish issues from the joint 
Council and Alaska Board of Fisheries Committee.
    c. Discuss a proposal for Eastern Gulf of Alaska boundary changes.
    d. Take final action on an amendment to revise the maximum 
retainable bycatch of shortaker/rougheye in Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands 
trawl fisheries.
    e. Staff report on gear preemption issues.
    f. Consider repeal of salmon retention regulations.
    13. Review Amendment 3 to the Scallop Fishery Management Plan for 
joint management with the State of Alaska. Discussion of limited entry 
for the scallop fishery and provide direction to staff.
    14. Review proposals received for changes to the groundfish fishery 
management plans.
    15. Review and comment on an application for foreign vessel 
transhipment permit.
    Although other issues not contained in this agenda may come before 
this Council for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act, those issues may not be the 
subject of formal Council action during the meeting. Council action 
will be restricted to those issues specifically identified in the 
agenda listed in this notice.
    Special Accommodations
    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language

[[Page 46722]]

interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Helen 
Allen, 907-271-2809, at least 5 working days prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: August 28, 1997.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-23495 Filed 9-3-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
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