[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 13, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14735-14736]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-5949]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XB078


New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice; public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council's (Council) 
Groundfish Oversight Committee will meet to consider actions affecting 
New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

DATES: The meeting will be held on Thursday, March 29, 2012 at 8:30 
a.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Providence Biltmore Hotel, 
11 Dorrance Street, Providence, RI 02903; telephone: (401) 421-0700.
    Council Address: New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water 
Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, 
New England Fishery Management Council; telephone: (978) 465-0492.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Agenda

    The Groundfish Committee will meet to continue development of two 
management actions. The Committee will continue development of an 
action to modify measures that apply to sectors. This discussion is 
expected to focus primarily on monitoring issues, including goals and 
objectives and possible funding mechanisms. The Committee may also 
discuss full retention of allocate groundfish species and other sector 
framework issues. The Committee will discuss an action to establish 
acceptable biological catches (ABCs) and annual catch limits (ACLs) for 
fishing years 2013 and 2014. As part of this discussion the Committee 
will receive a preliminary report on recently updated assessments and 
may discuss further the Council's response to the

[[Page 14736]]

recent Gulf of Maine cod assessment. Setting ABCs/ACLs may also require 
modification of recreational fishing measures and the Committee may 
begin this discussion. The Committee may also discuss adopting 
additional sub-ACLs for the scallop fishery and pursuing the Mixed 
Stock Exception for SNE/MA windowpane flounder. The Committee will 
receive an update on Plan Development Team work related to possible 
modifications to groundfish closed areas. They will receive a report on 
the recent Endangered Species Act listing of Atlantic Sturgeon and will 
discuss ways to reduce sturgeon takes. The Committee will also discuss 
the rockhopper/roller gear restriction in the western Gulf of Maine and 
develop a recommended response to a request for clarification from the 
National Marine Fisheries Service. Other business may be discussed.
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come 
before this group for discussion, those issues may not be the subject 
of formal action during this meeting. Action will be restricted to 
those issues specifically identified 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 action to address the emergency.

Special Accommodations

    This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Paul J. Howard (see ADDRESSES) at least 5 days 
prior to the meeting date.

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: March 7, 2012.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-5949 Filed 3-12-12; 8:45 am]
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