[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 4 (Monday, January 7, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 928]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-00061]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC428


New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice; public meeting.

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

DATES: The meetings will be held on Thursday, January 24, 2013, at 9 
a.m., and Friday, January 25, 2013, at 8:30 a.m.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Marriott Portland at Sable 
Oaks, 200 Sable Oaks Drive, So. Portland, ME 04106; telephone: (207) 
871-8000.
    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: The items of discussion in the committee's 
agenda are as follows:

Thursday, January 24, 2013, Beginning at 9 a.m.

    The Groundfish Oversight Committee will hold a joint meeting with 
the Groundfish Advisory Panel (GAP) and the Recreational Advisory Panel 
(RAP). The Committee and Panels will receive an update from the Closed 
Area Technical Team (CATT) on possible modifications to groundfish 
fishing closed areas that will be considered in conjunction with the 
establishment of habitat closed areas. The modifications are being 
developed as part of the Omnibus Essential Fish Habitat amendment (76 
Federal Register 35408). The CATT will provide an overview of ongoing 
analyses and may provide suggested closure options for the Committee to 
consider. The Committee, after considering the advice of the GAP and 
RAP, may develop closed area recommendations for the Council's 
consideration. Alternatively, the Committee may provide additional 
guidance to the CATT.

Friday, January 25, 2013, Beginning at 8:30 a.m.

    The Committee will meet to develop a specifications package that 
will specify Acceptable Biological Catches (ABCs) and Annual Catch 
Limits (ACLs) for fishing year 2013. The Committee may also develop 
advice for an interim action designed to reduce overfishing on Gulf of 
Maine cod and Gulf of Maine haddock in 2013. 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: January 2, 2013.
William Chappell,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-00061 Filed 1-4-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P