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[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 36 (Wednesday, February 25, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 8512]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-4022]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XN48

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Stock 
Assessment of Alaska Sablefish; Peer Review Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice of peer review meeting.

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SUMMARY: NMFS has requested the Center for Independent Experts (CIE) to 
conduct a peer review of the agency's stock assessment of Alaskan 
sablefish. CIE is a group affiliated with the University of Miami that 
provides independent peer reviews of NMFS science nationwide, including 
reviews of stock assessments for fish and marine mammals. The Alaska 
sablefish stock assessment is an area-wide model that includes the Gulf 
of Alaska, Bering Sea and the Aleutian Islands. The CIE review will 
examine whether the assessment incorporates the best available 
scientific information and provides a reasonable approach to 
understanding the population dynamics and stock status of sablefish in 
Alaska. The public is invited to attend and observe the presentations 
and discussions between the CIE panel and the NMFS scientists who 
collected and processed the data, and designed the underlying model.

DATES: The review will be held on March 17 through March 19, 2009, from 
9 AM to 5 PM Alaska Daylight Time.

ADDRESSES: The review will be held at the NMFS Alaska Fisheries Science 
Center, Ted Stevens Marine Research Institute, 17109 Pt. Lena Loop Rd, 
Juneau, AK 99801.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Phillip Rigby, 907-789-6653.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The CIE panel will consist of three peer 
reviewers who will assess materials related to the topic, participate 
in a review workshop with the NMFS scientists who developed the model 
and the analytical approach, and produce a report. This review will be 
highly technical in nature and will cover mathematical details of the 
analytical approach. Members of the public are invited to observe, and 
will be provided opportunities to contribute on March 17 and 19.
    The final report is due on April 23, 2009, and will consist of 
individual reports from each panelist and a summary report. The meeting 
chair will present the results of the review during the September 2009 
North Pacific Fishery Management Council's Groundfish Plan Team meeting 
that will be announced at a later time in the Federal Register.

SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS

    These workshops will be physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Phillip Rigby, 907-789-6653, at 
least 10 working days prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: February 19, 2009.
James P. Burgess
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-4022 Filed 2-24-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
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