[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 105 (Thursday, May 31, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 29530]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-13681]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[I.D. 052201A]


New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold 
a 2-day Council meeting, on June 13 and June 14, 2001, to consider 
actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone.

DATES: The meeting will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, June 13 and 
14, at 9 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., respectively.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Providence Biltmore Hotel, 
11 Dorrance Street, Kennedy Plaza, Providence, RI 02903; telephone 
(401) 421-0700. Requests for special accommodations should be addressed 
to the New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, 
Newburyport, MA 01950; telephone (978) 465-0492.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Wednesday, June 13, 2001

    After introductions, the Council meeting will begin with a review 
and, if appropriate, approval of Council administrative and procedural 
policies. The Groundfish Committee will follow with its report on the 
development of Amendment 13 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery 
Management Plan (FMP). This will include consideration of a Groundfish 
Committee recommendation to clarify maximum sustainable yield control 
rule options and the Capacity's Committee's recommendations concerning 
whether to address latent fishing effort in Amendment 13. During the 
afternoon session, the Council will review and consider approval of the 
draft management alternatives and Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
for the FMP for the Northeast Region skate complex. Lastly, there will 
be a presentation on bioeconomic modeling and its application to 
fisheries management, using the American lobster fishery as a case 
study.

Thursday, June 14, 2001

    During the Thursday session of the meeting, the Council will 
receive reports on recent activities from the Council Chairman, 
Executive Director, the NMFS Regional Administrator, Northeast 
Fisheries Science Center and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council 
liaisons, NOAA General Counsel and representatives of the U.S. Coast 
Guard, NMFS Enforcement and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries 
Commission. These reports will be followed by a NMFS briefing on the 
Essential Fish Habitat consultation process. A period for public 
comments will then be held. The Herring Committee will bring forward 
its annual specification recommendations for the 2002 fishing year. 
These will include optimum yield from the fishery, total allowable 
level of foreign fishing and joint venture processing, as well as 
management area total allowable catch quotas. Prior to making a 
decision on these specifications, the Council staff will present the 
annual Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation Report for herring. 
During the afternoon period, the Council's Scallop Committee will ask 
for consideration of a control date for vessels that target sea 
scallops while not on a scallop day-at-sea. A control date may be 
necessary because the Council is considering whether to limit the 
access of vessels holding general category permits as part of Amendment 
10 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop FMP. The control date could apply to any 
vessel with or without a general category permit and/or to vessels that 
have a limited access scallop permit and that fish for sea scallops 
while not on a day-at-sea. The Council meeting will adjourn after 
addressing any other outstanding business.
    Although other non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda 
may come before this Council for discussion, those issues may not be 
the subjects of formal action during this meeting. Council action will 
be restricted to those issues specifically listed in this notice and 
any issues arising after publication of this notice that require 
emergency action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, 
provided that the public has been notified of the Council's intent to 
take final action to address the emergency.
    The Council will consider public comments at a minimum of two 
Council meetings before making recommendations to the NMFS Regional 
Administrator on any framework adjustment to a fishery management plan. 
If she concurs with the adjustment proposed by the Council, the 
Regional Administrator has the discretion to publish the action either 
as proposed or final regulations in the Federal Register. Documents 
pertaining to framework adjustments are available for public review 7 
days prior to a final vote by the Council.

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.

    Dated: May 24, 2001.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service
[FR Doc. 01-13681 Filed 5-30-01; 8:45 am]
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