[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 88 (Monday, May 6, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 20207-20208]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-11134]




DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Parts 651, 650, and 649

[I.D. 042596C]


New England Fishery Management Council; Public Hearings

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

ACTION: Public hearings; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold 
four public hearings on measures to reduce gear conflicts in the 
Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the exclusive economic zone. The 
Council proposes to amend the Northeast Multispecies, Atlantic Sea 
Scallop, and American Lobster Fishery Management Plans (FMPs) to 
include a framework adjustment procedure that would allow gear conflict 
disputes to be resolved through regulatory action. The Council also is 
soliciting written comments to accommodate people unable to attend a 
hearing or wishing to provide additional comments.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before May 30, 1996. The 
hearings are scheduled as follows:
    1. May 21, 1996, 7:30 p.m., Warwick, RI.
    2. May 22, 1996, 7 p.m., Riverhead, NY.
    3. May 23, 1996, 7:30 p.m., Buzzards Bay, MA.
    4. May 28, 1996, 7:30 p.m., Portsmouth, NH.

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the proposal and written comments 
should be sent to Douglas C. Marshall, Executive Director, New England 
Fishery Management Council, 5 Broadway, Saugus, MA 01906. When sending 
written comments, clearly mark the outside of the envelope ``Gear 
Conflict Amendment Comments.'' The hearings will be held at the 
following locations:
    1. Warwick--Holiday Inn at the Crossings, 801 Greenwich Avenue, 
Warwick, RI
    2. Riverhead--Ramada Inn, Long Island Expressway and Route 25, 
Riverhead, NY
    3. Buzzards Bay--Massachusetts Maritime Academy, 101 Academy Drive, 
Buzzards Bay, MA
    4. Portsmouth--Urban Forestry Center, 45 Elwyn Road, Portsmouth, NH


[[Page 20208]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Douglas G. Marshall, Executive 
Director, New England Fishery Management Council, (617) 231-0422.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Council proposes to amend the FMPs to 
include a framework procedure that would provide a process for 
resolving gear conflicts involving several fisheries under the 
management authority of the Council. If necessary, the Council will 
modify objectives of the FMPs to make future gear conflict regulations 
consistent with the FMPs.
    The measures listed below and any others now included in the FMPs, 
along with a public process for development of those measures, would 
constitute the framework adjustment procedure. The preferred 
alternative includes the following generic management measures to each 
FMP: (1) Mandatory monitoring of a radio channel by fishing vessels, 
(2) fixed gear location reporting and plotting requirements, (3) 
standards of operation when gear conflicts occur, (4) fixed gear 
marking and setting practices, (5) gear restrictions for specific areas 
(including time and area closures), (6) vessel monitoring systems, (7) 
restrictions on the number of fishing vessels or amount of gear, and 
(8) special permit conditions.
    The intent of the framework procedure is to allow local groups of 
competing types of fishermen to request management assistance and, 
through the Council, recommend changes to the boundaries or rules for 
fishing in specific gear management areas. This procedure would enable 
the Council to respond quickly to gear conflicts by making simultaneous 
regulatory adjustments to one or more of the existing plans.
    In a ``no action'' alternative, the Council would continue its 
efforts to facilitate voluntary compromises and agreements on fishing 
rules. Recent efforts, however, have been unsuccessful.
    Additionally, the Council proposes to recommend that this type of 
framework procedure be considered by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, 
and other agencies, so that gear conflict can be resolved via 
regulations, regardless of the management authority for an affected 
fishery.
    These hearings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Douglas G. Marshall (see 
ADDRESSES) at least 5 days prior to the hearing dates.

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

    Dated: April 30, 1996.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-11134 Filed 5-3-96; 8:45 am]
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