Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings, 4885-4886 [2015-01690]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 19 / Thursday, January 29, 2015 / Notices Dated: January 23, 2015. Basil Brown, Acting Director, Office of Management and Budget, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2015–01724 Filed 1–28–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public meetings. AGENCY: The Eight Regional Fishery Management Councils (RFMCs) will convene a meeting of representatives of their respective Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) in Honolulu, HI. DATES: The meeting will be held on February 23, 2015, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., February 24, 2015, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and February 25, 2015, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Ala Moana Hotel Garden Lanai, 410 Atkinson Drive, Honolulu, HI 96814. Host Council: Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813. For specific times and agendas, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director, Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council; telephone: (808) 522–8220. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) requires that each Council maintain and utilize its SSCs to assist in the development, collection, evaluation, and peer review of information relevant to the development and amendment of fishery management plans (FMPs). In addition, the MSA mandates that each SSC shall provide its Council ongoing scientific advice for fishery management decisions, including recommendations for acceptable biological catch (ABC), preventing overfishing, maximum sustainable yield, and achieving rebuilding targets, and reports on stock status and health, bycatch, habitat status, social and economic impacts of management measures, and sustainability of fishing practices. The MSA also requires the Council to consider the ecosystem in managing the stocks in the FMPs. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:16 Jan 28, 2015 Jkt 235001 At its May 2014 meeting, the Council Coordination Committee (CCC; a group consisting of the leadership from the eight Regional Fishery Management Councils), recommended that a fifth National SSC Workshop be convened to address uncertainties, data-limited situations, and ecosystem considerations in the fishery management process and Ecosystems Based Fishery Management (EBFM). Therefore, the purpose of this meeting is to examine the approaches being taken around the United States by the Council SSCs in addressing biological and management uncertainties, data-limited stocks, habitat and ecological variabilities in EBFM with considerations of a changing climate. 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m., Monday, February 23, 2015 1. Welcome Remarks 2. Introductions 3. SUBTHEME 1.a: ABC Specification for Data-Limited and Model-Resistant Stocks A. Keynote Presentation: Managing data-poor fisheries down under B. Keynote Presentation: Progress and roadblocks in the estimation of stock status and catch limits for global fisheries C. Round Robin Session: Setting ABCs for data-limited/model-resistant stocks D. Preliminary Q&A to the presenters E. Plenary Discussion: ABC specification for data-limited and model-resistant stocks 4. SUBTHEME 1.b: Implementation of National Standard 2 in the Face of Uncertainty A. Keynote Presentation: National Standard 2 in determining best scientific information available B. Plenary Discussion: Implementation of National Standard 2 in the face of uncertainties 5. Develop Specific Recommendation to the CCC on Subtheme 1 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Tuesday, February 24, 2015 6. SUBTHEME 2: Evaluating Existing ABC Control Rules: Issues, Challenges and Solutions A. Keynote Presentation: Addressing uncertainties in stock assessment in a variable environment B. Keynote Presentation: Use of Management Strategy Evaluation to assess performance of harvest control rules C. Keynote Presentation: Comparing performance among alternative ABC control rules D. Round Robin Session: Evaluation PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 4885 of the current ABC control rules (with emphasis on how each council monitors the performance of the control rules, issues, challenges, and solutions) E. Preliminary Q&A to the presenters F. Plenary Discussion: Evaluating existing ABC control rules: Issues, challenges and solutions 7. Develop Specific Recommendation to the CCC for Subtheme 2 8. SUBTHEME 3.a: Incorporating Ecological, Environmental, and Climate Variability in Stock Assessment and Ecosystem Based Fishery Management A. Keynote Presentation: Incorporating ecological, environmental, and climate considerations in stock assessments and ecosystem-based fishery management B. Plenary Discussion: Incorporating ecological, environmental, and climate variability in stock assessment and ecosystem based fishery management 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m., Wednesday, February 25, 2015 C. Keynote presentation: Projecting climate change impacts on fish and fisheries D. Keynote presentation: Shifting species distribution with climate change E. Plenary Discussion: Incorporating ecological, environmental, and climatic variability in stock assessments and ecosystem based fishery management 9. Develop Specific Recommendation to the CCC for Subtheme 3.a 10. SUBTHEME 3.b: Building Habitat Condition in the Stock Assessment Process and Fishery Management Strategies A. Keynote Presentation: The Habitat Assessment Improvement Plan: Collecting the habitat data to enhance stock assessment B. Plenary Discussion: Building habitat condition in the stock assessment process and fishery management strategies C. Keynote Presentation: Aspects of Habitat of Particular Concern for fish population dynamics and fishery management D. Plenary Discussion: Building habitat condition in the stock assessment process and fishery management strategies 11. Develop Specific Recommendation to the CCC for Subtheme 3.b Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before these groups for discussion, in accordance with the MSA, those issues E:\FR\FM\29JAN1.SGM 29JAN1 4886 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 19 / Thursday, January 29, 2015 / Notices may not be the subject of formal action during these meetings. Actions 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 MSA, provided the public has been notified of the Council’s intent to take final action to address the emergency. Special Accommodations These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Kitty M. Simonds, (808) 522–8220 (voice) or (808) 522– 8226 (fax), at least 5 days prior to the meeting date. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: January 26, 2015. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2015–01690 Filed 1–28–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XD705 Fisheries of the Gulf of Mexico; Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR); Public Meetings National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of SEDAR 42 assessment webinars for Gulf of Mexico Red Grouper. AGENCY: The SEDAR 42 assessment of Gulf of Mexico Red Grouper will consist of a series of webinars. This notice is for a webinar associated with the Assessment portion of the SEDAR process. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. SUMMARY: The assessment webinar for SEDAR 42 will be held on Thursday, February 19, 2015, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. eastern time. ADDRESSES: Meeting Address: The meeting will be held via webinar. The webinar is open to the public. Those interested in participating should contact Julie A. Neer at SEDAR (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT below) to request an invitation providing webinar access information. Please request webinar mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES DATES: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:16 Jan 28, 2015 Jkt 235001 invitations at least 24 hours in advance of each webinar. SEDAR Address: 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, N. Charleston, SC 29405. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie A. Neer, SEDAR Coordinator; telephone: (843) 571–4366; email: julie.neer@ safmc.net. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, and Caribbean Fishery Management Councils, in conjunction with NOAA Fisheries and the Atlantic and Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commissions, have implemented the Southeast Data, Assessment and Review (SEDAR) process, a multi-step method for determining the status of fish stocks in the Southeast Region. SEDAR is a multistep process including: (1) Data Workshop; and (2) a series of assessment webinars; and (3) Review Workshop. The product of the Data Workshop is a report which compiles and evaluates potential datasets and recommends which datasets are appropriate for assessment analyses. The product of the Assessment Webinar Process is a report which compiles and evaluates potential datasets and recommends which datasets are appropriate for assessment analyses; and describes the fisheries, evaluates the status of the stock, estimates biological benchmarks, projects future population conditions, and recommends research and monitoring needs. The assessment is independently peer reviewed at the Review Workshop. The product of the Review Workshop is a Summary documenting panel opinions regarding the strengths and weaknesses of the stock assessment and input data. Participants for SEDAR Workshops are appointed by the Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic, and Caribbean Fishery Management Councils and NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office, Highly Migratory Species Management Division, and Southeast Fisheries Science Center. Participants include: data collectors and database managers; stock assessment scientists, biologists, and researchers; constituency representatives including fishermen, environmentalists, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs); international experts; and staff of Councils, Commissions, and state and federal agencies. The items of discussion in the Assessment Process webinars are as follows: 1. Using datasets and initial assessment analysis recommended from the Data Workshop, panelists will employ assessment models to evaluate PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 stock status, estimate population benchmarks and management criteria, and project future conditions. 2. Panelists will recommend the most appropriate methods and configurations for determining stock status and estimating population parameters. 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 intent to take final action to address the emergency. Special Accommodations These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to the Council office (see ADDRESSES) at least 10 business days prior to the meeting. Note: The times and sequence specified in this agenda are subject to change. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: January 26, 2015. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2015–01689 Filed 1–28–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XD512 Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Low-Energy Marine Geophysical Survey in the Ross Sea, January to February 2015 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; issuance of an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA). AGENCY: In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), notification is hereby given that NMFS has issued an IHA to the National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Polar Programs, and Antarctic Support Contract (ASC) on behalf of Louisiana State University, to take marine mammals, by Level B SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\29JAN1.SGM 29JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 19 (Thursday, January 29, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4885-4886]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-01690]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Eight Regional Fishery Management Councils (RFMCs) will 
convene a meeting of representatives of their respective Scientific and 
Statistical Committee (SSC) in Honolulu, HI.

DATES: The meeting will be held on February 23, 2015, from 8:30 a.m. to 
5:30 p.m., February 24, 2015, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and February 
25, 2015, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Ala Moana Hotel Garden 
Lanai, 410 Atkinson Drive, Honolulu, HI 96814. Host Council: Western 
Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 
1400, Honolulu, HI 96813. For specific times and agendas, see 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director, 
Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council; telephone: (808) 
522-8220.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act (MSA) requires that each Council maintain and 
utilize its SSCs to assist in the development, collection, evaluation, 
and peer review of information relevant to the development and 
amendment of fishery management plans (FMPs). In addition, the MSA 
mandates that each SSC shall provide its Council ongoing scientific 
advice for fishery management decisions, including recommendations for 
acceptable biological catch (ABC), preventing overfishing, maximum 
sustainable yield, and achieving rebuilding targets, and reports on 
stock status and health, bycatch, habitat status, social and economic 
impacts of management measures, and sustainability of fishing 
practices. The MSA also requires the Council to consider the ecosystem 
in managing the stocks in the FMPs.
    At its May 2014 meeting, the Council Coordination Committee (CCC; a 
group consisting of the leadership from the eight Regional Fishery 
Management Councils), recommended that a fifth National SSC Workshop be 
convened to address uncertainties, data-limited situations, and 
ecosystem considerations in the fishery management process and 
Ecosystems Based Fishery Management (EBFM). Therefore, the purpose of 
this meeting is to examine the approaches being taken around the United 
States by the Council SSCs in addressing biological and management 
uncertainties, data-limited stocks, habitat and ecological 
variabilities in EBFM with considerations of a changing climate.

8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Monday, February 23, 2015

1. Welcome Remarks
2. Introductions
3. SUBTHEME 1.a: ABC Specification for Data-Limited and Model-Resistant 
Stocks
    A. Keynote Presentation: Managing data-poor fisheries down under
    B. Keynote Presentation: Progress and roadblocks in the estimation 
of stock status and catch limits for global fisheries
    C. Round Robin Session: Setting ABCs for data-limited/model-
resistant stocks
    D. Preliminary Q&A to the presenters
    E. Plenary Discussion: ABC specification for data-limited and 
model-resistant stocks
4. SUBTHEME 1.b: Implementation of National Standard 2 in the Face of 
Uncertainty
    A. Keynote Presentation: National Standard 2 in determining best 
scientific information available
    B. Plenary Discussion: Implementation of National Standard 2 in the 
face of uncertainties
5. Develop Specific Recommendation to the CCC on Subtheme 1

8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Tuesday, February 24, 2015

6. SUBTHEME 2: Evaluating Existing ABC Control Rules: Issues, 
Challenges and Solutions
    A. Keynote Presentation: Addressing uncertainties in stock 
assessment in a variable environment
    B. Keynote Presentation: Use of Management Strategy Evaluation to 
assess performance of harvest control rules
    C. Keynote Presentation: Comparing performance among alternative 
ABC control rules
    D. Round Robin Session: Evaluation of the current ABC control rules 
(with emphasis on how each council monitors the performance of the 
control rules, issues, challenges, and solutions)
    E. Preliminary Q&A to the presenters
    F. Plenary Discussion: Evaluating existing ABC control rules: 
Issues, challenges and solutions
7. Develop Specific Recommendation to the CCC for Subtheme 2
8. SUBTHEME 3.a: Incorporating Ecological, Environmental, and Climate 
Variability in Stock Assessment and Ecosystem Based Fishery Management
    A. Keynote Presentation: Incorporating ecological, environmental, 
and climate considerations in stock assessments and ecosystem-based 
fishery management
    B. Plenary Discussion: Incorporating ecological, environmental, and 
climate variability in stock assessment and ecosystem based fishery 
management

8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Wednesday, February 25, 2015

    C. Keynote presentation: Projecting climate change impacts on fish 
and fisheries
    D. Keynote presentation: Shifting species distribution with climate 
change
    E. Plenary Discussion: Incorporating ecological, environmental, and 
climatic variability in stock assessments and ecosystem based fishery 
management
9. Develop Specific Recommendation to the CCC for Subtheme 3.a
10. SUBTHEME 3.b: Building Habitat Condition in the Stock Assessment 
Process and Fishery Management Strategies
    A. Keynote Presentation: The Habitat Assessment Improvement Plan: 
Collecting the habitat data to enhance stock assessment
    B. Plenary Discussion: Building habitat condition in the stock 
assessment process and fishery management strategies
    C. Keynote Presentation: Aspects of Habitat of Particular Concern 
for fish population dynamics and fishery management
    D. Plenary Discussion: Building habitat condition in the stock 
assessment process and fishery management strategies
11. Develop Specific Recommendation to the CCC for Subtheme 3.b

    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come 
before these groups for discussion, in accordance with the MSA, those 
issues

[[Page 4886]]

may not be the subject of formal action during these meetings. Actions 
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 MSA, provided the 
public has been notified of the Council's intent to take final action 
to address the emergency.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Kitty M. Simonds, (808) 522-8220 
(voice) or (808) 522-8226 (fax), at least 5 days prior to the meeting 
date.

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

    Dated: January 26, 2015.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-01690 Filed 1-28-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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