Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Amendments to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and Sharks and the FMP for Atlantic Billfish, 53146-53147 [05-17749]
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53146
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 172 / Wednesday, September 7, 2005 / Proposed Rules
defined in the Magnuson-Stevens Act
(§ 303(e)(4)). As anticipated in the
rebuilding plan, implementation
includes periodic adjustments based on
new scientific information. The 2005
red snapper stock assessment indicates
the level of reduction necessary to
eliminate overfishing is dependent on
the objectives and rebuilding scenario
selected. The Council will need to
evaluate those factors carefully prior to
taking action to implement appropriate
reductions to end overfishing and
rebuild the stock.
Finally, emergency and interim
regulations are not appropriate for
addressing such actions as changes to
BRDs, because these changes would
require substantial time for gear
development, manufacturing, and
training and distribution for re-outfitting
of shrimp nets. Emergency and interim
measures can only be implemented for
180 days and can be extended for an
additional 180 days if necessary
conditions are met. It is likely that such
measures would result in a regulatory
lapse before longer-term measures could
be implemented.
NMFS believes additional
management measures to achieve
reductions in bycatch mortality should
take into account the results of the most
recent red snapper stock assessment and
would best be addressed through
Council regulatory amendment and
development of a plan amendment. The
Council directed staff during their
August 2005 Council meeting to begin
immediately working on a regulatory
amendment to modify certification
procedures and protocols for BRDs,
including decertification of ineffective
BRDs and certification of new BRDs
capable of achieving necessary
reductions in finfish bycatch. This
regulatory amendment is expected to be
completed in mid–2006. The Council
also directed staff to begin developing a
joint reef fish and shrimp plan
amendment that revises the red snapper
rebuilding plan and addresses bycatch
in both the directed red snapper fishery
and shrimp fishery. This plan
amendment is expected to be completed
by late–2006. By addressing bycatch
mortality, management measures, and
the red snapper rebuilding plan in this
way, the public will be afforded more
opportunities to comment and
participate in the rulemaking process,
and long-term measures to address the
issues can be implemented.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
VerDate Aug<18>2005
15:04 Sep 06, 2005
Jkt 205001
Dated: August 31, 2005.
Emily Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 05–17713 Filed 9–6–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 635
[I.D. 051603C]
RIN 0648–AQ65
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species;
Amendments to the Fishery
Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic
Tunas, Swordfish, and Sharks and the
FMP for Atlantic Billfish
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Cancelling and changing the
location and time of certain public
hearings.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: Due to the damage caused by
Hurricane Katrina, NMFS is cancelling
two public hearings on the draft
consolidated Highly Migratory Species
(HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP)
and proposed rule that were scheduled
for September 6 and September 8, 2005,
in Orange Beach, AL, and New Orleans,
LA, respectively. NMFS intends to
reschedule the September 6 Orange
Beach and September 8 New Orleans
public hearings at a later date. In
addition, NMFS has changed the
location and time of the public hearing
that was scheduled to be held in Fort
Lauderdale, FL, on October 3, 2005, at
the African American Arts and Cultural
Center Research Library. The draft
consolidated HMS FMP and the
proposed rule describe a range of
management measures that could
impact fishermen and dealers for all
HMS fisheries.
DATES: The Fort Lauderdale public
hearing will still be held on Monday,
October 3, 2005. However, the new time
will be from 7 - 10 p.m. The hearings
scheduled for September 6 and
September 8, 2005, in Orange Beach,
AL, and New Orleans, LA, have been
cancelled and will be rescheduled at a
later date.
ADDRESSES: The new location of the Fort
Lauderdale public hearing will be the
Broward County Main Library, 100
South Andrews Avenue, Fort
Lauderdale, FL 33301.
PO 00000
Frm 00044
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Heather Stirratt or Karyl Brewster-Geisz
at (301) 713–2347.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Atlantic HMS fisheries are managed
under the dual authority of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act
(Magnuson-Stevens Act) and the
Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA).
The FMP for Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish,
and Sharks, finalized in 1999, and the
FMP for Atlantic Billfish, finalized in
1988, are implemented by regulations at
50 CFR part 635.
On August 19, 2005 (70 FR 48804),
NMFS published a proposed rule that,
among other things, announced the
availability of the draft consolidated
HMS FMP. Included in this proposed
rule was a list of 24 public hearings
throughout September and October
2005. These hearings are scheduled for
NMFS to receive comments from fishery
participants and other members of the
public regarding the proposed rule and
draft HMS FMP. Due to the damage
caused by Hurricane Katrina, NMFS is
cancelling two public hearings that were
scheduled for September 6 and
September 8, 2005, in Orange Beach,
AL, and New Orleans, LA, respectively.
NMFS intends to reschedule the public
hearings once the amount of damaged
caused by Hurricane Katrina in the
affected Gulf region has been assessed
and the appropriate locations can be
determined. NMFS may extend the
comment period, if necessary, to ensure
adequate opportunities for public
comment by constituents in the affected
Gulf region. Notification of the new
dates and locations would be published
in the Federal Register.
In addition, NMFS has changed the
location and time of the public hearing
that was scheduled to be held in Fort
Lauderdale, FL, on October 3, 2005, at
the African American Arts and Cultural
Center Research Library (see DATES and
ADDRESSES). This change was due to
concerns raised by a constituent
regarding public safety. NMFS verified
these concerns with local law
enforcement. The schedule for the other
public hearings remains unchanged.
The public is reminded that NMFS
expects participants at the public
hearings to conduct themselves
appropriately. At the beginning of each
public hearing, a NMFS representative
will explain the ground rules (e.g.,
alcohol is prohibited from the hearing
room; attendees will be called to give
their comments in the order in which
they registered to speak; each attendee
will have an equal amount of time to
speak; and attendees should not
E:\FR\FM\07SEP1.SGM
07SEP1
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 172 / Wednesday, September 7, 2005 / Proposed Rules
interrupt one another). The NMFS
representative will attempt to structure
the hearing so that all attending
members of the public will be able to
comment, if they so choose, regardless
of the controversial nature of the
subject(s). Attendees are expected to
respect the ground rules, and, if they do
not, they will be asked to leave the
hearing.
VerDate Aug<18>2005
15:04 Sep 06, 2005
Jkt 205001
53147
Special Accommodations
These meetings are physically
accessible to people with disabilities.
Requests for sign language
interpretation or other auxiliary aids
should be directed to Heather Stirratt,
(301) 713–2347, at least 7 days prior to
the hearing in question.
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 561 and 16 U.S.C. 1801
et seq.
Dated: September 1, 2005.
John H. Dunnigan,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 05–17749 Filed 9–1–05; 4:03 pm]
PO 00000
Frm 00045
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
E:\FR\FM\07SEP1.SGM
07SEP1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 172 (Wednesday, September 7, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 53146-53147]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-17749]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 635
[I.D. 051603C]
RIN 0648-AQ65
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Amendments to the Fishery
Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and Sharks and the
FMP for Atlantic Billfish
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Cancelling and changing the location and time of certain public
hearings.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Due to the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina, NMFS is
cancelling two public hearings on the draft consolidated Highly
Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and proposed rule
that were scheduled for September 6 and September 8, 2005, in Orange
Beach, AL, and New Orleans, LA, respectively. NMFS intends to
reschedule the September 6 Orange Beach and September 8 New Orleans
public hearings at a later date. In addition, NMFS has changed the
location and time of the public hearing that was scheduled to be held
in Fort Lauderdale, FL, on October 3, 2005, at the African American
Arts and Cultural Center Research Library. The draft consolidated HMS
FMP and the proposed rule describe a range of management measures that
could impact fishermen and dealers for all HMS fisheries.
DATES: The Fort Lauderdale public hearing will still be held on Monday,
October 3, 2005. However, the new time will be from 7 - 10 p.m. The
hearings scheduled for September 6 and September 8, 2005, in Orange
Beach, AL, and New Orleans, LA, have been cancelled and will be
rescheduled at a later date.
ADDRESSES: The new location of the Fort Lauderdale public hearing will
be the Broward County Main Library, 100 South Andrews Avenue, Fort
Lauderdale, FL 33301.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Heather Stirratt or Karyl Brewster-
Geisz at (301) 713-2347.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Atlantic HMS fisheries are managed under
the dual authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) and the Atlantic Tunas Convention
Act (ATCA). The FMP for Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and Sharks,
finalized in 1999, and the FMP for Atlantic Billfish, finalized in
1988, are implemented by regulations at 50 CFR part 635.
On August 19, 2005 (70 FR 48804), NMFS published a proposed rule
that, among other things, announced the availability of the draft
consolidated HMS FMP. Included in this proposed rule was a list of 24
public hearings throughout September and October 2005. These hearings
are scheduled for NMFS to receive comments from fishery participants
and other members of the public regarding the proposed rule and draft
HMS FMP. Due to the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina, NMFS is
cancelling two public hearings that were scheduled for September 6 and
September 8, 2005, in Orange Beach, AL, and New Orleans, LA,
respectively. NMFS intends to reschedule the public hearings once the
amount of damaged caused by Hurricane Katrina in the affected Gulf
region has been assessed and the appropriate locations can be
determined. NMFS may extend the comment period, if necessary, to ensure
adequate opportunities for public comment by constituents in the
affected Gulf region. Notification of the new dates and locations would
be published in the Federal Register.
In addition, NMFS has changed the location and time of the public
hearing that was scheduled to be held in Fort Lauderdale, FL, on
October 3, 2005, at the African American Arts and Cultural Center
Research Library (see DATES and ADDRESSES). This change was due to
concerns raised by a constituent regarding public safety. NMFS verified
these concerns with local law enforcement. The schedule for the other
public hearings remains unchanged.
The public is reminded that NMFS expects participants at the public
hearings to conduct themselves appropriately. At the beginning of each
public hearing, a NMFS representative will explain the ground rules
(e.g., alcohol is prohibited from the hearing room; attendees will be
called to give their comments in the order in which they registered to
speak; each attendee will have an equal amount of time to speak; and
attendees should not
[[Page 53147]]
interrupt one another). The NMFS representative will attempt to
structure the hearing so that all attending members of the public will
be able to comment, if they so choose, regardless of the controversial
nature of the subject(s). Attendees are expected to respect the ground
rules, and, if they do not, they will be asked to leave the hearing.
Special Accommodations
These meetings are physically accessible to people with
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed to Heather Stirratt, (301) 713-2347,
at least 7 days prior to the hearing in question.
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 561 and 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: September 1, 2005.
John H. Dunnigan,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-17749 Filed 9-1-05; 4:03 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S