New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting, 2866-2867 [E7-932]

Download as PDF 2866 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 14 / Tuesday, January 23, 2007 / Notices that had reduced historical levels of fishery mortality. The petitioner further asserts that a 2004 regulation restricting spear and recreational fishing for rockfish to periods when fisheries were open for lingcod and/or Pacific salmon inadequately limits fishing effort and mortality during the open fishing periods. We recognize that the petitioner believes that WDFW could enact regulations to further protect Puget Sound rockfish stocks. However, the fishing regulations the petitioner criticizes represent a reduction in previous fishing levels, and do not portend an increasing threat due to fishing for the copper and quillback rockfish Puget Sound DPSs. Does the Petition Present Substantial Information Indicating That the DPSs May be Endangered or Threatened? The petitioner presents no new data or information regarding the abundance, trends, productivity, or distribution for these species. With respect to the maternal-age effect discussed above, the petitioner presents no substantive evidence that the age composition of these stocks has actually been truncated, or that the maternal-age effect is an important determinant for copper or quillback rockfish recruitment. Similarly, we do not have any new data on hand relevant to assessing the status of copper and quillback rockfishes in Puget Sound. We are aware that WDFW is in the process of compiling new abundance data and finalizing a status report for these species. As yet, the new data and analyses are not available. Petition Finding After reviewing the information contained in the petition, as well as information readily available to our scientists, we determine that the petition fails to present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating the petitioned actions may be warranted. mstockstill on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. Dated: January 17, 2007. Samuel D. Rauch III, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E7–943 Filed 1–22–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Oceanic and Atmospheric Research; National Sea Grant Review Panel [I.D. 011707D] National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. AGENCY: SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of a forthcoming meeting of the Sea Grant Review Panel. The meeting will have several purposes. Panel members will discuss and provide advice on the National Sea Grant College Program in the areas of program evaluation, strategic planning, education and extension, science and technology programs, and other matters as described below. DATES: The announced meeting is scheduled for: February 21–22, 2007. ADDRESSES: Headquarters of the Consortium for Oceanographic Research & Education (CORE), 1201 New York Avenue, NW., 4th Floor Conference Room, Washington, DC 20005. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Joseph Brown, National Sea Grant College Program, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1315 EastWest Highway, Room 11717, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, (301) 734– 1088. The Panel, which consists of a balanced representation from academia, industry, state government and citizens groups, was established in 1976 by Section 209 of the Sea Grant Improvement Act (Pub. L. 94–461, 33 U.S.C. 1128). The Panel advises the Secretary of Commerce and the Director of the National Sea Grant College Program with respect to operations under the Act, and such other matters as the Secretary refers to them for review and advice. A link to the agenda for the meeting can be found on the web at https:// www.seagrant.noaa.gov/leadership/ review_panel.html. If you do not have access to the internet, please contact Joe Brown at the address above for a hard copy. This meeting will be open to the public. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Dated: January 16, 2007. Mark E. Brown, Chief Financial Officer, Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. [FR Doc. E7–848 Filed 1–22–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–KA–P VerDate Aug<31>2005 19:33 Jan 22, 2007 Jkt 211001 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of a public meeting. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council’s (Council) Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS)/Enforcement Committee will meet to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). DATES: The meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 6, 2007, at 8 a.m. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Sheraton Harborside, 250 Market Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801; telephone: (603) 431–2300. Council address: New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council; telephone: (978) 465–0492. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The items of discussion in the committee’s agenda are as follows: 1. Introduction: safety, regulation compliance, and familiarizing industry with proper use of VMS. 2. Presentation by Office for Law Enforcement: the capabilities and limitations of VMS as an enforcement tool. 3. Comments and recommendations from the public, VMS users, state agencies, and the Coast Guard. The committee received the following request: a. Safe harbor notification, to suspend fishing trip, due to storms or other emergencies; b. Declaration in/out of a fishery while at sea, rather than in port; c. Closed area transit notification, to replace gear stowage requirement. 4. Industry and law enforcement dialog on VMS usage, and how it can be improved. 5. Closed session: selection of new advisors and any other issues the committee finds pertinent. 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 E:\FR\FM\23JAN1.SGM 23JAN1 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 14 / Tuesday, January 23, 2007 / Notices 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 Council’s intent to take final action to address the emergency. 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. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: January 18, 2007. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E7–932 Filed 1–22–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 011707E] New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of a public meeting. mstockstill on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES AGENCY: SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a three-day Council meeting on February 6–8, 2007, to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). DATES: The meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 6 beginning at 1 p.m., and Wednesday and Thursday, February 7 and 8, beginning at 8:30 a.m. each day. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Sheraton Harborside Hotel, 250 Market Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801; telephone: (603) 431–2300. Council address: New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council, telephone: (978) 465–0492. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Tuesday, February 6, 2007 Following introductions, the Council will hear a series of brief reports from the Council Chairman and Executive VerDate Aug<31>2005 19:33 Jan 22, 2007 Jkt 211001 Director, the NOAA Northeast Regional Administrator, Northeast Fisheries Science Center and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council liaisons, NOAA General Counsel and representatives of the U.S. Coast Guard, NOAA Enforcement, and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. Following these reports, the Council will have a general discussion about atsea processing vessels, including potential monitoring, reporting, observer and Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) requirements. Changes to Council processes and procedures as a result of reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act will then be reviewed. The day will conclude with a report from the Council’s Enforcement Committee. Its chair will discuss committee progress to develop recommendations concerning the use of VMS and other tools to address safety-at sea, regulatory compliance, and other fishery management-related activities. Wednesday, February 7, 2007 During the morning session, the Council will receive a report on the comments received in response to public hearings held to consider standardized bycatch reporting methodology alternatives. The Council will also hold a hearing on Amendment 13 to the Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan. The intent is to provide an opportunity for the public to comment on the establishment of a mechanism to reactivate the industryfunded observer program in the scallop fishery. The hearing will be followed by final action on the amendment. The Council will then discuss the alternatives identified in Amendment 11 to the Scallop Plan, some of which may be affected by provisions in the newly reauthorized Magnuson-Stevens Act. The Council will hear an update concerning the status of five stocks of small mesh multispecies whiting, red hake and offshore hake. The briefing also will address issues related to the development of the next small mesh multispecies amendment. An open period for the public to address any other Council-related business will be provided at this point in the day. During the afternoon session of the meeting, the Trawl Survey Committee will seek approval of recommendations related to the FSV Henry Bigelow, soon to be deployed in the Northeast Region. At the end of the day, the Council plans to review and approve Phase I of the Essential Fish Habitat Draft Supplemental Environmental Impacts Statement. PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 2867 Thursday, February 8, 2007 The Council’s Research Steering Committee Chairman will report on the committee’s recommendations concerning the use of information provided in several cooperative research final reports. This will be followed by a discussion of other issues related to cooperative research, including the future use of industry-based surveys. There will be a presentation on the results of the 44th Northeast Regional Stock Assessment Workshop. The status of surf clams, ocean quahogs, and the skate complex will be reviewed. The Groundfish Committee will provide a report to the Council on scoping comments received for Amendment 16 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan. The Council will consider committee recommendations concerning alternatives to be developed, including input from the on the Recreational Advisory Panel. 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 MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, provided that the public has been notified of the Council’s intent to take final action to address the emergency. 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: January 18, 2007. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E7–934 Filed 1–22–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 011707F] Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. AGENCY: E:\FR\FM\23JAN1.SGM 23JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 14 (Tuesday, January 23, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2866-2867]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-932]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 011707D]


New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice of a public meeting.

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

SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council's (Council) Vessel 
Monitoring Systems (VMS)/Enforcement Committee will meet to consider 
actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone 
(EEZ).

DATES: The meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 6, 2007, at 8 a.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Sheraton Harborside, 250 
Market Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801; telephone: (603) 431-2300.
    Council address: New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water 
Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The items of discussion in the committee's 
agenda are as follows:
    1. Introduction: safety, regulation compliance, and familiarizing 
industry with proper use of VMS.
    2. Presentation by Office for Law Enforcement: the capabilities and 
limitations of VMS as an enforcement tool.
    3. Comments and recommendations from the public, VMS users, state 
agencies, and the Coast Guard. The committee received the following 
request:
    a. Safe harbor notification, to suspend fishing trip, due to storms 
or other emergencies;
    b. Declaration in/out of a fishery while at sea, rather than in 
port;
    c. Closed area transit notification, to replace gear stowage 
requirement.
    4. Industry and law enforcement dialog on VMS usage, and how it can 
be improved.
    5. Closed session: selection of new advisors and any other issues 
the committee finds pertinent.
    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

[[Page 2867]]

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 Council's intent to take final action 
to address the emergency.

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.

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

    Dated: January 18, 2007.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-932 Filed 1-22-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
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