Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC); Meetings, 16617-16618 [2011-6954]

Download as PDF emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 57 / Thursday, March 24, 2011 / Notices or Cheri McCarty (ph. 301–713–9090). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Shark Conservation Act of 2010 (S.850) amended the Moratorium Protection Act (16 U.S.C.1826d–k) to require actions be taken by the United States to strengthen shark conservation. Specifically, these amendments to the Moratorium Protection Act require the Secretary of Commerce to identify nations whose fishing vessels are engaged, or have been engaged during the preceding calendar year, in fishing activities or practices in waters beyond any national jurisdiction that target or incidentally catch sharks and the nation has not adopted a regulatory program to provide for the conservation of sharks, including measures to prohibit removal of any of the fins of a shark (including the tail) and discarding the carcass of the shark at sea, that is comparable to that of the United States, taking into account different conditions. The Secretary is required to begin making identifications not later than January 4, 2012. The Moratorium Protection Act also requires the Secretary of Commerce to certify whether each nation identified has taken the following steps to warrant receipt of a positive certification: Provided documentary evidence of adoption of a regulatory program that is comparable to that of the United States, taking into account different conditions and established a management plan containing requirements that will assist in gathering species-specific data. If a nation does not receive a positive certification by the Secretary of Commerce, it could be subject to sanctions under the High Seas Driftnet Fisheries Enforcement Act (Enforcement Act) (16 U.S.C. 1826a). In fulfillment of its requirements under the Moratorium Protection Act, NMFS is in the process of collecting and analyzing information on nations whose vessels target or incidentally catch sharks in waters beyond any national jurisdiction in anticipation of making identifications by January 4, 2012. NMFS is soliciting information from the public that could assist in its identification of nations engaged in such activities. Information that may prove useful to NMFS includes: • Documentation (photographs, etc.) of fishing vessels engaged in targeted or incidental catch of sharks on the high seas; • Fishing vessel records; • Trade data supporting evidence that a nation’s vessels are engaged in shark catch; • Reports from off-loading facilities, port-side government officials, enforcement agents, military personnel, VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:17 Mar 23, 2011 Jkt 223001 port inspectors, transshipment vessel workers and fish importers; • RFMO catch documents and statistical document programs, as appropriate; • Nation’s domestic regulations for shark conservation and management; and • Reports from governments, international organizations, or nongovernmental organizations. NMFS will consider all available information, as appropriate, when making a determination whether or not to identify a particular nation whose fishing vessels are engaged, or have been engaged during the preceding calendar year, in fishing activities or practices in waters beyond any national jurisdiction that target or incidentally catch sharks and the nation has not adopted a regulatory program to provide for the conservation of sharks, including measures to prohibit removal of any of the fins of a shark (including the tail) and discarding the carcass of the shark at sea, that is comparable to that of the United States, taking into account different conditions. NMFS is interested in information on shark fishing activity during calendar year 2011. Information should be as specific as possible to assist NMFS in its review. NMFS will consider several criteria when determining whether information is appropriate for use in making identifications, including but not limited to: • Corroboration of information; • Whether multiple sources have been able to provide information in support of an identification; • The methodology used to collect the information; • Specificity of the information provided; • Susceptibility of the information to falsification and alteration; and • Credibility of the individuals or organization providing the information. On January 12, 2011, NMFS published a final rule to implement both the identification and certification procedures for nations whose vessels were engaged in illegal, unreported, or unregulated (IUU) fishing or bycatch of protected living marine resources. NMFS plans to publish a proposed rule to establish the identification and certification procedures for nations whose fishing vessels are engaged in fishing activities or practices in waters beyond any national jurisdiction that target or incidentally catch sharks if the nation has not adopted a regulatory program for the conservation of sharks that is comparable to that of the United States, taking into account different conditions. PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 16617 Dated: March 21, 2011. Rebecca Lent, Director, Office of International Affairs, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2011–6980 Filed 3–21–11; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XA315 Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC); Meetings National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. AGENCY: ACTION: Notice of public meeting. The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) and its Ecosystems and Ocean Planning Committee, its Squid, Mackerel, and Butterfish Committee, its Spiny Dogfish Committee, and its Executive Committee will hold public meetings. SUMMARY: Tuesday, April 12, 2011 through Thursday, April 14, 2011. On Tuesday, April 12—The Ecosystems and Ocean Planning Committee will meet from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. On Wednesday, April 13—The Squid, Mackerel, and Butterfish Committee will meet from 8:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. From 11 a.m. until 12 p.m. there will be a Squid Trawl Proposed Rule Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Presentation. From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. there will be a continuation of the Squid, Mackerel, and Butterfish Committee. The Spiny Dogfish Committee will meet from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. There will be a Public Listening Session from 5 p.m. until 6 p.m. On Thursday, April 14—The Executive Committee will meet from 8 a.m. until 9 a.m. The Council will convene at 9 a.m. A 3–Year Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology Report (SBRM) will be from 9 a.m. until 10 a.m. There will be a Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) Presentation from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. From 11 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. the Council will receive an Update on Amendment 6 to the Monkfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The Council will hold its regular Business Session from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. to approve the February 2011 minutes, receive Organizational Reports, the South Atlantic Liaison Report, the DATES: E:\FR\FM\24MRN1.SGM 24MRN1 emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES 16618 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 57 / Thursday, March 24, 2011 / Notices Executive Director’s Report, the Science Report, Committee Reports, and conduct any continuing and/or new business. ADDRESSES: Historic Inns of Annapolis, 58 State Circle, Annapolis, MD 21401; telephone: (410) 263–2641. Council Address: Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 N. State St., Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901; telephone: 302–674–2331. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher M. Moore, PhD, Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; telephone: 302– 526–5255. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Agenda items by day for the Council’s Committees and the Council itself are: On Tuesday, April 12—The Ecosystems and Oceans Planning Committee will prioritize recommendations from the December Workshop. On Wednesday, April 13—The Squid, Mackerel, and Butterfish Committee will review Advisory Panel (AP) Membership, review Amendment 14 analysis and direct the Fishery Management Action Team (FMAT), and adjust Amendment 14 range of alternatives as appropriate. The Council will hear an HMS presentation on the Squid Trawl Proposed Rule and look at options to minimize discards of swordfish in the Illex fishery and the trawl retention limits for incidental catch of smooth dogfish. The Spiny Dogfish Committee will identify action alternatives for Amendment 3. There will be a Public Listening Session where the Council invites the public to engage Council leadership and NMFS representatives in a Q & A roundtable session. Those in attendance will be able to ask questions or comment on any issue related to MidAtlantic Fisheries Management including annual specifications, ecosystem management, bycatch reduction, catch shares, etc. On Thursday, April 14—The Executive Committee will discuss the Council budget, the process and timeline for 2012 specifications, the AP Performance Report, the ecosystem based fisheries management goals and objectives, the Advisory Panel composition and governance, Council communications, and hold a NRCC Meeting review. Dr. Paul Rago will provide the Council with a presentation regarding the 3-Year SBRM Report. The Council will hear a BOEMRE presentation which will provide the Council with an overview of offshore wind energy, introduction to the Smart from the Start Energy Initiative, and an overview of the Proposed Mid-Atlantic Wind Energy Areas. Howard King will provide the Council with an update on Amendment VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:17 Mar 23, 2011 Jkt 223001 6 to the Monkfish FMP. The Council will hold its regular Business Session to approve the February 2011 minutes, receive Organizational Reports, hear the South Atlantic Liaison Report, the Executive Director’s Report, the Science Report, Committee Reports, and conduct any continuing and/or new business. Special Accommodations This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aid should be directed to M. Jan Saunders (302–526–5251) at least five days prior to the meeting date. Dated: March 21, 2011. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2011–6954 Filed 3–23–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XA317 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 Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold meetings of its Hawaii Advisory Panel (AP), Hawaii Plan Team (PT), Pelagic PT and Regional Ecosystem Advisory Committee (REAC). DATES: The Hawaii PT meeting will be held on April 12 to 13, 2011, Hawaii AP meeting on April 13 to 14, 2011, and Hawaii REAC meeting on April 20, 2011. The Pelagic PT meeting will be held on April 26 to 28, 2011. For specific times and agendas, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. ADDRESSES: The Hawaii AP, PT, REAC and Pelagic PT meetings will be held at the Council Office Conference Room, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu, Hawaii. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director; telephone: (808) 522–8220. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public comment periods will be provided throughout the agendas. The order in which agenda items are addressed may change. The meetings will run as late as necessary to complete scheduled business. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Schedule and Agenda for Hawaii PT Meeting 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, April 12–13, 2011 The Hawaii PT will meet to hear reports on, discuss and consider developing recommendations on the following upcoming Council meeting actions: 1. Status of Fishery Monitoring Programs and Research Projects A. Coral Reef Fisheries B. Crustacean Fisheries C. Precious Coral Fisheries D. Pacific Islands Regional Office (PIRO) Administrative Activities E. Bottomfish Fisheries i. Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) Total Allowable Catch (TAC) Monitoring ii. Market/Economic Report iii. PIRO Report on TAC and Annual Catch Limits (ACL) process update iv. Recreational permit and reporting 2. Hawaii Archipelago Fishery Ecosystem Plan (FEP) Draft Annual Report Structure 3. Improving Fishery Data Collection and Research A. Update on Recommendations from 2009 Fishery Data Workshop B. Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA) FiveYear Priorities C. Review of Cooperative Research D. Review of PT Risk Ranking Results for Stock Assessment and ACLs 4. Other Business 5. National Fisheries Mandates A. Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning (CMSP) i. Overview of CMSP ii. Community CMSP Workshop Plans B. Update on ACLs C. Report on ACL and Catch Share Workshops 6. Upcoming Fishery Management Actions A. Options for Non-Commercial Fishery Data Reporting B. Hawaiian Archipelago Bottomfish Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) and Habitat Area of Particular Concern (HAPC) Review C. Status of State Bottomfish Regulatory Changes D. Options for Limited Entry of Offshore Aquaculture 7. Coral Reef Funded Projects A. Kona Crab Stock Assessment B. Black Coral Mapping C. Deepwater Chorusing Phenomenon D. Report on Tournament Sampling E. Upcoming Coral Reef Projects Schedule and Agenda for Hawaii AP Meeting 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Wednesday to Thursday, April 13–14, 2011 The Hawaii AP will meet to hear reports on, discuss and consider E:\FR\FM\24MRN1.SGM 24MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 57 (Thursday, March 24, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16617-16618]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-6954]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA315


Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC); Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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

SUMMARY: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) and its 
Ecosystems and Ocean Planning Committee, its Squid, Mackerel, and 
Butterfish Committee, its Spiny Dogfish Committee, and its Executive 
Committee will hold public meetings.

DATES: Tuesday, April 12, 2011 through Thursday, April 14, 2011. On 
Tuesday, April 12--The Ecosystems and Ocean Planning Committee will 
meet from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. On Wednesday, April 13--The Squid, 
Mackerel, and Butterfish Committee will meet from 8:30 a.m. until 11 
a.m. From 11 a.m. until 12 p.m. there will be a Squid Trawl Proposed 
Rule Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Presentation. From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. 
there will be a continuation of the Squid, Mackerel, and Butterfish 
Committee. The Spiny Dogfish Committee will meet from 3 p.m. until 5 
p.m. There will be a Public Listening Session from 5 p.m. until 6 p.m. 
On Thursday, April 14--The Executive Committee will meet from 8 a.m. 
until 9 a.m. The Council will convene at 9 a.m. A 3-Year Standardized 
Bycatch Reporting Methodology Report (SBRM) will be from 9 a.m. until 
10 a.m. There will be a Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation 
and Enforcement (BOEMRE) Presentation from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. From 
11 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. the Council will receive an Update on 
Amendment 6 to the Monkfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The Council 
will hold its regular Business Session from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. 
to approve the February 2011 minutes, receive Organizational Reports, 
the South Atlantic Liaison Report, the

[[Page 16618]]

Executive Director's Report, the Science Report, Committee Reports, and 
conduct any continuing and/or new business.

ADDRESSES: Historic Inns of Annapolis, 58 State Circle, Annapolis, MD 
21401; telephone: (410) 263-2641.
    Council Address: Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 N. 
State St., Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901; telephone: 302-674-2331.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher M. Moore, PhD, Executive 
Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; telephone: 302-526-
5255.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Agenda items by day for the Council's 
Committees and the Council itself are: On Tuesday, April 12--The 
Ecosystems and Oceans Planning Committee will prioritize 
recommendations from the December Workshop. On Wednesday, April 13--The 
Squid, Mackerel, and Butterfish Committee will review Advisory Panel 
(AP) Membership, review Amendment 14 analysis and direct the Fishery 
Management Action Team (FMAT), and adjust Amendment 14 range of 
alternatives as appropriate. The Council will hear an HMS presentation 
on the Squid Trawl Proposed Rule and look at options to minimize 
discards of swordfish in the Illex fishery and the trawl retention 
limits for incidental catch of smooth dogfish. The Spiny Dogfish 
Committee will identify action alternatives for Amendment 3. There will 
be a Public Listening Session where the Council invites the public to 
engage Council leadership and NMFS representatives in a Q & A 
roundtable session. Those in attendance will be able to ask questions 
or comment on any issue related to Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management 
including annual specifications, ecosystem management, bycatch 
reduction, catch shares, etc. On Thursday, April 14--The Executive 
Committee will discuss the Council budget, the process and timeline for 
2012 specifications, the AP Performance Report, the ecosystem based 
fisheries management goals and objectives, the Advisory Panel 
composition and governance, Council communications, and hold a NRCC 
Meeting review. Dr. Paul Rago will provide the Council with a 
presentation regarding the 3-Year SBRM Report. The Council will hear a 
BOEMRE presentation which will provide the Council with an overview of 
offshore wind energy, introduction to the Smart from the Start Energy 
Initiative, and an overview of the Proposed Mid-Atlantic Wind Energy 
Areas. Howard King will provide the Council with an update on Amendment 
6 to the Monkfish FMP. The Council will hold its regular Business 
Session to approve the February 2011 minutes, receive Organizational 
Reports, hear the South Atlantic Liaison Report, the Executive 
Director's Report, the Science Report, Committee Reports, and conduct 
any continuing and/or new business.

Special Accommodations

    This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aid should 
be directed to M. Jan Saunders (302-526-5251) at least five days prior 
to the meeting date.

    Dated: March 21, 2011.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-6954 Filed 3-23-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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