Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Amendment 7 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan, 24161-24163 [2012-9756]

Download as PDF WREIER-AVILES on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 78 / Monday, April 23, 2012 / Proposed Rules provided, unless the comment includes Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Information that you consider CBI or otherwise protected should be clearly identified as such and should not be submitted through www.regulations.gov or email. www.regulations.gov is an ‘‘anonymous access’’ system, and EPA will not know your identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you send email directly to EPA, your email address will be automatically captured and included as part of the public comment. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses. Docket: Generally, documents in the docket for this action are available electronically at www.regulations.gov and in hard copy at EPA Region IX, 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, California. While all documents in the docket are listed at www.regulations.gov, some information may be publicly available only at the hard copy location (e.g., copyrighted material, large maps), and some may not be publicly available in either location (e.g., CBI). To inspect the hard copy materials, please schedule an appointment during normal business hours with the contact listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Geoffrey Glass, EPA Region IX, (415) 972–3534, glass.geoffrey@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This proposal addresses the following local rules: Hawaii State Department of Health Rules 11–60.1–3, 11–60.1–5, 11– 60.1–7, 11–60.1–12, 11–60.1–19, 11– 60.1–81, 11–60.1–82, 11–60.1–83, 11– 60.1–84, 11–60.1–91, 11–60.1–92, 11– 60.1–93, 11–60.1–99, 11–60.1–103, and 11–60.1–104. In the Rules and Regulations section of this Federal Register, we are approving these local rules in a direct final action without prior proposal because we believe these SIP revisions are not controversial. If we receive adverse comments, however, we will publish a timely withdrawal of the direct final rule and address the comments in subsequent action based on this proposed rule. Please note that if we receive adverse comment on an amendment, paragraph, or section of this rule and if that provision may be severed from the remainder of the rule, we may adopt as final those provisions VerDate Mar<15>2010 13:37 Apr 20, 2012 Jkt 226001 of the rule that are not the subject of an adverse comment. We do not plan to open a second comment period, so anyone interested in commenting should do so at this time. If we do not receive adverse comments, no further activity is planned. For further information, please see the direct final action. Dated: March 20, 2012. Jared Blumenfeld, Regional Administrator, Region IX. [FR Doc. 2012–9704 Filed 4–20–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 635 RIN 0648–BC09 Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Amendment 7 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of intent (NOI) to hold public scoping meetings and to prepare a draft environmental impact statement (EIS); request for comments. AGENCY: NMFS announces its intent to hold public scoping meetings to determine the scope and significance of issues to be analyzed in a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) on management measures for Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) and a potential proposed amendment to the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP based on that process. The public process will help NMFS determine if existing measures are the best means of achieving certain management objectives for Atlantic BFT and providing flexibility for future management, consistent with the Consolidated HMS FMP, the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA), and other relevant Federal laws. NMFS is also announcing the availability of a scoping document describing measures for potential inclusion in a proposed Amendment. Table 1, below, under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION, provides details for seven scoping meetings to discuss and collect comments on the scoping document and certain management objectives for BFT. NMFS is requesting comments on this SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 24161 NOI, and the management of BFT, including, but not limited to, those described in the scoping document. DATES: Written comments on this NOI and the scoping document must be received on or before July 15, 2012. ADDRESSES: Scoping meetings will be held at the locations listed below in Table 1 in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. You may submit comments, identified by ‘‘NOAA–NMFS–2012–0082’’, by any one of the following methods: • Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal https:// www.regulations.gov. To submit comments via the e-Rulemaking Portal, first click the ‘‘submit a comment’’ icon, then enter ‘‘NOAA–NMFS–2012–0082’’ in the keyword search. Locate the document you wish to comment on from the resulting list and click on the ‘‘Submit a Comment’’ icon on the right of that line. • Fax: 978–281–9340, Attn: Tom Warren. • Mail: Tom Warren, Highly Migratory Species Management Division, Office of Sustainable Fisheries (F/SF1), NMFS, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. • Instructions: Comments must be submitted by one of the above methods to ensure that the comments are received, documented, and considered by NMFS. Comments sent by any other method, or to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be considered. All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted to https:// www.regulations.gov without change. All Personal Identifying Information (for example, name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter N/ A in the required fields, if you wish to remain anonymous). You may submit attachments to electronic comments in Microsoft Word or Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only. To be considered, electronic comments must be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal https:// www.regulations.gov. Do not submit electronic comments to individual NMFS staff. The scoping document is available by sending your request to Tom Warren at the mailing address specified above, or by calling the phone number indicated below. The scoping document or the Consolidated HMS FMP also may be E:\FR\FM\23APP1.SGM 23APP1 24162 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 78 / Monday, April 23, 2012 / Proposed Rules downloaded from the HMS Web site at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Warren or Brad McHale, 978–281–9260, or online at https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ sfa/hms/. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Atlantic HMS, including BFT, are managed under the dual authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and ATCA. The Consolidated HMS FMP is implemented by regulations at 50 CFR part 635. Copies of the Consolidated HMS FMP are available upon request. The 1999 FMP allocated the annual U.S. BFT quota recommended by ICCAT to BFT fishing categories based on landings from 1983–1991. Landings were the only portion of catch (i.e., ‘‘catch’’ includes both landings and dead discards) that were factored into the 1999 FMP percentage allocation analysis for the various BFT fisheries at that time, as dead discards were accounted for under a separate ICCAT allocation. The fishing category percentage allocations continued unchanged in the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP. The ICCAT provision for a separate dead discard allowance has since been eliminated, and dead discards must now be accounted for within annual quota allocations, along with landings. Furthermore, pursuant to ICCAT Recommendation 10–03, the amount of underharvest that is allowed to be carried forward from one year to the next recently has decreased. During the 2011 BFT quota and Atlantic tuna management measures rulemaking (2011 Quota Rule)(March 14, 2011; 76 FR 13583) process, the adjusted quota for 2011 was insufficient to account for anticipated 2011 dead discards up front, while also providing base allocations for the categories per the percentages outlined in the Consolidated HMS FMP. The proposed 2012 specifications rule (77 FR 15712; March 16, 2012) anticipates a similar situation for the 2012 fishing year. The range of comments received on the 2011 Quota Rule and during recent HMS Advisory Panel (AP) meetings has demonstrated the need for a comprehensive review of BFT management measures. Many comments raised issues that were outside of the scope of that rulemaking and would require more significant analyses because of the potential impacts on the environment, fisheries, and fishery participants. Some of the issues raised include, but are not limited to: Holding each quota category accountable for dead discards; changing domestic allocations among fishing categories; reducing BFT bycatch; modifying the permit structure for the fisheries; improved monitoring of catch in all BFT fisheries; providing incentives to the Longline category to reduce interactions with BFT; and reducing dead discards in the pelagic longline (PLL) fishery. Management Options and Request for Comments NMFS requests comments on management options, including, but not limited to, the following: Deduction of estimated dead discards from quotas at the beginning of the fishing year for all permit categories; revision of baseline quota allocations; methods to improve reporting and monitoring of dead discards and landings in all categories; elimination of target catch requirements for Longline category (pelagic); reduction of minimum BFT size restrictions; modification of BFT retention tolerances for Purse seine and Harpoon categories; specification of maximum catch limit for Angling category; mandatory retention of BFT in the Longline category; regional or individual BFT catch caps for the Longline category; modification to existing pelagic longline gear closed areas; creation of new pelagic longline gear closed area(s); modifications to subquota rules (e.g., how the General or Angling category subquota is divided up among seasons or areas); establishment of an annual quota and rollover provisions for Northern albacore tuna; and other administrative measures (such as regulations about permit issuance). NMFS also requests comment on any other fishery management issue pertaining to BFT fisheries, which the public believes should be further examined by NMFS. These comments will be used to assist in the development of a proposed Amendment 7. The types of management measures under consideration for Amendment 7 will include those described in the scoping document, as well as alternative measures that may be suggested during the scoping process. Scoping Process It is NMFS’s intent to encourage all persons affected by or otherwise interested in the management of BFT or other HMS species to participate in the process to determine the scope and significance of issues to be analyzed in the draft EIS and Amendment 7. All such persons are encouraged to submit written comments (see ADDRESSES) or comment at one of the scoping meetings. Persons submitting comments may wish to address the specific measures in the scoping document. NMFS intends to hold scoping meetings in the geographic areas that may be affected by these measures, including locations on the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts, and will consult with the Atlantic regional fishery management councils (Table 1). After scoping has been completed and public comment gathered and analyzed, NMFS will proceed with preparation of a draft EIS and proposed rule, which will include additional opportunities for public comment. The scope of the draft EIS will consist of the range of actions, alternatives, and impacts to be considered. Alternatives may include, but are not limited to, the following: not amending the Consolidated HMS FMP (taking no action); developing an amendment that contains management measure such as those described in this notice and in the scoping document; or other reasonable courses of action. Impacts may be direct, indirect, or cumulative. NMFS expects to present relevant draft documents at the fall 2012 HMS AP meeting. WREIER-AVILES on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS TABLE 1—DATES, TIMES AND LOCATIONS OF THE SCOPING MEETINGS Date Time Meeting locations Address May 8, 2012 ......................... 6:15–8:45 p.m. .... Toms River Library (Mancini Hall), Toms River, NJ ..... May 16, 2012 ....................... 6:00–9:00 p.m. .... May 21, 2012 ....................... 6:00–9:00 p.m. .... May 23, 2012 ....................... 6:00–9:00 p.m. .... National Marine Fisheries Service, Northeast Regional Office, Gloucester, MA. Plaquemines Parish Government Community Center, (Belle Chasse Auditorium), Belle Chasse, LA. Dare County Administration Bldg., Manteo, NC ........... 101 Washington Street, Toms River, NJ 08753. 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. 8398 Hwy 23, Belle Chasse, LA 70037. 954 Marshall C. Collins Dr., Manteo, NC 27954. VerDate Mar<15>2010 13:37 Apr 20, 2012 Jkt 226001 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\23APP1.SGM 23APP1 24163 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 78 / Monday, April 23, 2012 / Proposed Rules TABLE 1—DATES, TIMES AND LOCATIONS OF THE SCOPING MEETINGS—Continued Date * Week of June 10, (specific date to be determined). * Week of June 10, (specific date to be determined). * Week of June 17, (specific date to be determined). Time Meeting locations Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council Meeting, New York, NY. * To be announced (MAFMC.org). * To be announced (SAFMC.net). * To be announced (NEFMC.org). Address Hilton New York, 1335 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019. Renaissance Orlando Airport Hotel, 5445 Forbes Place, Orlando, FL 32812. Holiday Inn by the Bay, 88 Spring Street, Portland, ME 04101. South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Meeting, Orlando, FL. New England Fishery Management Council Meeting, Portland, ME. * The public will be notified when the Council agendas are finalized, and the precise date and time of scoping have been scheduled. For updated information please go to www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/breakingnews.htm or visit the Council Web sites indicated above. WREIER-AVILES on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS The process of developing an FMP Amendment is expected to take approximately 2 years. In addition to future HMS AP input, public comment and future analyses, there are other relevant events anticipated that may impact the development of Amendment 7, including a BFT stock assessment VerDate Mar<15>2010 13:37 Apr 20, 2012 Jkt 226001 during the fall of 2012, a meeting of the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) in the spring of 2013, revisiting the ‘‘species of concern’’ designation under the Endangered Species Act in 2013, and the annual meetings of ICCAT in November 2012 and 2013. PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 9990 Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: April 18, 2012. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2012–9756 Filed 4–20–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\23APP1.SGM 23APP1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 78 (Monday, April 23, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 24161-24163]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-9756]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 635

RIN 0648-BC09


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Amendment 7 to the 2006 
Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan

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

ACTION: Notice of intent (NOI) to hold public scoping meetings and to 
prepare a draft environmental impact statement (EIS); request for 
comments.

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

SUMMARY: NMFS announces its intent to hold public scoping meetings to 
determine the scope and significance of issues to be analyzed in a 
draft environmental impact statement (EIS) on management measures for 
Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) and a potential proposed amendment to the 
2006 Consolidated HMS FMP based on that process. The public process 
will help NMFS determine if existing measures are the best means of 
achieving certain management objectives for Atlantic BFT and providing 
flexibility for future management, consistent with the Consolidated HMS 
FMP, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
(Magnuson-Stevens Act), the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA), and 
other relevant Federal laws. NMFS is also announcing the availability 
of a scoping document describing measures for potential inclusion in a 
proposed Amendment. Table 1, below, under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION, 
provides details for seven scoping meetings to discuss and collect 
comments on the scoping document and certain management objectives for 
BFT. NMFS is requesting comments on this NOI, and the management of 
BFT, including, but not limited to, those described in the scoping 
document.

DATES: Written comments on this NOI and the scoping document must be 
received on or before July 15, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Scoping meetings will be held at the locations listed below 
in Table 1 in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. You may submit comments, 
identified by ``NOAA-NMFS-2012-0082'', by any one of the following 
methods:
     Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal https://www.regulations.gov. 
To submit comments via the e-Rulemaking Portal, first click the 
``submit a comment'' icon, then enter ``NOAA-NMFS-2012-0082'' in the 
keyword search. Locate the document you wish to comment on from the 
resulting list and click on the ``Submit a Comment'' icon on the right 
of that line.
     Fax: 978-281-9340, Attn: Tom Warren.
     Mail: Tom Warren, Highly Migratory Species Management 
Division, Office of Sustainable Fisheries (F/SF1), NMFS, 55 Great 
Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930.
     Instructions: Comments must be submitted by one of the 
above methods to ensure that the comments are received, documented, and 
considered by NMFS. Comments sent by any other method, or to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, 
may not be considered. All comments received are a part of the public 
record and will generally be posted to https://www.regulations.gov 
without change. All Personal Identifying Information (for example, 
name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be 
publicly accessible. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or 
otherwise sensitive or protected information. NMFS will accept 
anonymous comments (enter N/A in the required fields, if you wish to 
remain anonymous). You may submit attachments to electronic comments in 
Microsoft Word or Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only. 
To be considered, electronic comments must be submitted via the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal https://www.regulations.gov. Do not submit electronic 
comments to individual NMFS staff.
    The scoping document is available by sending your request to Tom 
Warren at the mailing address specified above, or by calling the phone 
number indicated below. The scoping document or the Consolidated HMS 
FMP also may be

[[Page 24162]]

downloaded from the HMS Web site at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Warren or Brad McHale, 978-281-
9260, or online at https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Atlantic HMS, including BFT, are managed under the dual authority 
of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and ATCA. The Consolidated HMS FMP is 
implemented by regulations at 50 CFR part 635. Copies of the 
Consolidated HMS FMP are available upon request. The 1999 FMP allocated 
the annual U.S. BFT quota recommended by ICCAT to BFT fishing 
categories based on landings from 1983-1991. Landings were the only 
portion of catch (i.e., ``catch'' includes both landings and dead 
discards) that were factored into the 1999 FMP percentage allocation 
analysis for the various BFT fisheries at that time, as dead discards 
were accounted for under a separate ICCAT allocation. The fishing 
category percentage allocations continued unchanged in the 2006 
Consolidated HMS FMP. The ICCAT provision for a separate dead discard 
allowance has since been eliminated, and dead discards must now be 
accounted for within annual quota allocations, along with landings. 
Furthermore, pursuant to ICCAT Recommendation 10-03, the amount of 
underharvest that is allowed to be carried forward from one year to the 
next recently has decreased. During the 2011 BFT quota and Atlantic 
tuna management measures rulemaking (2011 Quota Rule)(March 14, 2011; 
76 FR 13583) process, the adjusted quota for 2011 was insufficient to 
account for anticipated 2011 dead discards up front, while also 
providing base allocations for the categories per the percentages 
outlined in the Consolidated HMS FMP. The proposed 2012 specifications 
rule (77 FR 15712; March 16, 2012) anticipates a similar situation for 
the 2012 fishing year.
    The range of comments received on the 2011 Quota Rule and during 
recent HMS Advisory Panel (AP) meetings has demonstrated the need for a 
comprehensive review of BFT management measures. Many comments raised 
issues that were outside of the scope of that rulemaking and would 
require more significant analyses because of the potential impacts on 
the environment, fisheries, and fishery participants. Some of the 
issues raised include, but are not limited to: Holding each quota 
category accountable for dead discards; changing domestic allocations 
among fishing categories; reducing BFT bycatch; modifying the permit 
structure for the fisheries; improved monitoring of catch in all BFT 
fisheries; providing incentives to the Longline category to reduce 
interactions with BFT; and reducing dead discards in the pelagic 
longline (PLL) fishery.

Management Options and Request for Comments

    NMFS requests comments on management options, including, but not 
limited to, the following: Deduction of estimated dead discards from 
quotas at the beginning of the fishing year for all permit categories; 
revision of baseline quota allocations; methods to improve reporting 
and monitoring of dead discards and landings in all categories; 
elimination of target catch requirements for Longline category 
(pelagic); reduction of minimum BFT size restrictions; modification of 
BFT retention tolerances for Purse seine and Harpoon categories; 
specification of maximum catch limit for Angling category; mandatory 
retention of BFT in the Longline category; regional or individual BFT 
catch caps for the Longline category; modification to existing pelagic 
longline gear closed areas; creation of new pelagic longline gear 
closed area(s); modifications to sub-quota rules (e.g., how the General 
or Angling category subquota is divided up among seasons or areas); 
establishment of an annual quota and rollover provisions for Northern 
albacore tuna; and other administrative measures (such as regulations 
about permit issuance). NMFS also requests comment on any other fishery 
management issue pertaining to BFT fisheries, which the public believes 
should be further examined by NMFS. These comments will be used to 
assist in the development of a proposed Amendment 7. The types of 
management measures under consideration for Amendment 7 will include 
those described in the scoping document, as well as alternative 
measures that may be suggested during the scoping process.

Scoping Process

    It is NMFS's intent to encourage all persons affected by or 
otherwise interested in the management of BFT or other HMS species to 
participate in the process to determine the scope and significance of 
issues to be analyzed in the draft EIS and Amendment 7. All such 
persons are encouraged to submit written comments (see ADDRESSES) or 
comment at one of the scoping meetings. Persons submitting comments may 
wish to address the specific measures in the scoping document.
    NMFS intends to hold scoping meetings in the geographic areas that 
may be affected by these measures, including locations on the Atlantic 
and Gulf of Mexico coasts, and will consult with the Atlantic regional 
fishery management councils (Table 1). After scoping has been completed 
and public comment gathered and analyzed, NMFS will proceed with 
preparation of a draft EIS and proposed rule, which will include 
additional opportunities for public comment. The scope of the draft EIS 
will consist of the range of actions, alternatives, and impacts to be 
considered. Alternatives may include, but are not limited to, the 
following: not amending the Consolidated HMS FMP (taking no action); 
developing an amendment that contains management measure such as those 
described in this notice and in the scoping document; or other 
reasonable courses of action. Impacts may be direct, indirect, or 
cumulative. NMFS expects to present relevant draft documents at the 
fall 2012 HMS AP meeting.

                           Table 1--Dates, Times and Locations of the Scoping Meetings
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Date                       Time                 Meeting locations                  Address
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May 8, 2012.....................  6:15-8:45 p.m.....  Toms River Library (Mancini        101 Washington Street,
                                                       Hall), Toms River, NJ.             Toms River, NJ 08753.
May 16, 2012....................  6:00-9:00 p.m.....  National Marine Fisheries          55 Great Republic
                                                       Service, Northeast Regional        Drive, Gloucester, MA
                                                       Office, Gloucester, MA.            01930.
May 21, 2012....................  6:00-9:00 p.m.....  Plaquemines Parish Government      8398 Hwy 23, Belle
                                                       Community Center, (Belle Chasse    Chasse, LA 70037.
                                                       Auditorium), Belle Chasse, LA.
May 23, 2012....................  6:00-9:00 p.m.....  Dare County Administration Bldg.,  954 Marshall C. Collins
                                                       Manteo, NC.                        Dr., Manteo, NC 27954.

[[Page 24163]]

 
* Week of June 10, (specific      * To be announced   Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management    Hilton New York, 1335
 date to be determined).           (MAFMC.org).        Council Meeting, New York, NY.     Avenue of the
                                                                                          Americas, New York, NY
                                                                                          10019.
* Week of June 10, (specific      * To be announced   South Atlantic Fishery Management  Renaissance Orlando
 date to be determined).           (SAFMC.net).        Council Meeting, Orlando, FL.      Airport Hotel, 5445
                                                                                          Forbes Place, Orlando,
                                                                                          FL 32812.
* Week of June 17, (specific      * To be announced   New England Fishery Management     Holiday Inn by the Bay,
 date to be determined).           (NEFMC.org).        Council Meeting, Portland, ME.     88 Spring Street,
                                                                                          Portland, ME 04101.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* The public will be notified when the Council agendas are finalized, and the precise date and time of scoping
  have been scheduled. For updated information please go to www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/breakingnews.htm or visit
  the Council Web sites indicated above.

    The process of developing an FMP Amendment is expected to take 
approximately 2 years. In addition to future HMS AP input, public 
comment and future analyses, there are other relevant events 
anticipated that may impact the development of Amendment 7, including a 
BFT stock assessment during the fall of 2012, a meeting of the 
Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) in 
the spring of 2013, revisiting the ``species of concern'' designation 
under the Endangered Species Act in 2013, and the annual meetings of 
ICCAT in November 2012 and 2013.

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: April 18, 2012.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-9756 Filed 4-20-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.