North Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings, 65535-65536 [2012-26485]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 209 / Monday, October 29, 2012 / Notices
engineering and bycatch reduction; (5)
process and marketing; and (6) outreach
and implementation. Components one
and two have been completed.
REDNET investigators were issued an
EFP in support of component two,
which authorized the use of a 4.5-in
(11.4-cm) mesh codend to establish a
baseline for target catch and bycatch in
a targeted redfish fishery (see the Notice
and Request for Comments from March
8, 2011 (76 FR 12716)). This EFP, which
would be in support of component three
of the project, would enable
investigators to evaluate different
codend mesh sizes in an effort to
identify the optimal mesh size to
selectively harvest legal-size redfish, as
well as perform catch sampling
activities. To execute the study, the
participating vessel would need to be
exempt from the following FMP
regulations: NE multispecies minimum
fish size for redfish specified at
§ 648.83(a); and minimum mesh size of
6.5 in (16.6 cm) for multispecies vessels
fishing in the GOM specified at
§ 648.80(a)(3)(i). In addition, vessels
would be exempt from the following
regulations for all remaining large-mesh
and small-mesh groundfish species, for
sampling purposes only: Minimum fish
size restrictions; fish possession limits;
species quota closures; possession of
prohibited groundfish species; and gearspecific fish possession restrictions. All
non-compliant fish would be discarded
as soon as practicable following data
collection. No fish below the minimum
size would be landed.
Tows would be made using the
trouser trawl method which consists of
a regular trawl’s front end (including
sweep, fishing line and headline) and a
trouser section, which leads to two
separate side-by-side codends. The
applicants propose to assess codend
selectivity by testing three codend mesh
sizes. The test codend would use mesh
sizes of either 4.5 in (11.4 cm), 5.5 in
(14.0 cm), or 6.5 in (16.6 cm), and the
control codend would use mesh sizes 2
in (5.1 cm) to 2.25 in (5.7 cm). The test
and control codends would be switched
regularly between port and starboard to
reduce possible side effects, rather than
keeping the test codend on the same
side of the vessel for all tows.
The vessel would conduct sea trials
from early November 2012 to April 30,
2013, with a total of 18 sea-days (three
6-day trips including steaming time).
The vessel expects to make seven tows
on each of the 12 actual fishing days.
The research activity would occur in the
middle of the GOM, outside of closed
areas, on known redfish concentrations,
in statistical areas 513, 514, 515, 521,
and 522. The trawl net would be towed
VerDate Mar<15>2010
13:18 Oct 26, 2012
Jkt 229001
at typical fishing speed of
approximately 3.2 kts, and the duration
of each tow would depend primarily on
the amount of fish in the net, rather than
time. Acoustic gear monitoring devices
would be used during trials to measure
the performance of the gear and ensure
constant geometry of the trawl’s front
end.
SMAST/Massachusetts Division of
Marine Fisheries (DMF) technical staff,
students, and/or qualified at-sea
monitors contracted by SMAST/DMF
would be on board the vessel for each
trip and would document all catch and
by catch encountered following NE
Fishery Observer Program protocols.
About 70 to 100 fish per codend per tow
would be measured for both redfish
and/or other groundfish species.
Sampling work would occur during
normal fishing operations and the
exemptions for this EFP, if authorized,
would not be expected to change vessel
fishing behavior. Therefore, it is highly
unlikely that this EFP would cause any
impact to the physical environment/
essential fish habitat, non-sampled
species, or protected resources. All
marine mammal and turtle interactions
would be noted and released, and all
corals would be noted and samples kept
for further identification and
assessment. Codend and control catch
data would be analyzed using
established methods proposed by the
International Council for the
Exploration of the Seas in their Manual
of Methods of Measuring the Selectivity
of Towed Fishing Gears.
All catch of stocks allocated to sectors
by the vessel would be deducted from
the sector’s annual catch entitlement for
each NE multispecies stock, including
redfish. Specifically, NMFS would
apply the sector assumed discard rate to
fishing trips by the vessel participating
under this EFP, whether the recorded
discard rates from the experimental
fishing are higher or lower than the
assumed discard rate of the sector. The
participating vessel would be required
to comply with all other applicable
requirements and restrictions specified
at 50 CFR part 648, unless specifically
exempted in this EFP.
If approved, the applicants may
request minor modifications and
extensions to the EFP throughout the
course of research. EFP modifications
and extensions may be granted without
further public notice if they are deemed
essential to facilitate completion of the
proposed research and result in only a
minimal change in the scope or impacts
of the initially approved EFP request.
In accordance with NAO
Administrative Order 216–6, a
Categorical Exclusion or other
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
65535
appropriate National Environmental
Policy Act document would be
completed prior to the issuance of the
EFP. Further review and consultation
may be necessary before a final
determination is made to issue the EFP.
After publication of this document in
the Federal Register, the EFP, if
approved, may become effective
following the public comment period.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: October 24, 2012.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012–26548 Filed 10–26–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XC314
North 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 North Pacific Fishery
Management Council’s Gulf of Alaska
(GOA) and Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands
(BSAI) Groundfish Plan Teams will
meet in Seattle, WA.
DATES: The meetings will be held
November 13–16, 2012. The meetings
will begin at 9 a.m., November 13, and
continue through Friday November 16,
2012.
ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at
the Alaska Fisheries Science Center,
7600 Sand Point Way NE., Building 4,
Observer Training Room 1055 (GOA
Plan Team) and Traynor Room 2076
(BS/AI Plan Team), Seattle, WA.
Council address: North Pacific
Fishery Management Council, 605 W.
4th Ave., Suite 306, Anchorage, AK
99501–2252.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jane
DiCosimo or Diana Stram, North Pacific
Fishery Management Council;
telephone: (907) 271–2809.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Plan
Teams will compile and review the
annual Groundfish Stock Assessment
and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) reports,
including the Economic Report, the
Ecosystems Consideration Chapter, the
stock assessments for BSAI and GOA
groundfishes, and recommend final
groundfish harvest specifications for
2013/14.
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\29OCN1.SGM
29OCN1
65536
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 209 / Monday, October 29, 2012 / Notices
The Agenda is subject to change, and
the latest version will be posted at
https://www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/
npfmc/.
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 these meetings. 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 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 Gail Bendixen,
(907) 271–2809, at least 5 working days
prior to the meeting date.
Dated: October 24, 2012.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012–26485 Filed 10–26–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XC299
Fisheries of the South Atlantic; South
Atlantic Fishery Management Council;
Public Meeting
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce
ACTION: Notice of a public meeting.
AGENCY:
The South Atlantic Fishery
Management Council (Council) will
hold a meeting of its Habitat and
Environmental Protection Advisory
Panel (AP) in Charleston, SC.
DATES: The meeting will take place
November 14–15, 2012. See
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific
dates and times.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
the Doubletree by Hilton Guest Suites,
181 Church Street, Charleston, SC
29401; telephone: (800) 222–8733; fax:
(843) 577–2697.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim
Iverson, Public Information Officer,
rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with
SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
13:18 Oct 26, 2012
Jkt 229001
South Atlantic Fishery Management
Council, 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite
201, N. Charleston, SC 29405;
telephone: (843) 571–4366 or toll free:
(866) SAFMC–10; fax: (843) 769–4520;
email: kim.iverson@safmc.net.
Members
of the Habitat and Environmental
Protection AP will meet from 8:30 a.m.
until 4:30 p.m. on November 14, 2012
and from 8:30 a.m. until 12 noon on
November 15, 2012. Topics to be
addressed at the meeting include: a
member workshop on developing the
South Atlantic Habitat and Ecosystem
Atlas and Digital Dashboard, including
the new online Ecospecies System;
species research and habitat mapping
associated with deepwater marine
protected areas; deepwater habitat
complexes associated with Coral Habitat
Areas of Particular Concern (CHAPC)
extension proposals; a review of a draft
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
between Atlantic Councils on deepwater
coral ecosystem conservation; a review
of other regional partner activities
supporting the regional move to
ecosystem-based management; and
consideration of updates to essential
fish habitat policy statements as needed.
The AP will provide recommendations
to the Council and address other
business as needed.
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
listed 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.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Special Accommodations
The meeting is physically accessible
to people with disabilities. Requests for
auxiliary aids should be directed to the
Council office (see ADDRESSES) 3 days
prior to the meeting.
Note: The times and sequence specified in
this agenda are subject to change.
Dated: October 24, 2012.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012–26484 Filed 10–26–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[Docket No. 121022567–2567–01]
Notice To Solicit Applications for the
Ocean Exploration Advisory Board
National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric
Research.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Office of Oceanic and
Atmospheric Research publishes this
notice to solicit applications and
nominations of persons with
appropriate education, interest, and/or
experience to become a member of the
Ocean Exploration Advisory Board. The
purpose of the Board is to advise the
Under Secretary of Commerce for
Oceans and Atmosphere on matters
pertaining to ocean exploration
including: The identification of priority
areas that warrant exploration; the
development and enhancement of
technologies for exploring the oceans;
managing the data and information; and
disseminating the results. The Board
will also provide advice on the
relevance of the program with regard to
the NOAA Strategic Plan, the National
Ocean Policy Implementation Plan, and
other relevant guidance documents.
DATES: Application materials should be
sent to the address, email, or fax
specified and must be received no later
than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on
December 28, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Submit resume and
application materials to Yvette Jefferson
via mail, fax, or email. Mail: NOAA,
1315 East West Highway, SSMC3 Rm.
10315, Silver Spring, MD 20910; Fax:
301–713–1967; Email:
Yvette.Jefferson@noaa.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Yvette Jefferson, NOAA, 1315 East West
Highway, SSMC3 Rm. 10315, Silver
Spring, Maryland 20910; Fax: 301–713–
1967; Email: Yvette.Jefferson@noaa.gov;
Telephone: 301–734–1002.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NOAA’s
Ocean Exploration Program (OE) is part
of the NOAA Office of Ocean
Exploration and Research. The mission
of OE is to increase the Nation’s
understanding of the world’s largely
unknown ocean through
interdisciplinary expeditions and
projects to investigate unknown and
poorly known ocean areas and
phenomena. Specific goals include:
(1) Mapping and characterizing
physical, chemical, and biological ocean
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\29OCN1.SGM
29OCN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 209 (Monday, October 29, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65535-65536]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-26485]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XC314
North 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 North Pacific Fishery Management Council's Gulf of Alaska
(GOA) and Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands (BSAI) Groundfish Plan Teams will
meet in Seattle, WA.
DATES: The meetings will be held November 13-16, 2012. The meetings
will begin at 9 a.m., November 13, and continue through Friday November
16, 2012.
ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Alaska Fisheries Science
Center, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., Building 4, Observer Training Room
1055 (GOA Plan Team) and Traynor Room 2076 (BS/AI Plan Team), Seattle,
WA.
Council address: North Pacific Fishery Management Council, 605 W.
4th Ave., Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 99501-2252.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jane DiCosimo or Diana Stram, North
Pacific Fishery Management Council; telephone: (907) 271-2809.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Plan Teams will compile and review the
annual Groundfish Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE)
reports, including the Economic Report, the Ecosystems Consideration
Chapter, the stock assessments for BSAI and GOA groundfishes, and
recommend final groundfish harvest specifications for 2013/14.
[[Page 65536]]
The Agenda is subject to change, and the latest version will be
posted at https://www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/npfmc/.
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 these meetings. 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 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
These meetings are physically accessible to people with
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed to Gail Bendixen, (907) 271-2809, at
least 5 working days prior to the meeting date.
Dated: October 24, 2012.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-26485 Filed 10-26-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
