Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fisheries; Scoping Process; Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Hearings, 3401-3402 [2013-00808]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 11 / Wednesday, January 16, 2013 / Notices 0.96); Nmin changed from 966 to 935; and PBR changed from 9.7 to 9.4. The abundance estimate for Sowerby’s beaked whale, western North Atlantic stock, in the draft 2012 SAR (77 FR 47043, August 7, 2012) has changed from 3,748 (CV = 0.86) to 3,653 (CV = 0.69); Nmin increased from 2,008 to 2,160; and PBR increased from 20 to 22. The abundance estimate for Risso’s dolphin, western North Atlantic stock, in the draft 2012 SAR (77 FR 47043, August 7, 2012) has changed from 17,734 (CV = 0.42) to 15,197 (CV = 0.55); Nmin decreased from 12,630 to 9,857; and PBR changed from 121 to 95. The abundance estimate for Atlantic white-sided dolphin, western North Atlantic stock, in the draft 2012 SAR (77 FR 47043, August 7, 2012) has changed from 45,592 (CV = 0.54) to 48,819 (CV = 0.61); Nmin increased from 29,806 to 30,403; and PBR increased from 298 to 304. Total annual estimated average fishery-related mortality or serious injury to this stock during 2006–2010 changed from 213 to 212. Average annual estimated fishery-related mortality attributed to the Northeast sink gillnet fishery during 2006–2010 decreased from 39 to 38 white-sided dolphins per year. The abundance estimate for harbor porpoise, Gulf of Maine/Bay of Fundy stock, in the draft 2012 SAR (77 FR 47043, August 7, 2012) has changed from 61,959 (CV = 0.32) to 79,833 (CV = 0.32); Nmin increased from 47,635 to 61,415; and PBR changed from 548 to 706. The total annual estimated average human-caused mortality changed from 840 to 835 harbor porpoises per year; 791 attributed to U.S. fisheries (changed from 796). The average annual harbor porpoise mortality and serious injury attributed to the Northeast sink gillnet fishery from 2006 to 2010 changed from 515 to 511 (CV = 0.17). The average annual harbor porpoise mortality and serious injury attributed to the mid-Atlantic gillnet fishery listed in the draft 2012 SAR (77 FR 47043, August 7, 2012) from 2006 to 2010 has changed from 276 to 275 (CV = 0.35). mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with Dated: January 10, 2013. Helen M. Golde, Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2013–00705 Filed 1–15–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:01 Jan 15, 2013 Jkt 229001 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XC434 Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fisheries; Scoping Process; Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Hearings National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; request for comments. AGENCY: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Mid-Atlantic Council) announces its intention to prepare, in cooperation with NMFS, an EIS in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act to assess potential effects on the human environment of alternative measures to protect deep-sea corals in the MidAtlantic region. This notice announces a public process for determining the scope of issues to be addressed, and for identifying the significant issues related to deep-sea coral protections in the MidAtlantic. This notice is to alert the interested public of the scoping process, the development of the Draft EIS, and to provide for public participation in that process. If, during development of the Draft EIS, it can be determined that the alternatives are not expected to have significant impacts on the human environment, an Environmental Assessment (EA) may be prepared in place of an EIS. This determination will depend on the scope of issues raised and the alternatives developed. Information obtained during the scoping process will be used to develop either an EIS or an EA as appropriate. This action is necessary to provide analytical support for an amendment (Amendment 16) to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish (MSB), which addresses protections of deep-sea corals from the impacts of fishing gear. DATES: Written comments must be received on or before 11:59 p.m., EST, on February 15, 2013. Two public scoping meetings will be held during this comment period. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for dates, times, and locations. ADDRESSES: Written comments may be sent by any of the following methods: • Email to the following address: nmfs.ner.msbam16@noaa.gov; • Mail or hand deliver to Dr. Christopher M. Moore, Executive SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 3401 Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 North State Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901. Mark the outside of the envelope ‘‘Deep Sea Corals Amendment Scoping Comments’’; or • Fax to (302) 674–5399. The scoping document may also be obtained from the Mid-Atlantic Council office at the previously provided address, or by request to the MidAtlantic Council by telephone (302) 674–2331, or via the Internet at https:// www.mafmc.org/fmp/msb.htm. Comments may also be provided verbally at either of the two public scoping meetings. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for dates, times, and locations. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Christopher M. Moore, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 North State Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901, (telephone 302–674–2331). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The Mid-Atlantic Council has initiated this amendment to minimize the impacts of fishing gear on deep-sea corals within the Council’s jurisdiction. The Mid-Atlantic Council and the New England Fishery Management Council (New England Council) have developed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) identifying areas of consensus and common strategy related to conservation of corals and mitigation of the negative impacts of fishery/coral interactions. The terms of the MOU include defined areas of jurisdiction for deep-sea coral protection measures, aligning with the Mid-Atlantic and New England Council region boundaries as defined in 50 CFR 600.105. The New England Council began developing alternatives for deep-sea coral protections as part of their Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Omnibus Amendment 2, and at their September 2012 meeting, voted to split the range of alternatives pertaining to deep sea corals into a separate omnibus amendment. The Mid-Atlantic Council will develop alternatives applicable to areas south of the inter-council boundary with the New England Council, with the understanding that the New England Council will implement coral-related measures north of this boundary. At this time, the Mid-Atlantic Council is expected to consider several types of management measures, including, but not limited to: • No action; no additional measures would be adopted. • Designation of deep-sea coral protection zones, under the E:\FR\FM\16JAN1.SGM 16JAN1 3402 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 11 / Wednesday, January 16, 2013 / Notices discretionary authority described in section 303(b)(2)(B) of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), where fishing may be restricted in order to protect deep-sea corals from physical damage caused by fishing gear. Such zones would be located within the geographical range of the MSB fishery, as described in the FMP. However, management measures may apply to any MSA-regulated fishing activity within this range. Therefore, any measures pursued under this authority would likely apply to all federally managed fisheries within the geographic range of the MSB fisheries. The geographical range of this fishery includes the coastal and EEZ waters of the U.S. East Coast, with a core fishery management area from North Carolina to Maine. • Designation of deep-sea corals as a component of EFH or as Habitat Areas of Particular Concern (HAPCs). • Measures to minimize bycatch of deep-sea coral species. • Special access programs to provide for continued fishing in or near deep-sea coral areas for specific fisheries or gear types. • Exploratory fishing programs to allow for future development of new fisheries in a way that protects deep-sea corals. The Mid-Atlantic Council is seeking comments on the scope of alternatives to be considered in this amendment, as well as general comments or concerns relating to deep-sea coral protections in the mid-Atlantic. Scoping Meetings Two scoping meetings to facilitate public comment will be held on the following dates and locations: 1. February 5, 2013, 7–9 p.m., via webinar; connection information to be available at https://www.mafmc.org/ meetings/meetings.htm or by contacting the Mid-Atlantic Council (see ADDRESSES); 2. February 13, 2013, 4 p.m., Embassy Suites Hampton Roads, 1700 Coliseum Drive, Hampton, VA 23666. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with Special Accommodations The scoping meetings are accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aid should be directed to M. Jan Saunders (302–674–2331 ext. 18) at least 5 days prior to the meeting date. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:01 Jan 15, 2013 Jkt 229001 Dated: January 9, 2013. Emily H. Menashes, Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE [FR Doc. 2013–00808 Filed 1–15–13; 8:45 am] RIN 0648–XB173 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration BILLING CODE 3510–22–P Marine Mammals; File No. 16919 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XC443 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. AGENCY: Notice of open public meeting. This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of a forthcoming meeting of the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC). The members will discuss and provide advice on issues outlined in the agenda below. SUMMARY: The meeting is scheduled for January 30, 2013, 3–4 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time. DATES: Conference call. Public access is available at 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. ADDRESSES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Holliday, (301) 427–8004; email: Mark.Holliday@noaa.gov. The MAFAC was established by the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), and, since 1971, advises the Secretary on all living marine resource matters that are the responsibility of the Department of Commerce. The complete charter and other information are located online at https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ocs/mafac/. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Matters To Be Considered The Committee is convening to recommend a list of new members to participate on the Recreational Fisheries Working Group for submission to the NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator. This agenda is subject to change. Dated: January 10, 2013. Samuel D. Rauch III, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, performing the functions and duties of the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2013–00757 Filed 1–15–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4703 Notice is hereby given that a permit has been issued to Eye of the Whale (Olga von Ziegesar, Responsible Party and Principal Investigator), P.O. Box 15191, Fitz Creek, AK 99603 to conduct research on humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). ADDRESSES: The permit and related documents are available for review upon written request or by appointment in the following offices: Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone (301)427–8401; fax (301)713–0376; and Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802–1668; phone (907)586–7221; fax (907)586–7249. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Hapeman or Carrie Hubard, (301)427–8401. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 11, 2012, notice was published in the Federal Register (77 FR 27717) that a request for a permit to conduct research on humpback whales had been submitted by the above-named applicant. The requested permit has been issued under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the regulations governing the taking and importing of marine mammals (50 CFR part 216), the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and the regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of endangered and threatened species (50 CFR parts 222–226). The Permit Holder has been issued a five-year scientific research permit to continue a long-term census of humpback whales in Prince William Sound and adjacent waters of Alaska. Researchers are authorized 200 takes annually to closely approach whales by vessel for counts, photo-identification and behavioral observation. The purpose of the work is to better define whale abundance, distribution, reoccurrence of old individuals vs. new individuals, feeding habits, vital rates, associations between animals, and sex of individual whales. SUMMARY: Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee ACTION: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; issuance of permit. AGENCY: Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\16JAN1.SGM 16JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 16, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3401-3402]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-00808]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC434


Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Mackerel, 
Squid, and Butterfish Fisheries; Scoping Process; Mid-Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council; Public Hearings

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

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Mid-Atlantic 
Council) announces its intention to prepare, in cooperation with NMFS, 
an EIS in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act to 
assess potential effects on the human environment of alternative 
measures to protect deep-sea corals in the Mid-Atlantic region.
    This notice announces a public process for determining the scope of 
issues to be addressed, and for identifying the significant issues 
related to deep-sea coral protections in the Mid-Atlantic. This notice 
is to alert the interested public of the scoping process, the 
development of the Draft EIS, and to provide for public participation 
in that process. If, during development of the Draft EIS, it can be 
determined that the alternatives are not expected to have significant 
impacts on the human environment, an Environmental Assessment (EA) may 
be prepared in place of an EIS. This determination will depend on the 
scope of issues raised and the alternatives developed. Information 
obtained during the scoping process will be used to develop either an 
EIS or an EA as appropriate. This action is necessary to provide 
analytical support for an amendment (Amendment 16) to the Fishery 
Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish 
(MSB), which addresses protections of deep-sea corals from the impacts 
of fishing gear.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before 11:59 p.m., EST, 
on February 15, 2013. Two public scoping meetings will be held during 
this comment period. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for dates, times, 
and locations.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be sent by any of the following 
methods:
     Email to the following address: nmfs.ner.msbam16@noaa.gov;
     Mail or hand deliver to Dr. Christopher M. Moore, 
Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 North 
State Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901. Mark the outside of the 
envelope ``Deep Sea Corals Amendment Scoping Comments''; or
     Fax to (302) 674-5399.
    The scoping document may also be obtained from the Mid-Atlantic 
Council office at the previously provided address, or by request to the 
Mid-Atlantic Council by telephone (302) 674-2331, or via the Internet 
at https://www.mafmc.org/fmp/msb.htm.
    Comments may also be provided verbally at either of the two public 
scoping meetings. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for dates, times, and 
locations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Christopher M. Moore, Mid-Atlantic 
Fishery Management Council, 800 North State Street, Suite 201, Dover, 
DE 19901, (telephone 302-674-2331).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Mid-Atlantic Council has initiated this amendment to minimize 
the impacts of fishing gear on deep-sea corals within the Council's 
jurisdiction. The Mid-Atlantic Council and the New England Fishery 
Management Council (New England Council) have developed a Memorandum of 
Understanding (MOU) identifying areas of consensus and common strategy 
related to conservation of corals and mitigation of the negative 
impacts of fishery/coral interactions. The terms of the MOU include 
defined areas of jurisdiction for deep-sea coral protection measures, 
aligning with the Mid-Atlantic and New England Council region 
boundaries as defined in 50 CFR 600.105.
    The New England Council began developing alternatives for deep-sea 
coral protections as part of their Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Omnibus 
Amendment 2, and at their September 2012 meeting, voted to split the 
range of alternatives pertaining to deep sea corals into a separate 
omnibus amendment. The Mid-Atlantic Council will develop alternatives 
applicable to areas south of the inter-council boundary with the New 
England Council, with the understanding that the New England Council 
will implement coral-related measures north of this boundary.
    At this time, the Mid-Atlantic Council is expected to consider 
several types of management measures, including, but not limited to:
     No action; no additional measures would be adopted.
     Designation of deep-sea coral protection zones, under the

[[Page 3402]]

discretionary authority described in section 303(b)(2)(B) of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), where 
fishing may be restricted in order to protect deep-sea corals from 
physical damage caused by fishing gear. Such zones would be located 
within the geographical range of the MSB fishery, as described in the 
FMP. However, management measures may apply to any MSA-regulated 
fishing activity within this range. Therefore, any measures pursued 
under this authority would likely apply to all federally managed 
fisheries within the geographic range of the MSB fisheries. The 
geographical range of this fishery includes the coastal and EEZ waters 
of the U.S. East Coast, with a core fishery management area from North 
Carolina to Maine.
     Designation of deep-sea corals as a component of EFH or as 
Habitat Areas of Particular Concern (HAPCs).
     Measures to minimize bycatch of deep-sea coral species.
     Special access programs to provide for continued fishing 
in or near deep-sea coral areas for specific fisheries or gear types.
     Exploratory fishing programs to allow for future 
development of new fisheries in a way that protects deep-sea corals.
    The Mid-Atlantic Council is seeking comments on the scope of 
alternatives to be considered in this amendment, as well as general 
comments or concerns relating to deep-sea coral protections in the mid-
Atlantic.

Scoping Meetings

    Two scoping meetings to facilitate public comment will be held on 
the following dates and locations:
    1. February 5, 2013, 7-9 p.m., via webinar; connection information 
to be available at https://www.mafmc.org/meetings/meetings.htm or by 
contacting the Mid-Atlantic Council (see ADDRESSES);
    2. February 13, 2013, 4 p.m., Embassy Suites Hampton Roads, 1700 
Coliseum Drive, Hampton, VA 23666.

Special Accommodations

    The scoping meetings are accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aid should 
be directed to M. Jan Saunders (302-674-2331 ext. 18) at least 5 days 
prior to the meeting date.

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

    Dated: January 9, 2013.
Emily H. Menashes,
Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-00808 Filed 1-15-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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