Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Monitoring Requirements for American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessels Subject to Amendment 91; Public Workshops, 19214-19215 [2013-07351]

Download as PDF 19214 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 61 / Friday, March 29, 2013 / Notices on the project Web site at: https:// www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/eis/ arctic.htm. Alternatives (Chapter 2) • Section 2.4.7 contains the description of the newly added alternative. • Sections 2.4.8 and 2.4.9 are the new Alternatives 5 and 6, previously described as Alternatives 4 and 5 in the 2011 DEIS. • Section 2.4.8.2 contains the updated list of time/area closures contemplated under Alternative 5 and as additional mitigation measures under Alternatives 2, 3, 4, and 6. Baseline Information (Chapter 3) • Sections 3.2.4 and 3.3.2 contained updated information regarding marine mammals and subsistence resources based on literature and data provided during the public comment period. Mitigation Measure Analysis (Chapter 4) • Sections 4.5.2.4.15 and 4.5.2.4.16 contain the updated analysis of standard and additional mitigation measures, respectively, with the primary purpose of reducing impacts to marine mammals. • Sections 4.5.3.2.3 and 4.5.3.2.5 contain the updated analysis of standard and additional mitigation measures, respectively, with the primary purpose of reducing impacts to subsistence uses of marine mammals. • For each measure, we outlined activities to which it applies (e.g. just seismic surveys or just exploratory drilling or all activities), the purpose of the measure, the science, support for reduction of impacts to marine mammals or subsistence availability of marine mammals, the likelihood of effectiveness, the history of implementation of the measure, practicability for applicant implementation, and recommendation for how, and if, to apply the measure in future MMPA ITAs. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Impact Analyses (Chapter 4) • Table 4.5–19, page 4–91, and Table 4.5–25, page 4–184 contain revised impact criteria for the assessment of potential impacts to marine mammals and subsistence resources to include additional factors that more closely align with analyses conducted under the MMPA. • Section 4.2.6 is a new section in this Supplemental DEIS. This section includes information regarding the process NMFS has initiated to revise the acoustic criteria, which are currently used by NOAA to determine the received sound level at which injury or VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:34 Mar 28, 2013 Jkt 229001 behavioral harassment of marine mammals from seismic airguns may occur. The acoustic criteria process will (separate from this EIS process) include both a public and external peer review process. At this time, we are still in the internal review process for the acoustic criteria, but we have included key basic information about the likely nature of the revisions to the criteria that adds value to the environmental analysis contained in this Supplemental DEIS. We refer the public to the separate acoustic criteria document for comment when it is made available in the coming months. The schedules for finalization of the Final EIS and the acoustic criteria are similar. Public Meetings Comments will be accepted at public meetings and during the public comment period, and must be submitted to NMFS by the comment deadline (see DATES). We request that you include background documents to support your comments as appropriate. Public meetings will be held the week of April 8, 2013, in the communities of Barrow and Kotzebue and in Anchorage. Dates, times, and locations of each meeting will be announced in advance in local media. Comments will be accepted at all public meetings, as well as during the public comment period and can be submitted via the methods described earlier in this document (see ADDRESSES). Dated: March 26, 2013. Helen M. Golde, Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2013–07312 Filed 3–28–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XC583 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Monitoring Requirements for American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessels Subject to Amendment 91; Public Workshops National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public workshop. AGENCY: SUMMARY: NMFS announces a workshop to solicit input from owners and operators of American Fisheries Act (AFA) catcher vessels and shoreside processors participating in the pollock PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 fishery in the Bering Sea off Alaska. The workshop concerns accurate accounting of Chinook salmon bycatch in the Bering Sea pollock fishery under Amendment 91 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands. The workshop will discuss potential regulatory changes to address (1) the practice of leaving significant amounts of loose fish on the deck not contained inside the codend; (2) the installation of software and communication equipment to enhance observer data collection; and (3) the definition of directed fishing for pollock. The meeting is open to the public, but NMFS is particularly seeking participation by people who are knowledgeable about AFA catcher vessel operations in the Bering Sea pollock fishery and who can discuss with NMFS the potential operational impacts of the proposed monitoring requirements. The workshop will be held on Thursday, May 16, 2013, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Pacific daylight savings time. ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held at the Swedish Cultural Center, 1920 Dexter Avenue N., Seattle, WA 98109. Directions to the Swedish Cultural Center are on its Web site at https:// www.swedishculturalcenter.org/ contacts.htm. DATES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Watson, 907–586–7537, or Michael Camacho, 907–586–7471. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS is developing proposed revisions to some monitoring components of Amendment 91 for AFA catcher vessels in the Bering Sea pollock fishery. Currently, all salmon are required to be stored in refrigerated saltwater tanks prior to delivery to a shoreside processor. The intent of this requirement is to reduce the potential for sorting of catch, to prevent unlawful discarding of salmon, and to make all salmon available to the observer for census and sampling at delivery. However, loose fish on deck not contained inside the codend creates numerous challenges to the intent of this requirement. In addition to the agency’s concerns about loose fish on deck not contained inside the codend, there are additional revisions that will improve the monitoring and enforcement of Chinook salmon bycatch regulations under Amendment 91. These revisions include a requirement for all AFA catcher vessels to maintain a computer and an electronic transmission system for use by an observer and a change to specify that the Amendment 91 monitoring requirements apply when a catcher E:\FR\FM\29MRN1.SGM 29MRN1 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 61 / Friday, March 29, 2013 / Notices vessel named in the AFA is using pelagic gear in the Bering Sea. This meeting is open to the public, but NMFS is particularly seeking participation by people who are knowledgeable about operations aboard AFA catcher vessels and the feasibility of preventing loose fish from remaining on deck outside the codend. Special Accommodations The meeting will be physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Jennifer Watson, 907–586–7537, at least 10 workdays prior to the meeting date. Dated: March 26, 2013. Kara Meckley, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2013–07351 Filed 3–28–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XC601 Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. AGENCY: The Council’s Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish (MSB) Advisory Panel (AP) will meet to develop Fishery Performance Reports for the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish fisheries in preparation for the Council’s setting of specifications for 2014. DATES: The meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 17, 2013, from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn Baltimore/ Arundel Mills; 7491 New Ridge Rd., Hanover, MD 21076; telephone: (410) 878–7200 Council address: Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 N. State Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901; telephone: (302) 674–2331. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher M. Moore Ph.D., Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 N. State Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901; telephone: (302) 526–5255. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the meeting is to create mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:34 Mar 28, 2013 Jkt 229001 Fishery Performance Reports by the Council’s Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish (MSB) Advisory Panel (AP). The intent of these reports is to facilitate structured input from the Advisory Panel members into the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish specifications process. The Advisory Panel will also review the findings of a recent workshop on squid management and may develop related recommendations. 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. Special Accommodations The meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to M. Jan Saunders at the Mid-Atlantic Council Office, (302) 526–5251, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date. Dated: March 26, 2013. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2013–07361 Filed 3–28–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XC603 Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Stock Assessment Review Panels (STAR Panels) will hold work sessions to review stock assessments using data-moderate methods, as well as tier 1 benchmark stock assessments for petrale sole and darkblotched rockfish, rougheye rockfish and aurora rockfish, shortspine thornyhead and longspine thornyheads, and cowcod and Pacific sanddabs, all of which are open to the public. PO 00000 Frm 00037 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 19215 The meetings will be held April 22–26, 2013; May 13–17, 2013; July 8– 12, 2013; July 22–26, 2013; and August 5–9, 2013. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times. ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held in Santa Cruz, CA and Seattle, WA. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific locations. Council address: Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council), 7700 NE Ambassador Place, Suite 101, Portland, OR 97220–1384. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Stacey Miller, NMFS Northwest Fisheries Science Center; telephone: (541) 961–8475; or Mr. John DeVore, Pacific Fishery Management Council; telephone: (503) 820–2280. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The meetings will be held in April, May, July and August. The meeting dates and times are listed below. The Stock Assessment Review Panel for data moderate assessments will be held beginning at 8:30 a.m., Monday, April 22, 2013 and end at 5:30 p.m. or as necessary to complete business for the day. The Panel will reconvene on Tuesday, April 23, 2013 and will continue through Friday, April 26, 2013 beginning at 8:30 a.m. and ending at 5:30 p.m. each day, or as necessary to complete business. The Panel will adjourn on Friday, April 26. The Stock Assessment Review Panel for Petrale sole and darkblotched rockfish stock assessments will be held beginning at 8:30 a.m., Monday, May 13, 2013 and end at 5:30 p.m. or as necessary to complete business for the day. The Panel will reconvene on Tuesday, May 14, 2013 and will continue through Friday, May 17, 2013 beginning at 8:30 a.m. and ending at 5:30 p.m. each day, or as necessary to complete business. The Panel will adjourn on Friday, May 17. The Stock Assessment Review Panel for the rougheye rockfish and aurora rockfish stock assessments will be held beginning at 8:30 a.m., Monday, July 8, 2013 and end at 5:30 p.m. or as necessary to complete business for the day. The Panel will reconvene on Tuesday, July 9, 2013 and will continue through Friday, July 12, 2013 beginning at 8:30 a.m. and ending at 5:30 p.m. each day, or as necessary to complete business. The Panel will adjourn on Friday, July 12. The Stock Assessment Review Panel for the shortspine thornyhead and longspine thornyhead stock assessments will be held beginning at 8:30 a.m., Monday, July 22, 2013 and end at 5:30 p.m. or as necessary to complete DATES: E:\FR\FM\29MRN1.SGM 29MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 61 (Friday, March 29, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19214-19215]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-07351]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC583


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Monitoring 
Requirements for American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessels Subject to 
Amendment 91; Public Workshops

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

ACTION: Notice of public workshop.

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

SUMMARY: NMFS announces a workshop to solicit input from owners and 
operators of American Fisheries Act (AFA) catcher vessels and shoreside 
processors participating in the pollock fishery in the Bering Sea off 
Alaska. The workshop concerns accurate accounting of Chinook salmon 
bycatch in the Bering Sea pollock fishery under Amendment 91 to the 
Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian 
Islands. The workshop will discuss potential regulatory changes to 
address (1) the practice of leaving significant amounts of loose fish 
on the deck not contained inside the codend; (2) the installation of 
software and communication equipment to enhance observer data 
collection; and (3) the definition of directed fishing for pollock. The 
meeting is open to the public, but NMFS is particularly seeking 
participation by people who are knowledgeable about AFA catcher vessel 
operations in the Bering Sea pollock fishery and who can discuss with 
NMFS the potential operational impacts of the proposed monitoring 
requirements.

DATES: The workshop will be held on Thursday, May 16, 2013, from 9 a.m. 
to 12 p.m. Pacific daylight savings time.

ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held at the Swedish Cultural Center, 
1920 Dexter Avenue N., Seattle, WA 98109. Directions to the Swedish 
Cultural Center are on its Web site at https://www.swedishculturalcenter.org/contacts.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Watson, 907-586-7537, or 
Michael Camacho, 907-586-7471.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS is developing proposed revisions to 
some monitoring components of Amendment 91 for AFA catcher vessels in 
the Bering Sea pollock fishery. Currently, all salmon are required to 
be stored in refrigerated saltwater tanks prior to delivery to a 
shoreside processor. The intent of this requirement is to reduce the 
potential for sorting of catch, to prevent unlawful discarding of 
salmon, and to make all salmon available to the observer for census and 
sampling at delivery. However, loose fish on deck not contained inside 
the codend creates numerous challenges to the intent of this 
requirement.
    In addition to the agency's concerns about loose fish on deck not 
contained inside the codend, there are additional revisions that will 
improve the monitoring and enforcement of Chinook salmon bycatch 
regulations under Amendment 91. These revisions include a requirement 
for all AFA catcher vessels to maintain a computer and an electronic 
transmission system for use by an observer and a change to specify that 
the Amendment 91 monitoring requirements apply when a catcher

[[Page 19215]]

vessel named in the AFA is using pelagic gear in the Bering Sea.
    This meeting is open to the public, but NMFS is particularly 
seeking participation by people who are knowledgeable about operations 
aboard AFA catcher vessels and the feasibility of preventing loose fish 
from remaining on deck outside the codend.
    Special Accommodations
    The meeting will be physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Jennifer Watson, 907-586-7537, at 
least 10 workdays prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: March 26, 2013.
Kara Meckley,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-07351 Filed 3-28-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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