Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC); Public Meeting, 51234-51235 [2015-20831]

Download as PDF 51234 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 163 / Monday, August 24, 2015 / Notices tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 1. Comments on Non-Agenda Items C. Administrative Matters 1. Update on Council Coordination Committee Meeting 2. Legislative Matters 3. Approval of Council Meeting Record 4. Membership Appointments and Council Operating Procedures 5. Future Council Meeting Agenda and Workload Planning D. Ecosystem Management 1. Fishery Ecosystem Plan Initiative Scoping 2. Unmanaged Forage Fish Regulations (Final Action) E. Salmon Management 1. Salmon Methodology Review 2. Sacramento River Winter Chinook Update F. Habitat 1. Current Habitat Issue G. Highly Migratory Species Management 1. Update on International Issues 2. Swordfish Management and Monitoring Plan Hardcaps (Final Action) 3. Scoping of Amendment 4 to the Fishery Management Plan: Authorizing a Shallow-Set Longline Fishery Outside of the EEZ H. Groundfish Management 1. Mid-Water Recreational Fishing Regulations 2. Consideration of Gear Regulations for the Trawl Catch Shares Sector 3. Final Stock Assessments 4. Electronic Monitoring Regulations and Exempted Fishing Permit Update 5. Specifications Process for 2017– 2018 Management (Final Action) 6. Salmon Endangered Species Act Reinitiation of Consultation Workshop Report 7. Blackgill-Slope Rockfish Intersector Allocation and Accumulation Limit Adjustments 8. Amendment To Modify Groundfish Essential Fish Habitat and To Adjust Rockfish Conservations Areas 9. Inseason Adjustments (Final Action) 10. Groundfish Management Science Improvements and Methodology Review Topics I. Pacific Halibut Management 1. 2016 Catch Sharing Plan and Annual Regulation Changes Advisory Body Agendas Advisory body agendas will include discussions of relevant issues that are on the Council agenda for this meeting, and may also include issues that may be relevant to future Council meetings. Proposed advisory body agendas for this meeting will be available on the Council Web site https://www.pcouncil.org/ council-operations/council-meetings/ VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:43 Aug 21, 2015 Jkt 235001 current-briefing-book/ prior to their meeting date. Schedule of Ancillary Meetings Day 1, Wednesday, September 9, 2015 Scientific and Statistical Committee Ecosystem Subcommittee 8 a.m. Day 2, Thursday, September 10, 2015 Ecosystem Advisory Subpanel 8 a.m. Ecosystem Workgroup 8 a.m. Groundfish Management Team 8 a.m. Scientific and Statistical Committee 8 a.m. Habitat Committee 8:30 a.m. Legislative Committee 1 p.m. Budget Committee 2:30 p.m. Day 3, Friday, September 11, 2015 Groundfish Advisory Subpanel 8 a.m. Groundfish Management Team 8 a.m. Highly Migratory Species Advisory Subpanel 8 a.m. Highly Migratory Species Management Team 8 a.m. Scientific and Statistical Committee 8 a.m. Enforcement Consultants 8 a.m. Chairman’s Reception 6 p.m. Day 4, Saturday, September 13, 2015 Groundfish Advisory Subpanel 8 a.m. Groundfish Management Team 8 a.m. Highly Migratory Species Advisory Subpanel 8 a.m. Highly Migratory Species Management Team 8 a.m. Enforcement Consultants Ad hoc Stock Assessment Briefing 7 p.m. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Kristopher Kleinschmidt at least 5 days prior to the meeting date by telephone (503) 820– 2280; at the Council office (see ADDRESSES); or by email at kris.kleinschmidt@noaa.gov. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: August 18, 2015. Emily H. Menashes, Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2015–20830 Filed 8–21–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XE128 Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC); Public Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. AGENCY: ACTION: Notice; public meeting. The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s (Council) Ecosystem and Ocean Planning Advisory Panel (AP) will hold a public meeting. SUMMARY: Day 5, Sunday, September 13, 2015 Groundfish Advisory Subpanel 8 a.m. Groundfish Management Team 8 a.m. Enforcement Consultants Ad hoc DATES: Day 6, Monday, September 14, 2015 Groundfish Advisory Subpanel 8 a.m. Groundfish Management Team 8 a.m. Enforcement Consultants Ad hoc ADDRESSES: Day 7, Tuesday, September 15, 2015 Groundfish Advisory Subpanel 8 a.m. Groundfish Management Team 8 a.m. Enforcement Consultants Ad hoc Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before this Council for discussion, those issues may not be the subject of formal Council action during this meeting. Council 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. PO 00000 Frm 00039 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 The meeting will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2015, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For agenda details, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. The meeting will be held at the Double Tree by Hilton Baltimore— BWI Airport, 890 Elkridge Landing Road, Linthicum, Maryland, 21090; telephone: (410) 859–8400. Council address: Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 N. State Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901; telephone: (302) 674–2331 or on their Web site at www.mafmc.org. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher M. Moore, Ph.D., Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, telephone: (302) 526–5255. The MAFMC’s Ecosystem and Ocean Planning Advisory Panel (AP) will meet to provide input to the Council on the development of written Council policy on non-fishing activities that impact fish habitat. The development of written policy on these activities will allow the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: E:\FR\FM\24AUN1.SGM 24AUN1 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 163 / Monday, August 24, 2015 / Notices Council to comment more quickly on proposed activities and projects, and enable the Council to work more effectively in addressing fish habitat and ecosystem issues in our region. Special Accommodations The 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 5 days prior to the meeting date. Dated: August 19, 2015. Emily H. Menashes, Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2015–20831 Filed 8–21–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [Docket No. 130718637–5699–02] RIN 0648–XC775 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of 12-Month Finding on a Petition To List the Orange Clownfish as Threatened or Endangered Under the Endangered Species Act National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of 12-month finding and availability of a status review report. AGENCY: We, NMFS, announce a 12month finding and listing determination on a petition to list the orange clownfish (Amphiprion percula) as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We have completed a comprehensive status review under the ESA for the orange clownfish and we determined that, based on the best scientific and commercial data available, the orange clownfish does not warrant listing under the ESA. We conclude that the orange clownfish is not currently in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range and is not likely to become so within the foreseeable future. DATES: The finding announced in this notice was made on August 24, 2015. ADDRESSES: You can obtain the petition, status review report, 12-month finding, and the list of references electronically on our NMFS Web site at: https:// www.fpir.noaa.gov/PRD/prd_reef_ fish.html. tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:48 Aug 21, 2015 Jkt 235001 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Krista Graham, NMFS, Pacific Islands Regional Office, (808) 725–5152; or Kimberly Maison, NMFS, Pacific Islands Regional Office, (808) 725–5143; or Chelsey Young, NMFS, Office of Protected Resources, (301) 427–8491. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background On September 14, 2012, we received a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity (Center for Biological Diversity, 2012) to list eight species of pomacentrid reef fish as threatened or endangered under the ESA and to designate critical habitat for these species concurrent with the listing. The species are the orange clownfish (Amphiprion percula) and seven other damselfishes: The yellowtail damselfish (Microspathodon chrysurus), Hawaiian dascyllus (Dascyllus albisella), blueeyed damselfish (Plectroglyphidodon johnstonianus), black-axil chromis (Chromis atripectoralis), blue-green damselfish (Chromis viridis), reticulated damselfish (Dascyllus reticulatus), and blackbar devil or Dick’s damselfish (Plectroglyphidodon dickii). Given the geographic ranges of these species, we divided our initial response to the petition between our Pacific Islands Regional Office (PIRO) and Southeast Regional Office (SERO). PIRO led the response for the seven Indo-Pacific species. On September 3, 2014, PIRO published a positive 90-day finding (79 FR 52276) for the orange clownfish announcing that the petition presented substantial scientific or commercial information indicating the petitioned action of listing the orange clownfish may be warranted and explained the basis for that finding. We also announced a negative 90-day finding for the six Indo-Pacific damselfishes: The Hawaiian dascyllus, blue-eyed damselfish, black-axil chromis, bluegreen damselfish, reticulated damselfish, and blackbar devil or Dick’s damselfish. SERO led the response to the petition to list the yellowtail damselfish and, on February 18, 2015, announced a negative 90-day finding for that species (80 FR 8619). In our positive 90-day finding for the orange clownfish, we also announced the initiation of a status review of the species, as required by section 4(b)(3)(A) of the ESA, and requested information to inform the agency’s decision on whether the species warranted listing as endangered or threatened under the ESA. We are responsible for determining whether species are threatened or endangered under the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). To make this PO 00000 Frm 00040 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 51235 determination, we first consider whether a group of organisms constitutes a ‘‘species’’ under the ESA, then whether the status of the species qualifies it for listing as either threatened or endangered. Section 3 of the ESA defines ‘‘species’’ to include ‘‘any subspecies of fish or wildlife or plants, and any distinct population segment of any species of vertebrate fish or wildlife which interbreeds when mature.’’ On February 7, 1996, NMFS and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS; together, the Services) adopted a policy describing what constitutes a distinct population segment (DPS) of a taxonomic species (the DPS Policy; 61 FR 4722). The DPS Policy identifies two elements that must be considered when identifying a DPS: (1) The discreteness of the population segment in relation to the remainder of the species (or subspecies) to which it belongs; and (2) the significance of the population segment to the remainder of the species (or subspecies) to which it belongs. As stated in the DPS Policy, Congress expressed its expectation that the Services would exercise authority with regard to DPSs sparingly and only when the biological evidence indicates such action is warranted. Based on the scientific information available, we determined that the orange clownfish (Amphiprion percula) is a ‘‘species’’ under the ESA. There is nothing in the scientific literature indicating that this species should be further divided into subspecies or DPSs. Section 3 of the ESA defines an endangered species as ‘‘any species which is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range’’ and a threatened species as one ‘‘which is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.’’ We interpret an ‘‘endangered species’’ to be one that is presently in danger of extinction. A ‘‘threatened species,’’ on the other hand, is not presently at risk of extinction, but is likely to become so in the foreseeable future. In other words, the primary statutory difference between an endangered and threatened species is the timing of when a species may be in danger of extinction, either presently (endangered) or in the foreseeable future (threatened). When we consider whether a species might qualify as threatened under the ESA, we must consider the meaning of the term ‘‘foreseeable future.’’ It is appropriate to interpret ‘‘foreseeable future’’ as the horizon over which predictions about the conservation status of the species can be reasonably relied upon. The foreseeable future E:\FR\FM\24AUN1.SGM 24AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 163 (Monday, August 24, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51234-51235]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-20831]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE128


Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC); Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice; public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's (Council) 
Ecosystem and Ocean Planning Advisory Panel (AP) will hold a public 
meeting.

DATES: The meeting will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2015, from 10 
a.m. to 5 p.m. For agenda details, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Double Tree by Hilton 
Baltimore--BWI Airport, 890 Elkridge Landing Road, Linthicum, Maryland, 
21090; telephone: (410) 859-8400.
    Council address: Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 N. 
State Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901; telephone: (302) 674-2331 or 
on their Web site at www.mafmc.org.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher M. Moore, Ph.D., Executive 
Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, telephone: (302) 
526-5255.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The MAFMC's Ecosystem and Ocean Planning 
Advisory Panel (AP) will meet to provide input to the Council on the 
development of written Council policy on non-fishing activities that 
impact fish habitat. The development of written policy on these 
activities will allow the

[[Page 51235]]

Council to comment more quickly on proposed activities and projects, 
and enable the Council to work more effectively in addressing fish 
habitat and ecosystem issues in our region.

Special Accommodations

    The 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 5 days prior 
to the meeting date.

    Dated: August 19, 2015.
Emily H. Menashes,
Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-20831 Filed 8-21-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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