South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council)-Public Meetings, 95119-95121 [2016-30999]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 248 / Tuesday, December 27, 2016 / Notices
Type of Request: Regular (extension of
a currently approved information
collection).
Number of Respondents: 1,441.
Average Hours per Response: 3 hours.
Burden Hours: 4,323.
Needs and Uses: This request is for
extension of a currently approved
information collection.
The National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS) manages the shrimp fishery in
federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico
(Gulf) under the Shrimp Fishery
Management Plan (FMP). Regulations
implementing the FMP require owners
and operators (permit holders) of
federally permitted shrimp vessels, if
selected by NMFS, to carry an electronic
logbook (ELB) on their vessel and
participate in the NMFS-sponsored
electronic logbook reporting program.
ELBs provide a more precise means of
estimating fishing effort than paper
logbooks. Using ELBs to estimate fishing
effort serves an important role to help
estimate bycatch across the Gulf shrimp
fleet.
Affected Public: Business or other forprofit organizations.
Frequency: On occasion.
Respondent’s Obligation: Mandatory.
This information collection request
may be viewed at reginfo.gov. Follow
the instructions to view Department of
Commerce collections currently under
review by OMB.
Written comments and
recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be sent
within 30 days of publication of this
notice to OIRA_Submission@
omb.eop.gov or fax to (202) 395–5806.
Dated: December 15, 2016.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016–31134 Filed 12–23–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Proposed Information Collection;
Comment Request; Greater Atlantic
Region Gear Identification
National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
AGENCY:
The Department of
Commerce, as part of its continuing
effort to reduce paperwork and
respondent burden, invites the general
public and other Federal agencies to
comment on continuing information
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
20:45 Dec 23, 2016
Jkt 241001
collections, as required by the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
Written comments must be
submitted on or before February 27,
2017.
DATES:
Direct all written comments
to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental
Paperwork Clearance Officer,
Department of Commerce, Room 6616,
14th and Constitution Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20230; or JJessup@
doc.gov.
ADDRESSES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection
instrument and instructions should be
directed to Cynthia Hanson, Greater
Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, 55
Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA
01930; (978) 281–9180, or
cynthia.hanson@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
This request is for extension of a
currently approved information
collection. Regulations at 50 CFR
648.84(a),(b), and (d), 648.123(b)(3),
648.144(b)(1), 648.264(a)(5), and
697.21(a) and (b) require that Federal
Fisheries permit holders using certain
types of fishing gear, mark the gear with
specified information for the purposes
of vessel and gear identification (e.g.,
hull identification number, Federal
fishing permit number, etc.). The
regulations also specify how the gear is
to be marked for the purposes of
visibility (e.g., buoys, radar reflectors,
etc.).
The quantity of gear in this collection
is distinguished by the number of
attached end lines associated with each
string of hooks, pots, or traps. As such,
a single Federal permit holder may be
responsible for marking several strings
of a given gear type, or may use multiple
different gear types that require
marking. These gear marking
requirements aid in fishery law
enforcement, make the gear more visible
to other vessels to aid in navigation, and
provide other fisherman with
information regarding the gear type
being used to help prevent gear
conflicts.
No information is submitted to the
National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS) as a result of this collection.
The vessel’s hull identification number
or other means of identification
specified in the regulations must be
affixed to the buoy or other part of the
gear as specified in the regulations.
Frm 00022
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648–0351.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Review: Regular (extension of
a current information collection).
Affected Public: Individuals and
households; business or other for-profit
organizations.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
5,339.
Estimated Time per Response: 1
minute per string of gear.
Estimated Total Annual Burden
Hours: 17,848.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to
Public: $53,390 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs.
IV. Request for Comments
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether
the proposed collection of information
is necessary for the proper performance
of the functions of the agency, including
whether the information shall have
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of the burden
(including hours and cost) of the
proposed collection of information; (c)
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on respondents, including through the
use of automated collection techniques
or other forms of information
technology.
Comments submitted in response to
this notice will be summarized and/or
included in the request for OMB
approval of this information collection;
they also will become a matter of public
record.
Dated: December 21, 2016.
Sarah Brabson,
NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016–31192 Filed 12–23–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XF097
South Atlantic Fishery Management
Council (Council)—Public Meetings
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public hearings/
scoping meetings and question & answer
session via Webinar.
AGENCY:
II. Method of Collection
PO 00000
95119
The South Atlantic Fishery
Management Council (Council) will
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\27DEN1.SGM
27DEN1
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
95120
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 248 / Tuesday, December 27, 2016 / Notices
hold a series of public hearings/scoping
meetings on four amendments to the
Snapper Grouper Fishery Management
Plan (FMP) for the South Atlantic
Region:
Amendment 43 addressing
management options for red snapper
and recreational reporting;
Vision Blueprint Regulatory
Amendment 26 addressing recreational
management options based on the
Council’s Vision Blueprint for the
Snapper Grouper Fishery;
Vision Blueprint Regulatory
Amendment 27 addressing commercial
management options based on the
Council’s Vision Blueprint for the
Snapper Grouper Fishery; and
Amendment 44 addressing
management measures for yellowtail
snapper including allocations.
Scoping comments will be accepted
for Snapper Grouper Amendment 43
and the Vision Blueprint amendments.
Public hearing comments will be
accepted for Amendment 44. The
Council will hold a Question & Answer
Session via Webinar for measures
proposed in Amendment 44 for
yellowtail snapper and possible
management actions pertaining to red
snapper and recreational reporting to be
addressed in Amendment 43.
DATES: The series of public hearings/
scoping meetings/Webinars will begin at
6 p.m. on January 12, 2017 and end at
close of business on February 8, 2017.
Registration is required for Webinars.
Registration information will be posted
on the SAFMC Web site at https://
safmc.net/safmc-meetings/publichearing-and-scoping-meeting-schedule/
as it becomes available. The meetings
will be held on the following dates and
locations:
ADDRESSES:
1. January 12, 2017—Public scoping
via Webinar for Vision Blueprint
Regulatory Amendment 26
(Recreational) and Vision Blueprint
Regulatory Amendment 27
(Commercial).
2. January 17, 2017—Question &
Answer Session via webinar for
Snapper Grouper Amendment 44
(yellowtail snapper) and Snapper
Grouper Amendment 43 (red snapper
and recreational reporting).
3. January 18, 2017—Listening Station
with emphasis on the Public Hearing for
Snapper Grouper Amendment 44
(yellowtail snapper)—Harvey
Government Center, 1200 Truman
Avenue, 2nd Floor, Key West, FL 33040;
Phone: 305/295-4385. Note: Public
comment will be accepted on
management measures Proposed in the
public hearing document for in the
VerDate Sep<11>2014
20:45 Dec 23, 2016
Jkt 241001
Snapper Grouper Amendment 44 and
scoping items in Amendment 43 and the
Vision Blueprint Amendments.
4. January 19, 2017—Listening Station
with emphasis on the Public Hearing for
Snapper Grouper Amendment 44
(yellowtail snapper)—Hyatt Place
Marathon, 1996 Overseas Highway,
Marathon, FL 33050; Phone: 305/743–
1234. Note: Public comment will be
accepted on management measures
proposed in the Public hearing
document for Snapper Grouper
Amendment 44 and scoping items in
Amendment 43 and the Vision
Blueprint Amendments.
5. January 23, 2017—Lexington Hotel
& Conference Center, 1515 Prudential
Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207: Phone
904/396–5100.
6. January 24, 2017—Hilton Cocoa
Beach Oceanfront, 1550 N. Atlantic
Avenue, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931; Phone:
321/799–0003.
7. January 25, 2017—Flagler Place,
201 SW. Flagler Avenue, Stuart, FL
34994; Phone: 772/985–3863.
8. January 26, 2017—Hilton Key
Largo, 97000 Overseas Highway, Key
Largo, FL 33037; Phone: 305/852–5553.
9. January 30, 2017—Murrells Inlet
Community Center, 4450 Murrells Inlet
Road, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576; Phone:
843/651–4152.
10. January 31, 2017—Crowne Plaza
Hotel, 4831 Tanger Outlet Blvd., N.
Charleston, SC 29418; Phone: 843/744–
4422.
11. February 1, 2017—Richmond Hill
City Center, 520 Cedar Street, Richmond
Hill, GA 31324; Phone: 912/445–0043.
12. February 6, 2017—Hilton
Wilmington Riverside, 301 N. Water
Street, Wilmington, NC 28401; Phone:
910/763–5900.
13. February 7, 2017—Hatteras
Community Center, 57689 NC Highway
12, Hatteras, NC 27943; Phone: 252–
986–2161 or 252/986–2109.
14. February 8, 2017—Doubletree by
Hilton, 2717 W. Fort Macon Road,
Atlantic Beach, NC 28512; Phone: 252/
240–1155.
Council address: South Atlantic
Fishery Management Council, 4055
Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, N.
Charleston, SC 29405.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim
Iverson, Public Information Officer,
SAFMC; phone 843/571–4366 or toll
free 866/SAFMC–10; FAX 843/769–
4520; email: kim.iverson@safmc.net.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Agenda
The Council is soliciting public
hearing comments on management
measures proposed for yellowtail
PO 00000
Frm 00023
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
snapper through Snapper Grouper
Amendment 44. The amendment
includes management actions and
alternatives for shifts in allocations
between commercial and recreational
sectors as well as an action to merge
current annual catch limits for
yellowtail snapper in the Gulf of Mexico
and South Atlantic.
Public scoping meetings are being
held for the following amendments:
(1) Snapper Grouper Amendment
43—The red snapper fishery remains
closed to harvest in federal waters in the
South Atlantic. The stock continues to
experience overfishing due to the
number of discarded red snapper as
fishermen target other species in the
snapper grouper management complex.
The Council is soliciting public input
on ways to reduce the number of red
snapper discards, improve the
survivorship of discarded red snapper,
improve estimates of private
recreational catch and effort, and limit
harvest of red snapper to below the
annual catch limit if discards are
reduced sufficiently.
(2) Snapper Grouper Vision Blueprint
Recreational Regulatory Amendment
26—The amendment includes items
identified in the 2016–2020 Vision
Blueprint for the Snapper Grouper
Fishery pertaining to recreational
management measures including
removing size limits for deepwater
species; re-evaluation of the shallow
water grouper closure; re-evaluation of
aggregate bag limits and specification of
individual bag limits for some species;
and modification to the recreational
minimum size limit for black sea bass.
(3) Snapper Grouper Vision Blueprint
Commercial Regulatory Amendment
27—The amendment includes items
identified in the 2016–2020 Vision
Blueprint for the Snapper Grouper
Fishery pertaining to commercial
management measures including
commercial split seasons for deepwater
species, red porgy, and greater
amberjack; re-evaluation of the shallow
water grouper closure; trip limits and
step-downs; and fishing year changes.
Copies of the public hearing
document, scoping documents, and
other relevant information will be
posted on the Council’s Web site at as
they become available.
Submitting Written Comments
The Council requests that written
comments be submitted using the online
public comment form for each
amendment available from the Council’s
Web site at https://safmc.net/meetings/
public-hearing-and-scoping-meetingschedule. Click on the ‘‘Submit Written
Comments’’ section of the page to access
E:\FR\FM\27DEN1.SGM
27DEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 248 / Tuesday, December 27, 2016 / Notices
individual links for providing
comments. Comments submitted using
the online comment forms are
immediately posted to the Council’s
Web site and available for all Council
members and the public to view.
Written comments may also be
submitted by mail or by FAX.
Comments may be submitted by mail to:
Gregg Waugh, Executive Director,
SAFMC, 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite
201, North Charleston, SC 29405. Fax
comments to 843–769–4520.
Public hearing and scoping comments
for the amendments will be accepted
until 5:00 p.m. on February 10, 2017.
Special Accommodations
These meetings are physically
accessible to people with disabilities.
Requests for auxiliary aids should be
directed to the council office (see
ADDRESSES) 3 business days prior to the
meeting.
Note: The times and sequence specified in
this agenda are subject to change.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: December 20, 2016.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016–30999 Filed 12–23–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XF098
Fisheries of the South Atlantic;
Southeast Data, Assessment, and
Review (SEDAR); Data Workshop for
Atlantic blueline tilefish (Caulolatilus
microps)
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of SEDAR 50 Data
Workshop for Atlantic blueline tilefish.
AGENCY:
The SEDAR 50 assessment(s)
of the Atlantic stock(s) of blueline
tilefish will consist of a series of
workshops and Webinars: Stock ID
Work Group Meeting; Data Workshop;
Assessment Workshop and Webinars;
and a Review Workshop.
DATES: The SEDAR 50 Data Workshop
will begin at 1 p.m. on Monday, January
23, 2017, and end at 1 p.m. on Friday,
January 27, 2017, to view the agenda see
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
The established times may be
adjusted as necessary to accommodate
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
20:45 Dec 23, 2016
Jkt 241001
the timely completion of discussion
relevant to the assessment process. Such
adjustments may result in the meeting
being extended from, or completed prior
to the time established by this notice.
Additional SEDAR 50 workshops and
Webinar dates and times will publish in
a subsequent issue in the Federal
Register.
ADDRESSES:
Meeting Address: The SEDAR 50 Data
Workshop will be held at the Town and
Country Inn, 2008 Savannah Highway,
Charleston, SC 29407, 843–571–1000.
SEDAR address: South Atlantic
Fishery Management Council, 4055
Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, N.
Charleston, SC 29405 or on their Web
site, at www.sedarweb.org.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julia
Byrd, SEDAR Coordinator, 4055 Faber
Place Drive, Suite 201, North
Charleston, SC 29405; phone (843) 571–
4366; email: julia.byrd@safmc.net.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Agenda
The Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic,
and Caribbean Fishery Management
Councils, in conjunction with NOAA
Fisheries and the Atlantic and Gulf
States Marine Fisheries Commissions,
have implemented the Southeast Data,
Assessment and Review (SEDAR)
process, a multi-step method for
determining the status of fish stocks in
the Southeast Region. SEDAR is a threestep process including: (1) Data
Workshop; (2) Assessment Process
utilizing Webinars; and (3) Review
Workshop. The product of the Data
Workshop is a data report which
compiles and evaluates potential
datasets and recommends which
datasets are appropriate for assessment
analyses. The product of the Assessment
Process is a stock assessment report
which describes the fisheries, evaluates
the status of the stock, estimates
biological benchmarks, projects future
population conditions, and recommends
research and monitoring needs. The
assessment is independently peer
reviewed at the Review Workshop. The
product of the Review Workshop is a
Summary documenting panel opinions
regarding the strengths and weaknesses
of the stock assessment and input data.
Participants for SEDAR Workshops are
appointed by the Gulf of Mexico, South
Atlantic, and Caribbean Fishery
Management Councils and NOAA
Fisheries Southeast Regional Office,
Highly Migratory Species Management
Division, and Southeast Fisheries
Science Center. Participants include:
Data collectors and database managers;
stock assessment scientists, biologists,
PO 00000
Frm 00024
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
95121
and researchers; constituency
representatives including fishermen,
environmentalists, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs);
international experts; and staff of
Councils, Commissions, and state and
federal agencies.
The items of discussion at the Data
Workshop are as follows:
1. Participants will evaluate all
available data and select appropriate
sources for providing information on
life history characteristics, catch
statistics, discard estimates, length and
age composition, and fishery
independent and fishery dependent
measures of stock abundance, as
specified in the Terms of Reference for
the workshop, to develop an assessment
data set and associated documentation.
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
identified 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 intent to take final action
to address the emergency.
Special Accommodations
This meeting is accessible to people
with disabilities. Requests for auxiliary
aids should be directed to the SAFMC
office (see ADDRESSES) at least 5
business days prior to the meeting.
Note: The times and sequence specified in
this agenda are subject to change.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: December 20, 2016.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016–31048 Filed 12–23–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Secretary
[Docket ID: DOD–2016–HA–0119]
Proposed Collection; Comment
Request
Office of the Assistant
Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs,
DoD.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
In compliance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\27DEN1.SGM
27DEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 27, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 95119-95121]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-30999]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XF097
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council)--Public
Meetings
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public hearings/scoping meetings and question &
answer session via Webinar.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will
[[Page 95120]]
hold a series of public hearings/scoping meetings on four amendments to
the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the South
Atlantic Region:
Amendment 43 addressing management options for red snapper and
recreational reporting;
Vision Blueprint Regulatory Amendment 26 addressing recreational
management options based on the Council's Vision Blueprint for the
Snapper Grouper Fishery;
Vision Blueprint Regulatory Amendment 27 addressing commercial
management options based on the Council's Vision Blueprint for the
Snapper Grouper Fishery; and
Amendment 44 addressing management measures for yellowtail snapper
including allocations.
Scoping comments will be accepted for Snapper Grouper Amendment 43
and the Vision Blueprint amendments. Public hearing comments will be
accepted for Amendment 44. The Council will hold a Question & Answer
Session via Webinar for measures proposed in Amendment 44 for
yellowtail snapper and possible management actions pertaining to red
snapper and recreational reporting to be addressed in Amendment 43.
DATES: The series of public hearings/scoping meetings/Webinars will
begin at 6 p.m. on January 12, 2017 and end at close of business on
February 8, 2017. Registration is required for Webinars. Registration
information will be posted on the SAFMC Web site at https://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/public-hearing-and-scoping-meeting-schedule/ as it
becomes available. The meetings will be held on the following dates and
locations:
ADDRESSES:
1. January 12, 2017--Public scoping via Webinar for Vision
Blueprint Regulatory Amendment 26 (Recreational) and Vision Blueprint
Regulatory Amendment 27 (Commercial).
2. January 17, 2017--Question & Answer Session via webinar for
Snapper Grouper Amendment 44 (yellowtail snapper) and Snapper Grouper
Amendment 43 (red snapper and recreational reporting).
3. January 18, 2017--Listening Station with emphasis on the Public
Hearing for Snapper Grouper Amendment 44 (yellowtail snapper)--Harvey
Government Center, 1200 Truman Avenue, 2nd Floor, Key West, FL 33040;
Phone: 305/295-4385. Note: Public comment will be accepted on
management measures Proposed in the public hearing document for in the
Snapper Grouper Amendment 44 and scoping items in Amendment 43 and the
Vision Blueprint Amendments.
4. January 19, 2017--Listening Station with emphasis on the Public
Hearing for Snapper Grouper Amendment 44 (yellowtail snapper)--Hyatt
Place Marathon, 1996 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050; Phone: 305/
743-1234. Note: Public comment will be accepted on management measures
proposed in the Public hearing document for Snapper Grouper Amendment
44 and scoping items in Amendment 43 and the Vision Blueprint
Amendments.
5. January 23, 2017--Lexington Hotel & Conference Center, 1515
Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207: Phone 904/396-5100.
6. January 24, 2017--Hilton Cocoa Beach Oceanfront, 1550 N.
Atlantic Avenue, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931; Phone: 321/799-0003.
7. January 25, 2017--Flagler Place, 201 SW. Flagler Avenue, Stuart,
FL 34994; Phone: 772/985-3863.
8. January 26, 2017--Hilton Key Largo, 97000 Overseas Highway, Key
Largo, FL 33037; Phone: 305/852-5553.
9. January 30, 2017--Murrells Inlet Community Center, 4450 Murrells
Inlet Road, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576; Phone: 843/651-4152.
10. January 31, 2017--Crowne Plaza Hotel, 4831 Tanger Outlet Blvd.,
N. Charleston, SC 29418; Phone: 843/744-4422.
11. February 1, 2017--Richmond Hill City Center, 520 Cedar Street,
Richmond Hill, GA 31324; Phone: 912/445-0043.
12. February 6, 2017--Hilton Wilmington Riverside, 301 N. Water
Street, Wilmington, NC 28401; Phone: 910/763-5900.
13. February 7, 2017--Hatteras Community Center, 57689 NC Highway
12, Hatteras, NC 27943; Phone: 252-986-2161 or 252/986-2109.
14. February 8, 2017--Doubletree by Hilton, 2717 W. Fort Macon
Road, Atlantic Beach, NC 28512; Phone: 252/240-1155.
Council address: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 4055
Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, N. Charleston, SC 29405.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Iverson, Public Information
Officer, SAFMC; phone 843/571-4366 or toll free 866/SAFMC-10; FAX 843/
769-4520; email: kim.iverson@safmc.net.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Agenda
The Council is soliciting public hearing comments on management
measures proposed for yellowtail snapper through Snapper Grouper
Amendment 44. The amendment includes management actions and
alternatives for shifts in allocations between commercial and
recreational sectors as well as an action to merge current annual catch
limits for yellowtail snapper in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic.
Public scoping meetings are being held for the following
amendments:
(1) Snapper Grouper Amendment 43--The red snapper fishery remains
closed to harvest in federal waters in the South Atlantic. The stock
continues to experience overfishing due to the number of discarded red
snapper as fishermen target other species in the snapper grouper
management complex.
The Council is soliciting public input on ways to reduce the number
of red snapper discards, improve the survivorship of discarded red
snapper, improve estimates of private recreational catch and effort,
and limit harvest of red snapper to below the annual catch limit if
discards are reduced sufficiently.
(2) Snapper Grouper Vision Blueprint Recreational Regulatory
Amendment 26--The amendment includes items identified in the 2016-2020
Vision Blueprint for the Snapper Grouper Fishery pertaining to
recreational management measures including removing size limits for
deepwater species; re-evaluation of the shallow water grouper closure;
re-evaluation of aggregate bag limits and specification of individual
bag limits for some species; and modification to the recreational
minimum size limit for black sea bass.
(3) Snapper Grouper Vision Blueprint Commercial Regulatory
Amendment 27--The amendment includes items identified in the 2016-2020
Vision Blueprint for the Snapper Grouper Fishery pertaining to
commercial management measures including commercial split seasons for
deepwater species, red porgy, and greater amberjack; re-evaluation of
the shallow water grouper closure; trip limits and step-downs; and
fishing year changes.
Copies of the public hearing document, scoping documents, and other
relevant information will be posted on the Council's Web site at as
they become available.
Submitting Written Comments
The Council requests that written comments be submitted using the
online public comment form for each amendment available from the
Council's Web site at https://safmc.net/meetings/public-hearing-and-scoping-meeting-schedule. Click on the ``Submit Written Comments''
section of the page to access
[[Page 95121]]
individual links for providing comments. Comments submitted using the
online comment forms are immediately posted to the Council's Web site
and available for all Council members and the public to view.
Written comments may also be submitted by mail or by FAX. Comments
may be submitted by mail to: Gregg Waugh, Executive Director, SAFMC,
4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, North Charleston, SC 29405. Fax
comments to 843-769-4520.
Public hearing and scoping comments for the amendments will be
accepted until 5:00 p.m. on February 10, 2017.
Special Accommodations
These meetings are physically accessible to people with
disabilities. Requests for auxiliary aids should be directed to the
council office (see ADDRESSES) 3 business days prior to the meeting.
Note: The times and sequence specified in this agenda are
subject to change.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: December 20, 2016.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-30999 Filed 12-23-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
