Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings, 21791-21792 [2017-09437]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 89 / Wednesday, May 10, 2017 / Notices https://www.regulations.gov/ #!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2017-0015 or in our reading room, which is located in Room 1141 of the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, please call (202) 799–7039 before coming. Supporting documents and any comments we received regarding our determination of nonregulated status of the antecedent organism, MS8 canola, may be inspected in our reading room. Supporting documents may also be found on the APHIS Web site for MS11 canola (the organism under evaluation) under APHIS Petition Number 16–235– 01p. Ms. Cindy Eck, Document Control Officer/ Team Leader, Policy Coordination Programs, Biotechnology Regulatory Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 147, Riverdale, MD 20737–1236; (301) 851–3954, email: cynthia.a.eck@ aphis.usda.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: On April 12, 2017, we published in the Federal Register (82 FR 17625–17626, Docket No. APHIS–2017–0015) a notice advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has reached a preliminary decision to extend our determination of nonregulated status of InVigor® MS8 canola (hereinafter MS8 canola) to Bayer’s canola event MS11 in response to a request from Bayer CropScience LP. MS11 canola has been genetically engineered for male sterility and resistance to the herbicide glufosinateammonium using the same mechanism of action as MS8 canola. The notice also made available for public comment our draft environmental assessment, preliminary regulatory determination, preliminary finding of no significant impact, and plant pest risk similarity assessment for the proposed determination of nonregulated status. Comments on the notice were required to be received on or before May 12, 2017. We are extending the comment period on Docket No. APHIS– 2017–0015 for an additional 15 days. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments. jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7701–7772 and 7781– 7786; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and 371.3. VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:21 May 09, 2017 Jkt 241001 Done in Washington, DC, this 5th day of May 2017. Michael C. Gregoire, Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. 2017–09499 Filed 5–9–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–34–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XF407 Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; public hearing via webinar. AGENCY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a public hearing via webinar to solicit public comments on Draft Reef Fish Amendment 47—Modify Vermilion Snapper ACLs and MSY Proxies. DATES: The public hearing will take place via webinar on Wednesday, May 24, 2017; starting at 6 p.m. EDT and will conclude no later than 9 p.m. Written public comments must be received on or before 5 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, May 16, 2017. ADDRESSES: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 N. Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607; telephone: (813) 348–1630; www.gulfcouncil.org. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Atran, Senior Fishery Biologist, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: (813) 348–1630, steven.atran@gulfcouncil.org. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Based on the results of a 2016 vermilion snapper stock assessment, the Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) concluded that the vermilion snapper stock is neither overfished nor undergoing overfishing. The SSC provided recommendations for the overfishing limit (OFL) during 2017–21 based on a proxy for maximum sustainable yield (MSY) of 30% SPR, and recommended acceptable biological catch (ABC) during 2017–2021 based on fishing at a fishing mortality rate that was 75% of the OFL fishing mortality rate. The Council accepted 30% SPR as the preferred MSY proxy, but also asked for analysis of the OFL and ABC yields at 26% SPR, which is a slightly less conservative MSY proxy, resulting in SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 21791 higher yields but also a smaller spawning stock biomass. The Council needs to take two actions in this amendment. Action 1 is to adopt an MSY proxy. The alternatives are: (1) To not adopt a proxy (no action), (2) adopt the proxy of 30% SPR (preferred alternative), or (3) adopt the proxy of 26% SPR. Action 2 is to set annual catch limits (ACLs) for 2017–21. The alternatives are: (1) To keep the current 3.42 million pound whole weight ACL that was implemented in 2012 using a data-poor method, (2) set ACL equal to the annual estimate of ABC for each year 2017–21 (which would result in a declining annual yield) with the 2021 ACL remaining in place for subsequent years, (3) set ACL equal to a constant catch corresponding to the average ABC during 2017–21 (preferred alternative), or (4) set ACL equal to the equilibrium ABC, which is the catch level at which no further declines are projected under current biological conditions. The specific ACL yields for Alternatives 2, 3, and 4 depend upon the selection of MSY proxy in Acton 1. Staff and a Council member will be available to answer any questions and the public will have the opportunity to provide testimony on the amendment and other related testimony. The schedule is as follows: Wednesday, May 24, 2017, Webinar— 6 p.m. EDT at: https:// attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/ 5395690967655721217. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Public documents may be obtained by contacting the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council at (813) 348–1630 or on their Web site at www.gulfcouncil.org. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: May 4, 2017. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2017–09438 Filed 5–9–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XF406 Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. AGENCY: E:\FR\FM\10MYN1.SGM 10MYN1 21792 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 89 / Wednesday, May 10, 2017 / Notices Notice; public hearing via webinar. ACTION: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a public hearing via webinar to solicit public comments on Draft Reef Fish Amendment 44—Minimum Stock Size Threshold for Reef Fish Stocks. DATES: The public hearing will take place via webinar on Tuesday, May 23, 2017, starting at 6 p.m. EDT and will conclude no later than 9 p.m. Written public comments must be received on or before 5 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, May 16, 2017. ADDRESSES: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 N. Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607; telephone: (813) 348–1630, www.gulfcouncil.org. SUMMARY: jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Atran, Senior Fishery Biologist, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: (813) 348–1630; steven.atran@gulfcouncil.org. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Minimum stock size threshold (MSST) is the stock biomass level below which a stock is declared to be overfished and in need of a rebuilding plan. It is set at some level below the biomass level corresponding to maximum sustainable yield (Bmsy) in order to allow natural fluctuations around the Bmsy level without spurious overfished declarations resulting. There are 7 stocks in the Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan that have current or proposed MSST definitions (gag, red grouper, red snapper, vermilion snapper, gray triggerfish, greater amberjack, and hogfish). For most of these stocks, MSST is set using the formula: (1 ¥ M) * Bmsy, where M is the natural mortality rate and Bmsy is the stock biomass corresponding to MSY or the MSY proxy. For stocks with a low natural mortality rate, this results in an MSST that is close to Bmsy. In some cases this MSST may be so close the Bmsy that it is not significantly different given the uncertainties in the data, and may lead to spurious overfished declarations due to natural fluctuations. For this reason, the Council is considering alternatives that would broaden the difference between Bmsy and MSST for some or all of the 7 reef fish stocks. Staff and a Council member will be available to answer any questions and the public will have the opportunity to provide testimony on the amendment and other related testimony. The schedule is as follows: Tuesday, May 23, 2017, Webinar—6 p.m. EDT at: https:// VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:21 May 09, 2017 Jkt 241001 attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/ 369981646765939713. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Public documents may be obtained by contacting the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council at (813) 348–1630 or on their Web site at www.gulfcouncil.org. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: May 4, 2017. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2017–09437 Filed 5–9–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XF402 New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; public meeting. AGENCY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a joint public meeting of its Monkfish Committee on Wednesday, May 24, 2017, to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from this group will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate. DATES: This meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 24, 2017 at 10 a.m. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Four Points by Sheraton Philadelphia Airport, 4101A Island Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19153; telephone: (215) 492–0400. Council address: New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council; telephone: (978) 465–0492. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council’s intent to take final action to address the emergency. Special Accommodations This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, at (978) 465–0492, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date. This meeting will be recorded. Consistent with 16 U.S.C. 1852, a copy of the recording is available upon request. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: May 4, 2017. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2017–09434 Filed 5–9–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P SUMMARY: Agenda The Monkfish Committee will discuss the potential continuation of Amendment 6 to implement catch shares in the monkfish fishery. They will also discuss research priorities for the monkfish RSA program. Other business will be discussed as needed. PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XF401 New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; public meeting. AGENCY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a joint public meeting of its Monkfish Advisory Panel on Tuesday, May 23, 2017, to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from this group will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate. DATES: This meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 23, 2017 at 10 a.m. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Four Points by Sheraton Philadelphia Airport, 4101A Island Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19153; telephone: (215) 492–0400 SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\10MYN1.SGM 10MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 89 (Wednesday, May 10, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21791-21792]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-09437]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF406


Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

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

[[Page 21792]]


ACTION: Notice; public hearing via webinar.

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SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold a public hearing via webinar to solicit public comments on Draft 
Reef Fish Amendment 44--Minimum Stock Size Threshold for Reef Fish 
Stocks.

DATES: The public hearing will take place via webinar on Tuesday, May 
23, 2017, starting at 6 p.m. EDT and will conclude no later than 9 p.m. 
Written public comments must be received on or before 5 p.m. EDT on 
Tuesday, May 16, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 N. Lois 
Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607; telephone: (813) 348-1630, 
www.gulfcouncil.org.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Atran, Senior Fishery 
Biologist, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: (813) 
348-1630; steven.atran@gulfcouncil.org.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Minimum stock size threshold (MSST) is the 
stock biomass level below which a stock is declared to be overfished 
and in need of a rebuilding plan. It is set at some level below the 
biomass level corresponding to maximum sustainable yield (Bmsy) in 
order to allow natural fluctuations around the Bmsy level without 
spurious overfished declarations resulting. There are 7 stocks in the 
Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan that have current or proposed MSST 
definitions (gag, red grouper, red snapper, vermilion snapper, gray 
triggerfish, greater amberjack, and hogfish). For most of these stocks, 
MSST is set using the formula: (1 - M) * Bmsy, where M is the natural 
mortality rate and Bmsy is the stock biomass corresponding to MSY or 
the MSY proxy. For stocks with a low natural mortality rate, this 
results in an MSST that is close to Bmsy. In some cases this MSST may 
be so close the Bmsy that it is not significantly different given the 
uncertainties in the data, and may lead to spurious overfished 
declarations due to natural fluctuations. For this reason, the Council 
is considering alternatives that would broaden the difference between 
Bmsy and MSST for some or all of the 7 reef fish stocks.
    Staff and a Council member will be available to answer any 
questions and the public will have the opportunity to provide testimony 
on the amendment and other related testimony.
    The schedule is as follows:
    Tuesday, May 23, 2017, Webinar--6 p.m. EDT at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/369981646765939713.
    After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing 
information about joining the webinar.
    Public documents may be obtained by contacting the Gulf of Mexico 
Fishery Management Council at (813) 348-1630 or on their Web site at 
www.gulfcouncil.org.

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

    Dated: May 4, 2017.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-09437 Filed 5-9-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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