Fisheries of the Gulf of Mexico; Southeast Data, Assessment and Review (SEDAR); Public Meeting, 2963-2964 [2018-01001]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 14 / Monday, January 22, 2018 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XF964 Fisheries of the South Atlantic; South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Announcement of meetings of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s Citizen Science Advisory Panel Finance and Infrastructure Action Team. AGENCY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a series of meetings of its Citizen Science Advisory Panel Finance and Infrastructure Action Team via webinar. DATES: The meeting via webinar will be held every other week on Wednesday at 1 p.m. starting February 7, 2018. The schedule of meetings is Wednesday, February 7; February 21; March 7; March 21; April 4; April 18; May 2; May 16; and May 30, 2018. All of the meetings will start at 1 p.m. and are scheduled to last approximately 90 minutes each. Additional Action Team meetings and plenary webinar dates and times will publish in a subsequent issue in the Federal Register. ADDRESSES: Meeting address: The meetings will be held via webinar and are open to members of the public. Webinar registration is required and registration links will be posted to the Citizen Science program page of the Council’s website at www.safmc.net. Council address: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, N Charleston, SC 29405. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amber Von Harten, Citizen Science Program Manager, SAFMC; phone: (843) 302–8433 or toll free: (866) SAFMC–10; fax: (843) 769–4520; email: amber.vonharten@safmc.net. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Council’s Citizen Science Finance and Infrastructure Action Team will meet every other week on Wednesday at 1 p.m. The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) created a Citizen Science Advisory Panel Pool in June 2017. The Council appointed members of the Citizen Science Advisory Panel Pool to five Action Teams in the areas of Volunteers, Data ethrower on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:00 Jan 19, 2018 Jkt 244001 Management, Projects/Topics Management, Finance and Infrastructure, and Communication/ Outreach/Education to develop program policies and operations for the Council’s Citizen Science Program. The Finance and Infrastructure Action Team will meet to continue work on developing recommendations on program policies and operations to be reviewed by the Council’s Citizen Science Committee. Public comment will be accepted at the beginning of the meeting. Items to be addressed during these meetings: 1. Discuss work on tasks in the Terms of Reference 2. Other Business 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 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: January 17, 2018. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2018–01003 Filed 1–19–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XF911 Fisheries of the Gulf of Mexico; Southeast Data, Assessment and Review (SEDAR); Public Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of SEDAR 51 Review Workshop for Gulf of Mexico Gray Snapper. AGENCY: The SEDAR 51 assessment of the Gulf of Mexico Gray Snapper will consist of: A Data Workshop; an assessment workshop and series of Assessment webinars; and a Review Workshop. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. SUMMARY: The SEDAR 51 Review Workshop will be held from 9 a.m. on February 13, 2018 until 5 p.m. on February 15, 2018. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. DATES: PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 2963 ADDRESSES: Meeting address: The SEDAR 51 Review Workshop will be held at the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council Office, 2203 N. Lois Ave., Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607. SEDAR address: 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, N Charleston, SC 29405. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie Neer, SEDAR Coordinator; phone: (843) 571–4366 or toll free (866) SAFMC–10; fax: (843) 769–4520; email: Julie.neer@ safmc.net. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 workshops and 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, HMS Management Division, and Southeast Fisheries Science Center. Participants include: Data collectors and database managers; stock assessment scientists, biologists, 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 in the Review Workshop agenda are as follows: The Review Panel participants will review the stock assessment reports to determine if they are scientifically sound. E:\FR\FM\22JAN1.SGM 22JAN1 2964 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 14 / Monday, January 22, 2018 / Notices 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 These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for auxiliary aids should be directed to the council office (see ADDRESSES) at least 10 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: January 17, 2018. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2018–01001 Filed 1–19–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XF878 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Program National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notification of standard prices and fee percentage. AGENCY: NMFS publishes the standard ex-vessel prices and fee percentage for cost recovery under the Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Program. This action is intended to provide participants in a rockfish cooperative with the standard prices and fee percentage for the 2017 fishing year, which was authorized from May 1 through November 15. The fee percentage is 2.04 percent. The fee payments are due from each rockfish cooperative on or before February 15, 2018. ethrower on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: DATES: Valid on: January 22, 2018. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carl Greene, 907–586–7105. VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:00 Jan 19, 2018 Jkt 244001 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The rockfish fisheries are conducted in Federal waters near Kodiak, AK, by trawl and longline vessels. Regulations implementing the Central Gulf of Alaska (GOA) Rockfish Program (Rockfish Program) are set forth at 50 CFR part 679. Exclusive harvesting privileges are allocated as quota share under the Rockfish Program for rockfish primary and secondary species. Each year, NMFS issues rockfish primary and secondary species cooperative quota (CQ) to rockfish quota share holders to authorize harvest of these species. The rockfish primary species are northern rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, and dusky rockfish. In 2012, dusky rockfish replaced the pelagic shelf rockfish species group in the GOA Groundfish Harvest Specifications (77 FR 15194, March 14, 2012). The rockfish secondary species include Pacific cod, rougheye rockfish, shortraker rockfish, sablefish, and thornyhead rockfish. Rockfish cooperatives began fishing under the Rockfish Program on May 1, 2012. The Rockfish Program is a limited access privilege program established under the provisions of section 303A of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). Sections 303A and 304(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act require NMFS to collect fees to recover the actual costs directly related to the management, data collection and analysis, and enforcement of any limited access privilege program. Therefore, NMFS is required to collect fees for the Rockfish Program under sections 303A and 304(d)(2) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Section 304(d)(2) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act also limits the cost recovery fee so that it may not exceed 3 percent of the exvessel value of the fish harvested under the Rockfish Program. Standard Prices NMFS calculates cost recovery fees based on standard ex-vessel value prices, rather than actual price data provided by each rockfish CQ holder. Use of standard ex-vessel prices is allowed under sections 303A and 304(d)(2) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. NMFS generates a standard ex-vessel price for each rockfish primary and secondary species on a monthly basis to determine the average price paid per pound for all shoreside processors receiving rockfish primary and secondary species CQ. Regulations at § 679.85(b)(2) require the Regional Administrator to publish PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 rockfish standard ex-vessel values during the first quarter of each calendar year. The standard prices are described in U.S. dollars per pound for rockfish primary and secondary species CQ landings made during the previous year. Fee Percentage NMFS assesses a fee on the standard ex-vessel value of rockfish primary species and rockfish secondary species CQ harvested by rockfish cooperatives in the Central GOA and waters adjacent to the Central GOA when rockfish primary species caught by a cooperative are deducted from the Federal total allowable catch. The rockfish entry level longline fishery and trawl vessels that opt out of joining a cooperative are not subject to cost recovery fees because those participants do not receive rockfish CQ. Specific details on the Rockfish Program’s cost recovery provision may be found in the implementing regulations set forth at § 679.85. NMFS informs—by letter—each rockfish cooperative of the fee percentage applied to the previous year’s landings and the total amount due. Fees are due on or before February 15 of each year. Failure to pay on time will result in the permit holder’s rockfish quota share becoming nontransferable, and the person will be ineligible to receive any additional rockfish quota share by transfer. In addition, cooperative members will not receive any rockfish CQ the following year until full payment of the fee is received by NMFS. NMFS calculates and publishes in the Federal Register the fee percentage in the first quarter of each year according to the factors and methods described in Federal regulations at § 679.85(c)(2). NMFS determines the fee percentage that applies to landings made in the previous year by dividing the total Rockfish Program management, data collection and analysis, and enforcement costs (direct program costs) during the previous year by the total standard ex-vessel value of the rockfish primary species and rockfish secondary species for all rockfish CQ landings made during the previous year (fishery value). NMFS captures the direct program costs through an established accounting system that allows staff to track labor, travel, contracts, rent, and procurement. Fee collections in any given year may be less than, or greater than, the direct program costs and fishery value for that year, because, by regulation, the fee percentage is established in the first quarter of the calendar year based on the program E:\FR\FM\22JAN1.SGM 22JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 14 (Monday, January 22, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2963-2964]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-01001]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF911


Fisheries of the Gulf of Mexico; Southeast Data, Assessment and 
Review (SEDAR); Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice of SEDAR 51 Review Workshop for Gulf of Mexico Gray 
Snapper.

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

SUMMARY: The SEDAR 51 assessment of the Gulf of Mexico Gray Snapper 
will consist of: A Data Workshop; an assessment workshop and series of 
Assessment webinars; and a Review Workshop. See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION.

DATES: The SEDAR 51 Review Workshop will be held from 9 a.m. on 
February 13, 2018 until 5 p.m. on February 15, 2018. See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION.

ADDRESSES: 
    Meeting address: The SEDAR 51 Review Workshop will be held at the 
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council Office, 2203 N. Lois Ave., 
Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607.
    SEDAR address: 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, N Charleston, SC 
29405.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie Neer, SEDAR Coordinator; phone: 
(843) 571-4366 or toll free (866) SAFMC-10; fax: (843) 769-4520; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 three-step process including: (1) 
Data Workshop; (2) Assessment Process utilizing workshops and 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, HMS Management Division, and Southeast Fisheries 
Science Center. Participants include: Data collectors and database 
managers; stock assessment scientists, biologists, and researchers; 
constituency representatives including fishermen, environmentalists, 
and non-governmental organizations (NGOs); international experts; and 
staff of Councils, Commissions, and state and federal agencies.
    The items of discussion in the Review Workshop agenda are as 
follows:
    The Review Panel participants will review the stock assessment 
reports to determine if they are scientifically sound.

[[Page 2964]]

    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

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for auxiliary aids should be directed to the 
council office (see ADDRESSES) at least 10 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: January 17, 2018.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-01001 Filed 1-19-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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