Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings, 52091-52094 [2020-18486]
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 164 / Monday, August 24, 2020 / Notices
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I. Abstract
This request is for extension of a
currently approved information
collection.
The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act
(Magnuson-Stevens Act) established
regional fishery management councils,
including the Western Pacific Fishery
Management Council (Council), to
develop fishery management plans for
fisheries in the U.S. Exclusive Economic
Zone (EEZ). If approved by the Secretary
of Commerce, the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA)
National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS) implements these plans by
Federal regulations, which are enforced
by NMFS and the U.S. Coast Guard
(USCG), in cooperation with State
agencies to the extent possible. The
Council and NMFS use the fishery
management plans to manage fishing to
ensure sustained productivity and
achievement of optimum yield from the
resources for the benefit of the United
States. The Council uses fishery
ecosystem plans as fishery management
plans for federal fisheries management.
Regulations established under the
Fishery Ecosystem Plan for the Hawaii
Archipelago (FEP) at 50 CFR 665,
Subpart C, require that all participants
(including vessel owners, operators, and
crew) in the boat-based non-commercial
bottomfish fishery in the Exclusive
Economic Zone around the main
Hawaiian Islands obtain a federal
bottomfish permit. They are exempt if
they hold a current State of Hawaii
Commercial Marine License. The
information collected in the permit
process is needed to identify
participants in the fishery, determine
qualifications for permitting, support
effective enforcement of fishery
regulations, and provide a
communication link between NMFS and
fishermen.
Regulations also require that all vessel
owners or operators in this fishery
submit a report (logbook) upon
completion of each fishing trip to
document the species and amount of
fish caught during the trip. The
information in these logbooks is crucial
to monitoring the fishery, developing
annual catch limits, evaluating the
effectiveness of management measures,
determining whether changes in fishery
management measures are necessary,
and estimating the impacts and
implications of alternative management
measures.
II. Method of Collection
Respondents may submit permit
applications electronically via secure
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email, or online process when
implemented. Logbooks are paper forms
that must be submitted to NMFS Pacific
Islands Fisheries Science Center.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0648–0577.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Review: Regular submission,
extension of a current information
collection.
Affected Public: Individuals or
households; business or other for-profit
organizations.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
100.
Estimated Time per Response: 10
minutes per email permit application; 5
minutes per online permit application;
2 hours per appeal of denied permit; 20
minutes per logbook form.
Estimated Total Annual Burden
Hours: 29 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to
Public: $4,250.
Respondent’s Obligation: Mandatory.
Legal Authority: 50 CFR part 665.
IV. Request for Comments
We are soliciting public comments to
permit the Department to: (a) Evaluate
whether the proposed information
collection is necessary for the proper
functions of the Department, including
whether the information will have
practical utility; (b) Evaluate the
accuracy of our estimate of the time and
cost burden for this proposed collection,
including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (c)
Evaluate ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and (d) Minimize the
reporting burden on those who are to
respond, including the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology.
Comments that you submit in
response to this notice are a matter of
public record. We will include or
summarize each comment in our request
to OMB to approve this ICR. Before
including your address, phone number,
email address, or other personal
identifying information in your
comment, you should be aware that
your entire comment—including your
personal identifying information—may
be made publicly available at any time.
While you may ask us in your comment
to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we
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cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of
the Chief Information Officer, Commerce
Department.
[FR Doc. 2020–18493 Filed 8–21–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XA412]
Western Pacific Fishery Management
Council; Public Meetings
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public meetings.
AGENCY:
The Western Pacific Fishery
Management Council (Council) will
hold its 137th Scientific and Statistical
Committee (SSC), Pelagic and
International Standing Committee,
Executive and Budget Standing
Committee, and 183rd Council meetings
to take actions on fishery management
issues in the Western Pacific Region.
DATES: The meetings will be held
between September 9 and 17, 2020. For
specific times and agendas, see
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held
by web conference via WebEx.
Instructions for connecting to the web
conference and providing oral public
comments will be posted on the Council
website at www.wpcouncil.org. For
assistance with the web conference
connection, contact the Council office at
(808) 522–8220.
The following venues will be the host
sites for the Standing Committee and
Council meetings: Cliff Pointe, 304 W.
O’Brien Drive, Hagatna, Guam; Hyatt
Regency Saipan, Royal Palm Ave.,
Micro Beach Rd., Saipan,
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands (CNMI); and Department of Port
Administration, Airport Conference
Room, Pago Pago Int’l Airport, Tafuna
Village, American Samoa.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director,
Western Pacific Fishery Management
Council; phone: (808) 522–8220.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: All times
shown are in Hawaii Standard Time.
The 137th SSC meeting will be held
between 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on September
9–10, 2020. The Pelagic and
International Standing Committee will
SUMMARY:
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be held between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. on
September 14, 2020. The Executive and
Budget Standing Committee meeting
will be held between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.
on September 14, 2020. The 183rd
Council meeting will be held between
11 a.m. and 5 p.m. on September 15 to
17, 2020.
Please note that the evolving public
health situation regarding COVID–19
may affect the conduct of the September
Council and its associated meetings. At
the time this notice was submitted for
publication, the Council anticipated
convening the Standing Committee and
Council meetings by web conference
with host site locations in Guam, CNMI
and American Samoa. Council staff will
monitor COVID–19 developments and
will determine the extent to which inperson public participation at host sites
will be allowable consistent with
applicable local and federal safety and
health guidelines. If public participation
will be limited to web conference only
or on a first-come-first-serve basis
consistent with applicable guidelines,
the Council will post notice on its
website at www.wpcouncil.org.
Agenda items noted as ‘‘Final Action’’
refer to actions that result in Council
transmittal of a proposed fishery
management plan, proposed plan
amendment, or proposed regulations to
the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, under
Sections 304 or 305 of the MSA. In
addition to the agenda items listed here,
the Council and its advisory bodies will
hear recommendations from Council
advisors. An opportunity to submit
public comment will be provided
throughout the agendas. The order in
which agenda items are addressed may
change and will be announced in
advance at the Council meeting. The
meetings will run as late as necessary to
complete scheduled business.
Background documents for the 183rd
Council meeting will be available at
www.wpcouncil.org. Written public
comments on final action items at the
183rd Council meeting should be
received at the Council office by 5 p.m.
HST, September 11, 2020, and should
be sent to Kitty M. Simonds, Executive
Director; Western Pacific Fishery
Management Council, 1164 Bishop
Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813,
phone: (808) 522–8220 or fax: (808)
522–8226; or email: info.wpcouncil@
noaa.gov. Written public comments on
all other agenda items may be submitted
for the record by email throughout the
duration of the meeting. Instructions for
providing oral public comments during
the meeting will be posted on the
Council website. This meeting will be
recorded for the purposes of generating
the minutes of the meeting.
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Agenda for the 137th Scientific and
Statistical Committee Meeting
Wednesday, September 9, 2020, 11 a.m.
to 5 p.m.
1. Introductions
2. Approval of Draft Agenda and
Assignment of Rapporteurs
3. Status of the 136th SSC Meeting
Recommendations
4. Report from Pacific Islands Fisheries
Science Center Director
5. Program Planning and Research
A. Interagency U.S. Seafood Trade
Task Force
B. Report on the Council Response to
President Trump’s Executive Order
13921 and 13924
C. Development of a Council Policy
on Offshore Energy
D. Public Comment
E. SSC Discussion and
Recommendations
6. Island Fisheries
A. Main Hawaiian Island (MHI)
Aprion virescens (uku) Fishery
1. Report on the Risk of Overfishing
(P*) and Social, Ecological,
Ecosystem, Management
Uncertainty (SEEM) Analysis
2. Setting Acceptable Biological Catch
(ABC) for fishing year 2022–25
(Action Item)
B. Options for Hawaii Small-Boat
Fishery Permitting and Reporting
(Action Item)
C. Public Comment
D. SSC Discussion and
Recommendations
7. Protected Species
A. Tori Line Demonstrations and
Field Trials in the Hawaii Longline
Fishery
B. Endangered Species Act (ESA) and
Marine Mammal Protection Act
(MMPA) Updates
1. Status of ESA Consultations
2. Other updates
C. Reasonable and Prudent Measures
(RPMs) and/or Reasonable and
Prudent Alternatives (RPAs) for the
Hawaii and American Samoa
Longline Fisheries (Action Item)
D. Public Comment
E. SSC Discussion and
Recommendations
Thursday, September 10, 2020, 11 a.m.
to 5 p.m.
8. Pelagic Fisheries
A. American Samoa Longline Fishery
Report
B. Hawaii Longline Report Fishery
Report
C. Oceanic Whitetip (OWT) Shark
Population Projections
D. OWT Working Group Report and
Research Activities
E. Roadmap to Effective Area-Based
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Management of Blue Water
Fisheries
F. Report on the Hawaii Longline
Eddy Project
G. Bigeye Tuna Recruitment Project
H. International Fisheries
1. North Pacific (NP) Striped Marlin
Rebuilding Measures
2. Western Central Pacific Fisheries
Commission (WCPFC)
a. 19th International Scientific
Committee (ISC) Plenary Outcomes
b. 16th WCPFC Science Committee
3. Tropical Tuna Allocation Concept
Paper
I. Workshop on the Use of C–14 for
Tropical Tunas Age Validation
J. Public Comment
K. SSC Discussion and
Recommendations
9. Other Business
A. December 2020 SSC Meetings
Dates
10. Summary of SSC Recommendations
to the Council
Agenda for the Pelagic and
International Standing Committee
Monday, September 14, 2020, 12 p.m. to
2 p.m.
1. Mandatory Electronic Reporting in
Longline Fisheries (Action Item)
2. OWT Population Projections
3. OWT Working Group and Research
Activities
4. RPMs and/or RPAs for the Deep-set
and American Samoa Longline
Fisheries (Action Item)
5. Roadmap to Effective Area-Based
Management of Blue Water
Fisheries
6. International Fisheries
A. NP Striped Marlin Rebuilding
Measures
B. WCPFC
a. 19th ISC Plenary Outcomes
b. 16th WCPFC Science Committee
c. WCPFC Technical and Compliance
Committee
d. WCPFC Permanent Advisory
Committee
e. WCPFC Northern Committee
C. Tropical Tuna Allocation Concept
Paper
7. Advisory Group Report and
Recommendations
A. Advisory Panel Report
B. Scientific & Statistical Committee
Report
8. Other Issues
9. Public Comment
10. Discussion and Recommendations
Agenda for the Executive and Budget
Standing Committee
Monday, September 14, 2020, 3 p.m. to
5 p.m.
1. Financial Reports
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A. Current Grants
2. Administrative Reports
3. Council Coordination Committee
Meetings
4. Council Family Changes
A. Non-Commercial Fishery Advisory
Committee (NCFAC) Terms of
Reference and Membership
B. Fishing Industry Advisory
Committee (FIAC) Terms of
Reference and Membership
5. Meetings and Workshops
6. Letters to the Administration
7. Other Issues
8. Public Comment
9. Discussion and Recommendations
Agenda for the 183rd Council Meeting
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Tuesday, September 15, 2020, 11 a.m. to
5 p.m.
1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Oath of Office
3. Approval of the 183rd Agenda
4. Approval of the 182nd Meeting
Minutes
5. Executive Director’s Report
6. Agency Reports
A. NMFS
1. Pacific Islands Regional Office
2. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science
Center
B. NOAA Office of General Counsel
Pacific Islands Section
C. Enforcement
1. U.S. Coast Guard
2. NOAA Office of Law Enforcement
3. NOAA Office of General Counsel
Enforcement Section
D. U.S. State Department
E. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
F. Public Comment
G. Council Discussion and Action
7. Mariana Archipelago
A. Guam
1. Isla Informe
2. Department of Agriculture/Division
of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources
Report
3. CARES Act distribution of funds
4. Guam Community Activities
B. CNMI
1. Arongol Falu´
2. Department of Land and Natural
Resource (DLNR)/Division of Fish
and Wildlife Report
3. CARES Act distribution of funds
4. CNMI Community Activities
C. Advisory Group Reports and
Recommendations
1. Advisory Panel Report
2. Scientific & Statistical Committee
Report
D. Public Comment
E. Council Discussion and Action
8. Program Planning and Research
A. National Legislative Report
B. Draft Offshore Energy Policy
C. Standardized Bycatch Reporting
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Methodology
D. Update on Draft Aquaculture
Programmatic Environmental
Impact Statement
E. Electronic Technologies
Implementation Plan
F. Report on the Council Response to
President Trump’s Executive Order
13921 and 13924
G. Interagency US Seafood Trade
Taskforce
H. Modifications to the PRIA
Objectives and Projects in the
Pacific Remote Island Areas (PRIA)
Marine Conservation Plan
I. Advisory Group Report and
Recommendations
1. Advisory Panel Report
2. Scientific & Statistical Committee
Report
J. Public Comment
K. Council Discussion and Action
Wednesday, September 16, 2020, 4:30
p.m. to 5 p.m.
Public Comment on Non-Agenda
Items
Wednesday, September 16, 2020, 11
a.m. to 5 p.m.
9. American Samoa Archipelago
A. Motu Lipoti
B. Department of Marine and Wildlife
Resources Report
C. CARES Act distribution of funds
D. American Samoa Community
Activities
E. Advisory Group Report and
Recommendations
1. Advisory Panel Report
2. Scientific & Statistical Committee
Report
F. Public Comment
G. Council Discussion and Action
10. Hawai‘i Archipelago & PRIA
A. Moku Pepa
B. DLNR/Division of Aquatic
Resources Report
C. Options for Mandatory Permitting
and Reporting for Hawaii’s Smallboat Fishery (Initial Action)
D. MHI Uku Fishery
1. P* and SEEM Working Group
Report
2. Specifying Annual Catch Limits for
MHI Uku (Final Action)
E. CARES Act funding distribution
F. Hawaii Community Activities
G. Advisory Group Report and
Recommendations
1. Advisory Panel Report
2. Scientific & Statistical Committee
Report
H. Public Comment
I. Council Discussion and Action
11. Protected Species
A. ESA and MMPA Updates
1. Status of ESA Consultations
2. Other ESA and MMPA Updates
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B. Tori Line Demonstrations and Field
Trials in the Hawaii Longline
Fishery
C. Advisory Group Report and
Recommendations
1. Advisory Panel Report
2. Scientific & Statistical Committee
Report
D. Public Comment
E. Council Discussion and Action
Thursday, September 17, 2020, 11 a.m.–
5 p.m.
12. Pelagic & International Fisheries
A. Hawaii Longline Fishery Report
B. American Samoa Longline Fishery
Report
C. Mandatory Electronic Reporting in
Longline Fisheries (Final Action)
D. OWT Population Projections
E. OWT Working Group and Research
Activities
F. RPMs and/or RPAs for the Deep-set
and American Samoa Longline
Fisheries (Initial Action)
G. Roadmap to Effective Area-Based
Management of Blue Water
Fisheries
H. International Fisheries
1. Update on NP Striped Marlin
Rebuilding Measures
2. WCPFC
a. 19th ISC Plenary Outcomes
b. 16th WCPFC Science Committee
c. WCPFC Technical and Compliance
Committee
d. WCPFC Permanent Advisory
Committee
e. WCPFC Northern Committee
3. Tropical Tuna Allocation Concept
Paper
4. International Fisheries Meeting
MMPA Equivalencies and Other
Relevant International Issues
I. Advisory Group Report and
Recommendations
1. Advisory Panel Report
2. Scientific & Statistical Committee
Report
J. Standing Committee Report and
Recommendations
K. Public Comment
L. Council Discussion and Action
13. Administrative Matters
A. Financial Reports
1. Current Grants
B. Administrative Reports
C. Council Coordination Committee
Meetings
D. Council Family Changes
1. NCFAC Terms of Reference and
Membership
2. FIAC Terms of Reference and
Membership
E. Meetings and Workshops
F. Letters to the Administration
G. Standing Committee Report and
Recommendations
H. Public Comment
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I. Council Discussion and Action
14. Other Business
Non-emergency issues not contained
in this agenda may come before the
Council for discussion and formal
Council action during its 183rd meeting.
However, Council action on regulatory
issues will be restricted to those issues
specifically listed in this document and
any regulatory issue arising after
publication of this document that
requires emergency action under section
305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act,
provided the public has been notified of
the Council’s intent to take action to
address the emergency.
Special Accommodations
These meetings are accessible to
people with disabilities. Requests for
sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed to
Kitty M. Simonds, (808) 522–8220
(voice) or (808) 522–8226 (fax), at least
five days prior to the meeting date.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 18, 2020.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020–18486 Filed 8–21–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XA345]
Schedules for Atlantic Shark
Identification Workshops and Safe
Handling, Release, and Identification
Workshops
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public workshops.
AGENCY:
Free Atlantic Shark
Identification Workshops and Safe
Handling, Release, and Identification
Workshops will be held in October,
November, and December of 2020.
Certain fishermen and shark dealers are
required to attend a workshop to meet
regulatory requirements and to maintain
valid permits. Specifically, the Atlantic
Shark Identification Workshop is
mandatory for all federally permitted
Atlantic shark dealers. The Safe
Handling, Release, and Identification
Workshop is mandatory for vessel
owners and operators who use bottom
longline, pelagic longline, or gillnet
gear, and who have also been issued
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SUMMARY:
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shark or swordfish limited access
permits. Additional free workshops will
be conducted during 2020 and will be
announced in a future notice.
DATES: The Atlantic Shark Identification
Workshops will be held on October 8,
November 12, and December 10, 2020.
The Safe Handling, Release, and
Identification Workshops will be held
on October 8, October 22, November 5,
November 20, December 8, and
December 17, 2020. See SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION for further details.
ADDRESSES: The Atlantic Shark
Identification Workshops will be held in
Mount Pleasant, SC; Largo, FL; and
Harvey, LA. The Safe Handling, Release,
and Identification Workshops will be
held in Vero Beach, FL; Philadelphia,
PA; Kitty Hawk, NC; Key Largo, FL;
Kenner, LA; and Revere, MA. See
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for further
details on workshop locations.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rick
Pearson by email at rick.a.pearson@
noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
workshop schedules, registration
information, and a list of frequently
asked questions regarding the Atlantic
Shark Identification and Safe Handling,
Release, and Identification workshops
are posted on the internet at: https://
www.fisheries.noaa.gov/atlantic-highlymigratory-species/atlantic-sharkidentification-workshops and https://
www.fisheries.noaa.gov/atlantic-highlymigratory-species/safe-handling-releaseand-identification-workshops.
one certificate will be issued to each
proxy. A proxy must be a person who
is currently employed by a place of
business covered by the dealer’s permit;
is a primary participant in the
identification, weighing, and/or first
receipt of fish as they are offloaded from
a vessel; and who fills out dealer
reports. Atlantic shark dealers are
prohibited from renewing a Federal
shark dealer permit unless a valid
Atlantic Shark Identification Workshop
certificate for each business location
that first receives Atlantic sharks has
been submitted with the permit renewal
application. Additionally, trucks or
other conveyances that are extensions of
a dealer’s place of business must
possess a copy of a valid dealer or proxy
Atlantic Shark Identification Workshop
certificate.
Atlantic Shark Identification
Workshops
Since January 1, 2008, Atlantic shark
dealers have been prohibited from
receiving, purchasing, trading, or
bartering for Atlantic sharks unless a
valid Atlantic Shark Identification
Workshop certificate is on the premises
of each business listed under the shark
dealer permit that first receives Atlantic
sharks (71 FR 58057; October 2, 2006).
Dealers who attend and successfully
complete a workshop are issued a
certificate for each place of business that
is permitted to receive sharks. These
certificate(s) are valid for three years.
Thus, certificates that were initially
issued in 2017 will be expiring in 2020.
Approximately 174 free Atlantic Shark
Identification Workshops have been
conducted since October 2008.
Currently, permitted dealers may send
a proxy to an Atlantic Shark
Identification Workshop. However, if a
dealer opts to send a proxy, the dealer
must designate a proxy for each place of
business covered by the dealer’s permit
that first receives Atlantic sharks. Only
Registration Materials
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Workshop Dates, Times, and Locations
1. October 8, 2020, 12 p.m.–4 p.m.,
Hampton Inn, 1104 Isle of Palms
Connector, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464.
2. November 12, 2020, 12 p.m.–4
p.m., Hampton Inn, 100 East Bay Drive,
Largo, FL 33770.
3. December 10, 2020, 12 p.m.–4 p.m.,
Hampton Inn, 1651 Fifth Street, Harvey,
LA 70058.
Registration
To register for a scheduled Atlantic
Shark Identification Workshop, please
contact Eric Sander at ericssharkguide@
yahoo.com or at (386) 852–8588. Preregistration is highly recommended, but
not required.
To ensure that workshop certificates
are linked to the correct permits,
participants will need to bring the
following specific items to the
workshop:
• Atlantic shark dealer permit holders
must bring proof that the attendee is an
owner or agent of the business (such as
articles of incorporation), a copy of the
applicable permit, and proof of
identification.
• Atlantic shark dealer proxies must
bring documentation from the permitted
dealer acknowledging that the proxy is
attending the workshop on behalf of the
permitted Atlantic shark dealer for a
specific business location, a copy of the
appropriate valid permit, and proof of
identification.
Workshop Objectives
The Atlantic Shark Identification
Workshops are designed to reduce the
number of unknown and improperly
identified sharks reported in the dealer
reporting form and increase the
accuracy of species-specific dealer-
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 164 (Monday, August 24, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52091-52094]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-18486]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XA412]
Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public meetings.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will
hold its 137th Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), Pelagic and
International Standing Committee, Executive and Budget Standing
Committee, and 183rd Council meetings to take actions on fishery
management issues in the Western Pacific Region.
DATES: The meetings will be held between September 9 and 17, 2020. For
specific times and agendas, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held by web conference via WebEx.
Instructions for connecting to the web conference and providing oral
public comments will be posted on the Council website at
www.wpcouncil.org. For assistance with the web conference connection,
contact the Council office at (808) 522-8220.
The following venues will be the host sites for the Standing
Committee and Council meetings: Cliff Pointe, 304 W. O'Brien Drive,
Hagatna, Guam; Hyatt Regency Saipan, Royal Palm Ave., Micro Beach Rd.,
Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI); and
Department of Port Administration, Airport Conference Room, Pago Pago
Int'l Airport, Tafuna Village, American Samoa.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director,
Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; phone: (808) 522-8220.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: All times shown are in Hawaii Standard Time.
The 137th SSC meeting will be held between 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on
September 9-10, 2020. The Pelagic and International Standing Committee
will
[[Page 52092]]
be held between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. on September 14, 2020. The Executive
and Budget Standing Committee meeting will be held between 3 p.m. and 5
p.m. on September 14, 2020. The 183rd Council meeting will be held
between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. on September 15 to 17, 2020.
Please note that the evolving public health situation regarding
COVID-19 may affect the conduct of the September Council and its
associated meetings. At the time this notice was submitted for
publication, the Council anticipated convening the Standing Committee
and Council meetings by web conference with host site locations in
Guam, CNMI and American Samoa. Council staff will monitor COVID-19
developments and will determine the extent to which in-person public
participation at host sites will be allowable consistent with
applicable local and federal safety and health guidelines. If public
participation will be limited to web conference only or on a first-
come-first-serve basis consistent with applicable guidelines, the
Council will post notice on its website at www.wpcouncil.org.
Agenda items noted as ``Final Action'' refer to actions that result
in Council transmittal of a proposed fishery management plan, proposed
plan amendment, or proposed regulations to the U.S. Secretary of
Commerce, under Sections 304 or 305 of the MSA. In addition to the
agenda items listed here, the Council and its advisory bodies will hear
recommendations from Council advisors. An opportunity to submit public
comment will be provided throughout the agendas. The order in which
agenda items are addressed may change and will be announced in advance
at the Council meeting. The meetings will run as late as necessary to
complete scheduled business.
Background documents for the 183rd Council meeting will be
available at www.wpcouncil.org. Written public comments on final action
items at the 183rd Council meeting should be received at the Council
office by 5 p.m. HST, September 11, 2020, and should be sent to Kitty
M. Simonds, Executive Director; Western Pacific Fishery Management
Council, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813, phone:
(808) 522-8220 or fax: (808) 522-8226; or email:
[email protected]. Written public comments on all other agenda
items may be submitted for the record by email throughout the duration
of the meeting. Instructions for providing oral public comments during
the meeting will be posted on the Council website. This meeting will be
recorded for the purposes of generating the minutes of the meeting.
Agenda for the 137th Scientific and Statistical Committee Meeting
Wednesday, September 9, 2020, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
1. Introductions
2. Approval of Draft Agenda and Assignment of Rapporteurs
3. Status of the 136th SSC Meeting Recommendations
4. Report from Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Director
5. Program Planning and Research
A. Interagency U.S. Seafood Trade Task Force
B. Report on the Council Response to President Trump's Executive
Order 13921 and 13924
C. Development of a Council Policy on Offshore Energy
D. Public Comment
E. SSC Discussion and Recommendations
6. Island Fisheries
A. Main Hawaiian Island (MHI) Aprion virescens (uku) Fishery
1. Report on the Risk of Overfishing (P*) and Social, Ecological,
Ecosystem, Management Uncertainty (SEEM) Analysis
2. Setting Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) for fishing year 2022-
25 (Action Item)
B. Options for Hawaii Small-Boat Fishery Permitting and Reporting
(Action Item)
C. Public Comment
D. SSC Discussion and Recommendations
7. Protected Species
A. Tori Line Demonstrations and Field Trials in the Hawaii Longline
Fishery
B. Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Marine Mammal Protection Act
(MMPA) Updates
1. Status of ESA Consultations
2. Other updates
C. Reasonable and Prudent Measures (RPMs) and/or Reasonable and
Prudent Alternatives (RPAs) for the Hawaii and American Samoa Longline
Fisheries (Action Item)
D. Public Comment
E. SSC Discussion and Recommendations
Thursday, September 10, 2020, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
8. Pelagic Fisheries
A. American Samoa Longline Fishery Report
B. Hawaii Longline Report Fishery Report
C. Oceanic Whitetip (OWT) Shark Population Projections
D. OWT Working Group Report and Research Activities
E. Roadmap to Effective Area-Based Management of Blue Water
Fisheries
F. Report on the Hawaii Longline Eddy Project
G. Bigeye Tuna Recruitment Project
H. International Fisheries
1. North Pacific (NP) Striped Marlin Rebuilding Measures
2. Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC)
a. 19th International Scientific Committee (ISC) Plenary Outcomes
b. 16th WCPFC Science Committee
3. Tropical Tuna Allocation Concept Paper
I. Workshop on the Use of C-14 for Tropical Tunas Age Validation
J. Public Comment
K. SSC Discussion and Recommendations
9. Other Business
A. December 2020 SSC Meetings Dates
10. Summary of SSC Recommendations to the Council
Agenda for the Pelagic and International Standing Committee
Monday, September 14, 2020, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
1. Mandatory Electronic Reporting in Longline Fisheries (Action Item)
2. OWT Population Projections
3. OWT Working Group and Research Activities
4. RPMs and/or RPAs for the Deep-set and American Samoa Longline
Fisheries (Action Item)
5. Roadmap to Effective Area-Based Management of Blue Water Fisheries
6. International Fisheries
A. NP Striped Marlin Rebuilding Measures
B. WCPFC
a. 19th ISC Plenary Outcomes
b. 16th WCPFC Science Committee
c. WCPFC Technical and Compliance Committee
d. WCPFC Permanent Advisory Committee
e. WCPFC Northern Committee
C. Tropical Tuna Allocation Concept Paper
7. Advisory Group Report and Recommendations
A. Advisory Panel Report
B. Scientific & Statistical Committee Report
8. Other Issues
9. Public Comment
10. Discussion and Recommendations
Agenda for the Executive and Budget Standing Committee
Monday, September 14, 2020, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
1. Financial Reports
[[Page 52093]]
A. Current Grants
2. Administrative Reports
3. Council Coordination Committee Meetings
4. Council Family Changes
A. Non-Commercial Fishery Advisory Committee (NCFAC) Terms of
Reference and Membership
B. Fishing Industry Advisory Committee (FIAC) Terms of Reference
and Membership
5. Meetings and Workshops
6. Letters to the Administration
7. Other Issues
8. Public Comment
9. Discussion and Recommendations
Agenda for the 183rd Council Meeting
Tuesday, September 15, 2020, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Oath of Office
3. Approval of the 183rd Agenda
4. Approval of the 182nd Meeting Minutes
5. Executive Director's Report
6. Agency Reports
A. NMFS
1. Pacific Islands Regional Office
2. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
B. NOAA Office of General Counsel Pacific Islands Section
C. Enforcement
1. U.S. Coast Guard
2. NOAA Office of Law Enforcement
3. NOAA Office of General Counsel Enforcement Section
D. U.S. State Department
E. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
F. Public Comment
G. Council Discussion and Action
7. Mariana Archipelago
A. Guam
1. Isla Informe
2. Department of Agriculture/Division of Aquatic and Wildlife
Resources Report
3. CARES Act distribution of funds
4. Guam Community Activities
B. CNMI
1. Arongol Fal[uacute]
2. Department of Land and Natural Resource (DLNR)/Division of Fish
and Wildlife Report
3. CARES Act distribution of funds
4. CNMI Community Activities
C. Advisory Group Reports and Recommendations
1. Advisory Panel Report
2. Scientific & Statistical Committee Report
D. Public Comment
E. Council Discussion and Action
8. Program Planning and Research
A. National Legislative Report
B. Draft Offshore Energy Policy
C. Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology
D. Update on Draft Aquaculture Programmatic Environmental Impact
Statement
E. Electronic Technologies Implementation Plan
F. Report on the Council Response to President Trump's Executive
Order 13921 and 13924
G. Interagency US Seafood Trade Taskforce
H. Modifications to the PRIA Objectives and Projects in the Pacific
Remote Island Areas (PRIA) Marine Conservation Plan
I. Advisory Group Report and Recommendations
1. Advisory Panel Report
2. Scientific & Statistical Committee Report
J. Public Comment
K. Council Discussion and Action
Wednesday, September 16, 2020, 4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items
Wednesday, September 16, 2020, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
9. American Samoa Archipelago
A. Motu Lipoti
B. Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources Report
C. CARES Act distribution of funds
D. American Samoa Community Activities
E. Advisory Group Report and Recommendations
1. Advisory Panel Report
2. Scientific & Statistical Committee Report
F. Public Comment
G. Council Discussion and Action
10. Hawai`i Archipelago & PRIA
A. Moku Pepa
B. DLNR/Division of Aquatic Resources Report
C. Options for Mandatory Permitting and Reporting for Hawaii's
Small-boat Fishery (Initial Action)
D. MHI Uku Fishery
1. P* and SEEM Working Group Report
2. Specifying Annual Catch Limits for MHI Uku (Final Action)
E. CARES Act funding distribution
F. Hawaii Community Activities
G. Advisory Group Report and Recommendations
1. Advisory Panel Report
2. Scientific & Statistical Committee Report
H. Public Comment
I. Council Discussion and Action
11. Protected Species
A. ESA and MMPA Updates
1. Status of ESA Consultations
2. Other ESA and MMPA Updates
B. Tori Line Demonstrations and Field Trials in the Hawaii Longline
Fishery
C. Advisory Group Report and Recommendations
1. Advisory Panel Report
2. Scientific & Statistical Committee Report
D. Public Comment
E. Council Discussion and Action
Thursday, September 17, 2020, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
12. Pelagic & International Fisheries
A. Hawaii Longline Fishery Report
B. American Samoa Longline Fishery Report
C. Mandatory Electronic Reporting in Longline Fisheries (Final
Action)
D. OWT Population Projections
E. OWT Working Group and Research Activities
F. RPMs and/or RPAs for the Deep-set and American Samoa Longline
Fisheries (Initial Action)
G. Roadmap to Effective Area-Based Management of Blue Water
Fisheries
H. International Fisheries
1. Update on NP Striped Marlin Rebuilding Measures
2. WCPFC
a. 19th ISC Plenary Outcomes
b. 16th WCPFC Science Committee
c. WCPFC Technical and Compliance Committee
d. WCPFC Permanent Advisory Committee
e. WCPFC Northern Committee
3. Tropical Tuna Allocation Concept Paper
4. International Fisheries Meeting MMPA Equivalencies and Other
Relevant International Issues
I. Advisory Group Report and Recommendations
1. Advisory Panel Report
2. Scientific & Statistical Committee Report
J. Standing Committee Report and Recommendations
K. Public Comment
L. Council Discussion and Action
13. Administrative Matters
A. Financial Reports
1. Current Grants
B. Administrative Reports
C. Council Coordination Committee Meetings
D. Council Family Changes
1. NCFAC Terms of Reference and Membership
2. FIAC Terms of Reference and Membership
E. Meetings and Workshops
F. Letters to the Administration
G. Standing Committee Report and Recommendations
H. Public Comment
[[Page 52094]]
I. Council Discussion and Action
14. Other Business
Non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before
the Council for discussion and formal Council action during its 183rd
meeting. However, Council action on regulatory issues will be
restricted to those issues specifically listed in this document and any
regulatory issue arising after publication of this document that
requires emergency action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens
Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council's intent to
take action to address the emergency.
Special Accommodations
These meetings are accessible to people with disabilities. Requests
for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be
directed to Kitty M. Simonds, (808) 522-8220 (voice) or (808) 522-8226
(fax), at least five days prior to the meeting date.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 18, 2020.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-18486 Filed 8-21-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
