New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting, 67252-67253 [2023-21464]

Download as PDF 67252 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 188 / Friday, September 29, 2023 / Notices The modification request and related documents are available for review by selecting ‘‘Records Open for Public Comment’’ from the Features box on the Applications and Permits for Protected Species (APPS) home page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File No. 23096 Mod 6 from the list of available applications. These documents are also available upon written request via email to NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Written comments on this application should be submitted via email to NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Please include File No. 23096 in the subject line of the email comment. Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a written request via email to NMFS.Pr1Comments@ noaa.gov. The request should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing on this application would be appropriate. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Malcolm Mohead or Erin Markin, Ph.D., (301) 427–8401. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject modification to Permit No. 23096, issued on January 31, 2020 (85 FR 7978, February 12, 2020), is requested under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and the regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of endangered and threatened species (50 CFR parts 222–226). Permit No. 23096 authorizes the permit holder to: quantify population dynamics and seasonal habitat of Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon in Georgia and Florida river systems and estuaries [i.e., Savannah GA), Altamaha (GA), Ogeechee (GA), Satilla (GA), St. Marys (GA, FL), Nassau (FL) and St. Johns River systems (FL)]. Researchers may capture (by gillnet or trammel net), tag (passive integrated transponder, internal acoustic, and dart), anesthetize, genetic fin clip, fin ray clip, measure, weigh, photograph/video, blood sample, and laparoscopically biopsy gonads of juvenile, sub-adult, and adult Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon. Early life stages of each species may be lethally sampled to document occurrence of spawning in systems. Up to two sturgeon of each species may unintentionally die annually in each river system during sampling activities, excluding the Satilla, St Marys, and St. Johns Rivers. The permit holder now requests: (1) increasing the numbers of Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon internally tagged with acoustic transmitters. In the Ogeechee River the numbers of adult/ subadult Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon internally tagged would lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 ADDRESSES: VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:46 Sep 28, 2023 Jkt 259001 increase from 10 to 20 and 5 to 20, respectively. In the Altamaha River the numbers of adult/subadult Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon internally tagged would increase from 15 to 25 and 10 to 30, respectively. (2) adding apical scute sampling to the same adult/sub-adult and juvenile Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon taken in each river system to compare ageing results from fin rays sampling. Micronutrient analysis of the scute sample would also be conducted to compare trace historic movement patterns of species captured in each river system annually; and (3) adding epidermal mucus sampling to the same adult/subadult and juvenile Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon taken in each river system annually to address new objectives to differentiate between sturgeon species and sex using metabolomic analysis. The permit expires January 31, 2030. Dated: September 25, 2023. Julia M. Harrison, Chief, Permits and Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2023–21501 Filed 9–28–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RTID 0648–XD418] New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. AGENCY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a hybrid meeting of its Scallop Committee 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 Thursday, November 2, 2023, at 9 a.m. ADDRESSES: This meeting will be held at the Fairfield Inn/Waypoint Event Center, 185 MacArthur Drive, New Bedford, MA 02740, Phone (774) 634– 2000. Webinar registration URL information: https://attendee. gotowebinar.com/register/ 3147868139421210204. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Council address: New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950. Cate O’Keefe, Ph.D., Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council; telephone: (978) 465–0492. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Agenda The Committee will review Framework Adjustment (FW) 38: Receive an update and provide input on a range of potential access area and DAS allocations for the 2024 and 2025 fishing years. Council staff will update the group on any modifications the Council may make to the scope of this action at the September Council meeting. FW 38 will set specifications including ABC/ACLs, days-at-sea, access area allocations, total allowable landings for the Northern Gulf of Maine (NGOM) management area, targets for General Category incidental catch, General Category access area trips, and set-asides for the observer and research programs for fishing year 2024 and default specifications for fishing year 2025. They also plan to discuss the Northern Edge Framework: Receive an update on progress and review the timeline for this action. They will also develop recommendations for possible 2024 scallop work priorities. Other business will be discussed, if necessary. Although non-emergency issues not contained on the agenda may come before this Council for discussion, those issues may not be the subject of formal action during this meeting. Council action will be restricted to those issues specifically listed in this notice and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action under section 305(c) of the MagnusonStevens Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council’s intent to take final action to address the emergency. The public also should be aware that the meeting will be recorded. Consistent with 16 U.S.C. 1852, a copy of the recording is available upon request. Special Accommodations This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Cate O’Keefe, Ph.D., Executive Director, at (978) 465–0492, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. E:\FR\FM\29SEN1.SGM 29SEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 188 / Friday, September 29, 2023 / Notices Dated: September 26, 2023. Rey Israel Marquez, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2023–21464 Filed 9–28–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RTID 0648–XB844] Pacific Island Fisheries; Experimental Fishing Permit National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; amendment of permit. AGENCY: NMFS issued an amended experimental fishing permit (EFP) to the Hawaii Longline Association (HLA) on September 20, 2023 to evaluate the risk of seabird interactions in the Hawaii shallow-set longline fishery when setting fishing gear 1 hour before and 1 hour after local sunset and using tori lines instead of required blue-dyed bait and strategic offal discharge as seabird mitigation measures. The intent of the EFP is to conduct a preliminary evaluation of potential alternative effective methods of discouraging seabird interactions while providing operational flexibility during setting in the shallow-set longline fishery. The amendment will extend the expiration date to August 24, 2024 and modify the list of vessels authorized under the EFP. All other terms and conditions of the EFP are unchanged. The amended EFP invalidates and replaces the EFP issued by NMFS to HLA on January 24, 2023. DATES: The EFP is authorized from March 24, 2022, through August 24, 2024. ADDRESSES: Copies of the EFP, HLA’s application, and supporting documents are available at https:// www.regulations.gov/docket/NOAANMFS-2021-0128. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Heather Nelson, Sustainable Fisheries, NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office, tel (808) 725–5179. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS is issuing an amended EFP to the HLA under the authority of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), the Fishery Ecosystem Plan for Pelagic Fisheries of the Western Pacific (FEP), and regulations at 50 CFR 665.17. Under the EFP, HLA will conduct a lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:46 Sep 28, 2023 Jkt 259001 pilot test of tori lines (bird scaring streamers) as replacement seabird mitigation measures to discourage seabird interactions during setting in the Hawaii shallow-set longline fishery. The purpose of the experiment is to test new ways to mitigate seabird interactions that also increase operational flexibility during setting. HLA will use no more than one vessel at any given time to test tori lines as an alternate seabird mitigation measure to currently required blue-dyed bait, strategic offal discharge, and night setting measures (50 CFR 665.815(a)(2) & (4)). On March 18, 2022, under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the FEP, and regulations at 50 CFR 665.17, NMFS issued an EFP to the HLA to evaluate the risk of seabird interactions in the Hawaii shallow-set longline fishery when setting fishing gear one hour before and one hour after local sunset and using tori lines instead of required blue-dyed bait and strategic offal discharge as seabird mitigation measures. The EFP was authorized from March 24, 2022, through September 24, 2023. On January 24, 2023, NMFS issued an amended EFP which authorized the participation of a new vessel, the F/V Vui Vui II under the EFP and approved the tori line design submitted to NMFS by HLA. All other terms and conditions of the EFP remained the same. This EFP invalidated and replaced the EFP issued by NMFS to HLA on March 24, 2022. In a letter to NMFS dated June 13, 2023 HLA notified NMFS that no fishing effort occurred under the EFP due to unforeseen circumstances, including a delay in obtaining electronic monitoring equipment and crew shortages, and that none of the authorized vessels will participate in the trial. HLA requested a permit modification to authorize the participation of the F/V’s Queen Diamond (Official No. 964927), Queen Diamond II (Official No. 949947), Lady Luck (Official No. 905580), and Lucky Lady (Official No. 616365) in place of the authorized vessels, and to extend the expiration date of the EFP through August 2024. The requested vessels are of the same type, with a similar length and weight as the previously authorized vessels. No experimental fishing has occurred under the current permit, and the proposed extension is an extension of time to conduct the experimental fishing contemplated by the 2022 permit, rather than an extension that would allow for more effort than what was originally considered (80 fishing sets). The project is limited in scale (only 4 vessels, setting a combined total of 80 PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 67253 sets with no more than 1 vessel operating at any given time), proposes a minor change in fishing operations that does not have the potential to change the overall effects of the fishery, and will be effective for no longer than 11 months. All other regulatory requirements would remain in effect for participating vessels, including seabird mitigation requirements at 50 CFR 665.815(a)(2) for strategic offal discharge during hauling, and 50 CFR 665.815(b) for short-tailed albatross handling techniques. In addition, gear configurations and operations under the EFP would be compliant with international seabird mitigation requirements under the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission and the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission. More information about the EFP may be found in the December 15, 2021 notice, and in HLA’s EFP application (see ADDRESSES). The amended EFP is effective through August 24, 2024, unless revoked, suspended, or modified earlier. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: September 25, 2023. Jennifer M. Wallace, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2023–21329 Filed 9–28–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RTID 0648–XD414] Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public online meeting. AGENCY: The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Pacific Council) ad-hoc Klamath River Fall Chinook Workgroup (Workgroup) will hold two online meetings. DATES: The online meetings will be held Thursday, October 26, 2023, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., Pacific Daylight Time, or until business for the day concludes. The second meeting will be held Monday, November 20, 2023, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., Pacific Standard Time, or until for the day business concludes. ADDRESSES: These meetings will be held online. Specific meeting information, including directions on how to join the meeting and system requirements will SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\29SEN1.SGM 29SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 188 (Friday, September 29, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67252-67253]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-21464]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XD418]


New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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

SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is 
scheduling a hybrid meeting of its Scallop Committee 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 Thursday, November 2, 2023, at 9 
a.m.

ADDRESSES: This meeting will be held at the Fairfield Inn/Waypoint 
Event Center, 185 MacArthur Drive, New Bedford, MA 02740, Phone (774) 
634-2000.
    Webinar registration URL information: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3147868139421210204.
    Council address: New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water 
Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cate O'Keefe, Ph.D., Executive 
Director, New England Fishery Management Council; telephone: (978) 465-
0492.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Agenda

    The Committee will review Framework Adjustment (FW) 38: Receive an 
update and provide input on a range of potential access area and DAS 
allocations for the 2024 and 2025 fishing years. Council staff will 
update the group on any modifications the Council may make to the scope 
of this action at the September Council meeting. FW 38 will set 
specifications including ABC/ACLs, days-at-sea, access area 
allocations, total allowable landings for the Northern Gulf of Maine 
(NGOM) management area, targets for General Category incidental catch, 
General Category access area trips, and set-asides for the observer and 
research programs for fishing year 2024 and default specifications for 
fishing year 2025. They also plan to discuss the Northern Edge 
Framework: Receive an update on progress and review the timeline for 
this action. They will also develop recommendations for possible 2024 
scallop work priorities. Other business will be discussed, if 
necessary.
    Although non-emergency issues not contained on the agenda may come 
before this Council for discussion, those issues may not be the subject 
of formal action during this meeting. Council action will be restricted 
to those issues specifically listed in this notice and any issues 
arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action 
under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, provided the public 
has been notified of the Council's intent to take final action to 
address the emergency. The public also should be aware that the meeting 
will be recorded. Consistent with 16 U.S.C. 1852, a copy of the 
recording is available upon request.

Special Accommodations

    This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Cate O'Keefe, Ph.D., Executive Director, at (978) 
465-0492, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.
    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.


[[Page 67253]]


    Dated: September 26, 2023.
Rey Israel Marquez,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-21464 Filed 9-28-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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