Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings, 14444-14446 [2024-03886]
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 39 / Tuesday, February 27, 2024 / Notices
driving; (7) use of situational awareness
monitoring for marine mammal
presence; (8) use of sound field
verification monitoring; (9) use of rampup acoustic sources during HRG
surveys; (10) implementation of vessel
separation zones between marine
mammals and project vessels; (11) use
of PAM within the vessel transit
corridor for Project vessels to travel over
10 knots (11.5 miles per hour); and (12)
implementation of additional Vessel
Strike Avoidance measures to reduce
the risk of a vessel collision with a
marine mammal. Additionally, NMFS
may modify the LOA’s mitigation,
monitoring, or reporting measures,
based on new information, when
appropriate (see also 50 CFR
217.287(c)). Empire Wind is also
required to submit reports, as specified
in the final rule.
Based on the findings and information
discussed in the preamble of the final
rule, the take authorized in the LOA
will have a negligible impact on marine
mammal stocks, will not have an
unmitigable adverse impact on the
availability of the affected marine
mammal stock for subsistence uses, and
the mitigation measures provide a
means of affecting the least practicable
adverse impact on the affected stocks
and their habitat.
Dated: February 21, 2024.
Kimberly Damon-Randall,
Director, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024–03887 Filed 2–26–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XD742]
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 151st Scientific and Statistical
Committee (SSC), Executive and Budget
Standing Committee (SC) and its 198th
Council meeting to take actions on
fishery management issues in the
Western Pacific Region. The Council
will also hold a joint meeting of the
Advisory Panel (AP), the Fishing
Industry Advisory Committee (FIAC),
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SUMMARY:
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and the Non-Commercial Fisheries
Advisory Committee (NCFAC).
DATES: The meetings will be held
between March 12 and March 20, 2024.
For specific times and agendas, see
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
ADDRESSES: The 151st SSC meeting will
be held as a hybrid meeting for SSC
members and the public, with a remote
participation option available via
WebEx. In-person attendance will be
hosted at the Council office, 1164
Bishop Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI
96813.
The Executive and Budget SC meeting
will be held as a hybrid meeting for
members and the public, with a remote
participation option available via
WebEx. In-person attendance will be
hosted at the Council office, 1164
Bishop Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI
96813.
The Joint Meeting of the AP, FIAC,
and NCFAC, and the 198th Council
Meeting will be held as hybrid meetings
for the advisory body members, Council
members and the public, with a remote
participation option available via
Webex. In-person attendance will be
hosted at the Ala Moana Hotel, Hibiscus
Ballroom, 410 Atkinson Drive,
Honolulu, HI 96814.
Specific information on joining the
meeting, 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.
Council address: Western Pacific
Fishery Management Council, 1164
Bishop Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI
96813.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director,
Western Pacific Fishery Management
Council; phone: (808) 522–8220.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 151st
SSC meeting will be held between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time
(HST) on March 12–13, and 9 a.m. and
1 p.m. on March 14, 2024. The
Executive and Budget SC meeting will
be held between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. HST
on March 15, 2024. The Joint Meeting of
the AP, FIAC and NCFAC will be held
between 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. HST on
March 19, 2024. The 198th Council
Meeting will be held between 10 a.m.
and 5:30 p.m. HST on March 18, 2024,
8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. HST on March
19, 2024 and 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. HST
on March 20, 2024. Public Comment on
Non-Agenda Items will be held between
5:15 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. HST on March
18, 2024. The Fishers Forum will be
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held between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. HST on
March 18, 2024.
Agenda items noted as ‘‘Final Action’’
refer to actions that may 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 Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act
(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 198th
Council meeting will be available at
www.wpcouncil.org. Written public
comments on final action items at the
198th Council meeting should be
received at the Council office by 5 p.m.
HST, Thursday, March 14, 2024, 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.org. 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 (audio
only) for the purposes of generating the
minutes of the meeting.
Agenda for the 151th SSC Meeting
Tuesday, March 12, 2024, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
HST
1. Introductions
2. Approval of Draft Agenda and Assignment
of Rapporteurs
3. Status of the 150th SSC Meeting
Recommendations
4. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
(PIFSC) Director Report
A. Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) Deep 7
Bottomfish Fishery Benchmark Stock
Assessment
A.1. Western Pacific Stock Assessment
Review (WPSAR) Report
A.2. Stock Assessment
B. MHI Small Boat Fisheries Project
Update
C. Guam Bottomfish Stock Assessment
Update
C.1. WPSAR Report
C.2. Stock Assessment
D. Guam Bottomfish Data WPSAR Terms of
Reference
E:\FR\FM\27FEN1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 39 / Tuesday, February 27, 2024 / Notices
E. Public Comment
F. SSC Discussion and Recommendations
6. Pelagic and International Fisheries
A. 2023 Longline Fishery Performance and
Economic Snapshot Reports
A.1. Hawaii Longline Fishery Report
A.2. American Samoa Longline Fishery
Report
B. Public Comment
C. SSC Discussion and Recommendations
7. Program Planning and Research (Part 1)
A. PIFSC Ongoing Research Updates
A.1. Hawaii Shallow-Set Longline Fishery
Species Distribution Model
A.2. Status of Leatherback, Loggerhead,
and Green Sea Turtle Research and
Assessments
A.3. NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration
and Research Beyond the Blue Pacific
Campaign
B. Public Comment
Wednesday, March 13, 2024, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
HST
8. Protected Species
A. Overview of the 2024 Hawaii Pelagic
False Killer Whale Survey
B. SSC False Killer Whale Working Group
Update
C. Public Comment
D. SSC Discussion and Recommendations
9. Program Planning and Research (Part 2)
A. Council 5-Year Program Plan Updates
for 2025–2029
B. Review of SSC Plan 2024–2026
C. MSA 5-Year Research Priorities 2025–
2028
C.1. Status of Developing the MSA 5-Year
Research Priorities 2025–2028
C.2. SSC Work Session To Refine the MSA
Research Priority
D. Assessing Conservation and Biodiversity
Protections Through Spatial
Management
D.1. Simulating Benefits, Costs and TradeOffs of Spatial Management
D.2. New Framework Reveals Gaps in U.S.
Ocean Biodiversity Protection
E. National Academies of Sciences,
Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM)
Committee on Assessing Equity in the
Distribution of Fisheries Management
Benefits
F. Public Comment
G. SSC Discussion and Recommendations
Thursday, March 14, 2024, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
HST
10. Other Business
A. June SSC Meetings Dates
11. Summary of SSC Recommendations to
the Council
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Agenda for the Executive and Budget SC
Meeting
Friday, March 15, 2024, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. HST
1. Introductions and Approval of Agenda
2. Financial Reports
3. Administrative Reports
4. Council Family Changes
5. Meetings and Workshops
6. Agenda Items for May CCC Meeting
7. Other Business
8. Status of Pacific Remote Islands and
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands
Sanctuary
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9. Public Comment
10. Discussion and Recommendations
Agenda for the Joint Meeting of the AP, FIAC
and NCFAC
Tuesday, March 19, 2024, 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
HST
1. IRA Discussion
2. EEJ Priorities Discussion
3. Other Business
4. Public Comment
5. Discussion and Recommendations
Agenda for the 198th Council Meeting
Monday, March 18, 2024, 10 a.m. to 5:30
p.m. HST
1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Approval of the 198th Council Meeting
(CM) Agenda
3. Approval of the 197th CM Meeting
Minutes
4. Executive Director’s Report
5. Agency Reports
A. National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS)
A.1. Pacific Islands Regional Office
A.2. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science
Center
B. NOAA Office of General Counsel Pacific
Islands Section
C. Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee
D. Enforcement
D.1. U.S. Coast Guard
D.2. NOAA Office of Law Enforcement
D.3. NOAA Office of General Counsel
Enforcement Section
E. U.S. State Department
F. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
G. Public Comment
H. Council Discussion and Action
6. Council Member Island Reports
A. American Samoa
B. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands (CNMI)
C. Guam
D. Hawaii
E. Public Comment
F. Council Discussion and Action
7. Program Reports
A. Advisory Panel Action Plans
A.1. American Samoa Advisory Panel
A.2. Guam Advisory Panel
A.3. CNMI Advisory Panel
A.4. Hawaii Advisory Panel
B. 2023 Fishermen Observations
C. Equity and Environmental Justice (EEJ)
C.1. National EEJ Policy and Plan
C.2. Regional Implementation EEJ Plan
C.3. NASEM Report on Assessing Equity in
Distribution of Fisheries Management
Benefits
C.4. Council EEJ and Council Coordination
Committee (CCC) Plans
D. Program Planning and Multi-Year
Priorities
D.1. MSA Research Priorities 2025–2028
D.2. Program Plan and Budget
D.3. SSC 3-Year Plan
E. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Proposal
F. Regional IRA Modernize Management
Proposals
G. Public Comment
H. Council Discussion and Action
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14445
Monday, March 18, 2024, 5:15 p.m. to 5:30
p.m. HST
Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items
Monday, March 18, 2024, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
HST
Fishers Forum—Fish ID 101: Know Your
Catch
Tuesday, March 19, 2024, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30
p.m. HST
8. Report from NMFS Deputy Assistant
Administrator for Regulatory Programs
9. Council/Advisory Body Breakout Session
1—IRA Priority Areas
A. Breakout Sessions (in-person only)
10. Council/Advisory Body Breakout Session
2—IRA Continued
A. Breakout Sessions (in-person only)
B. Report Out on IRA Breakout Groups
11. Council/Advisory Body Breakout Session
3—EEJ: Implement; Fund; Empower;
Advocate
A. Breakout Sessions (in-person only)
B. Report out on EEJ Breakout Groups
Wednesday, March 20, 2024, 8:30 a.m. to 5
p.m. HST
12. Action Items
A. MHI Deep 7 Bottomfish
A.1. 2024 MHI Deep 7 WPSAR Report
A.2. 2024 MHI Deep 7 Stock Assessment
B. Guam Bottomfish
B.1. 2024 Guam WPSAR Report
B.2. 2024 Guam Bottomfish Update Stock
Assessment
C. Terms of Reference for Guam Bottomfish
Data WPSAR
D. Advisory Group Report and
Recommendations
D.1. Scientific & Statistical Committee
E. Public Comment
F. Council Discussion and Action
13. Program Planning
A. Marine Resource Education Program
B. NMFS Data Confidentiality Proposed
Rule
C. Status of Pacific Remote Islands and
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands
Sanctuary Proposals
D. Hawaii Small-Boat Fisheries Project
Update
E. Breakout Group Reports
E.1. IRA Priorities and Projects
E.2. EEJ Planning
F. Advisory Group Report and
Recommendations
F.1. Joint Advisory Panel, FIAC, NCFAC
F.2. Scientific & Statistical Committee
F. Public Comment
G. Council Discussion and Action
14. Pelagic and International
A. 2023 Longline Fishery Performance and
Economic Snapshot Reports
A.1. Hawaii Longline Fishery Report
A.2. American Samoa Longline Fishery
Report
B. Report on Multi-Year Specification
Framework for Territorial Bigeye Catch
and Allocation Limits
C. 12th Meeting of South Pacific Regional
Fisheries Management Organisation
D. Upcoming Inter-American Tropical
Tuna Commission Management Issues
E. Advisory Group Report and
Recommendations
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 39 / Tuesday, February 27, 2024 / Notices
E.1. Scientific & Statistical Committee
F. Public Comment
G. Council Discussion and Action
15. Administrative Matters
A. Financial Reports
B. Administrative Reports
C. Council Family Changes
D. Meetings and Workshops
E. 2025–2028 Program Plan
F. Executive and Budget Standing
Committee Report
G. Public Comment
H. Council Discussion and Action
16. Other Business
Non-emergency issues not contained
in this agenda may come before the
Council for discussion and formal
Council action during its 198th 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
5 days prior to the meeting date.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: February 21, 2024.
Rey Israel Marquez,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024–03886 Filed 2–26–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
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Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for
Review and Approval; Comment
Request; Alaska Region Crab Permits
The Department of Commerce will
submit the following information
collection request to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for
review and clearance in accordance
with the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995, on or after the date of publication
of this notice. We invite the general
public and other Federal agencies to
comment on proposed, and continuing
information collections, which helps us
assess the impact of our information
collection requirements and minimize
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the public’s reporting burden. Public
comments were previously requested
via the Federal Register on September
20, 2023, during a 60-day comment
period. This notice allows for an
additional 30 days for public comments.
Agency: National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
Title: Alaska Region Crab Permits.
OMB Control Number: 0648–0514.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Request: Regular submission
(extension of a current information
collection).
Number of Respondents: 468.
Average Hours per Response:
Application for Annual Crab IFQ
Permit: 2.5 hours; Application for
Annual Crab IPQ Permit: 2 hours;
Application for Annual Crab Harvesting
Cooperative IFQ Permit: 23 hours;
Application for Registered Crab
Receiver (RCR) Permit: 30 minutes;
Application for BSAI Crab Hired Master
(skipper) Permit: 1 hour; Application for
Federal Crab Vessel Permit (FCVP): 20
minutes; Application for Transfer of
Crab QS: 2 hours; Application for
Transfer of Crab PQS: 2.5 hours;
Application for Transfer (lease) of Crab
IFQ: 2.5 hours; Application for Transfer
of IFQ between Crab Harvesting
Cooperatives: 2 hours; Application for
Transfer (Lease) of Crab IPQ: 2.5 hours;
Application for Converted CPO QS and
CPO IFQ: 30 minutes; Application for
CR Program Eligibility to Receive QS/
PQS or IFQ/IPQ by Transfer: 2 hours;
Application for Annual Exemption from
Western Aleutian Islands Golden King
Crab West Region Delivery
Requirements: 2 hours; Application for
Exemption from CR Crab North or South
Region Delivery Requirements: 20
hours; North or South Region Delivery
Exemption Report: 20 hours; Voluntary
Community Impact Report or IPQ
Holder Report (N or S Response Report):
2 hours; CDQ Group Notification of
Community Representative: 5 hours;
Application to Become an ECCO: 2.5
hours; Application for Transfer of Crab
QS/IFQ to or from an ECCO: 2 hours;
ECCO Annual Report: 4 hours; BSAI
Crab Rationalization Program QS
Beneficiary Designation Form: 30
minutes; File an Appeal to NMFS
Decisions: 4 hours.
Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,450
hours.
Needs and Uses: The National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS), Alaska
Regional Office, is requesting extension
of a currently approved information
collection for the Crab Rationalization
Program (CR Program).
This information collection is
necessary for NMFS to manage the CR
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Program. The CR Program was
implemented on April 1, 2005 (70 FR
10174, March 2, 2005). The CR Program
is a limited access privilege program
that allocates the harvest of crab
fisheries managed under the Fishery
Management Plan for Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs
(FMP) among harvesters, processors,
and coastal communities. Regulations
implementing the FMP and the CR
Program are at 50 CFR part 680.
Information on the CR Program is
posted on the NMFS Alaska Region
website at https://www.fisheries.
noaa.gov/alaska/sustainable-fisheries/
bering-sea-and-aleutian-islands-crabrationalization-program.
This information collection includes
the forms used by participants in the CR
Program to apply for or renew permits;
transfer or lease individual fishing quota
(IFQ), individual processor quota (IPQ),
quota share (QS), or processor quota
share (PQS); and apply for exemption
from regional delivery requirements.
This information collection also
includes the following reports for which
no collection forms are used:
• The Community Impact Report or
IPQ Holder Report is submitted by a
community entity or IPQ holder,
respectively, and provides
documentation needed by NMFS to
evaluate the efficacy of privately
administered contracts.
• The CDQ Group Notification of
Community Representative is submitted
by the Western Alaska Community
Development Quota (CDQ) groups
representing Saint Paul and Saint
George to designate to NMFS a single
entity as the regional representative for
these two communities.
• The Eligible Crab Community
Organization (ECCO) Annual Report is
submitted by the ECCO. It details the
use of the crab QS and IFQ and is
intended to ensure that the ECCO
maintains the QS and IFQ to benefit
residents of eligible communities.
Affected Public: Individuals or
households; Business or other for-profit
organizations; Not-for-profit
institutions.
Frequency: Annually; As needed.
Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary;
Required to Obtain or Retain Benefits;
Mandatory.
Legal Authority: Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management
Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.).
This information collection request
may be viewed at www.reginfo.gov.
Follow the instructions to view the
Department of Commerce collections
currently under review by OMB.
Written comments and
recommendations for the proposed
E:\FR\FM\27FEN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 39 (Tuesday, February 27, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14444-14446]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-03886]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XD742]
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 151st Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), Executive
and Budget Standing Committee (SC) and its 198th Council meeting to
take actions on fishery management issues in the Western Pacific
Region. The Council will also hold a joint meeting of the Advisory
Panel (AP), the Fishing Industry Advisory Committee (FIAC), and the
Non-Commercial Fisheries Advisory Committee (NCFAC).
DATES: The meetings will be held between March 12 and March 20, 2024.
For specific times and agendas, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
ADDRESSES: The 151st SSC meeting will be held as a hybrid meeting for
SSC members and the public, with a remote participation option
available via WebEx. In-person attendance will be hosted at the Council
office, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813.
The Executive and Budget SC meeting will be held as a hybrid
meeting for members and the public, with a remote participation option
available via WebEx. In-person attendance will be hosted at the Council
office, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813.
The Joint Meeting of the AP, FIAC, and NCFAC, and the 198th Council
Meeting will be held as hybrid meetings for the advisory body members,
Council members and the public, with a remote participation option
available via Webex. In-person attendance will be hosted at the Ala
Moana Hotel, Hibiscus Ballroom, 410 Atkinson Drive, Honolulu, HI 96814.
Specific information on joining the meeting, 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.
Council address: Western Pacific Fishery Management Council, 1164
Bishop Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director,
Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; phone: (808) 522-8220.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 151st SSC meeting will be held between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time (HST) on March 12-13, and 9 a.m.
and 1 p.m. on March 14, 2024. The Executive and Budget SC meeting will
be held between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. HST on March 15, 2024. The Joint
Meeting of the AP, FIAC and NCFAC will be held between 4:30 p.m. and 6
p.m. HST on March 19, 2024. The 198th Council Meeting will be held
between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. HST on March 18, 2024, 8:30 a.m. and 4:30
p.m. HST on March 19, 2024 and 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. HST on March 20,
2024. Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items will be held between 5:15 p.m.
and 5:30 p.m. HST on March 18, 2024. The Fishers Forum will be held
between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. HST on March 18, 2024.
Agenda items noted as ``Final Action'' refer to actions that may
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 Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act (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 198th Council meeting will be
available at www.wpcouncil.org. Written public comments on final action
items at the 198th Council meeting should be received at the Council
office by 5 p.m. HST, Thursday, March 14, 2024, 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 (audio only) for the purposes of generating the minutes of the
meeting.
Agenda for the 151th SSC Meeting
Tuesday, March 12, 2024, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. HST
1. Introductions
2. Approval of Draft Agenda and Assignment of Rapporteurs
3. Status of the 150th SSC Meeting Recommendations
4. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) Director Report
A. Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) Deep 7 Bottomfish Fishery
Benchmark Stock Assessment
A.1. Western Pacific Stock Assessment Review (WPSAR) Report
A.2. Stock Assessment
B. MHI Small Boat Fisheries Project Update
C. Guam Bottomfish Stock Assessment Update
C.1. WPSAR Report
C.2. Stock Assessment
D. Guam Bottomfish Data WPSAR Terms of Reference
[[Page 14445]]
E. Public Comment
F. SSC Discussion and Recommendations
6. Pelagic and International Fisheries
A. 2023 Longline Fishery Performance and Economic Snapshot
Reports
A.1. Hawaii Longline Fishery Report
A.2. American Samoa Longline Fishery Report
B. Public Comment
C. SSC Discussion and Recommendations
7. Program Planning and Research (Part 1)
A. PIFSC Ongoing Research Updates
A.1. Hawaii Shallow-Set Longline Fishery Species Distribution
Model
A.2. Status of Leatherback, Loggerhead, and Green Sea Turtle
Research and Assessments
A.3. NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research Beyond the
Blue Pacific Campaign
B. Public Comment
Wednesday, March 13, 2024, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. HST
8. Protected Species
A. Overview of the 2024 Hawaii Pelagic False Killer Whale Survey
B. SSC False Killer Whale Working Group Update
C. Public Comment
D. SSC Discussion and Recommendations
9. Program Planning and Research (Part 2)
A. Council 5-Year Program Plan Updates for 2025-2029
B. Review of SSC Plan 2024-2026
C. MSA 5-Year Research Priorities 2025-2028
C.1. Status of Developing the MSA 5-Year Research Priorities
2025-2028
C.2. SSC Work Session To Refine the MSA Research Priority
D. Assessing Conservation and Biodiversity Protections Through
Spatial Management
D.1. Simulating Benefits, Costs and Trade-Offs of Spatial
Management
D.2. New Framework Reveals Gaps in U.S. Ocean Biodiversity
Protection
E. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
(NASEM) Committee on Assessing Equity in the Distribution of
Fisheries Management Benefits
F. Public Comment
G. SSC Discussion and Recommendations
Thursday, March 14, 2024, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. HST
10. Other Business
A. June SSC Meetings Dates
11. Summary of SSC Recommendations to the Council
Agenda for the Executive and Budget SC Meeting
Friday, March 15, 2024, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. HST
1. Introductions and Approval of Agenda
2. Financial Reports
3. Administrative Reports
4. Council Family Changes
5. Meetings and Workshops
6. Agenda Items for May CCC Meeting
7. Other Business
8. Status of Pacific Remote Islands and Northwestern Hawaiian
Islands Sanctuary
9. Public Comment
10. Discussion and Recommendations
Agenda for the Joint Meeting of the AP, FIAC and NCFAC
Tuesday, March 19, 2024, 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. HST
1. IRA Discussion
2. EEJ Priorities Discussion
3. Other Business
4. Public Comment
5. Discussion and Recommendations
Agenda for the 198th Council Meeting
Monday, March 18, 2024, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. HST
1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Approval of the 198th Council Meeting (CM) Agenda
3. Approval of the 197th CM Meeting Minutes
4. Executive Director's Report
5. Agency Reports
A. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
A.1. Pacific Islands Regional Office
A.2. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
B. NOAA Office of General Counsel Pacific Islands Section
C. Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee
D. Enforcement
D.1. U.S. Coast Guard
D.2. NOAA Office of Law Enforcement
D.3. NOAA Office of General Counsel Enforcement Section
E. U.S. State Department
F. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
G. Public Comment
H. Council Discussion and Action
6. Council Member Island Reports
A. American Samoa
B. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)
C. Guam
D. Hawaii
E. Public Comment
F. Council Discussion and Action
7. Program Reports
A. Advisory Panel Action Plans
A.1. American Samoa Advisory Panel
A.2. Guam Advisory Panel
A.3. CNMI Advisory Panel
A.4. Hawaii Advisory Panel
B. 2023 Fishermen Observations
C. Equity and Environmental Justice (EEJ)
C.1. National EEJ Policy and Plan
C.2. Regional Implementation EEJ Plan
C.3. NASEM Report on Assessing Equity in Distribution of
Fisheries Management Benefits
C.4. Council EEJ and Council Coordination Committee (CCC) Plans
D. Program Planning and Multi-Year Priorities
D.1. MSA Research Priorities 2025-2028
D.2. Program Plan and Budget
D.3. SSC 3-Year Plan
E. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Proposal
F. Regional IRA Modernize Management Proposals
G. Public Comment
H. Council Discussion and Action
Monday, March 18, 2024, 5:15 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. HST
Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items
Monday, March 18, 2024, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. HST
Fishers Forum--Fish ID 101: Know Your Catch
Tuesday, March 19, 2024, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. HST
8. Report from NMFS Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory
Programs
9. Council/Advisory Body Breakout Session 1--IRA Priority Areas
A. Breakout Sessions (in-person only)
10. Council/Advisory Body Breakout Session 2--IRA Continued
A. Breakout Sessions (in-person only)
B. Report Out on IRA Breakout Groups
11. Council/Advisory Body Breakout Session 3--EEJ: Implement; Fund;
Empower; Advocate
A. Breakout Sessions (in-person only)
B. Report out on EEJ Breakout Groups
Wednesday, March 20, 2024, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. HST
12. Action Items
A. MHI Deep 7 Bottomfish
A.1. 2024 MHI Deep 7 WPSAR Report
A.2. 2024 MHI Deep 7 Stock Assessment
B. Guam Bottomfish
B.1. 2024 Guam WPSAR Report
B.2. 2024 Guam Bottomfish Update Stock Assessment
C. Terms of Reference for Guam Bottomfish Data WPSAR
D. Advisory Group Report and Recommendations
D.1. Scientific & Statistical Committee
E. Public Comment
F. Council Discussion and Action
13. Program Planning
A. Marine Resource Education Program
B. NMFS Data Confidentiality Proposed Rule
C. Status of Pacific Remote Islands and Northwestern Hawaiian
Islands Sanctuary Proposals
D. Hawaii Small-Boat Fisheries Project Update
E. Breakout Group Reports
E.1. IRA Priorities and Projects
E.2. EEJ Planning
F. Advisory Group Report and Recommendations
F.1. Joint Advisory Panel, FIAC, NCFAC
F.2. Scientific & Statistical Committee
F. Public Comment
G. Council Discussion and Action
14. Pelagic and International
A. 2023 Longline Fishery Performance and Economic Snapshot
Reports
A.1. Hawaii Longline Fishery Report
A.2. American Samoa Longline Fishery Report
B. Report on Multi-Year Specification Framework for Territorial
Bigeye Catch and Allocation Limits
C. 12th Meeting of South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management
Organisation
D. Upcoming Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission Management
Issues
E. Advisory Group Report and Recommendations
[[Page 14446]]
E.1. Scientific & Statistical Committee
F. Public Comment
G. Council Discussion and Action
15. Administrative Matters
A. Financial Reports
B. Administrative Reports
C. Council Family Changes
D. Meetings and Workshops
E. 2025-2028 Program Plan
F. Executive and Budget Standing Committee Report
G. Public Comment
H. Council Discussion and Action
16. Other Business
Non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before
the Council for discussion and formal Council action during its 198th
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 5 days prior to the meeting date.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: February 21, 2024.
Rey Israel Marquez,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-03886 Filed 2-26-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
