Meetings: Atlantic Fishery Management Council,

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Federal Register: April 7, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 66)NoticesPage 16986-16987From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

DOCID:fr07ap98-56

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

I.D. 033198DMid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

SUMMARY: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) and its Habitat Committee (meeting with the Coastal Migratory Committee, Demersal Committee, Dogfish Committee, Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Committee, Squid, Mackerel, and Butterfish Committee, Habitat Advisors, and Scientific and Statistical Committee), Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Committee, Demersal Species Committee, Executive Committee, Committee Chairmen, Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Committee, Information and Education Committee, and Comprehensive Management Committee will hold public meetings.

DATES: The meetings will be held Tuesday, April 21, 1998 to Thursday, April 23, 1998. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES: This meeting will be held at the Wilmington Hilton, I-95 and Naamans Road, Claymont, DE; telephone: 302-792-2700. Council address: Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 300 S. New Street, Dover, DE 19904; telephone: 302-674-2331.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David R. Keifer, Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; telephone: 302-674-2331.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Meeting Dates

Tuesday, April 21, 1998, 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.--The Habitat Committee (meeting with the Coastal Migratory Committee, Demersal Committee, Dogfish Committee, Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Committee, Atlantic Squid, Mackerel, and Butterfish Committee, Habitat Advisors, and Scientific and Statistical Committee).

Tuesday, April 21, 1998, 1:00-4:00 p.m.--The Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Committee will meet.

Tuesday, April 21, 1998, 4:00-5:00 p.m.--The Information and Education Committee will meet.

Tuesday, April 21, 1998, 5:00-6:00 p.m.--The Demersal Species Committee will meet.

Wednesday, April 22, 1998, 7:00-9:00 a.m.--The Executive Committee will meet.

Wednesday, April 22, 1998, 9:00-10:00 a.m.--The Committee Chairmen will meet.

Wednesday, April 22, 1998, 10:00 a.m. until noon--The Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Committee will meet.

Wednesday, April 22, 1998, 1:00-5:00 p.m.--Council will meet.

Thursday, April 23, 1998, 7:00-9:00 a.m.--The Comprehensive Management Committee will meet.

Thursday, April 23, 1998, 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.--Council will meet.

Agenda items include recommendations on bluefish essential fish habitat (EFH); recommendations on EFH for summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass; discussion on distribution and abundance of scup, black sea bass, dogfish, surfclams, ocean quahogs, squid, mackerel and butterfish; review and possible recommendations

[Page 16987]on request from Gulf Council that NMFS impose a limited access program for highly migratory species vessels for hire in the Gulf of Mexico in conjunction with a similar action being taken by the Gulf Council for fisheries under its jurisdiction; description and analysis of current fleet of vessels holding permits in the Northeast Region fisheries; review of fleet analysis and economic analysis of the commercial Atlantic mackerel fishery; discuss and possibly adopt qualifying criteria for limited entry to the commercial Atlantic mackerel fishery; review and comment on proposed management measures for silver hake and winter flounder public hearing documents; review 1998 work schedule; review of potential Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Committee advisors; discussion of economic issues for Council's annual surfclam and ocean quahog quota setting; possible modification of the Council's surfclam and ocean quahog quota setting policy; review and possible recommendations on proposed Federal lobster regulations; review and possible adoption of Monkfish Fishery Management Plan; review and possible recommendations on sea scallops management measures; approval of additional Scientific & Statistical Committee member; review issue one of Council Newsletter; view demonstration of Council's website; discuss possible involvement in trade shows; and review comprehensive management matrix.

Although other issues not contained in this agenda may come before these Committees for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, those issues may not be the subject of formal action during these meetings. Action will be restricted to those issues specifically identified in the agenda listed in this notice.

Special Accommodations

These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Joanna Davis at the Council (see ADDRESSES) at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

Dated: April 1, 1998. Gary C. Matlock, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

FR Doc. 98-8991Filed4-6-98; 8:45 amBILLING CODE 3510-22-F

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