[Federal Register: January 22, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 14)]
[Notices]               
[Page 3704]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22ja08-41]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN: 0648-XF11

 
North Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

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SUMMARY: The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its 
advisory committees will hold public meetings in Seattle, WA.

DATES: The meetings will be held February 4-12, 2008. See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Renaissance Hotel, 515 
Madison Street, Seattle, WA. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific 
locations.
    Council address: North Pacific Fishery Management Council, 605 W. 
4th Avenue, Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 99501-2252.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Witherell, Council staff, 
telephone: (907) 271-2809.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Council will begin its plenary session 
at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, February 6 continuing through Tuesday February 
12, 2008. The Council's Advisory Panel (AP) will begin at 8 a.m., 
Monday, February 4 and continue through Friday February 8. The 
Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will begin at 8 a.m. on 
Monday, February 4 and continue through Wednesday February 6, 2008. The 
Data Collection Committee will meet Monday, February 4, from 5 p.m. to 
7 p.m. in the Northwest Room. The Ecosystem Committee will meet 
Wednesday, February 6, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Madison Room. The 
Enforcement Committee will meet Tuesday, February 5, from 1 p.m. to 5 
p.m. in the James Room. All meetings are open to the public, except 
executive sessions.
    Council Plenary Session: The agenda for the Council's plenary 
session will include the following issues. The Council may take 
appropriate action on any of the issues identified.
    1. Reports
    Executive Director's Report (including recommendations on operating 
procedures)
    NMFS Management Report (legal issues re: Pacific cod jig sector 
State water management)
    NMFS Enforcement/NOAA General Counsel Enforcement Report
    U.S. Coast Guard Report
    Alaska Department of Fish & Game Report
    U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Report
    IPHC Report
    Protected Species Report (including Aleutian Island Pollock 
Experimental Fishing Permit (EFP) report, Steller Sea Lion (SSL) 
consultation update, SSL Mitigation Committee progress report)
    2. BSAI Crab Issues: Report from Crab Committee; action as 
necessary; Report on BSAI Crab data collection quality and 
confidentiality; Report on proposed economic analysis for program 3-
year review; Initial review of BSAI ``C'' Share active participation; 
Initial review of BSAI Crab Arbitration Regulations; Discussion paper 
on BSAI Crab Arbitrator Immunity; Initial review St. George protection 
measures; Discussion paper on BSAI Crab loan eligibility
    3. License Limitation Program (LLP) Trawl Recency: Initial review 
of EA/RIR/IRFA alternatives to address modifications to LLP 
requirements.
    4. Amendment 80: Final action on Amendment 80 post-delivery 
transfers and rollovers.
    5. Observer Program: Initial review of Observer Program regulation 
package.
    6. American Fisheries Act: Review 2007 Co-op reports and 2008 co-op 
agreements.
    7. CGOA Rockfish Program: Review 2007 Cooperative reports; Review 
outline for Pilot Program review.
    8. Social and Economic Data Collection: Receive Committee report 
and action as necessary (T).
    9. Bycatch Issues: Review EFP results; Review stream of origin 
information; Refine BSAI salmon bycatch alternatives; other action as 
necessary; Review GOA salmon and crab bycatch discussion paper (SSC 
only).
    10. Groundfish Management: Initial review of GOA Other Species 
catch specifications; review discussion paper ``Other Species'' 
Management; Non-target Committee Report (Council only); Discussion 
paper on Vessel Monitor System (VMS) exemption for dinglebar gear 
(Council only); Report on BS and AI P cod area split; action as 
necessary; Initial review of 4E Seabird Avoidance measures; report on 
flatfish stock assessment Center for Independent Experts review (SSC 
only).
    11. Ecosystem Issues: Preliminary review of Arctic FMP; action as 
necessary; Report from Ecosystem Committee; report on Alaska Marine 
Ecosystem Forum.
    12. Staff Tasking: Review Committees and tasking, and take action 
as necessary; Review broader (PSEIS) community outreach plan and 
actions pursuant to the NMFS Policy on stakeholder participation.
    13. Other Business
    The SSC agenda will include the following issues:
    1. Protected Species Report
    2. BSAI Crab Issues
    3. CGOA Rockfish
    4. Data Collection
    5. Bycatch Issues
    6. Groundfish Management
    7. Ecosystem Issues
    The Advisory Panel will address the same agenda issues as the 
Council, except for 1 reports. The Agenda is subject to 
change, and the latest version will be posted at http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/
.


Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Gail Bendixen at (907) 271-2809 at 
least 7 working days prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: January 16, 2008.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-948 Filed 1-18-08; 8:45 am]

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