Notices. Notice of public workshop
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BILLING CODE 3510-22-P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 081705B] Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Notice of Crab Rationalization Program Public Workshop AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public workshop. SUMMARY: NMFS will present a public workshop on the new Crab Rationalization Program (Program) for participants in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
(BSAI)king and Tanner crab fisheries. At this workshop, NMFS will review the Program, discuss the key Program elements, provide information on the application process, and answer questions. This workshop is specifically intended to address issues related to the Arbitration System portion of the Program. NMFS is conducting this public workshop to assist participants in complying with the requirements of this new Program. DATES: The workshop will be held on Thursday, September 1, 2005, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST). ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held at the Leif Erickson Hall, 2245 Northwest 57th Street, Seattle, WA. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Glenn Merrill, telephone: 907-586-7228; e-mail: *glenn.merrill@noaa.gov* . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 2, 2005, NMFS published a final rule implementing the Program as Amendments 18 and 19 to the Fishery Management Plan for Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs (70 FR 10174). NMFS conducted four public workshops in March and April of 2005 in Alaska, Oregon, and Washington to assist fishery participants in complying with the requirements of the Program. At these workshops, NMFS reviewed the Program, discussed the key Program elements, and provided information on the application process. NMFS conducted an additional workshop on the Arbitration System in Seattle, WA, on May 9, 2005. As with the May workshop, the September 1, 2005 workshop is intended to specifically focus on the Arbitration System. Elements related to economic data collection, monitoring and enforcement, electronic reporting, quota share and individual fishing quota application and transfer provisions, the appeals process, fee collection, and the loan program may be addressed secondarily. Additionally, NMFS will answer questions from workshop participants. For further information on the Crab Rationalization Program, please visit the NMFS Alaska Region Internet site at *www.fakr.noaa.gov* . Special Accommodations This workshop is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for special accommodations should be directed to Glenn Merrill (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT ) at least 5 working days before the workshop date. Dated: August 18, 2005. Alan D. Risenhoover, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E5-4608 Filed 8-22-05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 081705A] Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Hearings AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of a public hearing. SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene a public hearing to solicit comments on a Regulatory Amendment to the Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan to Set Commercial and Recreational Management Measures for Grouper. DATES: The public hearing will held on Wednesday, September 7, 2005. The hearing will begin at 6 p.m. and conclude no later than 10:30 p.m. ADDRESSES: The public hearing will be held at the Best Western The Westshore Hotel, 1200 North Westshore Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33607; telephone:
(813)282-3636. *Council address* : Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 North Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Stu Kennedy, Fishery Biologist, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone:
(813)348-1630. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene a public hearing to solicit comments on a Regulatory Amendment to the Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan to set Commercial and Recreational Management Measures for Grouper. Proposed measures include setting grouper trip limits for the commercial fishery, reduce recreational red grouper harvest in the Gulf of Mexico, and minimize associated impacts on gag and other groupers. This Regulatory Amendment will address measures to set commercial trip limits for deep-water and shallow-water grouper to extend the fishing season into December, reduce recreational red grouper harvest in the Gulf of Mexico, and minimize associated impacts on gag and other groupers: Secretarial Amendment 1 to the Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan of the Gulf of Mexico established a rebuilding plan and 6.56 million pounds of gutted weight allowable biological catch for red grouper. During 2003 and 2004, recreational red grouper landings exceeded the 1.25 million pounds gutted weight recreational allocation and during 2004, commercial fishing was closed on November 15 because the commercial quota was reached. In March 2005, the NMFS implemented an emergency rule to set trip limits but they will expire in February 2006 unless continued through this regulatory amendment. In July 2005, the NMFS implemented an interim rule to reduce the 2005 recreational red grouper harvest to levels in Secretarial Amendment 1 but they will expire in January 2006 unless continued through this regulatory amendment. The purpose of this regulatory amendment is to adjust regulatory management measures for the Gulf of Mexico red grouper fishery. New or adjusted management measures are needed if the Council intends to reduce the adverse socioeconomic effects of derby fishing in the commercial fishery, return recreational landings to levels specified in the red grouper rebuilding plan, and prevent or minimize impacts on gag and other groupers resulting from more restrictive recreational red grouper regulations. A copy of the Amendment and related materials can be obtained by calling the Council office at
(813)348-1630. Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before this group for discussion, those issues may not be the subject of formal action during this meeting. Action will be restricted to those issues specifically identified in this notice and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council's intent to take final action to address the emergency. Special Accommodations This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Dawn Aring at the Council (see ADDRESSES ) by August 29, 2005. Dated: August 18, 2005. Emily Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E5-4600 Filed 8-22-05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 081705C] New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; committee meeting. SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council's (Council) Scallop Oversight Committee will meet to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). DATES: The two-day meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 7, 2005, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursday, September 8, 2005, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Four Points by Sheraton, 407 Squire Road, Revere, MA 02151; telephone:
(781)284-7200. *Council address* : New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council; telephone:
(978)465-0492. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The items of discussion in the committee's agenda are as follows: Wednesday, September 7, 2005, at 9 a.m. The Oversight Committee will review the analysis of alternatives in Framework Adjustment 18 (FW 18) and identify preferred alternatives. The Council will take a final vote on these recommendations when it meets on September 13-15, 2005 in Fairhaven, MA. FW 18 includes alternatives addressing the following: area rotation measures; specifications for trip and days-at-sea
(DAS)allocations in 2006 and 2007; a proposed Notice Action procedure to adjust 2007 Elephant Trunk Area and open area allocations based on surveys of scallop biomass; measures to constrain the growth of the general category scallop fishery; an increase in the crew limits for controlled access area trips; a new bycatch data collection and monitoring program; changes in controlled access area trip exchange measures and deadlines; a measure to further liberalize the broken trip exemption program, and changes in the research set-aside program. Thursday, September 8, 2005, at 8:30 a.m. Continuation of above agenda. Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before this group for discussion, those issues may not be the subject of formal action during this meeting. Action will be restricted to those issues specifically identified in this notice and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council's intent to take final action to address the emergency. Special Accommodations This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Paul J. Howard (see ADDRESSES ) at least 5 days prior to the meeting date. Dated: August 18, 2005. Emily Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E5-4598 Filed 8-22-05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 081805A] 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 Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory entities will hold public meetings. DATES: The Council and its advisory entities will meet September 18-23, 2005. The Council meeting will begin on Monday, September 19, at 4 p.m., reconvening each day through Friday. All meetings are open to the public, except a closed session will be held at 4 p.m. on Monday, September 19 to address litigation and personnel matters. The Council will meet as late as necessary each day to complete its scheduled business. ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Embassy Suites Portland Airport, 7900 NE 82nd Avenue, Portland, OR 97220, telephone: 503-460-3000. *Council address:* Pacific Fishery Management Council, 7700 NE Ambassador Place, Suite 200, Portland, OR 97220. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Donald O. McIsaac, Executive Director; telephone: 503-820-2280. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following items are on the Council agenda, but not necessarily in this order: A. Call to Order 1. Opening Remarks, Introductions 2. Roll Call 3. Executive Director's Report 4. Approve Agenda B. Administrative Matters 1. Approval of Council Meeting Minutes 2. Council Meeting Agenda Planning 3. Legislative Matters 4. Fiscal Matters 5. Appointments to Advisory Bodies, Standing Committees, and Other Forums 6. Work Load Priorities and Draft November 2005 Council Meeting Agenda C. Highly Migratory Species Management 1. NMFS Report 2. Bigeye Tuna Overfishing Response Update 3. Proposed Council Operating Procedure for Approving Exempted Fishing Permits for Highly Migratory Species D. Pacific Halibut Management 1. Proposed Changes to the Catch Sharing Plan and Annual Regulations 2. Pacific Halibut Bycatch Estimate for the International Pacific Halibut Commission E. Habitat 1. Current Habitat Issues F. Groundfish Management 1. Status of 2005 Groundfish Fisheries and Consideration of Inseason Adjustments 2. NMFS Report 3. Amendment 18 (Bycatch) 4. Amendment 19 (Essential Fish Habitat) 5. Final Consideration of Inseason Adjustments, If Necessary 6. Process and Schedule for 2007-2008 Biennial Management Specifications Adoption 7. Rebuilding Plan Revision Policy 8. Stock Assessments for 2007-2008 Groundfish Fisheries 9. Management Specifications for Spiny Dogfish and Pacific Cod for 2006 G. Salmon Management 1. Klamath River Fall Chinook Conservation Objective 2. Salmon Methodology Review H. Marine Protected Areas 1. Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary SCHEDULE OF ANCILLARY MEETINGS SUNDAY, September 18, 2005 Groundfish Management Team 1 p.m. MONDAY, September 19, 2005 Council Secretariat 8 a.m. Groundfish Advisory Subpanel 8 a.m. Groundfish Management Team 8 a.m. Habitat Committee 8 a.m. Scientific and Statistical Committee 8 a.m. Model Evaluation Workgroup 9 a.m. Special Briefing: Groundfish Stock Assessments - A Summary by Northwest Fisheries Science Center 9 a.m. Legislative Committee 10:30 a.m. Budget Committee 1 p.m. Special Presentation: “Common Ground: Oregon's Ocean” (Green Fire Productions Marine Habitat Protection Video) 5 p.m. Enforcement Consultants 5:30 p.m. TUESDAY, September 20, 2005 Council Secretariat 7 a.m. California State Delegation 7 a.m. Oregon State Delegation 7 a.m. Washington State Delegation 7 a.m. Groundfish Advisory Subpanel 8 a.m. Groundfish Management Team 8 a.m. Scientific and Statistical Committee 8 a.m. Enforcement Consultants As necessary WEDNESDAY, September 21, 2005 Council Secretariat 7 a.m. California State Delegation 7 a.m. Oregon State Delegation 7 a.m. Washington State Delegation 7 a.m. Groundfish Advisory Subpanel 8 a.m. Groundfish Management Team 8 a.m. Salmon Advisory Subpanel 8 a.m. Salmon Technical Team 8 a.m. Scientific and Statistical Committee 8 a.m. Enforcement Consultants As necessary THURSDAY, September 22, 2005 Council Secretariat 7 a.m. California State Delegation 7 a.m. Oregon State Delegation 7 a.m. Washington State Delegation 7 a.m. Groundfish Advisory Subpanel 8 a.m. Groundfish Management Team 8 a.m. Enforcement Consultants As necessary FRIDAY, September 23, 2005 Council Secretariat 7 a.m. California State Delegation 7 a.m. Oregon State Delegation 7 a.m. Washington State Delegation 7 a.m. Enforcement Consultants As necessary Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before this Council for discussion, those issues may not be the subject of formal Council 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 Fishery Conservation and Management Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council's intent to take final action to address the emergency. Special Accommodations These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Ms. Carolyn Porter at 503-820-2280 at least 5 days prior to the meeting date. Dated: August 18, 2005. Emily Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E5-4599 Filed 8-22-05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 081605B] Endangered and Threatened Species; Take of Anadromous Fish AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; receipt of applications for scientific research permits. SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that NMFS has received two scientific research permit applications (1533 and 1548) relating to Pacific salmon. The proposed research is intended to increase knowledge of species listed under the Endangered Species Act
(ESA)and to help guide management and conservation efforts. DATES: Comments or requests for a public hearing on the applications must be received at the appropriate address or fax number (see ADDRESSES ) no later than 5 p.m. Pacific daylight-saving time on September 22, 2005. ADDRESSES: Written comments and public hearing requests on the applications should be mailed to Protected Resources Division, NMFS, 1201 NE Lloyd Blvd., Suite 1100, Portland, OR 97232-1274; or faxed to 503-230-5441; or e-mailed to *resapps.nwr@NOAA.gov* . FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Garth Griffin, Portland, OR (ph.: 503-231-2005, fax: 503-230-5441, e-mail: *Garth.Griffin@noaa.gov* . Permit application instructions are available at *http://www.nwr.noaa.gov* . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Species Covered in This Notice The following listed species (evolutionarily significant units) are covered in this notice: 1. Snake River
(SR)fall chinook salmon ( *Oncorhynchus tshawytscha* ); 2. SR spring/summer (spr/sum) chinook salmon ( *O. tshawytscha* ); 3. Upper Columbia River
(UCR)spring chinook salmon ( *O. tshawytscha* ); 4. UCR steelhead ( *O. mykiss* ); and 5. Middle Columbia River
(MCR)steelhead ( *O. mykiss* ). Authority Scientific research permits are issued in accordance with section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et. seq) and regulations governing listed fish and wildlife permits (50 CFR 222-226). NMFS issues permits based on findings that such permits:
(1)are applied for in good faith;
(2)if granted and exercised, would not operate to the disadvantage of the listed species that are the subject of the permit; and
(3)are consistent with the purposes and policy of section 2 of the ESA. The authority to take listed species is subject to conditions set forth in the permits. Anyone requesting a hearing on an application listed in this notice should set out the specific reasons why a hearing on that application would be appropriate (see ADDRESSES ). Such hearings are held at the discretion of the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NMFS. Applications Received Permit 1533 The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
(WDFW)is requesting a five-year permit to take adult and juvenile SR spr/sum and fall chinook salmon during the course of two studies in the lower Snake River. The first study would determine steelhead, bull trout, and spring chinook stock status (i.e., distribution, relative abundance, and genetic characterization) in mainstem areas and tributaries of the Grande Ronde and Snake Rivers in Asotin, Garfield, Whitman, and Columbia Counties in Washington State. The second study would take place in Asotin Creek, Washington, and would focus on monitoring the population status of summer steelhead and spring and fall chinook salmon in Asotin Creek above George Creek. It would also focus on the productivity of the natural populations in the absence of direct hatchery influences (i.e., out-plants or supplementation). The studies would benefit the fish by collecting baseline data that would be used to improve planning and future management decisions. The WDFW intends to capture the fish using smolt traps, hook-and-line fishing equipment, backpack electrofishers and, possibly, dip nets. The fish would be variously captured, handled, measured, tissue-sampled, and released. Some of the captured juveniles would receive passive integrated transponder
(PIT)tags, and a few captured adults would receive a combination of floy- and PIT-tags. In some cases, tissue samples would be taken from already dead fish. Moreover, rescue and salvage operations would be conducted whenever needed. The WDFW does not intend to kill any of the fish being captured, but some may die as an unintended result of the research. Permit 1548 The Yakima Training Center
(YTC)is seeking a five-year permit to take juvenile UCR spring chinook salmon, juvenile UCR steelhead, and juvenile MCR steelhead during the course of several surveys on YTC land in southwestern Washington State. The research is designed to determine fish abundance and distribution on the YTC lands as well as describe habitat conditions throughout the 500-square mile reservation. The fish would benefit from the research because it would allow YTC staff to take them fully into account and thereby protect them during all future land management planning. It would also give regional fish managers important data on fish presence that have not previously been available. The YTC researchers intend to capture the fish using backpack electrofishing gear, seines, and minnow traps. Once captured, the fish would be measured, allowed to recover, and released. Some of the steelhead may have scale samples taken. The YTC does not intend to kill any of the fish being taken, but some may die as an unintended result of the activities. This notice is provided pursuant to section 10(c) of the ESA. NMFS will evaluate the application, associated documents, and comments submitted to determine whether the application meets the requirements of section 10(a) of the ESA and Federal regulations. The final permit decisions will not be made until after the end of the 30-day comment period. NMFS will publish notice of its final action in the **Federal Register** . Dated: August 18, 2005. P. Michael Payne, Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 05-16710 Filed 8-22-05; 8:45 am]
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