Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Notice of a public meeting and hearing.

SUMMARY:

The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold a meeting of its Hawaii Archipelago Fishery Ecosystem Plan (FEP) Advisory Panel (AP) and American Samoa Archipelago FEP AP Advisory Panel to discuss and make recommendations on fishery management issues in the Western Pacific Region.

DATES:

The Hawaii Archipelago FEP AP will meet on Thursday, March 10, 2016, between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. and the American Samoa Archipelago FEP AP will meet on Thursday, March 10, 2016, between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. All times listed are local island times. For specific times and agendas, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

ADDRESSES:

The Hawaii Archipelago FEP AP will meet at the Council Office, 1164 Bishop St., Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813 and by teleconference. The teleconference will be conducted by telephone. The teleconference numbers are: U.S. toll-free: 1-888-482-3560 or International Access: +1 647 723-3959, and Access Code: 5228220. The American Samoa Archipelago FEP AP will meet at the Department of Commerce Market Conference Room, Fagatogo Village, American Samoa.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director, Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; telephone: (808) 522-8220.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public comment periods will be provided in the agenda. The order in which agenda items are addressed may change. The meetings will run as late as necessary to complete scheduled business.

Schedule and Agenda for the Hawaii Archipelago FEP AP Meeting

Thursday, March 10, 2016, 9 a.m.-11 a.m.

1. Welcome and Introductions

2. Outstanding Council Action Items

3. Council Issues

A. Council Program Review

B. Overview of Eastern Pacific Ocean Swordfish

C. FEP Review Modifications

4. Hawaii FEP Community Activities

6. Hawaii FEP AP Issues

A. Report of the Subpanels

i. Island Fisheries Subpanel

ii. Pelagic Fisheries Subpanel

iii. Ecosystems and Habitat Subpanel

iv. Indigenous Fishing Rights Subpanel

B. Other Issues

7. Public Comment

8. Discussion and Recommendations

9. Other Business

Schedule and Agenda for the American Samoa Archipelago FEP AP Meeting

Thursday, March 10, 2016, 9 a.m.-11 a.m.

1. Welcome and Introductions

2. Outstanding Council Action Items

3. Council Issues

A. Council Program Review

B. Overfishing of EPO Swordfish

C. FEP Review Modifications

4. American Samoa FEP Community Activities

5. American Samoa FEP AP Issues

A. Report of the Subpanels

i. Island Fisheries Subpanel

ii. Pelagic Fisheries Subpanel

iii. Ecosystems and Habitat Subpanel

iv. Indigenous Fishing Rights Subpanel

B. Other Issues

6. Public Comment

7. Discussion and Recommendations

8. Other Business

Special Accommodations

These meetings are physically 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.