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.

SUMMARY:

The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold its Precious Corals Plan Team (PCPT) meeting in Honolulu, HI.

ADDRESSES:

The PCPT meeting will be held at the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council Office, 1164 Bishop St., Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813.

DATES:

The meeting of the PCPT will be held on April 8, 2004, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director; telephone: (808)522-8220.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The PCPT will meet on April 8, 2004 to discuss the following agenda items:

1. Introductions

2. Review of last plan team meeting and recommendations

3. Results of the main Hawaiian islands black coral meeting

4. Overview of black coral research by the State of Hawaii

5. Additional research on Carijoa riisei

6. Discovery of new precious coral beds in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands

7. Review of essential fish habitat

8. Precious corals annual report

9. Precious corals fishery management plan compliance issue

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

Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before the Plan Team for discussion, those issues may not be the subject of formal action during this meeting. Plan Team action will be restricted to those issues specifically listed in this document and any issue arising after publication of this document that requires 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 Kitty M. Simonds, (808) 522-8220 (voice) or (808) 522-8226 (fax), at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.