Western 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 Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold its 188th Council meeting to take final action on the American Samoa Bottomfish Management Unit Species Rebuilding Plan.

DATES:

The meeting will be held on October 19, 2021. For specific times and agendas, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION .

ADDRESSES:

The meetings will be held by web conference via WebEx. Instructions for connecting to the web conference and providing oral public comments will be posted on the Council website at www.wpcouncil.org. For assistance with the web conference connection, contact the Council office at (808) 522-8220.

The Council has arranged host sites only for the 188th Council meeting at the following venues: Cliff Pointe, 304 W O'Brien Drive, Hagatna, Guam; BRI Building Suite 205, Kopa Di Oru St., Garapan, Saipan, CNMI; and, Tedi of Samoa Building Suite 208B, Fagatogo Village, American Samoa.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

All times shown are in Hawaii Standard Time. The 188th Council meeting will be held between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on October 19, 2021.

Please note that the evolving public health situation regarding COVID-19 may affect the conduct of the October Council and its associated meetings. At the time this notice was submitted for publication, the Council anticipated convening the meeting by web conference with host site locations in Guam, CNMI and American Samoa only for the 188th Council meeting. Council staff will monitor COVID-19 developments and will determine the extent to which in-person public participation at host sites will be allowable consistent with applicable local and federal safety and health guidelines. If public participation will be limited to web conference only or on a first-come-first-serve basis consistent with applicable guidelines, the Council will post notice on its website at www.wpcouncil.org.

Agenda items noted as “Final Action” refer to actions that may result in Council transmittal of a proposed fishery management plan, proposed plan amendment, or proposed regulations to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, under Sections 304 or 305 of the MSA. In addition to the agenda items listed here, the Council and its advisory bodies will hear recommendations from Council advisors. An opportunity to submit public comment will be provided throughout the agendas. The order in which agenda items are addressed may change and will be announced in advance at the Council meeting. The meetings will run as late as necessary to complete scheduled business.

Background documents for the 188th Council meeting will be available at www.wpcouncil.org. Written public comments on final action items at the 188th Council meeting should be received at the Council office by 5 p.m. HST, October 15, 2021, and should be sent to Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director; Western Pacific Fishery Management Council, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813, phone: (808) 522-8220 or fax: (808) 522-8226; or email: info.wpcouncil@noaa.gov. Written public comments on all other agenda items may be submitted for the record by email throughout the duration of the meeting. Instructions for providing oral public comments during the meeting will be posted on the Council website. This meeting will be recorded (audio only) for the purposes of generating the minutes of the meeting.

Agenda for the 188th Council Meeting

Tuesday, October 19, 2021, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

1. Welcome and Introductions

2. Approval of the 188th Agenda

3. American Samoa Territorial Bottomfish Fishery Management Plan

4. American Samoa Bottomfish Rebuilding Plan (Final Action)

5. Public Comment

6. Council Discussion and Action

7. Other Business

Non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come before the Council for discussion and formal Council action during its 188th meeting. However, Council action on regulatory issues will be restricted to those issues specifically listed in this document and any regulatory issue arising after publication of this document that requires emergency action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council's intent to take action to address the emergency.

Special Accommodations

The meeting is 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.