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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN ID: RIN 0648-XJ45

NOTICE: NOTICES

ACTION: Meetings:

DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice of a public meeting.

SUBJECT CATEGORY: New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

DATES: This meeting will be held on Monday, August 25, 2008, at 9 a.m.

DOCUMENT SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Skate Committee in August, 2008 to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from this group will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate.

SUMMARY: New England Fishery Management Council,

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

The Committee will review and finalize the Draft Amendment 3 document, which is scheduled for public hearings in October. The Plan Development Team (PDT) will also recommend a rebuilding schedule and plan for smooth skate that NMFS recently determined has become overfished. Amendment 3 proposes catch limits, time/area closures, and possession limits to reduce skate landings and mortality to levels that are consistent with rebuilding smooth, thorny and winter skate biomass while preventing overfishing.

Although nonemergency 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 listed in this notice and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action under section 305(c) of the MagnusonStevens 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, Executive Director, at (978) 465 0492, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

Dated: July 29, 2008.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E817734 Filed 8108; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 351022S

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council; telephone: (978) 4650492.