Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Notice of public meeting.

SUMMARY:

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's Ad Hoc Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) Committee will hold a meeting which is open to the public.

DATES:

The meeting will convene at 10 a.m. on Friday, October 11, 2002, and adjourn when business for the day is completed.

ADDRESSES:

The meeting will be held in the West Conference Room at the Pacific Fishery Management Council, 7700 NE Ambassador Place, Suite 200, Portland, OR 97220-1384; (503) 820-2280.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Jim Seger, (503) 820-2280.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The purpose of the meeting is to develop a draft regulatory package to require VMS systems for vessels participating in West Coast groundfish fisheries.

Although nonemergency issues not contained in the meeting agenda may come before the Ad Hoc VMS Committee for discussion, those issues may not be the subject of formal Ad Hoc VMS Committee 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 Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, provided the public has been notified of the Ad Hoc VMS Committee'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 Ms. Carolyn Porter at (503) 820-2280 at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.