99-27769. Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources; Public Hearings  

  • [Federal Register Volume 64, Number 205 (Monday, October 25, 1999)]
    [Proposed Rules]
    [Page 57436]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 99-27769]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
    
    National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
    
    50 CFR Part 622
    
    [I.D. 101299F]
    
    
    Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
    Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources; Public Hearings
    
    AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
    Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
    
    ACTION: Notice of public hearings; request for comments.
    
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    SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
    convene six public hearings on Draft Amendment 12 to the Fishery 
    Management Plan for the Snapper Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic 
    Region (Draft Amendment 12) and its draft supplemental environmental 
    impact statement (draft SEIS).
    
    DATES: Written comments will be accepted until 5 p.m. on November 29, 
    1999. The hearings will be held from November 3 to November 29, 1999. 
    See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times.
    
    ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Bob Mahood, Executive 
    Director, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, One Southpark 
    Circle, Suite 306, Charleston, SC 29407-4699. Copies of Draft Amendment 
    12 and the draft SEIS are available from Kerry O'Malley at 803-571-4366 
    and will also be available to the public at the hearings.
        The hearings will be held in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and 
    North Carolina. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for locations of the 
    hearings and special accommodations.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kerry O'Malley, South Atlantic Fishery 
    Management Council, 803-571-4366; Fax: 803-769-4520; E-mail address: 
    kerry.omalley@noaa.gov.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Council will hold public hearings on 
    Draft Amendment 12 and the associated draft SEIS. Draft Amendment 12 
    includes management measures that would (1) prohibit the harvest and 
    possession of red porgy; (2) require the Council to review the status 
    of the red porgy resource every 3 years to determine whether the 
    moratorium on harvest should be repealed; (3) establish a maximum 
    sustainable yield of 5,285.4 metric tons (mt) for red porgy; (4) set 
    optimum yield for red porgy at the yield produced by a stock size of 
    10,000 mt; (5) establish the two components of the overfishing 
    definition for red porgy as: (a) the maximum fishing mortality 
    threshold is the fishing mortality rate (F) in excess of F35% static 
    spawning potential ratio (SPR) which is between 0.58 (F30%) and 0.33 
    (F40%) based on a 14 inch (35.6 cm) total length minimum size limit and 
    data through 1996, and (b) minimum stock size threshold is the stock 
    size associated with 20% SPR which is estimated at 3,000 mt. Current 
    stock size was estimated to be 685 mt based on data through 1996; (6) 
    set the rebuilding timeframe for red porgy at 18 years; (7) in the 
    snapper grouper limited access system, allow same owner permit transfer 
    regardless of vessel size for individuals harvesting snapper grouper 
    species with a non-transferable 225 pound trip limit permit; and (8) 
    modify the framework procedure for regulatory adjustments of the 
    Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South 
    Atlantic Region by adding the following list of management options and 
    measures that could be implemented via such framework procedure as: 
    Description, identification, and regulation of fishing activities to 
    protect essential fish habitat (EFH) and EFH-habitat areas of 
    particular concern (EFH-HAPC); management measures to reduce or 
    eliminate the adverse effects of fishing activities or fishing gear on 
    EFH or EFH-HAPCs; and regulation of EFH-HAPCs.
        In the following locations the hearings will begin at 6 p.m. and 
    end when all business is completed:
        1. Wednesday, November 3, 1999--Sombrero Resort and Marina,19 
    Sombrero Blvd., Marathon, FL 33050; Phone: 305-743-2250;
        2. Wednesday, November 10, 1999--Richmond Hill City Hall, 40 
    Richard R. Davis Drive, Richmond Hill, GA 31324; Phone: 912-756-3345;
        3. Thursday, November 11, 1999--Carteret Community College, 3505 
    Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC 28557; Phone: 252-247-3093;
        4. Monday, November 15, 1999--Ramada Inn Surfside, 3125 S. Atlantic 
    Avenue, Daytona Beach Shores, FL 32118; Phone: 1-800-255-3838;
        5. Wednesday, November 17, 1999--Town & Country Inn, 2008 Savannah 
    Highway, Charleston, SC 29407; Phone: 843-571-1000; and
        6. Monday, November 29, 1999--Blockade Runner, 275 Waynick 
    Boulevard, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480, Phone: 910-256-2251.
    
    Special Accommodations
    
        These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
    disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
    auxiliary aids should be directed to the Council office (see ADDRESSES) 
    by October 29, 1999.
    
        Dated: October 19, 1999.
    Bruce C. Morehead,
    Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
    Fisheries Service.
    [FR Doc. 99-27769 Filed 10-22-99; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
10/25/1999
Department:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Entry Type:
Proposed Rule
Action:
Notice of public hearings; request for comments.
Document Number:
99-27769
Dates:
Written comments will be accepted until 5 p.m. on November 29, 1999. The hearings will be held from November 3 to November 29, 1999. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times.
Pages:
57436-57436 (1 pages)
Docket Numbers:
I.D. 101299F
PDF File:
99-27769.pdf
CFR: (1)
50 CFR 622