[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 247 (Thursday, December 24, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71269-71270]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-34161]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 121898B]
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
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SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will
convene public meetings.
DATES: The meetings will be held on January 11-15, 1999.
ADDRESSES: These meetings will be held at the Isle of Capri Crowne
Plaza Hotel, 151 Beach Boulevard, Biloxi, MI; telephone:
228-435-5400.
Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 3018
U.S. Highway 301 North, Suite 1000, Tampa, FL 33619.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wayne E. Swingle, Executive Director,
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: (813) 228-2815.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Council
January 13, 1999
1:30 p.m.--Convene.
1:45 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.--Receive public testimony on the Draft
Sustainable Fisheries Act (SFA) Amendment and Draft Gag Regulatory
Amendment Options Paper. The SFA Amendment includes alternative
management measures for reporting of bycatch by Gulf fishermen, for
minimizing bycatch or bycatch mortality, for specifying higher
standards for overfishing criteria that will restore fishery stocks to
maximum sustainable yield (MSY), for rebuilding periods for overfished
stocks (e.g., red snapper, king mackerel, and red drum) and a section
identifying communities economically dependent on fishing. The Gag
Amendment includes alternatives for specification of a total allowable
catch (TAC) for gag; minimum size limit increase for gag and black
grouper from 20 to 24 inches total length; a 2-fish recreational bag
limit for gag as part of the existing 5 aggregate grouper bag limit; a
zero bag limit of gag for the captain and crew of for-hire vessels; a
commercial trip limit for gag; a closed season during peak gag
spawning; and area closures at gag spawning aggregation locations.
January 14, 1999 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.--Take final action on the
Draft SFA Amendment.
10:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.--Receive the Reef Fish Management Committee
Report.
3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.--Receive the Migratory Species Management
Committee Report.
January 15, 1999
8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.--Receive the Habitat Protection Committee
Report.
9:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.--Receive the Shrimp Management Committee
Report.
10:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.--Receive the Joint Shrimp/Reef Fish
Management Committee Report.
10:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.--Receive the Council Chairmen's Meeting
Report.
10:45 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.--Receive Enforcement Reports.
11:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.--Receive the South Atlantic Fishery
Management Council (SAFMC) Liaison Report.
11:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.--Receive Director's Reports.
11:45 a.m. - 12:00 noon--Other Business.
Under other business, the Council may consider proposals for
dolphin and wahoo management recently adopted by the South Atlantic
Fishery Management Council (SAFMC). The Council will also hear reports
and respond to a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
letter.
Committees
January 11, 1999
1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.--Convene the Migratory Species Management
[[Page 71270]]
Committee to review and develop comments on a highly migratory species
(HMS) fishery management plan (FMP) and Billfish FMP amendment
developed by NMFS.
January 12, 1999
8:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.--Convene the Ad Hoc SFA Committee to review
the draft SFA amendment. The Committee will develop their
recommendations to the Council for final action on the amendment. The
recommendations will be considered by the Council on Thursday, January
14, 1999.
12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.--Convene the Reef Fish Management Committee
to review the draft Gag Regulatory Amendment Options Paper and develop
recommendations to the Council for final action. They will review the
Amendment 17 Options Paper which has alternatives for a license
limitation program for reef fish. They will also receive a status
report on the emergency red snapper rule, and may discuss actions taken
under the emergency red snapper rule.
January 13, 1999
8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.--Convene the Shrimp Management Committee to
review the analyses of NMFS and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
(TPWD) and develop their recommendations to Council on the 1999 Texas
Closure. They will also review Amendment 10 Options Paper which
contains alternatives for permitting or registration of vessels,
observer requirements and protocol, and a vessel monitoring system.
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 noon--Convene the Habitat Protection Committee
to review a proposed development project for constructing a casino in
wetlands and a NMFS study on mitigation.
Although other issues not contained in this agenda may come before
the Council for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation Act, those issues may not be the subject of formal
Council action during this meeting. Council action will be restricted
to those issues specifically identified in the agenda listed in this
notice.
Special Accommodations
These meetings are physically accessible to people with
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed to Anne Alford at the Council (see
ADDRESSES) by January 5, 1999.
Dated: December 21, 1998.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-34161 Filed 12-23-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
