[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 94 (Tuesday, May 14, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 24289]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-11960]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[I.D. 050696B]
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
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 a public meeting.
DATES: This meeting will be held on June 10, 1996, from 8 a.m. to 5
p.m.
ADDRESSES: This meeting will be held at the Isle of Capri Casino Crowne
Plaza Resort, 151 Beach Boulevard (Hwy. 90E), Biloxi, MS; telephone:
601-435-5400.
Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 5401
West Kennedy Boulevard, Suite 331, Tampa, FL 33609.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Leard, Senior Fishery
Biologist; telephone: 813-228-2815.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of this meeting is to review
Draft Amendment 9 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Shrimp Fishery
of the Gulf of Mexico, U.S. Waters with Supplemental Environmental
Impact Statement, Regulatory Impact Review (RIR), Initial Regulatory
Flexibility Analysis, and Social Impact Assessment (SIA). The amendment
is intended to address the Council's commitment to reduce the bycatch
mortality of red snapper, particularly juveniles, from shrimp trawls.
The amendment includes a review of previous actions and their effects
on bycatch as well as various alternatives.
The Shrimp Advisory Panel (AP) will review the draft amendment with
various management alternatives for gear including: (1) Status Quo - no
change to existing gear regulations; and (2) Requiring Bycatch
Reduction Devices (BRDs) in all areas of the exclusive economic zone.
They will also look at area specific usage of BRDs including requiring
BRDs: (1) inside the 100 fathom contour; (2) inside the 100 fathom
contour and west of Cape San Blas, Florida; and (3) between the 10 and
100 fathom contours. Other alternatives that will be discussed include:
area closures, seasonal closures, BRD testing criteria, and a protocol
for BRD certification. The Shrimp AP will also consider a RIR, which
mainly reviews the economic ramifications of the proposed amendment; a
SIA; and any environmental consequences. Also considered will be the
effects of other Federal laws and regulations.
The AP is comprised of fisherman and other user groups who advise
the Council on fishery issues.
Special Accommodations
This meeting is 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
June 3, 1996.
Dated: May 7, 1996.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-11960 Filed 5-13-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
