2011-11105. Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Notice of a public meeting.

SUMMARY:

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene a meeting of the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) Advisory Panel.

DATES:

The meeting will convene at 12 noon on Tuesday, May 24, 2011 and conclude by 1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 25, 2011.

ADDRESSES:

The meeting will be held at the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 N. Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607; telephone: [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dr. John Froeschke, Fishery Biologist-Statistician; Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: [phone] x235.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) Advisory Panel will meet to discuss operation, design, usage of vessel monitoring systems (VMS), and resulting data from these systems. The Advisory Panel will discuss the current and future needs of VMS software including methods to improve VMS products and services to Gulf of Mexico VMS users. Presentations will be given from current VMS software providers in Gulf of Mexico fisheries. The Advisory Panel will also consider technical issues with VMS including a review of existing procedures to safeguard VMS data from unauthorized use or distribution. Finally, the Advisory Panel will also consider future roles and potential applications of VMS in other Gulf of Mexico fisheries. The meeting will conclude with draft recommendations presented to the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council at its June 6-10, 2011 meeting in Key West, FL.

Copies of the agenda and other related materials can be obtained by calling [phone].

Although other non-emergency issues not on the agenda may come before the Advisory Panel for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, those issues may not be the subject of formal action during this meeting. Actions of the Advisory Panel will be restricted to those issues specifically identified in the agenda 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 Council's intent to take action to address the emergency.

Special Accommodations

These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Kathy Pereira at the Council (see ADDRESSES) at least 5 working days prior to the meeting.

Dated: May 3, 2011.

Tracey L. Thompson,

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.