[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 140 (Wednesday, July 22, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 39272]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-19512]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 071598E]
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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene a
public meeting of the Reef Fish Stock Assessment Panel (RFSAP).
DATES: This meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 4 and
conclude by 12:00 noon on Thursday, August 6, 1998.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science
Center, 75 Virginia Beach Drive, Miami, FL.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Atran, Population Dynamics
Statistician, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 3018 U.S.
Highway 301 North, Suite 1000, Tampa, FL 33619; telephone: 813-228-
2815.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Reef Fish Stock Assessment Panel members
will meet to review the NMFS Gulf of Mexico gag stock assessment that
was prepared in October 1997. The RFSAP conducted a preliminary review
of this assessment in October 1997, but was unable to complete the
review due to insufficient time.
The RFSAP will also review a new Gulf of Mexico vermilion snapper
stock assessment by NMFS, and will recommend a range of allowable
biological catch (ABC) to prevent overfishing from occurring. Vermilion
snapper in the Gulf of Mexico were identified by NMFS in its September
1997 Report to Congress on the Status of Fisheries of the United States
as a stock that is approaching an overfished condition. A stock is
considered to be approaching an overfished condition if, based on
trends in fishing effort, fishery resource size, and other appropriate
factors, NMFS estimates that the fishery will become overfished within
two years. As a result of this designation, the Council is required to
take action within one year to prevent overfishing from occurring in
the fishery.
In addition to reviewing the stock assessments, the RFSAP may
review overfishing definitions and proxies for maximum sustainable
yield (MSY) for gag and vermilion snapper, as required under the
Sustainable Fisheries Act of 1996.
Copies of the agenda can be obtained by calling 813-228-2815.
Although other issues not contained in this agenda may come before
the Panel/Committee 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. Action will be
restricted to those issues specifically identified in the agenda listed
in this notice.
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
July 28, 1998.
Dated: July 16, 1998.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-19512 Filed 7-21-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
