96-17439. Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 132 (Tuesday, July 9, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36035-36036]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-17439]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 070296B]


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 of the Red Drum Stock Assessment Panel 
(Panel).

DATES: This meeting will begin at 1:00 p.m. on July 29, 1996, and will 
conclude at 5:00 p.m. on July 31, 1996.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the National Marine Fisheries 
Service Southeast Fisheries Science Center, 75 Virginia Beach Drive, 
Miami, FL.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wayne Swingle, Executive Director, 
5401 West Kennedy Boulevard, Suite 331, Tampa, FL 33609; telephone: 
[phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Panel will review stock assessment 
information prepared by NMFS for the Gulf stock and will assess whether 
the

[[Page 36036]]

stock has been restored to a level above the overfishing threshold. If 
the stock has been restored, the Panel will develop an estimate of the 
range of acceptable biological catch (ABC) for the stock. The Council 
will review the Panel's report at its September meeting and may specify 
a total allowable catch (TAC) within the range of ABC for the fishery. 
Implementation of a TAC will, however, require an amendment to the 
fishery management plan for red drum. The amendment action would 
require approximately 9 months for implementation.
    The red drum stock was classified as overfished in 1986 and harvest 
and possession of red drum in Federal waters was prohibited in 1987. 
Most actions to restore the stock have been taken by the individual 
Gulf states.

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 22, 1996.

    Dated: July 2, 1996.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-17439 Filed 7-8-96; 8:45 am]
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