[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 82 (Thursday, April 27, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24683-24684]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-10516]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 042400B]


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 meetings.

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SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene 
public meetings.

DATES: The meetings will be held May 15-19, 2000.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Radisson Hotel New Orleans, 
1500 Canal Street, New Orleans, Louisiana; telephone: 504-522-4500.
    Council Address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 3018 
U.S. Highway 301 North, Suite 1000, Tampa, Florida 33619.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wayne E. Swingle, Executive Director, 
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: 813-228-2815.

[[Page 24684]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Monday, May 15, 2000

    8 a.m-9 a.m.--Convene the Administrative Policy Committee to 
discuss an internal policy issue related to conflict of interest.
    9 a.m.-10:30 a.m.--Convene the Habitat Protection Committee to hear 
a research proposal by the Gulf Aquaculture Consortium and a report on 
proposed gas pipeline routes across the Gulf of Mexico.
    10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.--Convene the Stone Crab Management Committee 
to review and approve for public hearings the Draft Amendment 7/
Regulatory Amendment and make recommendations for the full Council to 
review on Thursday morning.
    1 p.m.-5:30 p.m.--Convene the Mackerel Management Committee to hear 
the Mackerel Stock Assessment Panel (SAP) report, the Socioeconomic 
Panel report, and recommendations of the Mackerel Advisory Panel (AP) 
and the Standing and Special Mackerel and Dolphin/Wahoo Scientific and 
Statistical Committee (SSC) regarding the Gulf group king mackerel 
total allowable catch (TAC) and proposed management options under the 
joint dolphin/wahoo fishery management plan. The Committee will develop 
recommendations for the full Council to review on Thursday morning.

Tuesday, May 16, 2000

    8 a.m.-10:30 a.m.--Convene the Joint Reef Fish and Mackerel 
Management Committees to review the revised Options Paper/Amendment for 
a Charter Vessel Permit Moratorium. The Committees will make 
recommendations for full Council review on Thursday morning.
    10:30 a.m.-12:00 noon--Convene the Red Drum Management Committee to 
hear the Red Drum SAP report and AP and SSC recommendations regarding 
stock status.
    1:30 p.m.-5 p.m.--Convene the Reef Fish Management Committee to 
review a draft license limitation options paper for the longline 
sector, hear a NMFS enforcement report on longline vessels, review the 
revised options paper for Amendment 18, discuss the legal ramifications 
of requiring imported fish to be consistent with federal size limits, 
and hear a report of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's organic fish 
designation. The Committee's recommendations on these issues will be 
considered by the Council on Thursday afternoon.

Wednesday, May 17, 2000

    8 a.m.-8:30 a.m.--Convene the Joint Marine Reserves and Reef Fish 
Management Committees to approve the Public Hearing Draft Amendment for 
potentially establishing the Tortugas 2000 marine reserves.
    8:30 a.m.-10 a.m.--Convene the Shrimp Management Committee to hear 
a report on the distribution of Southeast Area Monitoring and 
Assessment Program real-time data on shrimp catches, discuss whether an 
interim rule should be implemented to require shrimp vessel and/or 
operator permits, and hear a report by Texas Parks and Wildlife 
Department on the condition of the shrimp stocks.
    10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.--Convene the Deep Water Crab Management 
Committee to discuss a possible gear conflict between golden crab and 
royal red shrimp fishermen, a trap enforcement issue, and a report on 
the contamination of crab tissue by heavy metals.
    11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.--Convene the Migratory Species Committee to 
hear a report regarding the proposed bluefin tuna harvest rules for the 
angling category.
    2 p.m.-The Council will convene.
    2:15 p.m.-5 p.m.--Receive public testimony on the Gulf group king 
mackerel (TAC) and other framework management measures.

Thursday, May 18, 2000

    8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m.--Receive a report of the Mackerel Management 
Committee.
    9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.--Receive a report of the Joint Reef Fish and 
Mackerel Management Committees.
    10:30 a.m.-11 a.m.--Receive a report of the Red Drum Management 
Committee.
    11 a.m.-11:30 a.m.--Receive a report of the Habitat Protection 
Committee.
    11:30 a.m.-11:45 a.m.--Receive a report of the Administrative 
Policy Committee.
    11:45-12:00 noon--Receive a report of the Stone Crab Management 
Committee.
    1:30 p.m.-3 p.m.--Receive a report of the Reef Fish Management 
Committee.
    3 p.m.-3:30 p.m.--Receive a report of the Joint Marine Reserves and 
Reef Fish Management Committee.
    3:30 p.m.-3:45 p.m.--Receive a report of the Shrimp Management 
Committee.
    3:45 p.m.-4 p.m.--Receive a report of the Deep Water Crab 
Management Committee.
    4 p.m.-4:15 p.m.--Receive a report of the Migratory Species 
Management Committee.
    4:15 p.m.-4:30 p.m.--Receive a report of the Gulf and South 
Atlantic Fishery Foundation, Inc. Effort Workshop.
    4:30 p.m.-4:45 p.m.--Receive a report of the NMFS Workshop on 
Report to Congress.
    4:45 p.m.-5 p.m.--Receive the NMFS Regional Administrator's Report.
    5 p.m.-5:20 p.m.--Receive Director's Reports.

Friday, May 19, 2000

    8:30 a.m.-11:45 a.m.--Receive a presentation on the NMFS Fishery 
Stock Assessment Model.
    11:45 a.m.-12:00 noon--Other Business.
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come 
before the Council for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, these issues may not 
be the subject of formal Council action during these meetings. Council 
action will be restricted to those issues specifically listed in this 
notice 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 final actions to address such 
emergencies.

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) at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: April 24, 2000.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-10516 Filed 4-26-00; 8:45 am]
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