[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 37 (Monday, February 26, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 8335]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-3244]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[I.D. 021607G]


Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

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 the Law Enforcement Advisory Panel (LEAP) to review a revised 
Draft Joint Amendment 27 to the Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan 
(FMP)/Amendment 14 to the Shrimp FMP. This amendment contains 
alternatives to regulate the harvest and bycatch of red snapper by both 
the directed commercial and recreational fisheries and the shrimp 
fishery in the Gulf of Mexico. The need for this amendment arose from 
the Southeast Data, Assessment and Review (SEDAR) process through which 
a recent stock assessment showed that the red snapper stock in the Gulf 
was overfished and overfishing was continuing.

DATES: The meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 13, 2007 from 1 p.m. 
to 5 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Beau Rivage Resort and 
Casino, 875 Beach Boulevard, Biloxi, Mississippi, 888-383-7037.
    Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 
North Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, Florida 33607.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Richard Leard, Deputy Executive 
Director, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: 813-
348-1630.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The LEAP will review a scoping document for 
a potential amendment to address the need for additional management 
measures for gray triggerfish, greater amberjack, gag, and red grouper. 
The LEAP will discuss enforcement implications of the potential 
implementation of a fish-tagging program for stocks managed under 
individual fishing quotas (IFQs) such as red snapper and the potential 
use of a Federal fish stamp to identify recreational fishermen fishing 
in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Finally, the LEAP will discuss 
any enforcement problems and successes of the recently implemented IFQ 
program for red snapper and review the status of various FMP amendments 
and other regulatory actions previously approved by the Council.
    The LEAP consists of principal law enforcement officers in each of 
the Gulf States, as well as the NMFS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
(FWS), the U.S. Coast Guard, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration's (NOAA) General Counsel. A copy of the agenda and 
related materials can be obtained by calling the Council office at 813-
348-1630.
    Although other non-emergency issues not on the agendas may come 
before the LEAP for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (M-SFCMA), those issues may not 
be the subject of formal action during this meeting. Actions of the 
LEAP will be restricted to those issues specifically identified in the 
agendas and any issues arising after publication of this notice that 
require emergency action under Section 305(c) of the M-SFCMA, provided 
the public has been notified of the Council's intent to take action to 
address the emergency.
    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Tina Trezza at the Council (see 
ADDRESSES) five working days prior to the meeting.

    Dated: February 20, 2007.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-3244 Filed 2-23-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S