[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 188 (Monday, September 29, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50905-50906]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-25672]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 091997C]


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 Law Enforcement Advisory Panel (AP).

DATES: This meeting will be held on October 15, 1997, from 1:00 p.m. to 
5:00 p.m.


[[Page 50906]]


ADDRESSES: This meeting will be held at the Quality Inn Beachside, 931 
West Beach Boulevard, Gulf Shores, AL; telephone: 800-844-6913.
    Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 3018 
U.S. Highway 301 North, Suite 1000, Tampa, FL 33619.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Leard, Senior Fishery 
Biologist, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: 813-
228-2815.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the meeting will be to review 
management alternatives being considered by the Council as part of 
Draft Amendment 16 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Reef Fish 
in the Gulf of Mexico. Amendment 16 readdresses a 2-year phase-out of 
fish traps with allowances for retention of reef fish species taken in 
spiny lobster and stone crab traps; however, if the Council continues 
the present 10-year phase-out, this amendment also includes options for 
reducing the number of traps being fished over time. This amendment 
considers size limits, including a slot limit, and bag limits for some 
lesser amberjack species. Additionally, alternatives are presented that 
could effect the Council's continued management of sand perch, dwarf 
sand perch, queen triggerfish, and hog fish. Amendment 16 includes 
consideration of compatible size and bag limits with the state of 
Florida for various reef fish species, as well as additional 
regulations of speckled hind and warsaw grouper. Language that would 
modify the Framework Procedure for setting total allowable catch is 
also included.
    The Law Enforcement AP will also review a Draft Amendment 9 to the 
Fishery Management Plan for Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources 
(Mackerels). Draft Amendment 9 addresses a number of problems that have 
been discussed in the past, as well as recent concerns that have 
developed with regard to allocations and a derby fishery for king 
mackerel. Amendment 9 includes alternatives that would:
    1. Modify the fishing year;
    2. Prohibit sale of king and Spanish mackerel;
    3. Require mandatory reporting;
    4. Reallocate the king mackerel total allowable catch (TAC) by area 
in the Eastern Zone and user group (commercial/recreational);
    5. Further subdivide the hook-and-line allocation of TAC for king 
mackerel on the west coast of Florida by area and/or season;
    6. Establish subdivisions of the Western Zone allocation of TAC for 
king mackerel by area and/or season;
    7. Establish trip limits for Gulf group king mackerel in the 
Western Zone;
    8. Provide for further restrictions on the net fishery for king 
mackerel;
    9. Increase the minimum size limit for king mackerel and/or 
establish a maximum size limit; and
    10. Reestablish a purse seine allocation for Gulf group Spanish 
mackerel.
    In addition to these draft amendments, the Law Enforcement AP will 
review the status of implementation of Amendment 9 to the Shrimp FMP 
and Amendment 15 to the Reef Fish FMP, as well as problems with having 
a ``paper trail'' to track imported seafood.
    In a joint session with the Gulf States Marine Fisheries 
Commission's Law Enforcement Committee, which is comprised of basically 
the same members, the Law Enforcement AP will receive information from 
NMFS regarding its penalty schedule and a report on the use of 
satellite transponders to track fishing vessels. It will also receive 
enforcement reports from the individual Gulf States.
    The Law Enforcement AP consists of chief enforcement agents for the 
state and Federal fishery agencies in the Gulf area who advise the 
Council on fishery issues.
    Although other issues not contained in this agenda may come before 
this Panel for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act, those issues may not be the 
subject of formal Panel action during this meeting. Panel 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 
October 8, 1997.

    Dated: September 22, 1997.
Bruce Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-25672 Filed 9-26-97; 8:45 am]
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