[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 34 (Tuesday, February 21, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 9898]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-3951]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XB020


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 meetings.

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SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene 
three Web based meetings of the ABC Control Rule Working Group.

DATES: The first Webinar meeting will convene on Thursday, March 8, 
2012. The second Webinar meeting will convene on Thursday, March 15, 
2012. The third Webinar meeting will convene on Thursday, March 22, 
2012. Each Webinar will begin at 12 noon eastern time and is expected 
end by 4 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The Webinars will be accessible via Internet. Please go to 
the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council's Web site at 
www.gulfcouncil.org for instructions.
    Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 N. 
Lois Avenue Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Atran, Population Dynamics 
Statistician; Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: 
(813) 348-1630.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The ABC Control Rule Working Group will meet 
to discuss potential revisions to the acceptable biological catch (ABC) 
control rule that was recently implemented as part of the Council's 
Generic Annual Catch Limits/Accountability Measures Amendment. While 
all areas of the control rule will be subject to review, particular 
attention will be given to whether the P-star approach used to 
determine ABC in Tier 1 of the control rule realistically captures 
scientific uncertainty, and possible revisions to the Tier 2 method for 
data poor stocks. Recommendations from the Working Group will be 
presented to the Scientific and Statistical Committee when it meets in 
late March.
    Copies of the agenda and other related materials can be obtained by 
calling (813) 348-1630. Materials will also be available to download 
from the ABC Control Rule Working Group folder of the Council's FTP 
site, which is accessible from the Quick Links section of the Council 
Web site (http://www.gulfcouncil.org).
    Although other non-emergency issues not on the agenda may come 
before the ABC Control Rule Working Group for discussion, in accordance 
with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, 
those issues may not be the subject of formal action during these 
meetings. Actions of the Working Group will be restricted to those 
issues specifically identified in the agenda 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 action to address the emergency.

Special Accommodations

    These Webinars are accessible to people with disabilities. For 
assistance with any of our Webinars contact Kathy Pereira at the 
Council (see ADDRESSES) at least 5 working days prior to the Webinar.

    Dated: February 15, 2012.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-3951 Filed 2-17-12; 8:45 am]
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