[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 185 (Friday, September 22, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 57317]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-24457]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 091500A]


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 
separate public meetings of its Shrimp Advisory Panel(AP) and its 
Standing and Special Shrimp Scientific and Statistical Committees 
(SSCs).

DATES: The Shrimp AP meeting will be held on Monday, October 9, 2000, 
beginning at 9 a.m. The Standing and Special Shrimp SSCs' meeting will 
be held on Tuesday, October 10, 2000, beginning at 10 a.m.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the New Orleans Airport Hilton 
Hotel, 901 Airline Highway, Kenner, Louisiana; telephone 504-469-5000.
    Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 3018 
U.S. Highway 301 North, Suite 1000, Tampa, Florida, 33619.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Richard Leard, Senior Fishery 
Biologist, at the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 3018 U.S. 
Highway 301 North, Suite 1000, Tampa, Florida, 33619; telephone 813-
228-2815.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Shrimp AP and the Standing and Special 
Shrimp SSCs will convene to review Draft Amendment 11 to the Shrimp 
Fishery Management Plan. This amendment contains alternatives for 
requiring shrimp vessel permits and/or shrimp vessel registration, 
operator permits, and prohibiting trap gear in the royal red shrimp 
fishery of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The Shrimp AP may develop 
recommendations to the Council regarding these alternatives. The Shrimp 
AP also will discuss, and possibly make recommendations to define, ``to 
the extent practicable'' under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act, that requires the Regional Fishery 
Management Councils to reduce bycatch ``to the extent practicable.''
    The Shrimp AP consists principally of commercial shrimp fishermen, 
dealers, and association representatives.
    Although other non-emergency issues not on the agenda may come 
before these groups 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 these 
groups 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 Magnuson-
Stevens Act, provided the public has been notified of the Gulf of 
Mexico Fishery Management Council's intent to take action to address 
the emergency.
    Copies of the agenda can be obtained by calling 813-228-2815. 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 2, 
2000.

    Dated: September 18, 2000.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-24457 Filed 9-21-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S