[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 196 (Tuesday, October 10, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 60163-60164]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-25957]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[I.D. 092200A]


Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Hearings

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Public hearings; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
convene public hearings on draft Amendment 7 to the Fishery Management 
Plan for the Stone Crab Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico. Amendment 7 
proposes to create a Federal trap certificate program for the 
commercial stone crab fishery in Federal waters (exclusive economic 
zone (EEZ)) off Florida. This program would be similar to the trap 
certificate program adopted by the State of Florida. In addition, 
public testimony on Amendment 7 will be accepted at the Gulf Council 
meeting in November 2000. A separate Federal Register notice will give 
details about that meeting.

DATES: The Council will accept written comments through November 3, 
2000.

[[Page 60164]]

 The public hearings will be held in October 2000. See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION for specific dates and times of the public hearings.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Mr. Wayne E. Swingle, 
Executive Director, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 3018 
U.S. Highway 301, North, Suite 1000, Tampa, FL 33619. Copies of draft 
Amendment 7 are available from Mr. Wayne E. Swingle, Executive 
Director, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 3018 U.S. Highway 
301, North, Suite 1000, Tampa, FL 33619; telephone: 813-228-2815; fax: 
813-769-4520. The public hearings will be held in Marathon and Crystal 
River, FL (For specific locations, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Wayne E. Swingle, Executive 
Director, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 3018 U.S. Highway 
301, North, Suite 1000, Tampa, FL 33619; telephone: 813-228-2815.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The public hearings will be convened to take 
public comment on draft Amendment 7. Draft Amendment 7 would create a 
Federal trap certificate program for the commercial stone crab fishery 
in the EEZ off Florida. This program would be similar to the trap 
certificate program adopted by the State of Florida.
    A summary of the proposed Amendment 7 Federal stone crab trap 
certificate program follows:
    1. The Federal program would recognize the Florida stone crab 
license and tags for use in the EEZ but would not require them.
    2. Persons who could not obtain or chose not to obtain the state 
license/tags could apply for a Federal vessel permit, trap certificate, 
and trap tags.
    3. The same qualifying criteria would apply for obtaining the 
Federal vessel permit/trap certificate/trap tags as apply for obtaining 
the state license/tags (i.e., 300 lb (136.1 kg) of claws landed in one 
of the six fishing seasons 1993/1994 through 1998/1999). The end of the 
draft Amendment 7 qualifying period would be May 15, 1999.
    4. Persons would have 90 days to apply for a Federal vessel permit/
trap certificate/trap tags after the effective date of implementation 
of the final rule.
    5. Persons qualifying would be issued a Federal vessel permit/trap 
certificate/trap tags based on their landings divided by 5 lb (2.3 kg), 
which is the annual harvest level that would occur when the number of 
traps is reduced to the optimum level of 600,000 traps.
    6. Federal vessel permits, trap certificates, and tags would be 
non-transferrable.
    7. It is anticipated that the cost of the Federal trap tags would 
be higher than the cost of the state trap tags (i.e., $1.10 vs $0.50).
    8. Draft Amendment 7 includes a Federal appeals process allowing 
fishermen to appeal denied applications for a Federal vessel permit/
trap certificate/trap tags.

Time and Location for Public Hearings

    Public hearings for draft Amendment 7 will be held at the following 
locations, dates, and times:
    1. October 16, 2000, 7 p.m., Marathon Government Center, BOCC Room, 
2798 Overseas Highway MM 47.5, Marathon, FL 33050; telephone: 305-295-
4385.
    2. October 18, 2000, 7 p.m., Plantation Inn & Gulf Resort, 9301 
West Fort Island Trail, Crystal River, FL 34429; telephone: 352-795-
4211.

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) by November 3, 2000.

    Dated: October 3, 2000.
Clarence Pautzke,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 00-25957 Filed 10-6-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S