[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 74 (Monday, April 17, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 20433]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-9562]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 040600D]


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 
public meetings of the Mackerel Advisory Panel (AP) and Scientific and 
Statistical Committees (SSC).

DATES: The AP meeting is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. on May 2, 2000 
and will conclude by 3 p.m. The SSC meeting is scheduled to begin at 
8:30 a.m. on May 3, 2000 and will conclude by 5 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Both meetings will be held at the Tampa Airport Hilton 
Hotel, 2225 Lois Avenue, Tampa, FL 33607; telephone: 813-877-6688.
    Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 3018 
U.S. Highway 301 North, Suite 1000, Tampa, FL 33619.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Mackerel AP and SSC will convene to 
review assessment information on mackerel stocks and provide 
recommendations to the Council on possible changes to Federal rules 
affecting mackerels.
    The Mackerel AP and SSC will review the 2000 stock assessment 
analyses for Gulf group king mackerel, the Mackerel Stock Assessment 
Panel (MSAP) report, and the report of the Socioeconomic Panel (SEP) 
that includes economic and social information related to the range of 
acceptable biological catch (ABC) and other management considerations 
for Gulf group king mackerel. Based on this review, the Mackerel AP and 
SSC may recommend to the Council levels for total allowable catch 
(TAC), bag limits, size limits, commercial quotas, and other measures 
for these species for the 2000-2001 fishing season. The Mackerel AP and 
SSC will also review a reporting form that NMFS Southeast Fisheries 
Science Center will be using to collect information on finfish 
discarded from the commercial catch, and may provide comments to the 
Council on the form.
    At the conclusion of the Mackerel SSC meeting, the Standing SSC 
members will review the NMFS' bycatch reduction device (BRD) testing 
protocol and may provide comments to the Council. Also, the Standing 
SSC will discuss NMFS' response to the SSC's previous question 
regarding historical red grouper landings.
    Although other non-emergency issues not on the agendas may come 
before the AP/SSC 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 
AP/SSC 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 Council's 
intent to take action to address the emergency.
    Copies of the agenda can be obtained by calling 813-228-2815.

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 April 24, 2000.

    Dated: April 7, 2000.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-9562 Filed 4-14-00; 8:45 am]
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