[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 149 (Friday, August 1, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 44971]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-17642]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XJ44


Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of a public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
convene its Socioeconomic Panel (SEP).

DATES: The meeting will be convene at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 19, 
2008 and conclude no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, August 20, 2008.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Embassy Suites, 555 N. 
Westshore Blvd., Tampa, FL 33609; telephone: (813) 875-1555.
    Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 
North Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Assane Diagne, Economist, Gulf of 
Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: (813) 348-1630.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management 
Council (Council) will convene its Socioeconomic Panel (SEP) to discuss 
Reef Fish Amendment 29, the Aquaculture Fishery Management Plan (FMP), 
draft principles for allocation, and socio-economic aspects of 
allocation. Reef Fish Amendment 29 proposes to rationalize effort and 
reduce overcapacity in the commercial grouper and tilefish fisheries in 
order to achieve and maintain optimum yield (OY). Effort management 
approaches considered in this amendment include permit endorsements and 
the implementation of an Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) program. The 
Aquaculture FMP will require persons to obtain a permit from NMFS to 
participate in aquaculture by constructing an aquaculture facility in 
the EEZ of the Gulf of Mexico. Each application for a permit must 
comply with many permit conditions related to record keeping and 
operation of the facility. These permit conditions will assure the 
facility has a minimal affect on the environment and on other fishery 
resources. Compliance with the conditions will be evaluated annually 
for the duration of the permit as the basis for renewal of the permit 
for the next year.
    A copy of the agenda and related materials can be obtained by 
calling the Council office at (813) 348-1630.
    Although other non-emergency issues not on the agendas may come 
before the SEP for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), those 
issues may not be the subject of formal action during this meeting. 
Actions of the SEP 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.

Special Accommodations

    This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Tina O'Hern at the Council (see ADDRESSES) at 
least 5 working days prior to the meeting.

    Dated: July 29, 2008.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-17642 Filed 7-31-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S