[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 196 (Tuesday, October 12, 1999)] [Notices] [Pages 55254-55255] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-26547] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 100599A] Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings.
Agency
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Commerce.
Action
Notice of public meetings.
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Summary
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene public meetings of the Red Snapper Advisory Panel (AP), Reef Fish AP and Standing and Special Reef Fish Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC).
Dates
The Red Snapper AP will meet on Monday, October 25, 1999, beginning at 8:00 a.m. and will conclude by 3:30 p.m.; the Reef Fish AP will meet on Tuesday, October 26, 1999, beginning at 8:00 a.m. and will conclude by 3:30 p.m; and the Standing and Special Reef Fish SSC will meet on Wednesday, October 27, 1999, at 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and again on Thursday, October 28, 1999, from 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m.
Addresses
The meetings will all be held at the Tampa Airport Hilton Hotel, 2225 Lois Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33607; telephone (813) 877- 6688.
For Further Information Contact
Steven Atran, Population Dynamics Statistician, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 3018 U.S. Highway 301 North, Suite 1000, Tampa, Florida 33619; telephone (813) 228-2815.
Supplementary Information
The Red Snapper AP, consisting of recreational and commercial red snapper fishermen, seafood dealers, a Sea Grant extension agent, a representative of the coastal fishing community tourist industry, and a conservation group representative will review a red snapper stock assessment that has been prepared by NMFS and reports from the Council's Reef Fish Stock Assessment Panel and Socioeconomic Panel that include biological, social and economic information related to the range of acceptable biological catch (ABC). Based
on these reports, the AP may recommend levels of total allowable catch (TAC) for red snapper in 2000 and other appropriate management measures. The Reef Fish AP, consisting of recreational reef fish fishermen, commercial reef fish fishermen, and seafood dealers will review a red grouper stock assessment that has been prepared by NMFS and reports from the Council's Reef Fish Stock Assessment Panel and Socioeconomic Panel that include biological, social and economic information related to the range of ABC. Based on these reports, the AP may recommend levels of TAC for red grouper in 2000 and other appropriate management measures. The Standing SSC consists of economics biologists, sociologists, and natural resource attorneys; and the Special Reef Fish SSC consists of fishery biologists who specialize in reef fish biology. The joint SSC will review several reports containing scientific information about gag and gag fisheries that was recently presented to the Council by Dr. Chris Koenig of Florida State University and by Dr. Trevor Kenchington on behalf of the Southeastern Fisheries Association. Because some of the information in those reports is conflicting, the joint SSC is being asked to review and comment on them. The joint SSC will also review the red snapper and red grouper stock assessments and the Socioeconomic Panel report, comment on their scientific adequacy, and may make recommendations regarding red snapper and red grouper TAC and other management measures. A copy of the agenda can be obtained by contacting the Gulf Council (see ADDRESSES). Although other non-emergency issues not on the agendas may come before the Red Snapper AP, Reef Fish AP, and Standing and Special Reef Fish SSC 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 these meetings. Actions of the Red Snapper AP, Reef Fish AP, and Standing and Special Reef Fish 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.
Special Accommodations
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 18, 1999.
Dated: October 5, 1999. Bruce C. Morehead, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 99-26547 Filed 10-8-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F