[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 30 (Tuesday, February 16, 1999)] [Notices] [Pages 7630-7631] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-3680] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 020899D] 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 (Council) will hold meetings of its Advisory Panel (AP) Selection, Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) Selection, Administrative Policy, Personnel, Reef Fish Management, Marine Reserves, and Vessel Monitoring Committees; and a Council Session.
Dates
The meetings will be held from March 1-4, 1999. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times.
Addresses
The meetings will be held at the Baton Rouge Hilton, 5500 Hilton Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA; telephone: 225-924-5000. Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 3018 U.S. Highway 301 North, Suite 1000, Tampa, FL 33619.
For Further Information Contact
Wayne E. Swingle, Executive Director, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: (813) 228-2815.
Supplementary Information
Council Meeting Dates
March 3, 1999, 1:00 p.m.--Council will convene. March 3, 1999, 1:15 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.--Receive public testimony on the Draft Gag Regulatory Amendment Options Paper. The Gag Amendment includes alternatives for specification of a total allowable catch (TAC) for gag; minimum size limit increase for gag and black grouper from 20 to 24 inches total length; a two-fish recreational bag limit for gag as part of the existing five aggregate grouper bag limit; a zero bag limit of gag for the captain and crew of for-hire vessels; a commercial trip limit for gag; a closed season during peak gag spawning; and area closures at gag spawning aggregation locations. March 3, 1999, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.--Receive a report from the Reef Fish Management Committee. March 4, 1999, 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.--(closed sessions)--Receive reports from the AP Selection, SSC Selection, and the Personnel Committees. March 4, 1999, 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.--Receive a Council Report for the AP Selection, SSC Selection, and the Personnel Committees. March 4, 1999, 10:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.--Receive a report from the Vessel Monitoring Committee. March 4, 1999, 1:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.--Receive a report from the Administrative Policy Committee. March 4, 1999, 11:15 a.m. - 11:40 a.m.--Receive a report from the Marine Reserves Committee. March 4, 1999, 11:30 a.m. - 11:50 a.m.--Receive the NMFS/Council policy meeting report. 11:50 a.m. - 12:00 noon--Receive the NOAA Strategic Planning Workshop report. March 4, 1999, 2:00 noon - 12:15 p.m.--Receive a report on the NMFS/Highly Migratory Species and Billfish AP meetings. March 4, 1999, 12:15 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.--Receive enforcement reports. March 4, 1999, 12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.--Receive Director's reports. March 4, 1999, 1:00 p.m.--Other Business: The Council may discuss a letter from the NMFS partially disapproving the Essential Fish Habitat plan amendment.
Committee Meeting Dates
March 1, 1999, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon--(closed session)--Convene the AP Selection Committee to appoint AP members. March 1, 1999, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.--(closed session)--Convene the SSC Selection Committee to appoint SSC members. March 1, 1999, 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.--Convene the Administrative Policy Committee to approve the revised Statement of Organization Practices and Procedures (SOPPS). March 2, 1999, 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.--Convene the Reef Fish Management Committee to review the draft Gag Regulatory Amendment Options Paper and develop recommendations to the Council for final action. The recommendations will be considered by the Council on Wednesday, March 3, 1999. The Committee will also hear a status report on the red snapper regulatory amendment and may take action. March 2, 1999, 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.--Convene the Marine Reserves Committee to review a draft scoping document on marine reserves. March 2, 1999, 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.--(closed session)--Convene the Personnel Committee to discuss selection of a fishery biologist. March 3, 1999, 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.--Convene the Vessel Monitoring
Committee to receive a NFMS progress report, and Gulf and South Atlantic Fisheries Development Foundation (G&SAFDF) proposals. Although other issues not contained in this agenda may come before the Council and its Committees for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation Act, those issues may not be the subject of formal Council and Committee action during this meeting. Actions will be restricted to those issues specifically identified in the agenda listed in this notice.
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 February 22, 1999. Dated: February 10, 1999. Gary C. Matlock, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 99-3680 Filed 2-12-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F