[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 195 (Monday, October 7, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52437-52438]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-25588]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 092796H]


Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
convene a public meeting of the Shrimp Advisory Panel (AP).

DATES: This meeting will be held on October 28, 1996, from 8:00 a.m. to 
5:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: This meeting will be held at the Grand Casino, 265 Beach 
Boulevard, Biloxi, MS 39530; telephone 800-946-2946.
    Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 5401 
West Kennedy Boulevard, Suite 331, Tampa, FL 33609.


[[Page 52438]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Richard L. Leard, Senior Fishery 
Biologist; telephone: 813-228-2815.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the meeting will be to review 
Draft Amendment 9 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Shrimp Fishery 
of the Gulf of Mexico, U.S. Waters with Supplemental Environmental 
Impact Statement (SEIS), Regulatory Impact Review (RIR), Initial 
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA), and Social Impact Assessment 
(SIA). The amendment addresses the Council's commitment to reduce the 
bycatch mortality of juvenile red snapper from shrimp trawls. The 
amendment includes a review of previous actions and their effects on 
bycatch as well as various alternatives.
    The AP will review the draft amendment with various management 
alternatives for bycatch reduction including the Council's ``preferred 
alternatives.'' Measures being considered include: (1) Status Quo - no 
change to existing regulations; and (2) Require the installation of 
Bycatch Reduction Devices (BRDs) in all trawls used in the penaeid 
shrimp fishery of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). They will also 
review area specific usage of BRDs including requiring BRDs: (1) inside 
the 100-fathom contour; (2) inside the 100-fathom contour and west of 
Cape San Blas, FL; (3) between the 10- and 100-fathom contours; and (4) 
between the 10- and 100-fathom contours and west of Cape San Blas, FL. 
Other alternatives that will be discussed include: bycatch reduction 
criteria; seasonal closures; and a framework procedure for modifying 
bycatch reduction criteria, BRD certification, and testing 
requirements. The Shrimp AP will also consider an RIR, which mainly 
reviews the economic ramifications of the proposed amendment; an SIA; 
and any environmental consequences. Also considered will be the effects 
of other Federal laws and regulations.
    The AP is comprised of fisherman and other user groups who advise 
the Council on fishery issues.

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 21, 1996.

    Dated: September 30, 1996.
Bruce Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-25588 Filed 10-4-96; 8:45 am]
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