[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 198 (Tuesday, October 14, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53318-53319]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-27045]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 100397D]


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 will convene a 
public meeting of the Red Snapper Advisory Panel (RSAP), Reef Fish 
Advisory Panel (RFAP), and Standing and Special Reef Fish Scientific 
and Statistical Committee (SSC).

DATES: The meetings are scheduled as follows: RSAP October 27, 1997, 
8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.; SSC October 28, 1997, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; 
RFAP October 31, 1997, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the at the Crowne Plaza Tampa 
Westshore, 700 North Westshore Boulevard, Tampa, Florida 33609; 
telephone 813-289-8200.
    Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 3018 
U.S. Highway 301 North, Suite 1000, Tampa, Florida, 33619.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Atran, Population Dynamics 
Statistician, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: 
813-228-2815, extension 227.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The RSAP will review a 1997 NMFS stock 
assessment for red snapper and, optionally, a stock assessment for gag 
(grouper), and available biological information on gray triggerfish. 
The RFAP will also review reports on the above species from the Reef 
Fish Stock Assessment Panel (RFSAP), and the Socioeconomic Panel (SEP). 
Based on these reports, the RSAP will make recommendations for total 
allowable catch (TAC) of red snapper in 1998 and other management 
measures. The RSAP will also be asked to develop recommendations for 
controlling recreational harvest of red snapper in order to prevent a 
closure of the recreational fishery when the recreational quota is 
reached. The RSAP may also make recommendations for management measures 
for gag and gray triggerfish.
    The RSAP may review Draft Amendment 16 to the Fishery Management 
Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico. This amendment 
contains proposed management measures for fish traps, minor amberjack 
species (lesser amberjack, banded rudderfish, and Almaco jack), species 
listed as not in the management unit, compatible size and bag limits 
with Florida for several reef fish species, management measures for 
speckled hind and warsaw grouper in response to those species having 
been added to the candidate list of species for possible listing as 
threatened or endangered, and changes to the method of allocating TAC 
among user groups.
    The SSC will review the stock assessments for red snapper and gag, 
available biological information on gray triggerfish, and the reports 
from the RFSAP and the SEP. The SSC will provide recommendations to the 
Council on the scientific merits of these reports; and it may recommend 
levels for TAC, bag limits, size limits, commercial quotas, and other 
measures for red snapper and gag for the 1998 season. The SSC could 
also recommend future management measures or research/data needs for 
gray triggerfish.
    In addition, the SSC will review Draft Amendment 16 to the Fishery 
Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico. The 
SSC may provide recommendations to the Council on the scientific merits 
of the alternatives contained in this amendment as noted above.
    The Reef Fish (RFAP) will review a 1997 NMFS stock assessment for 
gag, available biological information on gray triggerfish, and 
optionally, a 1997 stock assessment for red snapper. The RFAP will also 
review reports on the above species from the RFSAP, and the SEP. Based 
on these reports, the RFAP may make recommendations to the Council for 
a TAC of gag in 1998 and possibly other management measures. The RFAP 
may also recommend future management measures for gray triggerfish. The 
RFAP may also make recommendations for 1998 gag TAC and other 
management measures. Optionally, the RFAP may make recommendations for 
TAC of red snapper in 1998 and other management measures for red 
snapper. In addition, the RFAP will review the previously mentioned 
alternatives in Draft Amendment 16 to the Fishery Management Plan for 
the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico.
    Based on recommendations from the above meetings, the Council, at 
its November meeting in Longboat Key, Florida, will decide if changes 
are needed to the red snapper TAC and possibly other management 
measures for red snapper. The Council will also determine if a TAC or 
additional management measures are needed for gag, or if future 
management measures or additional research/data are needed for gray 
triggerfish. The Council will also review and modify Draft Amendment 16 
to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf 
of Mexico.
    A copy of the agenda can be obtained by calling 813-228-2815.
    Although other issues not on the agenda may come before the Council 
for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act, those issues may not be the subject of 
formal Council action during this meeting. Council action will be 
restricted to those issues specifically

[[Page 53319]]

identified in the agenda listed as available by this notice.

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 20, 1997.

    Dated: October 6, 1997.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-27045 Filed 10-10-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F