[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 244 (Monday, December 21, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 70391]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-33731]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 121598G]


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 Shrimp Advisory Panel (AP).

DATES: The meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 7, 1999 
and conclude by 3:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Doubletree Hotel - New 
Orleans, 300 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA; telephone: 504-581-1300.
    Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 3018 
U.S. Highway 301 North, Suite 1000, Tampa, FL 33619.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Richard Leard, Senior Fishery 
Biologist, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: 813-
228-2815.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Shrimp AP will convene to review 
scientific information on the effects of the cooperative shrimp 
seasonal closure with the state of Texas. The Shrimp AP will also 
receive a presentation regarding the status of the shrimp stocks in the 
Gulf of Mexico and an overfishing report. A representative of the Texas 
Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) will provide a perspective of the 
TPWD with regard to the cooperative seasonal closure. The AP may 
develop recommendations to the Council regarding the extent of Federal 
waters off Texas that will be closed in 1999 concurrently with the 
closure of Texas waters. Finally, the Shrimp AP will review a draft of 
an Options Paper for Amendment 10 to the Shrimp Fishery Management Plan 
(FMP). Among other alternatives, this options paper contains provisions 
for permitting, mandatory reporting, and vessel monitoring.
    Although other issues not on the agenda may come before the AP for 
discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act, those issues may not be the subject of 
formal action during the meeting. AP actions will be restricted to 
those issues specifically 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 
December 31, 1998.

    Dated: December 16, 1998.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-33731 Filed 12-18-98; 8:45 am]
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