[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 247 (Thursday, December 24, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71269-71270]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-34161]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 121898B]


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 meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
convene public meetings.

DATES: The meetings will be held on January 11-15, 1999.

ADDRESSES: These meetings will be held at the Isle of Capri Crowne 
Plaza Hotel, 151 Beach Boulevard, Biloxi, MI; telephone:
    228-435-5400.
    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

    January 13, 1999
     1:30 p.m.--Convene.
    1:45 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.--Receive public testimony on the Draft 
Sustainable Fisheries Act (SFA) Amendment and Draft Gag Regulatory 
Amendment Options Paper. The SFA Amendment includes alternative 
management measures for reporting of bycatch by Gulf fishermen, for 
minimizing bycatch or bycatch mortality, for specifying higher 
standards for overfishing criteria that will restore fishery stocks to 
maximum sustainable yield (MSY), for rebuilding periods for overfished 
stocks (e.g., red snapper, king mackerel, and red drum) and a section 
identifying communities economically dependent on fishing. 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 2-fish recreational bag 
limit for gag as part of the existing 5 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.
    January 14, 1999 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.--Take final action on the 
Draft SFA Amendment.
    10:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.--Receive the Reef Fish Management Committee 
Report.
    3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.--Receive the Migratory Species Management 
Committee Report.
    January 15, 1999
    8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.--Receive the Habitat Protection Committee 
Report.
    9:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.--Receive the Shrimp Management Committee 
Report.
    10:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.--Receive the Joint Shrimp/Reef Fish 
Management Committee Report.
    10:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.--Receive the Council Chairmen's Meeting 
Report.
    10:45 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.--Receive Enforcement Reports.
    11:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.--Receive the South Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council (SAFMC) Liaison Report.
    11:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.--Receive Director's Reports.
    11:45 a.m. - 12:00 noon--Other Business.
    Under other business, the Council may consider proposals for 
dolphin and wahoo management recently adopted by the South Atlantic 
Fishery Management Council (SAFMC). The Council will also hear reports 
and respond to a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 
letter.
    Committees
    January 11, 1999
    1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.--Convene the Migratory Species Management

[[Page 71270]]

Committee to review and develop comments on a highly migratory species 
(HMS) fishery management plan (FMP) and Billfish FMP amendment 
developed by NMFS.
    January 12, 1999
    8:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.--Convene the Ad Hoc SFA Committee to review 
the draft SFA amendment. The Committee will develop their 
recommendations to the Council for final action on the amendment. The 
recommendations will be considered by the Council on Thursday, January 
14, 1999.
    12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.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. They will review the 
Amendment 17 Options Paper which has alternatives for a license 
limitation program for reef fish. They will also receive a status 
report on the emergency red snapper rule, and may discuss actions taken 
under the emergency red snapper rule.
    January 13, 1999
    8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.--Convene the Shrimp Management Committee to 
review the analyses of NMFS and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 
(TPWD) and develop their recommendations to Council on the 1999 Texas 
Closure. They will also review Amendment 10 Options Paper which 
contains alternatives for permitting or registration of vessels, 
observer requirements and protocol, and a vessel monitoring system.
    11:00 a.m. - 12:30 noon--Convene the Habitat Protection Committee 
to review a proposed development project for constructing a casino in 
wetlands and a NMFS study on mitigation.
    Although other issues not contained in this agenda may come before 
the Council for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation Act, those issues may not be the subject of formal 
Council action during this meeting. Council action 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 January 5, 1999.

    Dated: December 21, 1998.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-34161 Filed 12-23-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F