[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]


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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

[[Page 7631]]

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