[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 13 (Thursday, January 20, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 3207]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-1349]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 011400A]


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 Drum Stock Assessment Panel (RDSAP).

DATES:  This meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, February 7, 
2000 and will conclude by 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 9, 2000.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science 
Center, 75 Virginia Beach Drive, Miami, FL.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Peter Hood, Fishery Biologist, Gulf 
of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 3018 U.S. Highway 301 North, 
Suite 1000, Tampa, FL 33619; telephone: 813-228-2815.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  The RDSAP will convene to re-evaluate a 
stock assessment on the status of the red drum stocks in the Gulf of 
Mexico prepared by NMFS. The RDSAP will consider available information, 
including but not limited to, commercial and recreational catches, 
natural and fishing mortality estimates, recruitment, fishery-dependent 
and fishery-independent data, and data needs. These analyses will be 
used to determine the condition of the stocks and the levels of 
acceptable biological catch (ABC). If time allows for the assessment to 
be run, the RDSAP may also review estimates of stock size (biomass at 
maximum sustainable yield (Bmsy)) and minimum stock size thresholds 
(MSST). Otherwise estimates of stock size and minimum stock size 
thresholds will be discussed at a later meeting. Currently it is 
illegal to harvest or possess red drum in Federal waters.
    Although other non-emergency issues not on the agendas may come 
before the RDSAP for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, those issues may not 
be the subject of formal action during these meetings. Actions of the 
RDSAP will be restricted to those issues specifically identified in the 
agendas and any issues arising after publication of this notice that 
require emergency action under Section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council's intent to 
take action to address the emergency.

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 above address by January 31, 
2000.

    Dated: January 14, 2000.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-1349 Filed 1-19-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F