[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 16, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7856-7857]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-3722]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 020700C]


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Scoping Meetings

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of scoping meetings; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
conduct scoping meetings to receive comments on a Draft Options Paper 
for Amendment 10 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Shrimp Fishery 
of the Gulf of Mexico (Shrimp Amendment 10).

DATES: Written comments will be accepted until 5 p.m. on March 6, 2000. 
The scoping meetings will be held from February 28 through March 1, 
2000. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to the Gulf of Mexico 
Fishery Management Council, 3018 U.S. Highway 301, North, Suite 1000, 
Tampa, Florida 33619; telephone: (813) 228-2815. Copies of the Draft 
Options Paper are also available from the Council.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The scoping meetings will be convened to 
receive comments on the need for additional bycatch reduction 
requirements for the shrimp fishery in the exclusive economic zone 
(EEZ) south and east of 85 deg.30' W. long. Amendment 9 to the Fishery 
Management Plan for the Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP), 
approved by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) on July 30, 
1997, and implemented by final rule on May 14, 1998 (April 14, 1998; 63 
FR 18139), required the use of a NMFS-certified bycatch reduction 
device (BRD) in shrimp trawls used in the EEZ from Cape San Blas, 
Florida (85'30' W. long.) to the Texas/Mexico border and provided for 
the certification of the Fisheye BRD in the 30 mesh position. The 
purpose of this action was to reduce the bycatch mortality of juvenile 
red snapper by 44 percent from the average mortality for the years 
1984-89. Amendment 9 to the FMP exempted shrimp trawls fishing for 
royal red shrimp outside of 100 fathoms, as well as groundfish and 
butterfish trawls. It also excluded small try nets and no more than two 
ridged frame roller trawls that do not exceed 16 feet (4.9 m). 
Amendment 9 to the FMP did not require BRDs south and east of 85--30' 
West long. because few juvenile red snapper were found as bycatch in 
this area. Because of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act's requirement to reduce bycatch to the extent 
practicable, the Council is considering the need for additional 
measures to reduce bycatch.
    Scoping meetings for the Draft Options Paper on Shrimp Amendment 10 
will begin at 7:00 p.m. and end at 10:00 p.m. at all of the following 
locations:
    1. Monday, February 28, 2000--New Orleans Airport Hilton, 901 
Airline Drive, Kenner, LA 70062
    2. Tuesday, February 29, 2000--Mississippi Department of Marine 
Resources, 1141 Bayview Avenue, Biloxi, MS 39530
    3. Wednesday, March 1, 2000--Adam's Mark Hotel Mobile, 64 South 
Water Street, Mobile, AL 36602

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language

[[Page 7857]]

interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Anne 
Alford at the Council (see ADDRESSES).

    Dated: February 11, 2000.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-3722 Filed 2-15-00; 8:45 am]
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