[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 64 (Monday, April 3, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17487-17488]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-8162]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 032800E]


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 via conference call of the Red Drum Stock Assessment 
Panel (RDSAP).

DATES: This meeting will be via conference call on April 17, 2000, 
beginning at 10:00 a.m. EST.

[[Page 17488]]


ADDRESSES: A listening station will be available at the following 
location:
    NMFS Southeast Regional Office, 9721 Executive Center Drive, North, 
St. Petersburg, FL 33702.
    Contact: Georgia Cranmore at 727-570-5305.
    Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 3018 
U.S. Highway 301 North, Suite 1000, Tampa, FL 33619.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Hood, Fishery Biologist, Gulf of 
Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: 813-228-2815.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The RDSAP will be convened via conference 
call on April 17, 2000, beginning at 10:00 a.m. EST. The RDSAP will 
continue their review of 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). The 
RDSAP may also review estimates of stock size (biomass at maximum 
sustainable yield [Bmsy]) and minimum stock size thresholds (MSST). 
Currently it is illegal to harvest or possess red drum in Federal 
waters.
    The conclusions of the RDSAP will be reviewed by the Council's 
Standing and Special Red Drum Scientific and Statistical Committee 
(SSC), and Red Drum Advisory Panel (RDAP) at meetings held between May 
3-5, 2000.
    A copy of the agenda can be obtained by contacting the Council (see 
ADDRESSES).
    Although other non-emergency issues not on the agenda 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 this meeting. Actions of the 
RDSAP will be restricted to those issues specifically identified in the 
agenda 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

    The listening station 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 April 10, 2000.

    Dated: March 29, 2000.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-8162 Filed 3-31-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F