[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 76 (Wednesday, April 19, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 20954]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-9846]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 041400B]


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 will convene 
public meetings of the Standing and Special Red Drum Scientific and 
Statistical Committee (SSC) and the Red Drum Advisory Panel (AP).

DATES: The Standing and Special Red Drum SSC will meet on Wednesday, 
May 3, 2000 beginning at 1 p.m. and will conclude by 12 noon on 
Thursday, May 4, 2000; the Red Drum AP will meet on Friday, May 5, 2000 
from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The SSC meeting will be held at the Tampa Airport Hilton 
Hotel, 2225 Lois Avenue, Tampa, FL 33607; telephone 813-877-6688. The 
AP meeting will be held at the New Orleans Airport Hilton, 901 Airline 
Drive, Kenner, LA 70062; telephone: 504-469-5000.
    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 SEC will convene to review the 1999/2000 
red drum stock assessment. A Red Dum Stock Assessment Panel (SAP) 
member will present the assessment to the SSC related to setting an 
allowable biological catch (ABC) range in the Gulf of Mexico. The SSC 
may also review estimates of stock size (biomass at maximum sustainable 
yield [Bmsy]), minimum stock size thresholds (MSST), escapement rates 
of juveniles to offshore waters, and adult red drum bycatch in shrimp 
trawls. Based on this review, the SSC may recommend to the Council 
levels for total allowable catch (TAC), bag limits, size limits, 
commercial quotas, and other measures for the red drum fishery.
    The AP will meet to review the 1999/2000 red drum stock assessment. 
A Red Drum SAP member will also present the assessment to the AP. The 
AP will also provide recommendations to the Council.
    Based on recommendations from the above meetings, the Council, at 
its May meeting in New Orleans, LA will decide if changes are needed to 
current red drum management measures. Currently, it is illegal to 
harvest or possess red drum in Federal waters.
    A copy of the agenda can be obtained by contacting the Gulf Council 
(see ADDRESSES).
    Although other non-emergency issues not on the agenda may come 
before the Standing and Special Red Drum SSC and the Red Drum AP 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 Standing and 
Special Reef Fish SSC and the Red Drum AP 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.
    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 April 27, 2000.

    Dated: April 7, 2000.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 00-9846 Filed 4-18-00; 8:45 am]
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