[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 243 (Monday, December 18, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 79071]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-32168]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 121200C]


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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY:  The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene 
public meetings of the Special Shrimp Scientific and Statistical 
Committee (SSC) on January 3, 2001, and a meeting of the Standing and 
Special Reef Fish Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) on January 
4, 2001.

DATES:  The Standing and Special Shrimp SSC will meet beginning at 2:00 
p.m. on January 3, 2001. The Standing and Special Reef Fish SSC will 
meet beginning at 9:00 a.m. on January 4, 2001.

ADDRESSES:  The meetings will be held at the Chateau LeMoyne, 301 
Dauphine Street, New Orleans, LA 70130; telephone: 504-581-1303.
    Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 3018 
U.S. Highway 301 North, Suite 1000, Tampa, FL 33619.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Mr. Steven Atran, Population Dynamics 
Statistician, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: 
813-228-2815.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  The Standing and Special Shrimp SSC will 
meet to review a revision to Draft Amendment 11 to the Shrimp Fishery 
Management Plan which clarifies that sanctions for fishing violations 
can be exercised against both a shrimp vessel registration and a shrimp 
vessel permit.
    The Standing and Special Reef Fish SSC will meet to review a report 
of the Reef Fish Stock Assessment Panel and to recommend total 
allowable catches (TACs) for red grouper and greater amberjack. The SSC 
will also make recommendations on a proposed red snapper recovery plan 
that calls for converting from a constant catch to a constant fishing 
mortality rate strategy beginning in 2004, and thereafter a review and 
adjustment of TAC at five-year intervals. Dr. Bob Shipp, University of 
South Alabama, will make a presentation to the SSC on historical 
perspectives of the red snapper stock. In addition, the SSC will review 
an early draft of options being considered for including in a new Reef 
Fish plan amendment. These options deal with a longline limited entry 
system, moving the longline boundary line, phasing out the use of 
longlines, the use of cut-up reef fish for bait, an electronic vessel 
monitoring system for longline and fish trap vessels, the use of 
powerheads when spearfishing, requiring operator permits for commercial 
and charter/headboat operators, a commercial grouper fishery 
endorsement, grouper closed seasons, prohibiting the import of 
undersized red snapper, eliminating dormant reef fish permits, and 
changes to the species listed in the reef fish management unit and 
deep-water grouper aggregation. Additional options may be added or 
deleted as this options paper is developed into Reef Fish Amendment 18.
    Although other non-emergency issues not on the agenda may come 
before the SSC 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 SSC 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.
    Copies of the agenda can be obtained by calling 813-228-2815.

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 Council (see ADDRESSES) by 
December 27, 2000.

    Dated: December 12, 2000.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-32168 Filed 12-15-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S