[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 243 (Monday, December 18, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 79072]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-32169]



[[Page 79072]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 121200D]


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 Reef Fish Advisory Panel (AP) on January 5, 2001.

DATES:  The Reef Fish AP will meet beginning at 9:00 a.m. on January 5, 
2001.

ADDRESSES:  The meeting 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 Reef Fish AP 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 AP 
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. In addition, the AP 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 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 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.
    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. 00-32169 Filed 12-15-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S