[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 29 (Monday, February 12, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 9813-9814]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-3548]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[I.D. 013001A]


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic; Public Hearings

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

ACTION: Notice of public hearing; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold a public hearing to address issues regarding the use of powerhead 
gear (or ``bangsticks'') by recreational and commercial divers fishing 
in the Exclusive Economic Zone off the east coast of Florida, within 
the Council's area of jurisdiction, for reef fish species in the 
management unit of the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper 
Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (FMP).

DATES: Written comments will be accepted until 12 noon, February 26, 
2001. For the specific date and time of the hearing see SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Bob Mahood, Executive 
Director, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, One Southpark 
Circle, Suite 306, Charleston, SC 29407-4699; telephone: (843) 571-
4366; FAX (843) 769-4520; email address: [email protected]. Copies of the 
Options Paper addressing powerhead gear issues are available from the 
Council at the same address. The meeting will be held in Atlantic 
Beach, FL.

[[Page 9814]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Iverson, Public Information 
Officer, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, telephone: 843-571-
4366; fax: 843-769-4520; email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The public hearing will be convened to 
obtain the views of fishery participants and the general public 
regarding specific issues about the use of powerhead gear to target 
reef fish species in the FMP's management unit. The issues to be 
addressed include the following: Conflicts/competition between user 
groups; harvest of lethargic fish during the winter months; harvest of 
aggregations of spawning fish; excessive harvesting by divers; and, the 
illegal sale of fish. The Council intends that proposed regulatory 
actions to address these issues would be through a regulatory amendment 
under the FMP's framework procedure for regulatory adjustments.

Date, Time, and Location for Public Hearing

    The public hearing will be held on Tuesday, February 20, 2001, 
beginning at 6 p.m., and will be held at the Sea Turtle Inn, One Ocean 
Boulevard, Atlantic Beach, FL 32233; telephone: (904) 249-7402; FAX 
(904) 247-1517.

Special Accommodations

    This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to the Council (see ADDRESSES) by February 12, 2001.

    Dated: February 6, 2001
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-3548 Filed 2-9-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE: 3510-22-S