[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 63 (Monday, April 2, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 17519]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-8051]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[I.D. 032101E]


South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

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

ACTION: Notification of public scoping meetings.

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SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold four scoping meetings in April and May 2001, to gather public 
input on measures for possible inclusion in an amendment to the Shrimp 
Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Region. The measures are being 
considered at the request of the commercial shrimp industry. These 
management measures will address the issue of larger vessels entering 
the fishery that are capable of fishing 24 hours a day and having far 
greater fishing power than the traditional fleet. Fishermen are 
concerned over the possible displacement of traditional shrimp vessels 
from the fishery, the unknown impact of adding highly efficient vessels 
into an already overcapitalized fishery, the biological impact of 
increased effort on shrimp stocks, and the unknown and possible 
increase in bycatch. Items under consideration include establishing a 
Federal permit for the shrimp fishery, night-time closures, and maximum 
trawl size for vessels harvesting or possessing penaeid shrimp from the 
South Atlantic EEZ.

DATES: The Council will accept written comments on the proposed 
amendment through May 29, 2001. The meetings will be held in April and 
May 2001. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times of 
the meetings.

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, or via email to 
[email protected]. Copies of the scoping document are available from Kim 
Iverson, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, One Southpark 
Circle, Suite 306, Charleston, SC 29407-4699; telephone: 843-571-4366.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Iverson, South Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council, One Southpark Circle, Suite 306, Charleston, SC 
29407-4699; telephone: 843-571-4366; fax: 843-769-4520; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Meeting Dates and Locations

    All meetings are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.
    1. April 17, 2001, Crystal Coastal Civic Center, 3505 Arendell 
Street, Morehead City, NC 28557; telephone: 252-247-3883.
    2. April 19, 2001, Cooperative Extension Building, Brunswick County 
Center, 25 Referendum Dr., Bolivia, NC 28422; telephone: 910-253-2610.
    3. May 15, 2001, Town & Country Inn, 2008 Savannah Highway, 
Charleston, SC 29407; telephone: 843-571-1000.
    4. May 21, 2001, Sea Turtle Inn, 1 Ocean Boulevard, Atlantic Beach, 
FL 32233; telephone: 904-249-7402.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to the Council office (see ADDRESSES) 
by April 6, 2001.

    Dated: March 27, 2001.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-8051 Filed 3-30-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S