[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 4 (Monday, January 7, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 717-718]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-319]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 010202A]


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 meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene 
public meetings.

DATES: The meetings will be held on January 21- 24, 2002.

ADDRESSES: These meetings will be held at the Holiday Inn Fort Brown, 
1900 East Elizabeth Street, Brownsville, TX 78520; telephone: 956-546-
2201. Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 3018 
U.S. Highway 301 North, Suite 1000, Tampa, FL 33619.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wayne E. Swingle, Executive Director, 
telephone: 813-228-2815.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

January 21

    8:30 a.m. thru 10:30 a.m.-Convene the Mackerel Management Committee 
to develop recommendations for mackerel and cobia status determination 
criteria. The full Council will consider these recommendations on 
Thursday morning.
    10:30 a.m. thru 11:30 a.m.-Convene the Shrimp Management Committee 
to hear a NMFS report on the Texas closure analyses and make 
recommendation for the full Council for discussion on Thursday morning.
    1 p.m. thru 5:30 p.m.-Convene the Reef Fish Management Committee to 
review a draft regulatory amendment containing alternatives for 
rebuilding of the red grouper stock and to hear the total allowable 
catch (TAC) recommendations of the scientific panels and Reef Fish 
Advisory Panel (AP) for gag, vermillion snapper, and gray triggerfish. 
The Committee will also discuss development of a red snapper individual 
transferable quota protocol.

January 22

    8:30 a.m. thru 10:30 a.m.-Continue the Reef Fish Management 
Committee, if necessary.
    10:30 a.m. thru 11:30 a.m.-Convene the Deep-Water Crab Management 
Committee to discuss an options paper for the development of a Deep-
water Crab Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The species that would be 
managed under the Deep-water Crab FMP will be the golden crab (Chaceon 
fenneri) and red crab (Chaceon quinquedens). The preliminary issues and 
options paper for the development of a Deep-water Crab FMP examines 
fisheries issues including management needs, gear requirements and 
restrictions, crab size and sex limitations for harvest, and 
requirements for fishery participants.
    1 p.m. thru 3:30 p.m.-Convene the Administrative Policy Committee 
to discuss congressional bills entitled the ``Fishery Recovery Act'' 
and ``Freedom to Fish Act.'' The Committee recommendations will be 
considered by the Council as recommendations for amending the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation & Management Act (Magnuson Stevens Act).
    3:30 p.m. thru 4:30 p.m.-(Closed Session) Convene the AP Selection 
Committee to recommend members for two Ad Hoc panels to review 
preparation of a supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) for 
the Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Amendment. 4:30 p.m. thru 5:30 p.m.-
(Closed Session) Convene the Personnel Committee to consider revisions 
to the personnel section of the Administrative Handbook.

January 23

    8:30 a.m.-Convene Council.

[[Page 718]]

    8:45 a.m. thru 12 noon-Receive public testimony on the Texas 
closure, overfishing and overfished criteria for mackerel and cobia, 
and TAC recommendations for gag grouper, vermillion snapper, and gray 
triggerfish. Although the Council will hear public testimony on TAC for 
these three stocks, final action on gag will not be taken until the 
March Council meeting in Mobile, AL or the May Council meeting in 
Destin, FL. Final action on gray triggerfish will be taken at the March 
Council meeting in Mobile, AL.
    1:30 p.m. thru 5:30 p.m.-Receive the report of the Reef Fish 
Management Committee.
    5 p.m. thru 5:30 p.m.-(Closed Session) Receive a report of the AP 
Selection Committee.
    5:30 p.m. thru 5:45 p.m.-(Closed Session) Receive a report of the 
Personnel Committee. January 24
    8:30 a.m. thru 8:45 a.m.-Receive a report of the AP Selection 
Committee.
    8:45 a.m. thru 9:30 a.m.-Receive a report of the Mackerel 
Management Committee.
    9:30 a.m. thru 9:45 a.m.-Receive a report of the Shrimp Management 
Committee.
    9:45 a.m. thru 10:15 a.m.-Receive a report of the Deep-Water Crab 
Management Committee.
    10:15 a.m. thru 12 noon-Receive a report of the Administrative 
Policy Committee.
    1:30 p.m. thru 2:30 p.m.-Receive a status report on contract for 
preparation of SEIS for the EFH Amendment.
    2:30 p.m. thru 2:45 p.m.-Receive a report of the Coral Reef Task 
Team Meeting.
    2:45 p.m. thru 3 p.m.-Receive a report on the Gulf and South 
Atlantic Fishery Foundation turtle excluder device workshop.
    3 p.m. thru 3:30 p.m.-Receive Enforcement Reports.
    3:30 p.m. thru 3:45 p.m.-Receive the NMFS Regional Administrator's 
Report.
    3:45 p.m. thru 4 p.m.-Receive Director's Reports.
    4 p.m. thru 4:15 p.m.-Other Business
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in the agenda may come 
before the Council for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson 
Stevens Act, those issues may not be the subject of formal Council 
action during this meeting. Council action will be restricted to those 
issues specifically identified in this notice 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 final action to address 
the emergency. A copy of the Committee schedule and agenda can be 
obtained by calling 813 228-2815.

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 January 14, 2002.

    Dated: January 2, 2002.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-319 Filed 1-4-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S