[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 136 (Tuesday, July 16, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 46638]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-17857]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 070902C]


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 Shrimp Advisory Panel (AP).

DATES: The Shrimp AP is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, 
July 31, 2002.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the New Orleans Airport Hilton, 
901 Airline Highway, Kenner, LA; telephone 504-469-5000.
    Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 3018 
U.S. Highway 301 North, Suite 1000, Tampa, FL 33619.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Richard Leard, Senior Fishery 
Biologist, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: 813-
228-2815.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Shrimp AP will convene to receive 
reports from NMFS on the status and health of shrimp stocks in the 
Gulf, a stock assessment report, and a report on the Tortugas pink 
shrimp fishery. The Shrimp AP will also receive presentations regarding 
direct measures to assess shrimp fishing effort that can be used to 
evaluate effort and bycatch and a summit for sustainability of the 
shrimp fishery in the Gulf of Mexico.
    The Shrimp AP will also review an Options Paper for Amendment 13 to 
the Shrimp Fishery Management Plan (FMP) that includes alternatives to 
add rock shrimp to the Shrimp FMP and establishment of status criteria 
for shrimp stocks including maximum sustainable yields (MSY), optimum 
yields (OY), as well as criteria for determining if any of the shrimp 
stocks are undergoing overfishing or should be classified as 
overfished. The Options paper may also contain alternatives for 
requiring vessel monitoring systems and bycatch quotas. Finally, the 
Shrimp AP will also discuss a preliminary draft of an environmental 
impact statement (EIS) for essential fish habitat (EFH) in the Gulf.
    The Shrimp AP consists principally of commercial shrimp fishermen, 
dealers, and association representatives.
    Although other non-emergency issues not on the agendas 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 
July 22, 2002.

    Dated: July 10, 2002.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-17857 Filed 7-15-02; 8:45 am]
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