[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 56 (Monday, March 24, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14199-14200]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-6958]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 031403E]


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Amendment 21; Public Hearings

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

[[Page 14200]]

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of public hearings; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
convene a public hearing to receive comments on the Council's proposed 
Amendment 21 to the Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan (Amendment 21) to 
extend the time period for the Madison/Swanson and Steamboat Lumps 
marine reserves beyond their June 16, 2004, expiration date.

DATES: The public hearing will be held in April. See SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION for specific dates and times.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to, and copies of the 
scoping document are available from, the Gulf Council, 3018 U.S. 
Highway 301, North, Suite 1000, Tampa, Florida 33619.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Steven Atran, Population Dynamics 
Statistician, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone 813-
228-2815.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The public hearing will be convened on the 
Council's proposed Amendment 21 to extend the time period for the 
Madison/Swanson and Steamboat Lumps marine reserves beyond their June 
16, 2004, expiration date.
    The Madison/Swanson and Steamboat Lumps marine reserves were 
implemented on June 19, 2000, with a 4-year sunset provision. The 
Madison/Swanson site is approximately 115 square nautical miles in size 
and is located about 40 nautical miles southwest of Apalachicola City, 
FL. Steamboat Lumps is approximately 104 square nautical miles in size 
and is located about 95 nautical miles west of Tarpon Springs, FL. 
Within each area, fishing is prohibited for all species except for 
highly migratory species, i.e., tunas, marlin, oceanic sharks, 
sailfishes, and swordfish. These marine reserves were created primarily 
to protect a portion of the gag spawning aggregations and to protect a 
portion of the offshore population of male gag. The areas are also 
suitable habitat and provide protection for many other species, such as 
scamp, red grouper, warsaw grouper, speckled hind, red snapper, red 
porgy, and others.
    It was the Council's intent to prohibit the use of any fishing gear 
within the closed areas in order to maximize enforceability of the 
closed area as well as minimize the negative impact from incidental 
catch and release of reef fish while targeting other species. For this 
reason, the Council asked that the NMFS Highly Migratory Species (HMS) 
Division implement compatible closed area regulations for the species 
under their management jurisdiction (tunas, swordfish, oceanic sharks, 
and billfishes). This led to a legal challenge from a recreational 
fishing organization. The recreational organization felt that 
restrictions on fishing for migratory species higher up in the water 
column were unwarranted because they would have no impact on the bottom 
reef fish species. As part of a settlement to the legal challenge, NMFS 
agreed to hold the Council's request to implement an HMS closure in 
abeyance while research is conducted into the impact of the no-take 
areas, the effect of pelagic trolling on and ability to reach reef fish 
species, and the impact on enforceability by allowing pelagic trolling 
in the no-take areas. Reports on the results of the research into these 
areas are scheduled to be presented at the May 12-15, 2003, Council 
meeting where final action is to be taken. No action will result in the 
two reserves expiring on June 16, 2004, and the areas re-opening to all 
fishing.
    The public hearing will be held from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.Wednesday, 
April 9, 2003, Tampa Airport Hilton, 2225 Lois Avenue, Tampa, FL; 
telephone: 813-877-6688.
    In addition, public testimony will be taken at the May 12-15, 2003, 
Council meeting at the Edgewater Beach Resort, 11212 Front Beach Road, 
Panama City Beach, FL. (The exact date and time for public testimony at 
the May Council meeting will be announced at a later time.)
    Copies of the draft amendment for these meetings can be obtained by 
calling 813-228-2815.
    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 April 2, 2003.

    Dated: March 19, 2003.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-6958 Filed 3-21-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S