[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 102 (Wednesday, May 28, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31688-31689]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-13276]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 051203C]


Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 
Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Coastal Migratory Pelagic 
Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic; Gulf of Mexico 
Fishery Management Council; Public Hearings

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
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 public workshops on collecting information about vessel 
expenses and earnings in the Gulf of Mexico reef fish and coastal 
pelagics (mackerel) fisheries.

DATES: The public workshops will be held in May and June. 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 Council, 3018 U.S. Highway 
301, North, Suite 1000, Tampa, FL 33619.
    For specific location regarding the public workshops, see 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Antonio Lamberte, Senior 
Economist, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: (813) 
228-2815.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Council will conduct workshops on 
collecting information about vessel expenses and earnings in the Gulf 
of Mexico reef fish and coastal pelagics (mackerel) fisheries. The main 
goal of the workshops is to solicit the views of participants on the 
importance and necessity of collecting vessel and trip level 
information on expenses and earnings. In addition, participants will be 
asked for their views on the methods of collecting such information.
    Vessel expenses and earnings, also known as cost and returns, 
information is extremely important as it allows the Council to have a 
better understanding of the economic impacts of proposed management 
actions while they are still under consideration. In addition, several 
laws such as the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 
Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Regulatory Flexibility Act, and 
Executive Order 12866 require the use of economic information in the 
deliberation and formulation of regulations. Fishery participants' 
views regarding the nature and collection of this information are 
critical so that at the time it is collected, assembled, and analyzed a 
more credible picture of the economic condition of the fishery will be 
depicted and used in the management process.
    Council staff, with the assistance of NMFS staff, will conduct the 
workshops. All workshops will begin at 6 p.m. local time and conclude 
at about 9 p.m. at the following locations and dates:
    1. Tuesday, May 27, 2003, Four Points Hotel by Sheraton, 1325 
Miracle Strip Parkway, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548; telephone: 850-796-
3815;
    2. Wednesday, May 28, 2003, Adam's Mark Hotel, 64 South Water 
Street, Mobile, AL 36602; telephone: 251-438-4000;
    3. Thursday, May 29, 2003, Mississippi Department of Marine 
Resources, 1141 Bayview Avenue, Biloxi, MS 39530; telephone: 228-374-
5000;
    4. Monday, June 2, 2003, Texas City Department of Recreation 
&Tourism, Nessler Center, 2010 5th Avenue North, Texas City, TX 77590; 
telephone: 409-643-5990;
    5. Tuesday, June 3, 2003, Lake Jackson Library, 250 Circle Way, 
Lake Jackson, TX 77566; telephone: 979-297-1271;
    6. Wednesday, June 4, 2003, Matagorda Volunteer Fire Department, P. 
O. Box 70, Matagorda, TX 77457; telephone: 979-863-7551;
    7. Thursday, June 5, 2003, Holiday Inn Beachside Key West, 3841 N. 
Roosevelt Blvd, Key West, FL 33040; telephone: 305-294-2571;
    8. Friday, June 6, 2003, La Quinta Inn Fort Myers, 4850 S. 
Cleveland Avenue, Fort Myers, FL 33907; telephone: 941-275-3300;
    9. Monday, June 9, 2003, City of Madeira Beach, 300 Municipal 
Drive, Madeira Beach, FL 33708; telephone: 727-391-9951;

[[Page 31689]]

    10. Wednesday, June 11, 2003, Larose Civic Center, 307 East 5th 
Street, Larose, LA 70373; telephone: 985-693-7355;
    11. Thursday, June 12, 2003, Police Jury Annex, 110 Smith Circle, 
Cameron, LA 70631; telephone: 333-775-5718; and
    12. Friday, June 13, 2003, Hilton New Orleans Airport, 901 Airline 
Drive, Kenner, LA 70062; telephone: 504-469-5000.
    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).

    Dated: May 21, 2003.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-13276 Filed 5-27-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S