[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 205 (Thursday, October 23, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60644-60645]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-26801]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 101703A]


Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

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

[[Page 60645]]

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 November 9 through 12, 2003.

ADDRESSES: These meetings will be held at the Palace Casino Resort, 158 
Howard Avenue, Biloxi, MS; telephone: 800-725-2239.
    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, 
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: 813-228-2815.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Meeting Dates, Times, and Agendas

November 9, 2003

    9-10 a.m.--(Partially Closed Session) Convene a joint meeting of 
the Personnel and Administrative Policy Committees to review past 
personnel issues.
    10-11:30 a.m.--Convene the Administrative Policy Committee to 
review changes to the Administrative Handbook.
    1-5:30 p.m.--Convene the Reef Fish Management Committee to review 
Secretarial Reef Fish Amendment 1 that contains alternatives for 
arresting overfishing of red grouper by the commercial and recreational 
fishermen. They will also review Draft Reef Fish Amendment 22 that 
contains alternatives for a red snapper rebuilding plan; and a 
Vermilion Snapper Regulatory Amendment that contains alternatives for 
arresting overfishing of that stock by commercial and recreational 
fishermen. Public hearings will be held on both of these amendments in 
December or January. The Committee will also review the yellowtail 
snapper assessment and will develop recommendations for consideration 
by full Council on Tuesday afternoon.

November 10, 2003

    8:30-10 a.m.--Reconvene the Reef Fish Management Committee if 
necessary.
    10-12 noon--Convene the Shrimp Management Committee to review Draft 
Shrimp Amendment 13/Environmental Assessment that includes alternatives 
for status criteria and benchmarks as well as a revised standardized 
bycatch reporting methodology: The Shrimp Committee will also review a 
Draft Options Paper for Shrimp Amendment 14/Supplemental and 
Environmental Impact Statement that includes alternatives to improve 
the bycatch reporting methodology, further reduce bycatch, and for a 
limited access program and vessel monitoring system.
    1:30-2:30 p.m.--Convene the Migratory Species Management Committee 
to review information on bycatch of sharks in the menhaden fishery.
    2:30-4 p.m.--Convene the Habitat Protection Committee to review and 
revise a Council policy for mariculture developed by the Gulf States 
Marine Fisheries Commission.
    4-5:30 p.m.--Convene the Data Collection Committee to hear a report 
on the Fishery Information System program implemented by the states for 
collection of fishery statistics from recreational and commercial 
fishermen. The Committee will also discuss a study proposal to collect 
some of these statistics, data quality assurance and control measures, 
and separation of guide boats from charter and headboats in the 
statistical program.

November 11, 2003

    8:30 a.m.--Convene Council.
    8:45 a.m.--Appointment of Committee members.
    9-9:45 a.m.--Receive a presentation on Coral Research on Middle 
Grounds.
    9:45-12 noon--Receive public testimony on Secretarial Reef Fish 
Amendment 1.
    1:30-3:30 p.m.--Receive the Reef Fish Management Committee report.
    3:30-5 p.m.--Receive the Administrative Policy Committee report.
    5-5:30 p.m.--(Closed Session) Receive the Personnel Committee 
report.
    November 12, 2003
    8:30-8:45 a.m.--Receive the Shrimp Management Committee report.
    8:45-9 a.m.--Receive the Habitat Protection Committee report.
    9-9:15 a.m.--Receive the Migratory Special Management Committee 
report.
    9:15-9:30 a.m.--Receive the Data Collection Committee report.
    9:30-9:45 a.m.--Receive a report of the Council Orientation 
Session.
    9:45-10 a.m.--Receive the International Commission for the 
Conservation of Atlantic Tunas Advisory Committee report.
    10-10:15 a.m.--Receive a report of the NMFS Highly Migratory 
Species Advisory Panel meeting.
    10:15-10:30 a.m.--Receive a report of the Texas Shrimp Association 
Meeting.
    10:30-11 a.m.--Receive Enforcement Reports.
    11-11:15 a.m.--Receive the NMFS Regional Administrator's Report.
    11:15-11:45 a.m.--Receive Director's Reports.
    11:45-12 noon--Other Business
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in the agenda may come 
before the Council for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (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 November 3, 2003.

    Dated: October 17, 2003.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-26801 Filed 10-22-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S