[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 216 (Tuesday, November 9, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64908-64909]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-24957]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 110204A]


South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of public hearings.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
convene public hearings regarding a change to the preferred management 
alternative for consideration under Action 5 in Amendment 6 to the 
Shrimp Fishery Management Plan (FMP). Action 5 in Amendment 6 proposes 
the requirement for a Federal penaeid (white, pink, and brown) shrimp 
permit in order to fish for or possess penaeid shrimp in the South 
Atlantic Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Public hearings regarding other 
proposed management actions in Amendment 6 to the Shrimp FMP have been 
completed.

DATES: The hearing dates are:
    1. Monday, November 22, 2004, beginning at 6 p.m. in Charleston, 
SC.
    2. Monday, December 6, 2004, beginning at 6 p.m. in Atlantic Beach, 
NC.
    Written comments, including e-mail comments, will be accepted until 
5 p.m. on December 6, 2004.

ADDRESSES: The hearing locations are:
    1. Hampton Inn and Suites, 678 Citadel Haven Drive, Charleston, SC 
29414; telephone: 843-573-1200; and
    2. Sheraton Atlantic Beach Hotel, 2717 W. Fort Macon Road, Atlantic 
Beach, NC 28512; telephone: 800-624-8875 or 252-240-1155.
    Written comments should be sent to Bob Mahood, Executive Director, 
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, One Southpark Circle, Suite 
306, Charleston, SC 29407-4699. Comments may also be submitted via e-
mail to [email protected].
    Copies of the public hearing document are available by contacting 
Kim Iverson, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, One Southpark 
Circle, Suite 306, Charleston, SC 29407-4699; telephone: 843-571-4366 
or toll free 866-SAFMC-10.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Iverson, South Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council, One Southpark Circle, Suite 306, Charleston, SC 
29407-4699; telephone: 843-571-4366 or toll free 866-SAFMC-10; fax: 
843-769-4520; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Additional hearings are being scheduled 
because the Council, at its October 2004 meeting, chose a new preferred 
alternative relevant to Federal penaeid shrimp permits that is more 
restrictive than earlier alternatives included in the initial round of 
public hearings. The new preferred alternative removes an earlier 
exception to the permit that stated:
    a valid commercial vessel permit for South Atlantic penaeid 
shrimp is not required if the shrimp trawler (1) is in transit in 
the South Atlantic EEZ and (2) no trawl net or try net aboard the 
vessel is rigged for fishing.

[[Page 64909]]

    The more restrictive Alternative 4 under Action 5 in Amendment 6 
specifies:
    For a person aboard a shrimp trawler to fish for penaeid shrimp 
in the South Atlantic EEZ or possess penaeid shrimp in or from the 
South Atlantic EEZ, a valid commercial vessel permit for South 
Atlantic penaeid shrimp must have been issued to the vessel and must 
be on board. A federal penaeid shrimp permit will be issued to any 
vessel owner who submits an application.
    Alternative 4 and other alternatives are described further in the 
Council's public hearing document, which is a summary of alternatives 
for Action 5 in Amendment 6 to the Shrimp FMP (see ADDRESSES for 
information on obtaining the public hearing document).
    These meetings will be physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to the Council office (see ADDRESSES) 
by November 19, 2004.

    Dated: November 3, 2004.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 04-24957 Filed 11-8-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S