[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 245 (Wednesday, December 22, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76688-76689]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-27930]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 121504D]


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.

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

SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene a 
public meeting of the Shrimp Advisory Panel (AP). The AP will receive 
reports on the status and health of the shrimp stocks as well as a 
report on the biological and economic aspects of the 2004 Cooperative 
Shrimp Closure with the state of Texas. The AP will also review Draft 
Amendment 13 to the Shrimp Fishery Management Plan (FMP) addressing 
maximum sustainable yield (MSY), optimum yield (OY), minimum stock size 
threshold (MSST), and maximum fishing mortality threshold (MFMT) for 
shrimp stocks, as well as improved effort alternatives and standardized 
bycatch reporting methodologies and alternatives for a shrimp permit 
moratorium.

DATES: The meeting is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, 
January 6, 2005.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the New Orleans Airport Ramada 
Inn & Suites, 110 James Drive East, St. Rose, LA; telephone: (504) 466-
1355. Copies of the meeting agenda can be obtained by calling (813) 
228-2815.
    Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 3018 
U.S. Highway 301 North, Suite 1000, Tampa, FL 33619.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Leard, Senior Fishery 
Biologist, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 3018 U.S. Highway 
301 North, Suite 1000, Tampa, FL 33619; telephone: (813) 228-2815.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Shrimp AP will receive reports from NMFS 
on the status and health of the shrimp stocks as well as a report on 
the biological and economic aspects of the 2004 Cooperative Shrimp 
Closure with the state of Texas. The Shrimp AP may make recommendations 
for a cooperative closure with Texas for 2005. The Shrimp AP will also 
review Draft Amendment 13 to the FMP addressing MSY, OY, MSST, and MFMT 
for shrimp stocks, as well as improved effort alternatives and 
standardized bycatch reporting methodologies and alternatives for a 
shrimp permit moratorium.
    The Shrimp AP consists principally of commercial shrimp fishermen, 
dealers, and association representatives.
    Although other non-emergency issues not on the agenda may come 
before the AP 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 action during these meetings. 
Actions of the AP will be restricted to those issues specifically 
identified in the agenda 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.

Special Accommodations

    This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Dawn Aring at the Council (see ADDRESSES) by 
December 29, 2004.


[[Page 76689]]


    Dated: December 16, 2004.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 04-27930 Filed 12-21-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S