[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 37 (Friday, February 25, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 9274]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-3707]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 022205A]


Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene its 
Law Enforcement Advisory Panel (LEAP).

DATES: The meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 from 1 p.m. 
to 5 p.m.

ADDRESSES: These meetings will be held at the Grand Hotel Marriott 
Resort, Golf Club and Spa, One Grand Boulevard, Point Clear, AL.
    Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 3018 
North U.S. Highway 301, Suite 1000, Tampa, FL 33619.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Richard Leard, Deputy Executive 
Director, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: 
813.228.2815.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management 
Council (Council) will convene the Law Enforcement Advisory Panel 
(LEAP) to review law enforcement concerns regarding violations of the 
Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary and the Tortugas Shrimp 
Sanctuary. The LEAP will also discuss problems with repackaging of 
foreign shrimp. With regard to ongoing activities of the Council, the 
LEAP will review and possibly make recommendations regarding 
alternatives in the Final Draft Amendment 13 to the Fishery Management 
Plan for the Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico, U.S. Waters, as well 
as an Options Paper that would potentially extend the existing 
moratorium on the issuance of new charter vessel permits, an Options 
Paper with alternatives for a Red Snapper Individual Fishing Quota 
(IFQ), and an Options Paper to potentially allow offshore aquaculture. 
The LEAP will also receive reports on the status of implementation for 
amendments and regulatory actions previously submitted by the Council 
and activity reports from the various state and Federal agencies.
    The LEAP consists of principal law enforcement officers in each of 
the Gulf states, as well as the NMFS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
(FWS), the U.S. Coast Guard, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration's (NOAA) General Counsel. A copy of the agenda and 
related materials can be obtained by calling the Council office at 813-
228-2815.
    Although other non-emergency issues not on the agendas may come 
before the LEAP for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act, those issues may not be the 
subject of formal action during this meeting. Actions of the LEAP will 
be restricted to those issues specifically identified in the agendas 
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

    These meetings are 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 March 7, 2005.

    Dated: February 22, 2005.
Peter H. Fricke,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 05-3707 Filed 2-24-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S