[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 18, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2912-2913]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-456]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 011106F]


Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice of a public meeting.

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

SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene a 
public meeting of the Special Management Zone (SMZ) Monitoring Team.

DATES: The SMZ Monitoring Team meeting will convene at 9 a.m. on 
Wednesday, February 1 and conclude no later than 2 p.m. on Thursday, 
February 2, 2006.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the National Marine Fisheries 
Service Laboratory, 3500 Delwood Beach Road, Panama City, FL 32408; 
telephone: (850) 234-6541.
    Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 
North Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron Lukens, SMZ Monitoring Team 
Chairman; telephone: (228) 875-5912.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Mississippi Gulf Fishing Banks, Inc. and 
the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources/Marine 
Resources Division have both petitioned the Gulf of Mexico Fishery 
Management Council (Council) for Special Management Zone (SMZ) status 
for artificial reef areas off their respective coasts. SMZ status 
allows for the implementation of gear restrictions that are required 
when fishing within a zone. This means that regulations for fishing 
within an SMZ would be different than regulations for fishing anywhere 
else in the Gulf of Mexico Exclusive Economic Zone, only with respect 
to gears.
    The Council established the SMZ Monitoring Team to provide 
technical advice regarding requests from petitioners. The SMZ 
Monitoring Team meeting will consist of the following discussion 
topics:

[[Page 2913]]

    Reports from petitioners
    Discussion regarding adequacy of the reports to address the 
FMP Framework Provision
    Discussion of data needs
    Discussion of time and location of public workshops
    Wrap up and general discussion of the process
    Although other non-emergency issues not on the agenda may come 
before the SMZ Monitoring Team 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 SMZ Monitoring Team 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.
    Copies of the agenda can be obtained by calling (813) 348-1630.

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) at 
least 5 working days prior to the meeting.

    Dated: January 12, 2006.
Emily Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-456 Filed 1-17-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S