[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 141 (Monday, July 24, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 41772]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-11686]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 071806G]


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 (Council) will 
convene its Reef Fish Advisory Panel (AP) and its Standing and Special 
Mackerel and Reef Fish Scientific and Statistical Committees (SSC).

DATES: The meetings will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 8, 2006 
and conclude by 12 noon on Thursday, August 10, 2006.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Quorum Hotel, 700 North 
Westshore Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33607
    Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 N. 
Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Richard Leard, Deputy Executive 
Director, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: (813) 
348-1630.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Council will convene the Standing and 
Special Mackerel SSC at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 8, 2006, to 
consider and possibly make recommendations on a report on mixing and 
other aspects of a previous stock assessment for king mackerel 
developed by a special, joint SSC made up of SSC members from the 
Council and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. The Council 
will then convene the Standing and Special Reef Fish Scientific and 
Statistical Committee (SSC) and its Reef Fish AP in a joint session on 
Tuesday, August 8, 2006, from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., to receive 
presentations of stock assessment results for vermilion snapper, 
greater amberjack, gray triggerfish, and gag grouper.
    Beginning at 8:30 a.m. on August 9, 2006, the Reef Fish AP will 
discuss these stock assessments and potentially provide recommendations 
to the Council. The Reef Fish AP will also consider and possibly 
provide recommendations on alternatives in a Draft Reef Fish Amendment 
27/Shrimp Amendment 14 that could: (1) Change the total allowable catch 
(TAC) for red snapper, (2) change the minimum size limit for red 
snapper, (3) change the recreational fishing season and bag limit for 
red snapper, (4) reduce the bag limit of red snapper for captains and 
crew of for-hire vessels to zero, (5) modify allowable fishing gear to 
possibly include changes to the type and size of hooks used to harvest 
red snapper, and (6) cap effort in the shrimp fishery to further reduce 
bycatch.
    Beginning at 8:30 a.m. on August 10, 2006, the Standing and Special 
Reef Fish SSC will reconvene to discuss and possibly make 
recommendations regarding the stock assessments for vermilion snapper, 
greater amberjack, gray triggerfish, and gag grouper and potentially 
provide recommendations to the Council. The SSC will also consider and 
possibly provide recommendations on alternatives in a Draft Reef Fish 
Amendment 27/Shrimp Amendment 14 that could: (1) Change the total 
allowable catch (TAC) for red snapper, (2) change the minimum size 
limit for red snapper, (3) change the recreational fishing season and 
bag limit for red snapper, (4) reduce the bag limit of red snapper for 
captains and crew of for-hire vessels to zero, (5) modify allowable 
fishing gear to possibly include changes to the type and size of hooks 
used to harvest red snapper, and (6) cap effort in the shrimp fishery 
to further reduce bycatch.
    A copy of the agenda and related materials can be obtained by 
calling the Council office at (813) 348-1630.
    Although other non-emergency issues not on the agendas may come 
before the Standing and Special Reef Fish Scientific and Statistical 
Committee (SSC) and the Reef Fish Advisory Panel, 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 this meeting. Actions of the Standing and Special Reef Fish 
Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) and the Reef Fish Advisory 
Panel 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 Tina Trezza at the Council (see 
ADDRESSES) at least 5 working days prior to the meeting.

    Dated: July 19, 2006.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-11686 Filed 7-21-06; 8:45 am]
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