[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 156 (Monday, August 14, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 46450]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-13279]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 080906A]


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 a series of 8 public hearings regarding Amendment 14 to the 
Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan. Amendment 14 will establish a 
series of 8 marine protected areas (MPAs) in Federal waters off the 
South Atlantic to protect a portion of the population and habitat of 
long-lived, slow-growing, deepwater snapper grouper species (snowy 
grouper, misty grouper, speckled hind, yellowedge grouper, warsaw 
grouper, golden tilefish, and blueline tilefish) from directed fishing 
pressure. Proposed as ``Type II'' MPAs, fishing for and possession of 
snapper grouper species would be prohibited in the area, but fishermen 
would be allowed to troll for pelagic species such as tuna, mackerel, 
and billfish. Amendment 14 includes alternatives for the use of Vessel 
Monitoring Systems as an enforcement tool for the MPAs.
    Additionally, the Council intends to work closely with NOAA 
Fisheries' Highly Migratory Species Division to prohibit the use of 
bottom longlines by shark fishermen in the proposed MPAs.

DATES: The public hearings will be held in September 2006. Written 
comments must be received in the Council office by close of business on 
September 29, 2006. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for the specific 
dates and times of the public hearings.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Bob Mahood, Executive 
Director, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, One Southpark 
Circle, Suite 306, Charleston, SC 29407-4699, or via email to 
[email protected]. Copies of the Public Hearing Document are available 
from Kim Iverson, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, One 
Southpark Circle, Suite 306, Charleston, SC 29407-4699; telephone: 843-
571-4366 or toll free at 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; fax: 843-769-4520; email address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public Hearing Dates and Locations

    All hearings are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.
September 5, 2006--Hampton Inn, 678 Citadel Haven Drive, Charleston, SC 
29414, Phone: 843-573-1200
    September 6, 2006--Baywatch Resort, 2701 S. Ocean Boulevard, N. 
Myrtle Beach, SC 29582, Phone: 843-272-4600
    September 7, 2006--Holiday Inn Sunspree, 1706 N. Lumina Avenue, 
Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480, Phone: 910-256-2231
    September 11, 2006--Holton's Seafood Restaurant, 13711 E. 
Oglethorpe Hwy., Midway, GA 31320, Phone: 912-884-9151
    September 12, 2006--Hampton Inn St. Augustine, 430 A1A Beach 
Boulevard, St. Augustine, FL 32080, Phone: 904-471-4000
    September 13, 2006--Hutchinson Island Marriott , 555 NE Ocean 
Boulevard, Stuart, FL 34996, Phone: 772-225-3700
    September 14, 2006--Islander Resort, MM 82.1 Oceanfront, 
Islamorada, FL 33036, Phone: 305-664-2031
    September 19, 2006--The Westin, 2 Grasslawn Avenue, Hilton Head, SC 
29928, Phone: 843-681-4000.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are 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 September 1, 2006.

    Dated: August 9, 2006.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-13279 Filed 8-11-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S