[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 42 (Monday, March 5, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9735-9736]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-3738]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 022707D]


Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Scoping Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of scoping meetings.

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SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
convene scoping meetings to solicit comments on Reef Fish Amendment 30.

DATES: The scoping meetings will be held from March 19 - 22, 2007 at 7 
locations throughout the Gulf of Mexico. For specific dates and times, 
see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

ADDRESSES: The scoping meetings will be held in the following 
locations: Orange Beach, AL, Panama City, Naples and Madeira Beach, FL, 
Biloxi, MS, New Orleans, LA and Galveston, TX. For specific locations, 
see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
    Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 
North Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Atran, Population Dynamics 
Statistician, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: 
(813) 348-1630.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management 
Council (Council) has scheduled a series of scoping meetings to solicit 
public comment on a scoping document to define issues to be addressed 
in a new Amendment 30 to the Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan. The 
issues deal with possible changes to the management of gag, red 
grouper, greater amberjack, and gray triggerfish. Recent stock 
assessments completed under the Southeast Data, Assessment and Review 
(SEDAR) program, indicate that management changes may be warranted.
    Gag were declared by NMFS to be undergoing overfishing based on the 
results of a 2006 stock assessment (SEDAR 10). A fishing mortality rate 
reduction of 10 to 34 percent is needed to end overfishing under the 
current overfishing definition. In addition, management targets and 
thresholds consistent with the Sustainable Fisheries Act need to be 
reviewed and adopted.
    Red grouper were initially determined to be overfished and 
undergoing overfishing as of 1997. A rebuilding plan combined with a 
strong recruitment year class that occurred in 2000 has resulted in a 
stock that is currently above its maximum sustainable yield (MSY) 
biomass threshold and slightly above to its optimum yield (OY) target 
level. As a result, a 15% increase in red grouper TAC and management 
measures to achieve that increase can be implemented while still 
maintaining OY.
    Greater amberjack were found to be overfished and undergoing 
overfishing as of 1998 based on a 2000 stock assessment. A rebuilding 
plan was adopted in 2003. A 2006 stock assessment (SEDAR 9) found that 
the greater amberjack stock continues to be overfished and undergoing 
overfishing, and is not meeting its rebuilding targets. Consequently, 
the rebuilding plan needs to be revised. Reductions of from 11 to 30 
percent are needed depending upon the revisions made to the rebuilding 
plan.
    Gray triggerfish were found to be undergoing overfishing based on a 
2006 stock assessment (SEDAR 9). A 35 percent reduction in landings is 
necessary to end overfishing. In addition, management targets and 
thresholds consistent with SFA need to be reviewed and adopted.
    Scoping meetings are part of the initial phase of preparing a plan 
amendment. Their purpose is to identify issues and a reasonable range, 
or scope, of alternatives to address those issues. Such alternatives 
could include changes in total allowable catch (TAC), size limits, bag 
limits, quotas, closed seasons or areas, or other measures to reduce 
fishing mortality and dead discards.
    The scoping meetings will begin at 7 p.m. and conclude at the end 
of public testimony or no later than 10 p.m. at each of the following 
locations:
    Monday, March 19, 2007, IP Hotel, 850 Bayview Avenue, Biloxi, MS 
39530; telephone: (228) 432-3216;
    Monday, March 19, 2007, City of Orange Beach Parks and Recreational 
Center, 27235 Canal Road, Orange Beach, AL 36561; telephone: (251) 981-
6028;
    Tuesday, March 20, 2007, Four Points Sheraton New Orleans Airport, 
6401 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, LA 70003; telephone: (504) 885-
5700;
    Tuesday, March 20, 2007, Edgewater Beach Resort, 11212 Front Beach 
Road, Panama City, FL 32407; telephone: (800) 331-6338;
    Wednesday, March 21, 2007, Hilton Galveston, 5400 Seawall 
Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77550; telephone: (409) 744-1500;

[[Page 9736]]

    Wednesday, March 21, 2007, Best Western, 6400 Dudley Drive, Naples, 
FL 34105; telephone: (239) 643-6655; and
    Thursday, March 22, 2007, City of Madeira Beach, 300 Municipal 
Drive, Madeira Beach, FL 33708; telephone: (727) 391-9951;
    Copies of the scoping documents and related materials can be 
obtained by calling the Council office at (813) 348-1630.

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: February 28, 2007.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-3738 Filed 3-2-07; 8:45 am]
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