[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 32 (Friday, February 15, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 8853]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-2886]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN: 0648-XF66


Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of a public meeting.

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

DATES: The meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 11, 2008, from 1 pm 
to 5 pm.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Hilton, 5400 Seawall Blvd., 
Galveston, TX 77551; telephone: (877) 425-4753.
    Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 
North 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 LEAP to review 
a generic amendment that would potentially allow offshore aquaculture 
in the Gulf of Mexico. The LEAP will also review Amendment 30B to the 
Reef Fish Fishery FMP that may establish additional restrictions on 
harvest of gag to maintain the rebuilding plan for this overfished 
stock and relax restriction on red grouper based on favorable analyses 
from the last stock assessment. Furthermore, the LEAP will review Draft 
Amendment 29 to the Reef Fish FMP that could establish a grouper/
tilefish limited access privilege program (LAPP) or individual fishing 
quota (IFQ) program. Finally, the LEAP will receive a presentation on 
the potential for new marine protected areas (MPAs), and review a draft 
offshore aquaculture bill.
    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 NOAA General Counsel. 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 LEAP 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 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

    This meeting is 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) 5 
working days prior to the meeting.

    Dated: February 12, 2008.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-2886 Filed 2-14-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S