[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 126 (Monday, June 30, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36843-36844]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-14806]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN: 0648-XI70


Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Hearings

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

ACTION: Notice of public hearings.

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SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
convene public hearings on Reef Fish Amendment 29, Spiny Lobster and 
Aquaculture Amendment.

DATES: The public hearings will held from July 21 - 31, 2008 at 10 
locations throughout the Gulf of Mexico. For specific dates, times and 
subjects, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

ADDRESSES: The public hearings will be held in the following locations: 
Galveston, TX, New Orleans, LA, Biloxi, MS, Orange Beach, AL, Ft. 
Myers, Key West, Marathon, Miami, Tampa and Panama City, FL. For 
specific dates, times and subjects, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
    Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 
North Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Assane Diagne, Economist; telephone: 
(813) 348-1630.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management 
Council (Council) has scheduled a series of public hearings on Reef 
Fish Amendment 29, Spiny Lobster and

[[Page 36844]]

Aquaculture Amendment. Reef Fish Amendment 29 proposes to rationalize 
effort and reduce overcapacity in the commercial grouper and tilefish 
fisheries in order to achieve and maintain optimum yield (OY). Effort 
management approaches considered in this amendment include permit 
endorsements and the implementation of an Individual Fishing Quota 
(IFQ) program. Spiny Lobster Amendment 8 examines various alternatives 
to restrict imports of spiny lobster into the United States to minimum 
conservation standards to achieve an increase in the spawning biomass 
of the spiny lobster stock and increase long-term yields from the 
fishery. The Aquaculture amendment will require persons to obtain a 
permit from NMFS to participate in aquaculture by constructing an 
aquaculture facility in the EEZ of the Gulf of Mexico. Each application 
for a permit must comply with many permit conditions related to record 
keeping and operation of the facility. These permit conditions will 
assure the facility has a minimal affect on the environment and on 
other fishery resources. Compliance with the conditions will be 
evaluated annually for the duration of the permit as the basis for 
renewal of the permit for the next year.
    An informal open question and answers session on IFQ's will begin 
at 5:30 p.m. At 6 p.m. the public hearings will begin and conclude at 
the end of public testimony or no later than 9 p.m. at each of the 
following locations:
    Monday, July 21, 2008, Reef Fish Amendment 29 Public 
Hearing, Best Western, 5914 Seawall Blvd., Galveston, TX 77550; 
telephone: (409) 740-1261;
    Monday, July 21, 2008, Spiny Lobster, Reef Fish Amendment 
29 and Aquaculture Amendment Public Hearings, Radisson Hotel, 3820 N. 
Roosevelt Blvd., Key West, FL 33040, telephone: (305) 294-5511;
    Tuesday, July 22, 2008, Reef Fish Amendment 29 Public 
Hearing, Hilton Airport, 901 Airline Drive, Kenner, LA 70062, 
telephone: (504) 469-5000;
    Tuesday, July 22, 2008, Spiny Lobster and Reef Fish 
Amendment 29 Public Hearings, Banana Bay Resort, 4590 Overseas Highway, 
Marathon, FL 33050, telephone: (305) 743-3500;
    Wednesday, July 23, 2008, Spiny Lobster and Reef Fish 
Amendment 29 Public Hearings, Doubletree, 2649 S. Bayshore Blvd., 
Miami, FL 33133, telephone: (305) 858-2500;
    Wednesday, July 23, 2008, Reef Fish Amendment 29 Public 
Hearing, Wingate Inn, 12009 Indian River Road, Biloxi, MS 39540, 
telephone: (228) 396-0036;
    Thursday, July 24, 2008, Reef Fish Amendment 29 Public 
Hearing, Clarion Hotel, 12635 S. Cleveland Ave., Ft. Myers, FL 33907, 
telephone: (239) 936-4300;
    Thursday, July 24, 2008, Reef Fish Amendment 29 Public 
Hearing, City of Orange Beach Parks & Rec., 27235 Canal Rd, Orange 
Beach, AL 36561, telephone: (251) 981-6028;
    Wednesday, July 30, 2008, Reef Fish Amendment 29 Public 
Hearing, Quorum, 700 N. Westshore Blvd, Tampa, FL 33609, telephone: 
(813) 289-8200;
    Thursday, July 31, 2008, Reef Fish Amendment 29 Public 
Hearing, NMFS Panama City Lab, 350 Dellwood Beach Dr., Panama City, FL 
32408, telephone: (850) 234-6541.
    Copies of the Amendments can be obtained by calling the Council 
office at (813) 348-1630.

Special Accommodations

    These hearings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Tina O'Hern at the Council (see 
ADDRESSES) at least 5 working days prior to the meeting.

    Dated: June 25, 2008.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-14806 Filed 6-27-08; 8:45 am]
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