[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 136 (Tuesday, July 15, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40511-40512]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-16108]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XJ03


Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council); Public 
Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

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SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene 
public meetings.

DATES: The meetings will be held August 11 - 15, 2008.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Hilton Key Largo, 97000 S. 
Overseas Hwy., Key Largo, FL 33037.
    Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 
North Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Council

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

    3:30 p.m. - The Council meeting will begin with a review of the 
agenda and minutes.
    The Council will review and discuss reports from the previous two 
days' committee meetings as follows:
    3:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. - Ad Hoc Allocation.
    6 p.m. - 7 p.m. - There will be an Open Public Question and Answer 
Session.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

    8:30 a.m. - 12 noon - The Council will receive public testimony on 
exempted fishing permits (EFPs), if any; Final Reef Fish Amendment 30B; 
Final Amendment 8 to the Joint Spiny Lobster Fishery Management Plan 
(FMP). Following testimony, the Council will hold an Open Public 
Comment Period regarding any fishery issue of concern. People wishing 
to speak before the Council should complete a public comment card prior 
to the comment period.
    1:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. - The Council will continue to review and 
discuss reports from the committee meetings as follows: Reef Fish 
Management; Joint Stone Crab/Spiny Lobster; Joint Reef Fish/Mackerel/
Red Drum; Marine Reserves; and Administrative Policy.

Friday, August 15, 2008

    The Council will continue to review and discuss reports from the 
committee meetings as follows:
    8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. - The Shrimp Management; Data Collection; 
Sustainable Fisheries/Ecosystem.
    9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. - Other Business items and the election of 
the Chairman and Vice Chairman. The Council will conclude its meeting 
at approximately 10:30 a.m.

Committees

Monday, August 11, 2008

    9 a.m. - 12 p.m. & 1:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. - The Reef Fish Management 
Committee will meet to discuss Final Reef Fish Amendment 30B; Reef Fish 
Amendment 29; Southeast Data and Review (SEDAR) Terms of Reference 
(TOR) for Black Grouper; SEDAR TOR for stock Assessment Updates for Red 
Snapper, Gag, and Red Grouper; and Ad Hoc Recreational Red Snapper 
Advisory Panel (AP) Recommendations. The Council will also receive a 
document on changes in effort and fuel prices in the Gulf.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

    8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. - The Reef Fish Management Committee will 
continue.
    9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. - The Administrative Policy Committee will meet 
to discuss Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) Comments on 
annual catch limit (ACL) and accountability measure (AM) Guidelines and 
Revised Statement of Organization Practices and Procedures (SOPP's).
    1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. - The Ad Hoc Allocation Committee will meet 
to discuss Fishing Communities and Social Aspects of Allocation; FMP 
Objectives; Net Benefits and Allocation; Landings, Total Allowable 
Catch (TAC) and Allocation Changes by Sector; Draft Allocation 
Principles and any Recommendations to the Council.
    3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. - The Stone Crab/Spiny Lobster Committee will 
meet to discuss the Final Amendment 8 to the Spiny Lobster FMP; Public 
Hearing Comments; Spiny Lobster AP

[[Page 40512]]

Recommendations and Committee Recommendations.
    4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. - The Sustainable Fisheries/Ecosystem 
Committee will meet to discuss the Ecosystem SSC Recommendations.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

    8:30 a.m. - 9 a.m. - CLOSED SESSION. The Joint AP Selection 
Committee/Outreach & Education Committee will meet in a Closed Session 
to discuss Selection of Outreach & Education AP members.
    9 a.m. - 11 a.m. - The Joint Reef Fish/Mackerel/Red Drum Management 
Committee will meet to discuss the Aquaculture FMP.
    11 a.m. - 12 p.m. - The Shrimp Management Committee will meet to 
discuss NMFS Status and Health of the Shrimp Stocks; A Stock Assessment 
Report for Gulf Of Mexico Shrimp 2007; and A Biological Review of the 
Tortugas Pink Shrimp Fishery Through December 2007.
    1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. - The Data Collection Committee will meet to 
discuss Recommendations of the Ad Hoc Recreational Red Snapper AP and 
Comments on Proposed Rule for National Saltwater Angler Registry. They 
will also receive a status report on the MRIP.
    Although other non-emergency issues not on the agendas may come 
before the Council and Committees 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 these meetings. Actions of the Council and Committees 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.
    The established times for addressing items on the agenda may be 
adjusted as necessary to accommodate the timely completion of 
discussion relevant to the agenda items. In order to further allow for 
such adjustments and completion of all items on the agenda, the meeting 
may be extended from, or completed prior to the date established in 
this notice.

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 O'Hern at the Council (see 
ADDRESSES) at least 5 working days prior to the meeting.

    Dated: July 10, 2008.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-16108 Filed 7-14-08; 8:45 am]
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