[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 137 (Wednesday, July 16, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40851-40852]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-16242]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XJ05


South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Hearings

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

ACTION: Notice of public hearings.

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SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold public hearings regarding Amendment 7 to the Shrimp Fishery 
Management Plan (FMP) for the South Atlantic Region and Amendment 16 to 
the Snapper Grouper FMP for the South Atlantic Region. Amendment 7 to 
the Shrimp FMP addresses requirements for South Atlantic rock shrimp 
endorsements, Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) verification for the rock 
shrimp fishery, and economic reporting for the shrimp fishery.
    Amendment 16 to the Snapper Grouper FMP ends overfishing of gag and 
vermilion snapper and proposes interim allocations for commercial and 
recreational sectors. A series of public hearings for Amendment 16 were 
held from May 7 - 15, 2008. Since that time, additional management 
alternatives have been included in the amendment.

DATES: The series of 3 public hearings will be held August 7th, 8th, 
and 12th, 2008. All public hearings will be open from 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. 
Written comments must be received in the South Atlantic Council's 
office by 5 p.m. on August 15, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Bob Mahood, Executive 
Director, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 4055 Faber Place 
Drive, Suite 201, North Charleston, SC 29405. Email comments on Shrimp 
Amendment 7 to [email protected]. Email

[[Page 40852]]

comments for Snapper Grouper Amendment 16 to 
[email protected].
    Copies of the Public Hearing Documents are available at the 
Council's web site at www.safmc.net or from Kim Iverson, South Atlantic 
Fishery Management Council, 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, North 
Charleston, SC 29405; telephone: (843) 571-4366 or toll free at (866) 
SAFMC-10.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Iverson, South Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council, 4055 Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, North 
Charleston, SC 29405; telephone: (843) 571-4366; fax: (843) 769-4520; 
email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Proposed actions in Amendment 7 to the 
Shrimp FMP address: (1) the current 15,000-pound landing requirement 
for rock shrimp; (2) loss of limited access rock shrimp endorsements 
due to not meeting the landing requirement by December 31, 2007; (3) 
loss of limited access rock shrimp endorsements due to failing to renew 
within the specified timeframe; (4) renaming the rock shrimp permit and 
endorsement to minimize confusion, (5) requirements for Vessel 
Monitoring System verification; and (6) requirements for the provision 
of economic data by shrimp permit holders.
    A series of public hearings were held May 7-15, 2008 on management 
alternatives in Amendment 16 to the Snapper Grouper FMP. The amendment 
updates management reference points for gag grouper and vermilion 
snapper, including Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY), Optimum Yield (OY), 
Maximum Fishing Mortality Threshold (MFMT) and Minimum Stock Size 
Threshold (MSST), which reflect current scientific information as 
provided by stock assessments and approved by the Scientific and 
Statistical Committee. In addition, the amendment would either alter 
current management measures or implement new management measures that 
would reduce current harvest levels to yields associated with the 
optimum yield and end overfishing of both stocks in the South Atlantic. 
The Council will also specify interim allocations between the 
commercial and recreational sectors.
    As a response to public input and recommendations from its Snapper 
Grouper Advisory Panel, in June 2008, the Council agreed to add four 
additional management alternatives for consideration and analysis in 
Amendment 16. The new alternatives include: (1) a commercial trip limit 
of 1,000 pounds for gag with a fishing year start date of May 1. In 
addition, during March and April, no fishing for and/or possession of 
the following species would be allowed: gag, black grouper, red 
grouper, scamp, red hind, rock hind, yellowmouth grouper, tiger 
grouper, yellowfin grouper, graysby, and coney; (2) a commercial trip 
limit of 1,000 pounds for gag with a fishing year start date of January 
1. In addition, during February, March, and April no fishing for and/or 
possession of the following species would be allowed: gag, black 
grouper, red grouper, scamp, red hind, rock hind, yellowmouth grouper, 
tiger grouper, yellowfin grouper, graysby, and coney; (3) implement a 
May 1 fishing year start date for the commercial vermilion snapper 
fishery and a 1,000 pound trip limit for the commercial vermilion 
snapper fishery; and 4) South of the Miami-Dade/Monroe County line, no 
fishing for and/or possession of the following species would be allowed 
during June 1 - December 31: gag, black grouper, red grouper, scamp, 
red hind, rock hind, yellowmouth grouper, tiger grouper, yellowfin 
grouper, graysby, and coney. No fishing for and/or possession of gag 
would be allowed year- round south of the Miami-Dade/Monroe County 
line. Fishing for black grouper, red grouper, scamp, red hind, rock 
hind, yellowmouth grouper, tiger grouper, yellowfin grouper, graysby, 
and coney would be allowed January 1 through May 31 for Monroe County 
(Southern region). Alternative 4 would apply to both commercial and 
recreational fisheries.
    Council staff and area Council members will be available for 
presentations, informal discussions, and to answer questions. Members 
of the public will have an opportunity to go on record at any time 
during the meeting hours to record their comments on the public hearing 
issues for Council consideration.

Hearing Dates and Locations

    The public hearings will be held at the following locations:
    1. August 7, 2008 - Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront, 225 
Coast Line Drive East, Jacksonville, FL 32202, telephone: (904) 588-
1234;
    2. August 8, 2008 - Radisson Resort at the Port, 8701 Astronaut 
Boulevard, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920, telephone: (321) 784-0000;
    3. August 12, 2008 - Hilton Garden Inn Charleston Airport, 5265 
International Blvd., North Charleston, SC 29418, telephone: (843) 308-
9330.

Special Accommodations

    These hearings 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 August 5, 2008.

    Dated: July 11, 2008.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-16242 Filed 7-15-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S