[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 37 (Thursday, February 26, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 8781]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-4136]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN: 0648-XN56


Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of 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 convene at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17, 2009 
and conclude no later than 5 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Royal Sonesta Hotel, 300 
Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70130; telephone: (504) 586-0300.
    Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 
North Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management 
Council (Council) will convene the Law Enforcement Advisory Panel 
(LEAP) to review an emergency action to reduce reef fish longline and 
sea turtle interactions. The LEAP will also review a preliminary draft 
of Amendment 31 to the Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan that would 
include additional alternatives to reduce interactions between sea 
turtles and bottom longline gear in the reef fish fishery. Finally, the 
LEAP will receive a report of the status of recently completed 
management actions and scheduled activities, and possibly provide 
reports on individual state and federal law enforcement activities.
    The LEAP consists of principal law enforcement officers in each of 
the Gulf States, as well as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA) Law Enforcement, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
(FWS), the U.S. Coast Guard, and the NOAA General Counsel for Law 
Enforcement. 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

    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) 5 working days prior to the meeting.

    Dated: February 23, 2009.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-4136 Filed 2-25-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S