[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 89 (Monday, May 11, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21785-21786]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-10836]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN: 0648-XP08


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 31.

DATES: The public hearings will be held on May 26, 2009 through June 8, 
2009 at six 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: 
Madeira Beach, Marathon and Panama City, FL, Biloxi, MS, LaMarque, TX, 
Galliano, LA. For specific locations, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
    Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 
North Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Carrie Simmons, Fishery Biologist; 
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: (813) 348-1630.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management 
Council (Council) has scheduled six public hearings on Amendment 31 to 
the Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) that addresses bycatch of 
hardshell sea turtles in the Gulf of Mexico bottom longline reef fish 
fishery. The Council operates under mandates to minimize bycatch to the 
extent practicable and to protect endangered and threatened species. 
National Standard 9 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), requires that conservation and 
management measures shall, to the extent practicable, (A) minimize 
bycatch and (B) to the extent bycatch cannot be avoided, minimize the 
morality of such bycatch. The bycatch reduction and monitoring 
requirements in the Magnuson-Stevens Act apply to a broad range of 
living marine species, including sea turtles.
    Observer data from the Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) 
indicated a high level of bycatch in the bottom longline component of 
the fishery, which exceed the anticipated take in the 2005 Biological 
Opinion. In September 2008, NMFS released an observer report that 
examined sea turtle takes by the bottom longline reef fish fishery from 
July 2006 through 2007. In April 2009 an updated report from the SEFSC 
was published with information collected in 2008 based on revised 
effort and observer data.
    The Council is considering a range of actions and alternatives 
outlined in Public Hearing draft of Amendment 31 to the Reef Fish FMP 
to mitigate

[[Page 21786]]

hardshell sea turtle interactions with bottom longline gear. The 
Council selected Preferred Actions and Alternatives at their April 2009 
Council meeting. The public is encouraged to attend and provide 
suggestions and input, which will be relayed back to the Council before 
final action. The Council is holding six public hearings at the 
following locations throughout the Gulf coast.
    These public hearings will begin at 6 p.m. and conclude at the end 
of public testimony or no later than 9 p.m. at the following location:
    Tuesday, May 26, 2009, Travelodge, 5201 Gulf 
Freeway, LaMarque, TX 77568, telephone: (409) 986-9777;
    Wednesday, May 27, 2009, Hilton Garden Inn, 1101 
US Highway 231, Panama City, FL 32405, telephone: (850) 392-1093;
    Wednesday, May 27, 2009, South Lafourche Levee 
District, 17904 Hwy 3235, Galliano, LA 70354, telephone: (985) 632-
7554;
    Thursday, May 28, 2009, Wingate Inn, 12009 Indian 
River Road, Biloxi, MS 39540, telephone: (228) 396-0036;
    Monday, June 8, 2009, Banana Bay Resort, 4590 
Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050, telephone: (305) 743-3500.
    This public hearing will begin at 6:30 p.m. and conclude at the end 
of public testimony or no later than 9:30 p.m. at the following 
location:
    Thursday, June 4, 2009, City of Madeira Beach, 
300 Municipal Drive, Madeira Beach, FL 33708, telephone: (727) 391-
9951.
    Copies of the Amendment 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: May 5, 2009.
William D. Chappell,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-10836 Filed 5-8-09; 8:45 am]
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