[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 247 (Friday, December 23, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80343-80344]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-32957]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA891


Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Council to convene public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
convene Public Hearings on Amendment 35 to the Reef Fish Fishery 
Management Plan and Amendment 11 to the Spiny Lobster Fishery 
Management Plan in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Regions.

DATES: Public hearings for Amendment 35 (Reef Fish) and Amendment 11 
(Spiny Lobster) will be held at nine locations throughout the Gulf of 
Mexico and Florida Keys from January 9, 2012 through January 24, 2012. 
The public hearings will begin at 6 p.m. and will conclude no later 
than 9 p.m. For specific dates, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

ADDRESSES: The public meetings will be held at locations listed in the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery 
Management Council, 2203 N. Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Reef Fish Amendment 35

    The Council is holding seven public hearings on Amendment 35 to the 
Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan which modifies the greater amberjack

[[Page 80344]]

rebuilding plan, adjusts the Stock Annual Catch Limit, and considers 
commercial and recreational management measures consistent with the 
modified Stock Annual Catch Limit. These actions are proposed in 
response to the results from the 2011 Greater Amberjack Stock 
Assessment which determined the stock is both overfished (population is 
too low) and undergoing overfishing (rate of removals too high). To 
achieve the reductions in the Stock Annual Catch Limit the Council is 
looking at changes to the current recreational minimum size limit and 
fixed closed seasons. For the commercial sector the Council is looking 
at adding trip limits and potentially removing the fixed closed season.

Spiny Lobster Amendment 11

    The Gulf Council is holding two public hearings on Amendment 11 in 
the Florida Keys. The purpose of Amendment 11 to the Spiny Lobster 
Fishery Management Plan is protect threatened and endangered species in 
a manner that complies with measures established in the 2009 biological 
opinion and meets the requirements of the Endangered Species Act. The 
Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils are 
considering the following two actions to achieve these goals: (1) 
Closing areas to either all spiny lobster fishing or the lobster trap 
fishery to protect threatened corals and (2) Requiring gear markings 
for spiny lobster trap lines to allow identification of trap lines 
entangling protected species.
    The 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 locations:

Reef Fish Amendment 35

    Monday, January 9, 2012--Hilton Tampa Airport Westshore--2225 North 
Lois Avenue, Tampa, FL 33607, telephone: (813) 877-6688.
    Wednesday, January 11, 2012--Crowne Plaza New Orleans Airport--2829 
Williams Boulevard, Kenner, LA 70062, telephone: (504) 467-5611; Hilton 
Garden Inn Orange Beach Beachfront--23092 Perdido Beach Boulevard, 
Orange Beach, AL 36561, telephone: (251) 974-1600.
    Thursday, January 12, 2012--Four Points by Sheraton, 940 Beach 
Boulevard, Biloxi, MS 39530, telephone: (228) 546-3100; Hilton Garden 
Inn Panama City--1101 U.S. Highway 231, Panama City, FL 32405, 
telephone: (850) 392-1093.
    Tuesday, January 17, 2012--Hilton San Luis, 5400 Seawall Boulevard, 
Galveston Island, TX 77551, telephone: (409) 744-5000.
    Wednesday, January 18, 2012--Plantation Suites & Conference Center, 
1909 Highway 361, Port Aransas, TX 78379, telephone: (361) 749-3866.

Spiny Lobster Amendment 11

    Monday, January 23, 2012--Marathon Government Center, 2798 Overseas 
Highway, Marathon, FL 33050, telephone: (305) 289-6036.
    Tuesday, January 24, 2012--Harvey Government Center, 1200 Truman 
Avenue, Key West, FL 33040, telephone: (305) 295-4385.
    Copies of the documents can be obtained by calling (813) 348-1630.

Special Accommodations

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

    Dated: December 20, 2011.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-32957 Filed 12-22-11; 8:45 am]
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