[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 140 (Friday, July 20, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 42699]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-17683]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC115


Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Hearings

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

ACTION: Council to convene public hearings.

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SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
convene public hearings on a proposed generic amendment addressing 
Federal seafood dealer permits.

DATES: The public hearings will be held from August 6-9, 2012 at nine 
locations throughout the Gulf of Mexico. 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 hearings will be held in the following locations: 
Tampa, Key West and Panama City, FL; Houma, LA; Biloxi, MS; Mobile, AL; 
Brownsville, Galveston and Corpus Christi, TX.
    Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 N. 
Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. John Froeschke, Fishery Biologist-
Statistician; Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: 
(813) 348-1630 x235.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management 
Council will convene Public Hearings on a proposed generic amendment 
addressing Federal seafood dealer permits. A seafood dealer is the 
person who first receives fish by way of purchase, barter, or trade. 
Seafood dealers buy product from commercial fishermen and sell directly 
to restaurants, markets, other dealers, processors, or consumers 
without substantially altering the product. NOAA Fisheries Service 
issues Federal dealer permits on an annual basis to those individuals 
or organizations that wish to become a seafood dealer. The Gulf Council 
is considering changes the current permit and reporting requirements 
for those individuals or organizations that purchase species managed by 
the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Councils to ensure landings of 
managed fish stocks are recorded accurately and in a timely manner so 
annual catch limits are not exceeded. Modification of fishery 
management plans would affect species managed solely by the Gulf of 
Mexico Council or the South Atlantic Councils, as well as species 
managed by both Councils.
    The nine 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:

Monday, August 6, 2012

    Hilton Tampa Airport Westshore Hotel, 2225 N. Lois Avenue, Tampa, 
FL 33607, telephone: (813) 877-6688;
    Lady Anderson/Captain Anderson Marina, 5550 N. Lagoon Drive, Panama 
City Beach, FL 32408; telephone: (850) 234-3435.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

    Courtyard Marriott, 3955 N. Expressway 77/83, Brownsville, TX 
78520, telephone: (956) 350-4600;
    Courtyard Marriott, 1000 W. I-65 Service Road South, Mobile, AL 
36609, telephone: (251) 344-5200.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

    Harvey Government Center, 1200 Truman Avenue, Key West, FL 33040, 
telephone: (305) 295-5000;
    Courtyard Marriott D'Iberville, 11471 Cinema Drive, D'Iberville, MS 
39540, telephone: (228) 392-1200;
    Omni Corpus Christi, 900 N. Shoreline Boulevard, Corpus Christi, TX 
78401, telephone: (361) 887-1600.

Thursday, August 9, 2012

    Hilton Galveston, 5400 Seawall Boulevard, Galveston Island, TX 
77551, telephone: (409) 744-5000; and
    Courtyard Marriott, 142 Library Drive, Houma, LA 70360, telephone: 
(985) 223-8996.
    Copies of the scoping documents can be obtained by calling (813) 
348-1630 or by visiting the Council's Web site at www.gulfcouncil.org.

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: July 17, 2012.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-17683 Filed 7-19-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P