[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 151 (Monday, August 6, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46732-46733]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-19051]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC140


Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council); Public 
Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

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SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene 
public meetings.

DATES: The meetings will be held August 20-23, 2012.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Astor Crowne Plaza, 739 
Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70130; telephone: (504) 962-0500.
    Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 
North Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Committees

Monday, August 20, 2012

    9 a.m.-11 a.m.--New Council Member Orientation.
    1 p.m.-2:30 p.m.--The Ad Hoc Restoration Committee will receive 
presentations.
    2:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.--The Data Collection Committee will discuss the 
Final Generic Amendment--Dealer Permits/Electronic Logbook Reporting 
Requirements; discuss Electronic Report for Headboats and for the For-
Hire Industry.
    4:30 p.m.-5 p.m.--The Shrimp Management Committee will review a 
White Paper on Funding Options for the Electronic Logbook (ELB) 
Program; and discuss Exempted Fishing Permits related to Shrimp (if 
any).
    5 p.m.-5:30 p.m.--The Law Enforcement Committee will receive a 
report from the Law Enforcement Advisory Panel Meeting.
    5:30 p.m.-6 p.m.--The Budget/Personnel Committee will discuss the 
Executive Director's selection process.

--Recess--

    Immediately following committee recess NOAA Fisheries will hold a 
workshop considering administrative changes to the Individual Fishing 
Quota (IFQ) Program. This workshop will be held in the Council's 
meeting room.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

    8:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.--The Reef Fish 
Management Committee will receive a presentation by Louisiana DWF on 
the State Boundary Extension and Pilot Program; review a Scoping 
Document for Amendment 28--Sector Allocations; discuss an Options 
Papers for a Framework Action on Vermilion Snapper Annual Catch Limit; 
review comments on Amendment 33--Reef Fish Limited Access Privilege 
Program; consider a Public Hearing Draft for Amendment 37--Gray 
Triggerfish Rebuilding Plan; discuss the Final Amendment 38--Revise 
Post-Season Recreational Accountability Measures for Shallow-Water 
Grouper and Revision to the Generic Framework Procedure; review the 
Public Hearing Draft of a Framework Action for 2013 Gag Season, Split 
Season, & Elimination of February-March Shallow-Water Group Closure; 
discuss concerns about Amendment 35--the Rebuilding Plan for Greater 
Amberjack; review other Reef Fish Advisory Panel comments (if any); 
discuss the status of actions submitted under the Abbreviated Framework 
Process; and discuss Exempted Fishing Permits related to Reef Fish (if 
any).

    --Recess--

    Immediately following the Committee Recess will be the Informal 
Question & Answer Session on Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Issues.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

    8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m.--Closed Session--Full Council to discuss 
personnel matters.
    9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.--The Joint Artificial Reef/Habitat Committees 
will review a Scoping Document for Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) 
Amendment 4 Designating Petroleum Platforms and Artificial Reefs as 
Essential Fish Habitat.

--Recess--

Council

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

    10:30 a.m.--The Council meeting will begin with a Call to Order and 
Introductions.
    10:40 a.m.-10:45 a.m.--The Council will induct the New Council 
Members.
    10:45 a.m.-10:55 a.m.--The Council will review the agenda and 
approve the minutes.
    10:55 a.m.-11 a.m.--The Council will review the Action Schedule.
    11 a.m.-11:45 a.m.--The Council will review Committee Reports from 
the Ad Hoc Restoration Committee, the Shrimp Management Committee, the 
Law Enforcement Committee, and the Budget/Personnel Committee.
    1 p.m.-1:15 p.m.--The Council will review Exempted Fishing Permits 
(EFP), if any.
    1:15 p.m.-5:30 p.m.--The Council will receive public testimony on 
the Final Reef Fish Amendment 38--Revise Post-Season Recreational 
Accountability Measures for Shallow-Water Grouper & Revision to the 
Generic Framework Procedure; the Final Generic Amendment for Dealer 
Permits and Electronic Reporting; Amendment 33 for Adding Additional 
Reef Fish to the Limited Access Privilege Program; and Exempted Fishing 
Permits (EFPs), if any. The Council will also hold an open public 
comment period regarding any other fishery issues or concerns. People 
wishing to speak before the Council should complete a public comment 
card prior to the comment period.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

    8:30 a.m.-8:45 a.m.--The Council will vote on Exempted Fishing 
Permits (if any).
    8:45 a.m.-3:45 p.m.--The Council will review and discuss reports 
from committee meetings as follows: Reef Fish, Data Collection, 
Mackerel and Joint Artificial Reef/Habitat.

[[Page 46733]]

    4 p.m.-4:15 p.m.--Other Business items will follow.
    4:15 p.m.-4:30 p.m.--The Council will hold an Election of Chair and 
Vice-Chair.
    The Council will conclude its meeting at approximately 4:30 p.m.
    Although other non-emergency issues not on the agendas may come 
before the Council and Committees 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 these meetings. Actions of the Council and Committees 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.
    The established times for addressing items on the agenda may be 
adjusted as necessary to accommodate the timely completion of 
discussion relevant to the agenda items. In order to further allow for 
such adjustments and completion of all items on the agenda, the meeting 
may be extended from, or completed prior to the date/time established 
in this notice.
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 31, 2012.
Tracey L. Thompson
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-19051 Filed 8-3-12; 8:45 am]
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