[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 184 (Friday, September 21, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58526-58527]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-23310]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC244


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 proposed Reef Fish Amendment 37 addressing 
revisions to the gray triggerfish rebuilding plan including adjustments 
to the annual catch limits and annual catch targets for the commercial 
and recreational sectors. Public hearings will also be held 
simultaneously on a proposed Framework Action to modify the 2013 
recreational gag fishing season, consider changes to the gag bag limit, 
and consider modifying or eliminating the February 1 through March 31 
recreational closed season on shallow-water grouper.

DATES: The public hearings will be held from October 15-18, 2012 at 
eight 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: 
Naples, St. Petersburg, and Destin, FL; Gulf Shores, AL; D'Iberville, 
MS; Kenner, LA; Galveston and Corpus Christi, TX.
    Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 
North Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For Reef Fish Amendment 37: Dr. Carrie 
Simmons, Fishery Biologist; Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; 
telephone: (813) 348-1630 x231. For the gag Framework Action: Steven 
Atran, Population Dynamics Statistician, Gulf of Mexico Fishery 
Management Council; telephone: (813) 348-1630 x227.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Council will convene public hearings on 
two proposed actions to the Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan. Reef 
Fish Amendment 37 proposes modifications to the gray triggerfish 
rebuilding plan including modifications to the annual catch limits and 
annual catch targets for the commercial and recreational sectors. 
Proposed commercial management measures needed to meet the reduction in 
the annual catch limit and annual catch target for gray triggerfish 
include establishing a fixed closed season and a trip limit. Proposed 
recreational management measures include establishing a fixed closed 
season and modifying the recreational bag limit for gray triggerfish 
within the 20-reef fish aggregate bag limit. This amendment also 
includes proposed modifications to the recreational accountability 
measures to allow NOAA Fisheries Service to close the recreational 
sector once the annual catch target is reached or projected to be 
reached, and if the annual catch limit is exceeded to apply an overage 
adjustment by reducing the annual catch limit and optional annual catch 
target the following fishing season.
    The Framework Action to set the 2013 gag recreational fishing 
season, bag limit, and to modify the February through March shallow-
water grouper closed season contains alternatives for

[[Page 58527]]

modifications to regulations addressing recreational fishing for gag 
and shallow-water grouper. Alternatives being considered to modify the 
recreational gag fishing season would change the starting date for the 
recreational gag season from July 1 to an earlier time when there is 
greater demand to fish for gag, or would split the season into two or 
three sub-seasons. Changing the season to times when there is greater 
demand may reduce the number of fishing days relative to the status 
quo, so suboptions within the alternatives consider either retaining 
the current gag bag limit of 2 fish per person within the 4-fish 
aggregate shallow-water grouper bag limit, or reducing the bag limit 
for gag to 1 fish in order to extend the season. The Framework Action 
will also consider revising the current closed season on recreational 
harvest of shallow-water grouper by either shortening or eliminating 
the closed season, moving it to a different date, or having the closed 
season apply only seaward of the 20 fathom depth contour while 
eliminating it shoreward of 20 fathoms.
    Monday, October 15, 2012, Country Inn & Suites, 4415 Commons Drive 
East, Destin, FL 32541, telephone: (850) 650-9191; Courtyard Marriott, 
3250 Tamiami Trail N (US 41 N.), Naples, FL 34103, telephone: (239) 
434-8700.
    Tuesday, October 16, 2012, Sirata Hotel, 5300 Gulf Boulevard, St. 
Petersburg, FL 33706, telephone: (727) 363-5100; Holiday Inn Express & 
Suites, 160 W. Commerce Boulevard, Gulf Shores, AL 36542, telephone: 
(251) 948-6191.
    Wednesday, October 17, 2012, Courtyard Marriott, 11471 Cinema 
Drive, D'Iberville, MS 39540, telephone: (228) 392-1200; Hilton 
Galveston, 5400 Seawall Boulevard, Galveston Island, TX 77551, 
telephone: (409) 744-5000.
    Thursday, October 18, 2012, Harte Institute, 6300 Ocean Drive, Room 
127, Corpus Christi, TX 78412-5869, telephone: (361) 825-2000; Crowne 
Plaza New Orleans Airport, 2829 Williams Boulevard, Kenner, LA 70062, 
telephone: (504) 467-5611.
    Copies of the public hearing documents can be obtained by calling 
(813) 348-1630 or by visiting the Council's Web site at 
www.gulfcouncil.org.

Special Accommodations

    These hearings 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 hearing.

    Dated: September 18, 2012.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-23310 Filed 9-20-12; 8:45 am]
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