[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 206 (Wednesday, October 24, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64960-64961]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-26128]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XC308


Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice of a public meeting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene a 
webinar of the Standing and Special Reef Fish Scientific and 
Statistical Committees (SSC).

DATES: The webinar will convene at 1 p.m. on Thursday, November 8, 2012 
and will conclude approximately 5 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held via webinar and is accessible by 
computers (Windows or Mac), or by iPhone, iPad, or Android device with 
the GoToMeeting app available from the App Store or Google Play. A 
registration link to sign up for the webinar will be available on the 
Council Web site.
    Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 N. 
Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Atran, Population Dynamics 
Statistician; Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: 
(813) 348-1630.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Standing and Special Reef Fish SSC will 
meet jointly via webinar on Thursday, November 8, 2012 to review an 
analysis of this year's red snapper overharvest. Under a rule published 
on May 30, 2012 [77 FR 31734] the acceptable biological catch (ABC) for 
red snapper was set at 8.080 million pounds for 2012 and 8.690 million 
pounds for 2013, with 51 percent of the ABC allocated to a commercial 
quota and 49 percent to a recreational quota. The increase in the ABC 
2013 was contingent upon the stock ABC not being exceeded in 2012. If 
the stock ABC was exceeded in 2012, the stock ABC and sector quotas 
would remain at the 2012 levels unless the best scientific information 
available

[[Page 64961]]

determines maintaining the quotas from the previous year is 
unnecessary. Preliminary estimates indicate that the 2012 recreational 
red snapper quota (3.959 mp) will be exceeded by 440,000-840,000 
pounds, which will result in the 2012 ABC being exceeded. As a result, 
the National Marine Fisheries Service Southeast Fisheries Science 
Center will evaluate the effect of this overharvest on the red snapper 
rebuilding plan. Based on the results of the analysis, the SSC will 
determine whether the 2013 ABC can be increased to its original level, 
to a different level, or should remain at the 2012 level.
    Copies of the agenda and other related materials can be obtained by 
calling (813) 348-1630 or can be downloaded from the Council's ftp 
site, ftp.gulfcouncil.org.
    Although other non-emergency issues not on the agenda may come 
before the Scientific and Statistical Committees for discussion, in 
accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act, those issues may not be the subject of formal action 
during this meeting. Actions of the Scientific and Statistical 
Committees will be restricted to those issues specifically identified 
in the agenda and any issues arising after publication of this notice 
that require emergency action under Section 305(c) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, provided the public 
has been notified of the Council's intent to take action to address the 
emergency.

    Dated: October 18, 2012.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-26128 Filed 10-23-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P