[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 89 (Wednesday, May 10, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21791-21792]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-09437]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF406


Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

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

[[Page 21792]]


ACTION: Notice; public hearing via webinar.

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SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold a public hearing via webinar to solicit public comments on Draft 
Reef Fish Amendment 44--Minimum Stock Size Threshold for Reef Fish 
Stocks.

DATES: The public hearing will take place via webinar on Tuesday, May 
23, 2017, starting at 6 p.m. EDT and will conclude no later than 9 p.m. 
Written public comments must be received on or before 5 p.m. EDT on 
Tuesday, May 16, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 N. Lois 
Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607; telephone: (813) 348-1630, 
www.gulfcouncil.org.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Atran, Senior Fishery 
Biologist, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: (813) 
348-1630; [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Minimum stock size threshold (MSST) is the 
stock biomass level below which a stock is declared to be overfished 
and in need of a rebuilding plan. It is set at some level below the 
biomass level corresponding to maximum sustainable yield (Bmsy) in 
order to allow natural fluctuations around the Bmsy level without 
spurious overfished declarations resulting. There are 7 stocks in the 
Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan that have current or proposed MSST 
definitions (gag, red grouper, red snapper, vermilion snapper, gray 
triggerfish, greater amberjack, and hogfish). For most of these stocks, 
MSST is set using the formula: (1 - M) * Bmsy, where M is the natural 
mortality rate and Bmsy is the stock biomass corresponding to MSY or 
the MSY proxy. For stocks with a low natural mortality rate, this 
results in an MSST that is close to Bmsy. In some cases this MSST may 
be so close the Bmsy that it is not significantly different given the 
uncertainties in the data, and may lead to spurious overfished 
declarations due to natural fluctuations. For this reason, the Council 
is considering alternatives that would broaden the difference between 
Bmsy and MSST for some or all of the 7 reef fish stocks.
    Staff and a Council member will be available to answer any 
questions and the public will have the opportunity to provide testimony 
on the amendment and other related testimony.
    The schedule is as follows:
    Tuesday, May 23, 2017, Webinar--6 p.m. EDT at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/369981646765939713.
    After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing 
information about joining the webinar.
    Public documents may be obtained by contacting the Gulf of Mexico 
Fishery Management Council at (813) 348-1630 or on their Web site at 
www.gulfcouncil.org.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: May 4, 2017.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-09437 Filed 5-9-17; 8:45 am]
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