[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 247 (Friday, December 23, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80343-80344]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-32957]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XA891
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Council to convene public meeting.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will
convene Public Hearings on Amendment 35 to the Reef Fish Fishery
Management Plan and Amendment 11 to the Spiny Lobster Fishery
Management Plan in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Regions.
DATES: Public hearings for Amendment 35 (Reef Fish) and Amendment 11
(Spiny Lobster) will be held at nine locations throughout the Gulf of
Mexico and Florida Keys from January 9, 2012 through January 24, 2012.
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 meetings will be held at locations listed in the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery
Management Council, 2203 N. Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Carrie Simmons, Fishery Biologist
at Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: (813) 348-
1630.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Reef Fish Amendment 35
The Council is holding seven public hearings on Amendment 35 to the
Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan which modifies the greater amberjack
[[Page 80344]]
rebuilding plan, adjusts the Stock Annual Catch Limit, and considers
commercial and recreational management measures consistent with the
modified Stock Annual Catch Limit. These actions are proposed in
response to the results from the 2011 Greater Amberjack Stock
Assessment which determined the stock is both overfished (population is
too low) and undergoing overfishing (rate of removals too high). To
achieve the reductions in the Stock Annual Catch Limit the Council is
looking at changes to the current recreational minimum size limit and
fixed closed seasons. For the commercial sector the Council is looking
at adding trip limits and potentially removing the fixed closed season.
Spiny Lobster Amendment 11
The Gulf Council is holding two public hearings on Amendment 11 in
the Florida Keys. The purpose of Amendment 11 to the Spiny Lobster
Fishery Management Plan is protect threatened and endangered species in
a manner that complies with measures established in the 2009 biological
opinion and meets the requirements of the Endangered Species Act. The
Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils are
considering the following two actions to achieve these goals: (1)
Closing areas to either all spiny lobster fishing or the lobster trap
fishery to protect threatened corals and (2) Requiring gear markings
for spiny lobster trap lines to allow identification of trap lines
entangling protected species.
The 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:
Reef Fish Amendment 35
Monday, January 9, 2012--Hilton Tampa Airport Westshore--2225 North
Lois Avenue, Tampa, FL 33607, telephone: (813) 877-6688.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012--Crowne Plaza New Orleans Airport--2829
Williams Boulevard, Kenner, LA 70062, telephone: (504) 467-5611; Hilton
Garden Inn Orange Beach Beachfront--23092 Perdido Beach Boulevard,
Orange Beach, AL 36561, telephone: (251) 974-1600.
Thursday, January 12, 2012--Four Points by Sheraton, 940 Beach
Boulevard, Biloxi, MS 39530, telephone: (228) 546-3100; Hilton Garden
Inn Panama City--1101 U.S. Highway 231, Panama City, FL 32405,
telephone: (850) 392-1093.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012--Hilton San Luis, 5400 Seawall Boulevard,
Galveston Island, TX 77551, telephone: (409) 744-5000.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012--Plantation Suites & Conference Center,
1909 Highway 361, Port Aransas, TX 78379, telephone: (361) 749-3866.
Spiny Lobster Amendment 11
Monday, January 23, 2012--Marathon Government Center, 2798 Overseas
Highway, Marathon, FL 33050, telephone: (305) 289-6036.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012--Harvey Government Center, 1200 Truman
Avenue, Key West, FL 33040, telephone: (305) 295-4385.
Copies of the documents can be obtained by calling (813) 348-1630.
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: December 20, 2011.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-32957 Filed 12-22-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P