[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 67 (Thursday, April 7, 1994)] [Unknown Section] [Page 0] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 94-8385] [[Page Unknown]] [Federal Register: April 7, 1994] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 641 [I.D. 033094D] Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Public Hearings AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Amended notice of public hearings, an additional public hearing; request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) is amending the notice of public hearings on draft Amendment 5 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Stone Crab Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico, by adding an additional public hearing and expanding the scope of all the hearings to solicit comments on draft Amendment 10 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico. DATES: Written comments on draft Amendment 10 will be accepted until May 6, 1994. An additional hearing is scheduled to be held in Steinhatchee, Florida, on Tuesday, April 26, 1994, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Wayne E. Swingle, Executive Director, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 5401 West Kennedy Boulevard, suite 331, Tampa, FL 33609; FAX: 813-225-7015. The hearing will be held at the Community Center, State Highway 51, Steinhatchee, Florida. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wayne E. Swingle, 813-228-2815. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice amends a notice of public hearings that appeared in the Federal Register on March 31, 1994 (59 FR 15151), by adding an additional public hearing and soliciting public comments at all hearings on draft Amendment 10 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico. Draft Amendment 10 will include the following management measures: (1) A change in the cutoff date from November 19, 1992, to February 7, 1994, to qualify for a fish trap endorsement during the current 3-year trap moratorium. This change would allow a fish trap endorsement on a reef fish permit, which is required to use fish traps, to be issued or renewed by NMFS for a current owner of a permitted vessel who has a record of reef fish landings from fish traps in the Gulf of Mexico exclusive economic zone between 1991 and 1994 as reported on vessel logbooks received by NMFS on or before February 7, 1994; and (2) establishment of a Council appeals board, the members of which would recommend to the Director, Southeast Region, NMFS, whether additional endorsements should be issued based on demonstrated financial hardship related to trap fishing or based on an incapacitating illness between November 19, 1992, and February 7, 1994. All other information, as contained in the notice of public hearings published March 31, 1994, remains the same. Dated: April 4, 1994. David S. Crestin, Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 94-8385 Filed 4-6-94; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P