[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 249 (Tuesday, December 30, 1997)] [Notices] [Page 67825] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-33888] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 121797B] 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; request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene three public hearings on Draft Amendment 6 to the Fishery Management Plan for Stone Crab Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP). DATES: The public hearings will be held from January 6-8, 1998. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times of the hearings. Written comments on Draft Amendment 6 must be received by January 15, 1998. ADDRESSES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for locations of the hearings. Written comments on Amendment 6 should be sent to the Council at the following address. Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 3018 U.S. Highway 301 North, Suite 1000, Tampa, Florida 33619. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wayne Swingle, Executive Director, 813-228-2815. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Council will hold public hearings on Draft Amendment 6 to the FMP. Amendment 6 would extend the current moratorium on issuance of Federal vessel registrations for the stone crab fishery in the Gulf of Mexico off Florida. The FMP provided that persons could fish commercially in Federal waters if they had either a state stone crab permit or had registered their vessel with NMFS. No one has ever requested a Federal vessel registration. In 1995, under Amendment 5 to the FMP, the Council placed a moratorium on registration of vessels by NMFS, and the state of Florida, by legislative action, placed a moratorium on the issuance of any additional stone crab permits. The purpose of both actions was to provide time for the stone crab industry to consider whether a limited access system was needed for the fishery and to develop such a system for implementation by the Florida Legislature. The purpose of the Council action proposed in Draft Amendment 6 is to prohibit registration of vessels for up to an additional 4 years so that the industry, state, and Council have adequate time to develop and implement a limited access system. Public hearings on Amendment 6 are scheduled as follows, from 7:00 p.m to 10:00 p.m. 1. Tuesday, January 6, 1998; Regional Service Center County Building, 2796 Overseas Highway (U.S. Highway 1), Marathon, Florida 33050. 2. Wednesday, January 7, 1998; Naples Depot Civic-Cultural Center, 1051 5th Avenue South, Naples, Florida 33940. 3. Thursday, January 8, 1998; Plantation Inn & Gulf Resort, 9301 West Fort Island Trail, Crystal River, Florida 34429. A copy of Amendment 6 can be obtained by contacting the Council Executive Director (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). Special Accommodations These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Anne Alford at the Council (see ADDRESSES) by December 29, 1997. Dated: December 22, 1997. Gary C. Matlock, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 97-33888 Filed 12-23-97; 3:51 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F