Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings, 8335 [E7-3244]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 37 / Monday, February 26, 2007 / Proposed Rules same level. A closure should not significantly affect their operations as they are capable of fishing in other areas that would remain open, outside the boundaries of the Convention Area. In 2005, 500 mt of bigeye tuna were caught by the U.S. longline fishery in the Convention Area. In 2007, if the U.S. longline fishery reaches the 500 metric ton limit, this fishery is capable of fishing in other areas that would remain open. NMFS is not aware of any relevant Federal rules that duplicate, overlap, or conflict with this proposed rule. This rule does not impose reporting or recordkeeping requirements, and the compliance requirements for the closure areas are as described at the outset of this summary. NMFS considered three alternatives for this proposed rule: The 2006 IATTC Tuna Conservation Resolution allows nations to opt for a 6–week summer closure of the purse seine fishery from August 1 through September 20 of 2007 or a closure from November 20 through December 31, 2007. The August 1 September 20 closure alternative may have a greater economic impact on small entities than the November 20 December 31 closure. In particular, the U.S. purse seine fleet may prefer a closure later in the fishing year because the winter weather is not conducive to fishing. Also, throughout the history of this fishery shipyards have been prepared to accept vessels for scheduled repairs during the winter months. The fishery closure later in the year allows the industry to plan for and mitigate economic impacts of a closure while still providing the conservation benefits to the tuna resources in the ETP. NMFS also considered the alternative of not implementing the 2006 IATTC Tuna Conservation Resolution. This alternative would have imposed no economic costs on small entities. However, failure to implement measures that have been agreed on pursuant to the Convention would violate the United States’ obligations under the Convention, and would violate the Tuna Conventions Act. hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with PROPOSALS Authority: 16 U.S.C. 951–961 and 971 et seq. Dated: February 21, 2007. Samuel D. Rauch III, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E7–3251 Filed 2–23–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:32 Feb 23, 2007 Jkt 211001 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 622 [I.D. 021607G] Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene the Law Enforcement Advisory Panel (LEAP) to review a revised Draft Joint Amendment 27 to the Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan (FMP)/ Amendment 14 to the Shrimp FMP. This amendment contains alternatives to regulate the harvest and bycatch of red snapper by both the directed commercial and recreational fisheries and the shrimp fishery in the Gulf of Mexico. The need for this amendment arose from the Southeast Data, Assessment and Review (SEDAR) process through which a recent stock assessment showed that the red snapper stock in the Gulf was overfished and overfishing was continuing. DATES: The meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 13, 2007 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino, 875 Beach Boulevard, Biloxi, Mississippi, 888–383–7037. Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 North Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, Florida 33607. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Richard Leard, Deputy Executive Director, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: 813– 348–1630. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The LEAP will review a scoping document for a potential amendment to address the need for additional management measures for gray triggerfish, greater amberjack, gag, and red grouper. The LEAP will discuss enforcement implications of the potential implementation of a fish-tagging program for stocks managed under individual fishing quotas (IFQs) such as red snapper and the potential use of a Federal fish stamp to identify recreational fishermen fishing in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Finally, the LEAP will discuss any enforcement PO 00000 Frm 00043 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 8335 problems and successes of the recently implemented IFQ program for red snapper and review the status of various FMP amendments and other regulatory actions previously approved by the Council. The LEAP consists of principal law enforcement officers in each of the Gulf States, as well as the NMFS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), the U.S. Coast Guard, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) General Counsel. A copy of the agenda and related materials can be obtained by calling the Council office at 813–348–1630. Although other non-emergency issues not on the agendas may come before the LEAP for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSFCMA), those issues may not be the subject of formal action during this meeting. Actions of the LEAP will be restricted to those issues specifically identified in the agendas and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action under Section 305(c) of the M-SFCMA, provided the public has been notified of the Council’s intent to take action to address the emergency. These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Tina Trezza at the Council (see ADDRESSES) five working days prior to the meeting. Dated: February 20, 2007. James P. Burgess, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E7–3244 Filed 2–23–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 660 [I.D. 012607A] RIN 0648–AU26 Fisheries Off West Coast States; Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery; Amendment 12 to the Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. AGENCY: E:\FR\FM\26FEP1.SGM 26FEP1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 37 (Monday, February 26, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 8335]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-3244]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[I.D. 021607G]


Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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

SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
convene the Law Enforcement Advisory Panel (LEAP) to review a revised 
Draft Joint Amendment 27 to the Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan 
(FMP)/Amendment 14 to the Shrimp FMP. This amendment contains 
alternatives to regulate the harvest and bycatch of red snapper by both 
the directed commercial and recreational fisheries and the shrimp 
fishery in the Gulf of Mexico. The need for this amendment arose from 
the Southeast Data, Assessment and Review (SEDAR) process through which 
a recent stock assessment showed that the red snapper stock in the Gulf 
was overfished and overfishing was continuing.

DATES: The meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 13, 2007 from 1 p.m. 
to 5 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Beau Rivage Resort and 
Casino, 875 Beach Boulevard, Biloxi, Mississippi, 888-383-7037.
    Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 
North Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, Florida 33607.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Richard Leard, Deputy Executive 
Director, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: 813-
348-1630.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The LEAP will review a scoping document for 
a potential amendment to address the need for additional management 
measures for gray triggerfish, greater amberjack, gag, and red grouper. 
The LEAP will discuss enforcement implications of the potential 
implementation of a fish-tagging program for stocks managed under 
individual fishing quotas (IFQs) such as red snapper and the potential 
use of a Federal fish stamp to identify recreational fishermen fishing 
in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Finally, the LEAP will discuss 
any enforcement problems and successes of the recently implemented IFQ 
program for red snapper and review the status of various FMP amendments 
and other regulatory actions previously approved by the Council.
    The LEAP consists of principal law enforcement officers in each of 
the Gulf States, as well as the NMFS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
(FWS), the U.S. Coast Guard, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration's (NOAA) General Counsel. A copy of the agenda and 
related materials can be obtained by calling the Council office at 813-
348-1630.
    Although other non-emergency issues not on the agendas may come 
before the LEAP for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (M-SFCMA), those issues may not 
be the subject of formal action during this meeting. Actions of the 
LEAP will be restricted to those issues specifically identified in the 
agendas and any issues arising after publication of this notice that 
require emergency action under Section 305(c) of the M-SFCMA, provided 
the public has been notified of the Council's intent to take action to 
address the emergency.
    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Tina Trezza at the Council (see 
ADDRESSES) five working days prior to the meeting.

    Dated: February 20, 2007.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-3244 Filed 2-23-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
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