Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Scoping Meetings, 9735-9736 [E7-3738]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 42 / Monday, March 5, 2007 / Notices Agency (EPA). The EPA will publish a notice of availability of the DEIS for public comment in the Federal Register. The DEIS will have a 45–day comment period. This procedure is pursuant to regulations issued by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) for implementing the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 40 CFR parts 1500–1508) and to NOAA’s Administrative Order 216–6 regarding NOAA’s compliance with NEPA and the CEQ regulations. NMFS will consider public comments received on the DEIS in developing the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) and before adopting final management measures for the amendment. NMFS will submit both the final amendment and the supporting FEIS to the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) for review as per the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. NMFS will announce, through a notice published in the Federal Register, the availability of the final amendment for public review during the Department of Commerce Secretarial review period. During Secretarial review, NMFS will also file the FEIS with the EPA, and the EPA will publish a notice of availability for the FEIS in the Federal Register. This comment period will be concurrent with the Secretarial review period and will end prior to final agency action to approve, disapprove, or partially approve the amendment. NMFS will announce, through a notice published in the Federal Register, all public comment periods on the final amendment, its proposed implementing regulations, and the availability of its associated FEIS. NMFS will consider all public comments received during the Secretarial review period, whether they are on the final amendment, the proposed regulations, or the FEIS, prior to final agency action. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: February 27, 2007. James P. Burgess, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E7–3777 Filed 3–2–07; 8:45 am] erjones on PRODPC74 with NOTICES BILLING CODE 3510–22–S VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:17 Mar 02, 2007 Jkt 211001 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 022707D] Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Scoping Meetings National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of scoping meetings. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene scoping meetings to solicit comments on Reef Fish Amendment 30. DATES: The scoping meetings will be held from March 19 - 22, 2007 at 7 locations throughout the Gulf of Mexico. For specific dates and times, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. ADDRESSES: The scoping meetings will be held in the following locations: Orange Beach, AL, Panama City, Naples and Madeira Beach, FL, Biloxi, MS, New Orleans, LA and Galveston, TX. For specific locations, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 North Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Atran, Population Dynamics Statistician, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: (813) 348–1630. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) has scheduled a series of scoping meetings to solicit public comment on a scoping document to define issues to be addressed in a new Amendment 30 to the Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan. The issues deal with possible changes to the management of gag, red grouper, greater amberjack, and gray triggerfish. Recent stock assessments completed under the Southeast Data, Assessment and Review (SEDAR) program, indicate that management changes may be warranted. Gag were declared by NMFS to be undergoing overfishing based on the results of a 2006 stock assessment (SEDAR 10). A fishing mortality rate reduction of 10 to 34 percent is needed to end overfishing under the current overfishing definition. In addition, management targets and thresholds consistent with the Sustainable Fisheries Act need to be reviewed and adopted. Red grouper were initially determined to be overfished and undergoing PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 9735 overfishing as of 1997. A rebuilding plan combined with a strong recruitment year class that occurred in 2000 has resulted in a stock that is currently above its maximum sustainable yield (MSY) biomass threshold and slightly above to its optimum yield (OY) target level. As a result, a 15% increase in red grouper TAC and management measures to achieve that increase can be implemented while still maintaining OY. Greater amberjack were found to be overfished and undergoing overfishing as of 1998 based on a 2000 stock assessment. A rebuilding plan was adopted in 2003. A 2006 stock assessment (SEDAR 9) found that the greater amberjack stock continues to be overfished and undergoing overfishing, and is not meeting its rebuilding targets. Consequently, the rebuilding plan needs to be revised. Reductions of from 11 to 30 percent are needed depending upon the revisions made to the rebuilding plan. Gray triggerfish were found to be undergoing overfishing based on a 2006 stock assessment (SEDAR 9). A 35 percent reduction in landings is necessary to end overfishing. In addition, management targets and thresholds consistent with SFA need to be reviewed and adopted. Scoping meetings are part of the initial phase of preparing a plan amendment. Their purpose is to identify issues and a reasonable range, or scope, of alternatives to address those issues. Such alternatives could include changes in total allowable catch (TAC), size limits, bag limits, quotas, closed seasons or areas, or other measures to reduce fishing mortality and dead discards. The scoping meetings will begin at 7 p.m. and conclude at the end of public testimony or no later than 10 p.m. at each of the following locations: Monday, March 19, 2007, IP Hotel, 850 Bayview Avenue, Biloxi, MS 39530; telephone: (228) 432–3216; Monday, March 19, 2007, City of Orange Beach Parks and Recreational Center, 27235 Canal Road, Orange Beach, AL 36561; telephone: (251) 981– 6028; Tuesday, March 20, 2007, Four Points Sheraton New Orleans Airport, 6401 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, LA 70003; telephone: (504) 885–5700; Tuesday, March 20, 2007, Edgewater Beach Resort, 11212 Front Beach Road, Panama City, FL 32407; telephone: (800) 331–6338; Wednesday, March 21, 2007, Hilton Galveston, 5400 Seawall Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77550; telephone: (409) 744–1500; E:\FR\FM\05MRN1.SGM 05MRN1 9736 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 42 / Monday, March 5, 2007 / Notices Wednesday, March 21, 2007, Best Western, 6400 Dudley Drive, Naples, FL 34105; telephone: (239) 643–6655; and Thursday, March 22, 2007, City of Madeira Beach, 300 Municipal Drive, Madeira Beach, FL 33708; telephone: (727) 391–9951; Copies of the scoping documents and related materials can be obtained by calling the Council office at (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 Tina Trezza at the Council (see ADDRESSES) at least 5 working days prior to the meeting. Dated: February 28, 2007. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E7–3738 Filed 3–2–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 022607D] Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT); Spring Species Working Group Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. erjones on PRODPC74 with NOTICES AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Advisory Committee (Committee) to the U.S. Section to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) announces its spring meeting with its Species Working Group Technical Advisors on April 2–3, 2007. The Committee will meet to discuss matters relating to ICCAT, including the results from the 2006 ICCAT meeting; the U.S. implementation of ICCAT decisions; the 2007 ICCAT and NMFS research and monitoring activities; the 2007 ICCAT activities; the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act-required consultation on the identification of countries that are diminishing the effectiveness of ICCAT; the results of the meetings of the Committee’s Species Working Groups; and other matters relating to the international management of ICCAT species. VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:17 Mar 02, 2007 Jkt 211001 The open sessions of the Committee meeting will be held on April 2, 2007, from 8:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on April 3, 2006, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. and from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Closed sessions will be held on April 2, 2007, from 3 p.m. to approximately 6 p.m. and on April 3, 2007, from 9:15 a.m. to 11 a.m. and from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Hilton Hotel Washington-Silver Spring, 8727 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, MD 20910, telephone: 301–589– 5200. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kelly Denit at (301) 713–2276. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section to ICCAT will meet in open session to receive and discuss information on (1) the 2006 ICCAT meeting results and U.S. implementation of ICCAT decisions; (2) 2007 ICCAT and NMFS research and monitoring activities; (3) 2007 ICCAT activities; (4) the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act-required consultation on the identification of countries that are diminishing the effectiveness of ICCAT; (5) the results of the meetings of the Committee’s Species Working Groups; and (6) other matters relating to the international management of ICCAT species. The public will have access to the open sessions of the meeting, but there will be no opportunity for public comment. The Committee will meet in its Species Working Groups for a portion of the afternoon of April 2, 2007, and of the morning of April 3, 2007. These sessions are not open to the public, but the results of the species working group discussions will be reported to the full Advisory Committee during the Committee’s morning and afternoon open session on April 3, 2007. The Committee may also go into executive session on the afternoon of April 3, 2007, to discuss sensitive information relating to upcoming intersessional meetings of ICCAT. This session would also be closed to the public. DATES: Special Accommodations The meeting location is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Kelly Denit at (301) 713–2276 at least 5 days prior to the meeting date. Dated: February 28, 2007. William T. Hogarth, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E7–3778 Filed 3–2–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [I.D. 022707E] New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public meetings. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Scallop Advisory Panels and its Scallop Committee in March, 2007, to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from these groups will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate These meetings will be held on Monday, March 19, 2007, at 8 a.m. and Tuesday, March 20, 2007, at 8:30 a.m. ADDRESSES: These meetings will be held at the Radisson Airport Hotel, 2081 Post Road, Warwick, RI 02886; telephone: (401) 739–3000; fax: (401) 732–9309. Council address: New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council; telephone: (978) 465–0492. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The panel’s schedule and agenda for the meetings are as follows: DATES: 1. Monday, March 19, 2007; General Category Scallop Advisory Panel Meeting, 8 a.m. - 11 a.m. and a Joint General Category and Scallop Advisory Panel Meeting, 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. In the morning, the General Category advisors will meet individually to review the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) for Amendment 11 to the Scallop Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and make final recommendations for the Scallop Committee to consider as preferred alternatives related to limited entry qualification alternatives. In the afternoon, both scallop advisory panels will meet jointly to further review the DSEIS for Amendment 11 to the Scallop FMP and make final recommendations for the Scallop Committee to consider as preferred alternatives related to all other measures in the document. If time permits, the advisors will discuss and develop potential alternatives to E:\FR\FM\05MRN1.SGM 05MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 42 (Monday, March 5, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9735-9736]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-3738]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 022707D]


Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Scoping Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of scoping meetings.

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

SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
convene scoping meetings to solicit comments on Reef Fish Amendment 30.

DATES: The scoping meetings will be held from March 19 - 22, 2007 at 7 
locations throughout the Gulf of Mexico. For specific dates and times, 
see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

ADDRESSES: The scoping meetings will be held in the following 
locations: Orange Beach, AL, Panama City, Naples and Madeira Beach, FL, 
Biloxi, MS, New Orleans, LA and Galveston, TX. For specific locations, 
see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
    Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 
North Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Atran, Population Dynamics 
Statistician, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: 
(813) 348-1630.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management 
Council (Council) has scheduled a series of scoping meetings to solicit 
public comment on a scoping document to define issues to be addressed 
in a new Amendment 30 to the Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan. The 
issues deal with possible changes to the management of gag, red 
grouper, greater amberjack, and gray triggerfish. Recent stock 
assessments completed under the Southeast Data, Assessment and Review 
(SEDAR) program, indicate that management changes may be warranted.
    Gag were declared by NMFS to be undergoing overfishing based on the 
results of a 2006 stock assessment (SEDAR 10). A fishing mortality rate 
reduction of 10 to 34 percent is needed to end overfishing under the 
current overfishing definition. In addition, management targets and 
thresholds consistent with the Sustainable Fisheries Act need to be 
reviewed and adopted.
    Red grouper were initially determined to be overfished and 
undergoing overfishing as of 1997. A rebuilding plan combined with a 
strong recruitment year class that occurred in 2000 has resulted in a 
stock that is currently above its maximum sustainable yield (MSY) 
biomass threshold and slightly above to its optimum yield (OY) target 
level. As a result, a 15% increase in red grouper TAC and management 
measures to achieve that increase can be implemented while still 
maintaining OY.
    Greater amberjack were found to be overfished and undergoing 
overfishing as of 1998 based on a 2000 stock assessment. A rebuilding 
plan was adopted in 2003. A 2006 stock assessment (SEDAR 9) found that 
the greater amberjack stock continues to be overfished and undergoing 
overfishing, and is not meeting its rebuilding targets. Consequently, 
the rebuilding plan needs to be revised. Reductions of from 11 to 30 
percent are needed depending upon the revisions made to the rebuilding 
plan.
    Gray triggerfish were found to be undergoing overfishing based on a 
2006 stock assessment (SEDAR 9). A 35 percent reduction in landings is 
necessary to end overfishing. In addition, management targets and 
thresholds consistent with SFA need to be reviewed and adopted.
    Scoping meetings are part of the initial phase of preparing a plan 
amendment. Their purpose is to identify issues and a reasonable range, 
or scope, of alternatives to address those issues. Such alternatives 
could include changes in total allowable catch (TAC), size limits, bag 
limits, quotas, closed seasons or areas, or other measures to reduce 
fishing mortality and dead discards.
    The scoping meetings will begin at 7 p.m. and conclude at the end 
of public testimony or no later than 10 p.m. at each of the following 
locations:
    Monday, March 19, 2007, IP Hotel, 850 Bayview Avenue, Biloxi, MS 
39530; telephone: (228) 432-3216;
    Monday, March 19, 2007, City of Orange Beach Parks and Recreational 
Center, 27235 Canal Road, Orange Beach, AL 36561; telephone: (251) 981-
6028;
    Tuesday, March 20, 2007, Four Points Sheraton New Orleans Airport, 
6401 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, LA 70003; telephone: (504) 885-
5700;
    Tuesday, March 20, 2007, Edgewater Beach Resort, 11212 Front Beach 
Road, Panama City, FL 32407; telephone: (800) 331-6338;
    Wednesday, March 21, 2007, Hilton Galveston, 5400 Seawall 
Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77550; telephone: (409) 744-1500;

[[Page 9736]]

    Wednesday, March 21, 2007, Best Western, 6400 Dudley Drive, Naples, 
FL 34105; telephone: (239) 643-6655; and
    Thursday, March 22, 2007, City of Madeira Beach, 300 Municipal 
Drive, Madeira Beach, FL 33708; telephone: (727) 391-9951;
    Copies of the scoping documents and related materials can be 
obtained by calling the Council office at (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 Tina Trezza at the Council (see 
ADDRESSES) at least 5 working days prior to the meeting.

    Dated: February 28, 2007.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-3738 Filed 3-2-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S

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