Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting, 41765-41766 [2011-17790]

Download as PDF mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 136 / Friday, July 15, 2011 / Notices grouper species that are either currently prohibited to be harvested in general by the South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper Fishery Management Plan (FMP) (speckled hind and warsaw grouper) or are prohibited to be harvested beyond a depth of 240 ft (73.2 m) (blueline tilefish, misty grouper, queen snapper, silk snapper, snowy grouper, and yellowedge grouper). Authorized vessels would be eligible to harvest these species in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off North Carolina, specifically, the waters north of Cape Hatteras to the North Carolina/Virginia border. The purpose of this EFP would be to provide basic life history information for any fish harvested, particularly blueline tilefish. An additional purpose of the EFP would be to determine the distribution of speckled hind and warsaw grouper in the study area to determine if these species are bycatch in the commercial blueline tilefish component of the South Atlantic snapper-grouper fishery. DATES: Comments must be received no later than 5 p.m., Eastern Time, on August 1, 2011. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the application by either of the following methods: • E-mail: rick.devictor@noaa.gov. Include in the subject line of the e-mail comment the following document identifier: LouisDaniel_EFP 2011. • Mail: Rick DeVictor, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. The application and related documents are available for review upon written request to any of the above addresses. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rick DeVictor, 727–824–5305; e-mail: rick.devictor@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EFP is requested under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C 1801 et seq.), and regulations at 50 CFR 600.745(b) concerning exempted fishing. The proposed data collection involves activities otherwise prohibited by regulations at 50 CFR part 622, as they pertain to species managed by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) specific to the commercial blueline tilefish component of the snapper-grouper fishery in the South Atlantic. This EFP would exempt designated project participants from regulations regarding the harvest and possession prohibition for speckled hind and warsaw grouper (§ 622.32(b)(3)(vii)), the area closure for deep-water snapper-grouper species VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:55 Jul 14, 2011 Jkt 223001 (§ 622.35(o)), queen and silk snapper commercial size limits (§ 622.37(e)(1)(iii)), and the snowy grouper commercial trip limit (§ 622.44(c)(3)). The data collection is authorized in Federal waters, off of North Carolina from a depth of 40 fathoms seaward to the EEZ limit between Cape Hatteras (35°15.03′ N. latitude) north to the North Carolina/Virginia state line (36°33.02′ N. latitude). The EFP would expire when one of the following criteria is met: 100 total trips are taken by the combined participants; 350,000 lb (158,757 kg) of blueline tilefish are landed; 50 fish total of speckled hind or warsaw grouper are landed in any combination; 30 of any one of the following deep-water snapper-grouper species are landed (misty grouper, queen snapper, silk snapper, and yellowedge grouper); 1 year from the start date of the EFP; or for other reasons determined to be appropriate by NMFS. A maximum of 12 commercial fishing vessels would be allowed to participate. To be eligible, a vessel’s 2009 commercial landings must have exceeded 500 lb (226.8 kg) of blueline tilefish in the EEZ waters off North Carolina, north of Cape Hatteras, as verified by the North Carolina trip ticket program. Vessels authorized by this EFP would have an observer onboard for 20 percent of all trips taken under the authority of the EFP. Observers would be selected by the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries. A NMFS port agent would collect life history information and otoliths from blueline tilefish, snowy grouper, speckled hind, and warsaw grouper to the extent possible. Sampled fish would be returned to the fisherman in a condition appropriate for sale. Under the EFP, speckled hind and warsaw grouper would not be eligible for sale, however, other deep-water snapper-grouper species would be eligible for sale, with the following condition: Snowy grouper would be eligible for sale up to 100 lb (45 kg) per trip, with a maximum of 10,000 lb (4,536 kg) for all the vessels for the duration of the EFP. The otoliths would be transported to the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries for storage and potential further analysis. All landings of blueline tilefish and snowy grouper would be deducted from the commercial annual catch limits for these species as established by the Council. The purpose of this EFP would be to provide basic life history information of the fish harvested, particularly blueline tilefish. Another purpose of the EFP would be to determine the presence or absence of speckled hind and warsaw PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 41765 grouper north of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, to determine if these species are bycatch by commercial blueline tilefish harvesters. NMFS finds this application warrants further consideration. Based on a preliminary review, NMFS intends to issue the requested EFP, pending receipt of public comments, as per § 600.745(b)(3)(i). Possible conditions the agency may impose on this permit, if it is indeed granted, include but are not limited to, a prohibition on conducting research within marine protected areas, marine sanctuaries, special management zones, or artificial reefs without additional authorization. A report on the project findings is due at the end of the collection period, to be submitted to NMFS and reviewed by the Council. A final decision on issuance of the EFP will depend on NMFS’s review of public comments received on the application, consultations with the affected state, the Council, and the U.S. Coast Guard, as well as a determination that the EFP is consistent with all applicable laws. Authority: 16 U.S.C 1801 et seq. Dated: July 12, 2011. Margo Schulze-Haugen, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2011–17897 Filed 7–14–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XA570 Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Council to convene a public meeting. AGENCY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene a meeting of the Outreach and Education Advisory Panel. DATES: The meeting will convene at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, August 2, 2011 and conclude by 12 p.m., Thursday, August 4, 2011. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 2203 North Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 33607, telephone: (813) 348–1630. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\15JYN1.SGM 15JYN1 41766 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 136 / Friday, July 15, 2011 / Notices FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Charlene Ponce, Public Information Officer; Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: (813) 348–1630. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: RIN 0648–XA569 Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene public hearings on: Amendment 18 to the Fishery Management Plan for Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico and Amendment 32 to the Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan in the Gulf of Mexico. DATES: The public meetings will be held on August 1, 2011 through August 3, 2011 at seven locations throughout the Gulf of Mexico. 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. Special Accommodations Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources This meeting is 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. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES During this meeting, the Outreach and Education Advisory Panel will elect officers; receive a report on a Communications Audit conducted by University of South Florida students; discuss the possibility of conducting a stakeholder survey; review and finalize a five-year strategic communications plan; discuss reformatting of scoping meetings/public hearings; and discuss potential outreach opportunities for Council members. The panel may also provide recommendations to the Council on any or all of these issues. Copies of the agenda and other related materials can be obtained by calling (813) 348–1630 or can be downloaded from the Council’s ftp site, ftp.gulfcouncil.org. Although other non-emergency issues not on the agenda may come before the Outreach and Education Advisory Panel for discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, those issues may not be the subject of formal action during this meeting. Actions of the Scientific and Statistical Committees will be restricted to those issues specifically identified in the agenda and any issues arising after publication of this notice that require emergency action under Section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, provided the public has been notified of the Council’s intent to take action to address the emergency. The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will hold public hearings on Amendment 18 to the Fishery Management Plan for Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Including Environmental Assessment, Regulatory Impact Review, and Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis. Amendment 18 contains alternatives for actions to set annual catch limits and accountability measures if such limits are exceeded for Gulf group king mackerel, Gulf group Spanish mackerel, and Gulf group cobia. It also contains measures to remove cero, little tunny, dolphin, and bluefish (Gulf) from the fishery management plan; revise the framework procedure; and separate cobia into Atlantic and Dated: July 11, 2011. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2011–17790 Filed 7–14–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:55 Jul 14, 2011 Jkt 223001 Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). ACTION: Council to convene public meeting. AGENCY: SUMMARY: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Richard Leard, Deputy Executive Director/Senior Fishery Biologist (Amendment 18), Dr. Steven Atran, Population Dynamics Statistician (Amendment 32) at Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: (813) 348–1630. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Gulf migratory groups. Similar measures are being proposed for the Atlantic migratory stocks. Reef Fish Amendment 32 to the Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan establishes annual catch limits and annual catch targets for 2012 and 2015 for gag and for 2012 for red grouper. The Amendment also contains actions to: Establish a rebuilding plan for gag; set recreational bag limits, size limits and closed seasons for gag/red grouper in 2012; consider a commercial gag and shallowwater grouper quota adjustment to account for dead discards; make adjustment to multi-use IFQ shares in the grouper individual fishing quota program; reduce the commercial gag size limit; modify the offshore time and areas closures; and revise gag, red grouper, and shallow-water grouper accountability measures. 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: Monday, August 1, 2011, Amendment 18—Plantation Suites—1909 Hwy 361, Port Aransas, TX 78373, (361) 749– 3866; Amendment 18—Courtyard Marriott Gulfport Beachfront Hotel, 1600 East Beach Blvd., Gulfport, MS 39501, (228) 864–4310; Amendment 32—Hyatt Place Ft. Myers at the Forum—2600 Champion Ring Road, Fort Myers, FL 33905, (239) 418–1844. Tuesday, August 2, 2011, Amendment 18 and Amendment 32—Hilton St. Petersburg Carillon Park—950 Lake Carillon Drive—St. Petersburg, FL 33716—(727) 540–0050; Amendment 18—Fairfield Inn & Suites, 3111 Loop Road, Orange Beach, FL 36561, (251) 543–4444; Amendment 18—Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Research Lab, 195 Ludwig Annex, Grand Isle, LA 70358, (985) 787–2163. Wednesday, August 3, 2011, Amendment 18 and Amendment 32— Boardwalk Beach Resort, 9400 S. Thomas Drive, Panama City Beach, FL 32408, (850) 230–4681. 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. E:\FR\FM\15JYN1.SGM 15JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 136 (Friday, July 15, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41765-41766]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-17790]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA570


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 a public meeting.

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

SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene a 
meeting of the Outreach and Education Advisory Panel.

DATES: The meeting will convene at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, August 2, 2011 
and conclude by 12 p.m., Thursday, August 4, 2011.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Gulf of Mexico Fishery 
Management Council, 2203 North Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 
33607, telephone: (813) 348-1630.

[[Page 41766]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charlene Ponce, Public Information 
Officer; Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: (813) 
348-1630.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    During this meeting, the Outreach and Education Advisory Panel will 
elect officers; receive a report on a Communications Audit conducted by 
University of South Florida students; discuss the possibility of 
conducting a stakeholder survey; review and finalize a five-year 
strategic communications plan; discuss reformatting of scoping 
meetings/public hearings; and discuss potential outreach opportunities 
for Council members. The panel may also provide recommendations to the 
Council on any or all of these issues.
    Copies of the agenda and other related materials can be obtained by 
calling (813) 348-1630 or can be downloaded from the Council's ftp 
site, ftp.gulfcouncil.org.
    Although other non-emergency issues not on the agenda may come 
before the Outreach and Education Advisory Panel for discussion, in 
accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act, those issues may not be the subject of formal action 
during this meeting. Actions of the Scientific and Statistical 
Committees will be restricted to those issues specifically identified 
in the agenda and any issues arising after publication of this notice 
that require emergency action under Section 305(c) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, provided the public 
has been notified of the Council's intent to take action to address the 
emergency.

Special Accommodations

    This meeting is 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: July 11, 2011.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-17790 Filed 7-14-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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