[Federal Register: October 1, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 190)]
[Notices]               
[Page 61596]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01oc02-45]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 092502D]

 
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will convene a 
public meeting of the Law Enforcement Advisory Panel (LEAP).

DATES: This meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 16, 2002, from 
8:30 a.m. to 12 noon.

ADDRESSES: This meeting will be held at the Hawk's Cay Resort, 61 
Hawk's Cay Boulevard, Duck Key, FL; telephone: 305-743-7000.
    Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 3018 
U.S. Highway 301 North, Suite 1000, Tampa, FL 33619.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Leard, Senior Fishery 
Biologist, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council; telephone: 813-
228-2815.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The LEAP will convene to review an update of 
Joint Enforcement Agreements (JEAs) and the 2003 Operations Plans. The 
LEAP will discuss which Council managed fisheries are most in need of 
vessel monitoring systems (VMS) and the requirements for VMS. Also to 
be discussed is whether vessels should be allowed to simultaneously 
possess recreational and commercial bag limits and trip limits, 
respectively. A presentation will be given by NMFS on its process used 
to monitor quota openings and closures (especially red snapper). The 
LEAP will also review the Gulf Safety Committee activities; the status 
of Fishery Management Plans (FMPs), amendments, and regulatory actions; 
and hear state and federal enforcement reports.
    The LEAP consists of principal law enforcement officers in each of 
the Gulf states as well as NMFS, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the NOAA 
General Counsel. A copy of the agenda and related materials can be 
obtained by calling the Council office at 813-228-2815.
    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, those issues may not be the 
subject of formal action during this meetings. Actions of the LEAP 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 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 Anne Alford at the Council (see ADDRESSES) by 
October 9, 2002.

    Dated: September 25, 2002.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-24951 Filed 9-30-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S