[Federal Register: October 14, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 198)]
[Notices]               
[Page 55701-55702]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14oc99-36]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 100599G]

 
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 meetings.

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SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will

[[Page 55702]]

convene public meetings of the Standing and Special Red Drum Scientific 
and Statistical Committee (SSC) and the Red Drum Advisory Panel (AP).

DATES: The Standing and Special Red Drum SSC will meet on Thursday, 
October 28 1999, beginning at 10:00 a.m. and will conclude by 3:00 
p.m.; and the Red Drum AP will meet on Friday, October 29, 1999, at 
8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Both meetings will be held at the Tampa Airport Hilton 
Hotel, 2225 Lois Avenue, Tampa, FL 33607; telephone: 813-877-6688.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Hood, Fishery Biologist Gulf of 
Mexico Fishery Management Council, 3018 U.S. Highway 301 North, Suite 
1000, Tampa, FL 33619; telephone: 813-228-2815.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Standing & Special Red Drum SSC will 
review the 1999 red drum stock assessment. A Red Drum Stock Assessment 
Panel (SAP) member will present the assessment to the SSC related to 
setting an allowable biological catch (ABC) range in the Gulf of 
Mexico. The SSC may also review estimates of stock size (biomass at 
maximum sustainable yield [Bmsy]), minimum stock size thresholds 
(MSST), escapement rates of juveniles to offshore waters, and adult red 
drum bycatch in shrimp trawls. Based on this review, the SSC may 
recommend to the Council levels for total allowable catch (TAC), bag 
limits, size limits, commercial quotas, and other measures for the red 
drum fishery.
    The Red Drum AP will meet to review the 1999 red drum stock 
assessment. A Red Drum Stock Assessment Panel member will also present 
the assessment to the AP. The AP will also provide recommendations to 
the Council.
    Based on recommendations from the above meetings, the Council, at 
its November meeting in Orlando, FL will decide if changes are needed 
to current red drum management measures. Currently, it is illegal to 
harvest or possess red drum in Federal waters.
    A copy of the agenda can be obtained by contacting the Gulf Council 
(SEE ADDRESSES).
    Although non-emergency issues not on the agendas may come before 
the Standing and Special Red Drum SSC and the Red Drum AP for 
discussion, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act, those issues may not be the subject of 
formal action during these meetings. Actions of the Standing and 
Special Reef Fish SSC and the Red Drum AP 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 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 21, 1999.

    Dated: October 7, 1999.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-26840 Filed 10-13-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F