[Federal Register: October 13, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 197)]
[Notices]               
[Page 55457]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13oc99-30]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

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

 
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 via conference call of the Red Drum Stock Assessment 
Panel (RDSAP).

DATES: This meeting will be via conference call on October 27, 1999, 
beginning at 10:00 a.m. EST.

ADDRESSES: A listening station will be available at NMFS Southeast 
Regional Office, 9721 Executive Center Drive, North, St. Petersburg, FL 
33702; Contact: Georgia Cranmore at 727-570-5305.
    Council address: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, 3018 
U.S. Highway 301 North, Suite 1000, Tampa, FL 33619.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The RDSAP will continue their review of a 
stock assessment on the status of the red drum stocks in the Gulf of 
Mexico prepared by NMFS. The RDSAP will consider available information, 
including but not limited to, commercial and recreational catches, 
natural and fishing mortality estimates, recruitment, fishery-dependent 
and fishery-independent data, and data needs. These analyses will be 
used to determine the condition of the stocks and the levels of 
acceptable biological catch (ABC). The RDSAP may also review estimates 
of stock size (biomass at maximum sustainable yield [Bmsy]) and minimum 
stock size thresholds (MSST). Currently it is illegal to harvest or 
possess red drum in Federal waters.
    The conclusions of the RDSAP will be reviewed by the Council's 
Standing and Special Reef Fish Scientific and Statistical Committee 
(SSC), and Red Drum Advisory Panel (RDAP)at meetings later that week.
    A copy of the agenda can be obtained by contacting the Council (see 
ADDRESSES).
    Although non-emergency issues not on the agenda may come before the 
RDSAP 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 RDSAP 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

    The listening station 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 20, 1999.

    Dated: October 7, 1999.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-26691 Filed 10-12-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F