[Federal Register: August 14, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 156)]
[Notices]
[Page 46450]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14au06-41]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 080906A]
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public hearings.
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SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) will
convene a series of 8 public hearings regarding Amendment 14 to the
Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan. Amendment 14 will establish a
series of 8 marine protected areas (MPAs) in Federal waters off the
South Atlantic to protect a portion of the population and habitat of
long-lived, slow-growing, deepwater snapper grouper species (snowy
grouper, misty grouper, speckled hind, yellowedge grouper, warsaw
grouper, golden tilefish, and blueline tilefish) from directed fishing
pressure. Proposed as ``Type II'' MPAs, fishing for and possession of
snapper grouper species would be prohibited in the area, but fishermen
would be allowed to troll for pelagic species such as tuna, mackerel,
and billfish. Amendment 14 includes alternatives for the use of Vessel
Monitoring Systems as an enforcement tool for the MPAs.
Additionally, the Council intends to work closely with NOAA
Fisheries' Highly Migratory Species Division to prohibit the use of
bottom longlines by shark fishermen in the proposed MPAs.
DATES: The public hearings will be held in September 2006. Written
comments must be received in the Council office by close of business on
September 29, 2006. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for the specific
dates and times of the public hearings.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Bob Mahood, Executive
Director, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, One Southpark
Circle, Suite 306, Charleston, SC 29407-4699, or via email to
SGAM14@safmc.net. Copies of the Public Hearing Document are available
from Kim Iverson, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, One
Southpark Circle, Suite 306, Charleston, SC 29407-4699; telephone: 843-
571-4366 or toll free at 866/SAFMC-10.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Iverson, South Atlantic Fishery
Management Council, One Southpark Circle, Suite 306, Charleston, SC
29407-4699; telephone: 843-571-4366; fax: 843-769-4520; email address:
kim.iverson@safmc.net.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Public Hearing Dates and Locations
All hearings are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.
September 5, 2006--Hampton Inn, 678 Citadel Haven Drive, Charleston, SC
29414, Phone: 843-573-1200
September 6, 2006--Baywatch Resort, 2701 S. Ocean Boulevard, N.
Myrtle Beach, SC 29582, Phone: 843-272-4600
September 7, 2006--Holiday Inn Sunspree, 1706 N. Lumina Avenue,
Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480, Phone: 910-256-2231
September 11, 2006--Holton's Seafood Restaurant, 13711 E.
Oglethorpe Hwy., Midway, GA 31320, Phone: 912-884-9151
September 12, 2006--Hampton Inn St. Augustine, 430 A1A Beach
Boulevard, St. Augustine, FL 32080, Phone: 904-471-4000
September 13, 2006--Hutchinson Island Marriott , 555 NE Ocean
Boulevard, Stuart, FL 34996, Phone: 772-225-3700
September 14, 2006--Islander Resort, MM 82.1 Oceanfront,
Islamorada, FL 33036, Phone: 305-664-2031
September 19, 2006--The Westin, 2 Grasslawn Avenue, Hilton Head, SC
29928, Phone: 843-681-4000.
Special Accommodations
These meetings are physically accessible to people with
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed to the Council office (see ADDRESSES)
by September 1, 2006.
Dated: August 9, 2006.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-13279 Filed 8-11-06; 8:45 am]
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