This is a publication of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council pursuant to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Award No. NA17FC1052.

NOAA logoNEWS RELEASE
RELEASE: IMMEDIATELY
CONTACT: RICHARD L. LEARD

PUBLIC HEARINGS SCHEDULED TO REVIEW DRAFT AMENDMENT 10 TO THE SHRIMP FISHERY MANAGEMENT PLAN ADDRESSING ADDITIONAL BYCATCH REDUCTION OFF FLORIDA

Tampa, Florida - July 20, 2001 - The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold public hearings to review "Draft Amendment 10 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Shrimp Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico, U.S. Waters with Environmental Assessment, Regulatory Impact Review, Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis, and Social Impact Assessment." This amendment contains alternatives for requiring additional measures to reduce bycatch in the shrimp fishery on the west coast of Florida, south and east of Cape San Blas (85E30' West Longitude). Measures being considered include area and/or seasonal closures, as well as requiring bycatch reduction devices (BRDs).

A copy of Amendment 10 and related materials can be obtained by calling the Council office at 813-228-2815.

The public hearings will be held beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the following locations and dates times:

Tuesday, August 14, 2001
3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Laguna Madre Learning Center
Port Isabel High School
Highway 100
Port Isabel, TX 78578
956-943-0052
Monday, August 20, 2001
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Holiday Inn Beachside
3841 North Roosevelt Blvd.
Key West, FL 33040
305-294-2571
Thursday, August 23, 2001
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Tampa Airport Hilton
2225 Lois Ave.
Tampa, FL 33607
813-877-6688
Wednesday, August 15, 2001
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Palacios Recreation Center
2401 Perryman
Palacios, TX 77465
361-972-2387
Tuesday, August 21, 2001
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Edison Community College
Room H101
Fort Myers, FL 33906
941-489-9312
Tuesday, August 28, 2001
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Franklin County Courthouse
33 Market Street
Apalachicola, FL 32320
850-653-8861

The meetings are open to the public and are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign

In addition, public testimony will be accepted at the Gulf Council meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana on September 12, 2001. Written comments will be accepted if received at the Council office by September 7, 2001.

The meetings are open to the public and physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to the Council office by August 7, 2001.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is 1 of 8 regional fishery management councils that were established by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976. The Council prepares fishery management plans that are designed to manage fishery resources in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.

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