This is a publication of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council pursuant to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Award No. NA97FC0010.

NEWS RELEASE
RELEASE: IMMEDIATELY
CONTACT: RICHARD L. LEARD(813) 228-2815

DOLPHIN AND WAHOO ADVISORY PANEL (AP) AND SCIENTIFIC AND STATISTICAL COMMITTEES (SSC) TO REVIEW DRAFT DOLPHIN AND WAHOO FISHERY MANAGEMENT PLAN

Tampa, Florida - December 10, 1999 - The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene its Dolphin and Wahoo Advisory Panel (AP) and Scientific and Statistical Committees (SSC) to review a "Draft Fishery Management Plan for the Dolphin, Coryphaena hippurus, and Wahoo, Acanthocybium solandri, Fishery in the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico" ( Dolphin/Wahoo FMP). The Dolphin and Wahoo AP and the Council’s Standing and Special Dolphin and Wahoo SSC meeting will meet as follows:

The Dolphin and Wahoo AP will review a draft of the Dolphin/Wahoo FMP that has been prepared by the South Atlantic, Gulf, and Caribbean fishery management councils. The first 10 actions, with options, of the Dolphin/Wahoo FMP contain measures that are applicable to the dolphin and wahoo stocks in the jurisdictions of all three councils. These include measures to: define the management units; address dealer, vessel, and operator permits; consider data reporting requirements; identify estimates of maximum sustainable yield, optimum yield, and overfishing criteria; and framework options to enable seasonal adjustments to the management structure. Other actions, with options, are separately applicable to each council’s area of jurisdiction, and include actions that may be implemented through the framework procedures, e.g. minimum size limits, bag limits, trip limits, and allocations. Based on this review, the Dolphin and Wahoo AP may make recommendations to the Council of preferred actions. The SSC will review the same information and formulate their recommendations based on a scientific perspective.

Copies of the agendas of these meetings and other related materials can be obtained by calling 813-228-2815. Although other non-emergency issues not on the agendas may come before the AP and SSC 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 AP and SSC 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.

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 December 29, 1999.

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 Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management 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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