This is a publication of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council pursuant to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Award No. NA07FC0015.

NOAA logoNEWS RELEASE
RELEASE: AS APPROPRIATE
CONTACT: WAYNE E. SWINGLE

HEARINGS SCHEDULED ON AMENDMENT FOR A STONE CRAB TRAP CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

Tampa, Florida - May 12, 2000 - The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold public hearings on an amendment to the Stone Crab Fishery Management Plan (FMP) that proposes to extend the trap certificate program for the commercial stone crab fishery adopted by the state of Florida into the federal waters off west Florida. The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC), after working with the stone crab industry and Council over the past 4 years, has adopted by rule a trap certificate program that will gradually reduce the number of traps over a 30-year period. The Florida legislature has approved the portion of this program pertaining to licenses and fees.

The hearings will be held from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. at the following locations and dates:

 

Tuesday, June 6, 2000
Naples Depot Civic Cultural Center
1051 Fifth Avenue South
Naples, Florida 34102
Wednesday, June 7, 2000
Banana Bay Resort & Marina
4590 Overseas Highway
Marathon, Florida 33050
Tuesday, June 13, 2000
Jaycee Building
501 SE 7th Avenue
Crystal River, Florida 34429
Wednesday, June 14, 2000
Steinhatchee Elementary School
1st Avenue South
Steinhatchee, Florida 32359

The Council will also hear public testimony before taking final action on the amendment on July 12, 2000 at its meeting in Key Largo, Florida. The Council will accept written comments received by June 26, 2000.

The meetings are open to the public and is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to the Council office by May 30, 2000.

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 U.S. Gulf of Mexico.

This news release, and other Council news releases, can be viewed at the Council’s web site, http://www.gulfcouncil.org. In addition, Council press releases may be received via e-mail by sending a blank e-mail message to pressreleases@gulfcouncil.org with SUBSCRIBE as the subject.

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