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

COUNCIL AND NMFS TO HOLD SCOPING MEETINGS TO RECEIVE COMMENTS ON ISSUES FOR AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT TO THE AMENDMENT IDENTIFYING ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT

Tampa, Florida - May 18, 2001 - The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold scoping meetings to obtain public comments on essential fish habitat issues to be discussed in and potentially added to an Environmental Impact Statement for the Generic Amendment for Addressing Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) for each of the Fishery Management Plans of the Council. The Council is especially interested in public views on what alternatives should be considered in the designation of EFH, identification of Habitat Areas of Particular Concern (HAPC), and measures to minimize the impacts of fishing activities and gear to any areas identified as EFH or HAPC.

These scoping meetings will be held at the following locations, dates, and times. Based on the comments received and contingent on available funding, the Council intends to initiate development of the EFH EIS later in 2001.

Thursday, June 14, 2001
3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Omni Bayfront Hotel
900 North Shoreline Blvd.
Corpus Christi, TX
361-887-1600
Friday, June 15, 2001
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Courtyard by Marriott
9190 Gulf Freeway
Houston, TX
713-910-1700
Monday, June 18, 2001
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
New Orleans Airport Hilton
901 Airline Drive
Kenner, LA
504-469-5000
Tuesday, June 19, 2001
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Imperial Palace Hotel
850 Bayview
Biloxi, MS
228-436-3000
Thursday, June 21, 2001
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
National Marine Fisheries Service
3500 Delwood Beach Road
Panama City, FL
850-234-6541
Monday, June 25, 2001
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Holiday Inn Beachside
3841 North Roosevelt Blvd.
Key West, FL
305-294-2571
Thursday, June 28, 2001
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Tampa Airport Hilton
2225 Lois Ave.
Tampa, FL
813-877-6688
 
 

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

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is 1 of 8 regional fishery management councils that were established by the M-SFCMA 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.

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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