Vessel expenses and earnings, also known as cost and returns, information is extremely important so that Council members can have a better understanding of the economic impacts of proposed management actions while they are still under consideration. In addition, several laws such as the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Regulatory Flexibility Act, and Executive Order 12866 require the use of economic information in the deliberation and formulation of regulations. Fishery participants’ views regarding the nature and collection of this information are critical so that at the time it is collected, assembled and analyzed a more credible picture of the economic condition of the fishery will be depicted and used in the management process.

The workshops will be conducted in the following locations around the Gulf coast. Council staff, with the assistance of NMFS staff, will conduct the workshops. All workshops will begin at 6:00 p.m. local time and conclude at about 9:00 p.m.

The workshops 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 May 20, 2003.

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 at 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.